Hilary Knight Is Back, But It Wasn't Enough to Stop Ottawa's Shutout Ambush
The Seattle Torrent got their captain back on Sunday night, and Climate Pledge Arena was buzzing for it. But the homecoming turned bittersweet fast. Ottawa Charge shut out Seattle 2-0 in front of 16,586 fans, just shy of another sellout in the team's inaugural season.
Hilary Knight was activated from long-term injured reserve right before puck drop after 38 days sidelined with a lower-body injury she suffered at the 2026 Winter Games. The Team USA hero had been through a lot in those five-plus weeks. She made the rounds on "Saturday Night Live," "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," and the Oscars. But Sunday was about getting back to what matters: hockey.
Knight's Return Comes With Mixed Timing
Through 15 regular-season games with Seattle before her injury, Knight had three goals and seven assists. Coach Steve O'Rourke was candid about the situation. He would have loved more practice time to get her game sharp, but once the medical team gave the green light, there was no reason to wait.
"It was great to have her back and have her presence again, and we'll keep building this weekend," O'Rourke said. In a corresponding move, forward Brooke Bryant was placed on the reserve player list.
Here's the thing though: O'Rourke thought maybe the team got too comfortable knowing Knight was coming back. "People just thought 'Oh, she's back, she'll do it for us,'" he said. That kind of mental exhale after a road trip can kill momentum, and it showed.
The Power Play Collapsed When It Mattered Most
Seattle had five full 5-on-4 chances and two minutes of 4-on-4 power play time. They converted zero of them. Sarah Wozniewicz put Ottawa up 1-0 early when goaltender Corinne Schroeder left a rebound and defender Emily Brown couldn't clear the puck. Peyton Hemp made it 2-0 later, cleaning up the mess after an Ottawa 2-on-1.
O'Rourke summed it up bluntly: "We didn't get enough pucks to the net. We didn't move it fast enough, which is the death of power plays."
Schroeder made 27 saves and stopped Brianne Jenner on a third-period penalty shot. Ottawa's Gwyneth Philips turned aside all 24 shots she faced. Seattle has now dropped three straight against Ottawa after winning the first matchup on December 17. The Torrent will look to bounce back this weekend and get back to the offensive form they showed in a 4-1 road win over New York midweek.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.