Charge Push Victoire to the Brink of Elimination With 1-0 Win

If you thought these teams would be eager to score some goals after all those overtimes on Sunday, you would be mistaken. Fresh off the longest game in PWHL history, Ottawa and Montreal showed up to TD Place in Ottawa and said, you know what the world really needs right now? A good old fashioned goalie duel.

The first period almost felt like a replay of those first two overtimes; the Charge were absolutely fantastic, clearly pushing hard for that first goal, but couldn’t solve Desbiens.

At one point do we get worried about Desbiens? Have we passed that point? Was game 2 the warning?

The Victoire didn’t get much going at all until the very end of the first period. It goes to show that these teams aren’t as far apart as their positions in the standings might indicate. Ottawa was legitimately outplaying them.

The Charge got a powerplay at the end of the period, but once again Desbiens kept the puck out. No goals going into the first intermission.

Bad news: Montreal looked a lot better in the second period. The Charge weathered the storm in the first few minutes, and eventually took back control of the game, but the play was much more even from there on out. It’s hard to find fault with how they were playing - they were playing a very complete game, with the usual suspects leading the charge (pun intended).

A Victoire player cross-checked Vanisova, and Ottawa went to the powerplay for the second time in the game. Unfortunately, this one looked even worse than the first. This team absolutely cannot buy a goal.

The start of the third period brought more of the same. Once again, Ottawa looked like the better team, but this scoring drought was getting ridiculous. Would anyone ever score? Had they simply forgotten how to do it? Were we in for another quadruple-overtime game?

At long last, a goal was scored and it was for the Charge. Manon McMahon beat Desbiens to put the Charge ahead. 1-0 Ottawa.

🚨 Mannon McMahon (1)
🍎 Gabbie Hughes
🍏 Ronja Savolainen pic.twitter.com/fKtA1puZ0P

— x - Ottawa Charge (@PWHL_Ottawa) May 14, 2025

The game had been pretty restrained up until that point, but the goal completely blew things up. Not long after it, Stacey threw a huge hit on Ashton Bell, and the Ottawa defender seemed shaken up on the play. Gabbie Hughes retaliated by shoving Stacey. Initially the call was a 5 minute major to Stacey and a 2 minute minor to Hughes, which seemed fair, but then the refs reviewed the penalty and downgraded it to 2 minutes, meaning that the Charge didn't even get a powerplay on the play.

Montreal pushed back hard during and immediately after the 4 on 4. Then, we hadn't spent much time back at 5 on 5 when Jenner got called for a pretty weak hooking penalty, and then on the ensuing Montreal powerplay, Poulin hauled down Hughes and there was no call. Just frustrating. Thankfully, Philips was up to the task.

The Charge actually got a very good scoring chance toward the end of the third period, once we were back at 5 on 5. A hockey team continuing to push for another goal even when they're leading? Imagine that.

Montreal pulled out all the stops in the final two minutes, with Poulin on as the extra attacker. Ottawa made two attempts at the empty net, which both missed. Okay, maybe Desbiens wasn't the problem after all.

Despite some scary moments at the end, the Charge held on for the 1-0 win. They'll be back at TD Place on Friday as they look to advance to the finals.

Game notes:

• Brianne Jenner is so in her element in these playoff games. She's been absolutely flying out there.
• The same goes for Emily Clark. I thought she was one of the best players on the ice yet again.
• Jocelyne Larocque made some very good defensive plays. She doesn't look like the oldest player in the league at all.
• Gwyneth Philips continues to be an absolute star. Bailed the team out in some crucial moments on her way to a well-deserved shutout.