Montreal Victoire falls to Ottawa Charge in playoff opener at Place Bell

Montreal Victoire was defeated 3-2 by the Ottawa Charge in the first game of their 2025 PWHL playoff semifinal series at Place Bell.

The loss puts Montreal at a disadvantage in the best-of-five series as they look to bounce back in the upcoming games.

Shiann Darkangelo scored the winner at 9:17 of the third period, lifting the Ottawa Charge past the Victoire. Brianne Jenner and Ashton Bell also found the net for Ottawa, while Gwyneth Philips stopped 31 shots in the victory.

Terry Hancock, an Ottawa fan, was full of praise for the Charge’s performance. “We were shocked and delighted. Charge played so well tonight and deserved this victory,” she said.

Her son, Matthieu Hancock Lefebour, added his excitement: “It was really important to get Game 1, get the home-ice advantage. It was a heck of a game. Can’t wait for Game 2.”

Marie-Pier Thibault, a passionate Ottawa fan, added, “I knew we’d be able to do it.”

“Ottawa is my number one team.”

The Victoire (12-7-3-8), who finished first in the PWHL regular-season standings, earned the right to select third-place Ottawa (12-2-4-12) as their semifinal opponent over the fourth-place Minnesota Frost. But despite the early-season dominance, they faced a tough challenge in Ottawa.

Marie-Philip Poulin and Maureen Murphy replied for Montreal, while Ann-Renee Desbiens made 24 saves before 6,570 towel-waving fans. The crowd created an electric atmosphere at Place Bell, even as Ottawa took control of the game.

Thursday’s matchup marked the first-ever PWHL playoff game between two Canadian teams, and it did not disappoint. Ottawa struck first when Jenner scored on the power play at 4:54 of the first period after Montreal’s Kati Tabin was penalized for delay of game. Tereza Vanisova set up Jenner alone at the side of the net.

But Montreal quickly responded, with Murphy deflecting a Tabin pass into the top right corner to tie the game at 1-1. Despite going 2-for-2 on the power play, the Victoire struggled to maintain momentum. Bell gave Ottawa a 2-1 lead when she buried a feed from Danielle Serdachny into a wide-open net at 5:07 of the second period.

Poulin, the league’s top goal scorer with 19 goals in the regular season, tied the game again at 7:05 with a power-play one-timer that sent the crowd into a frenzy. However, Darkangelo’s wrist shot from the top right circle at 9:17 in the third period would prove to be the game-winner.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN WE HAVE A GAME ????️

Marie-Philip Poulin with the equalizer for @PWHL_Montreal ????‍???? https://t.co/QpwJrwdJha pic.twitter.com/D0ROcjyJ39

— PWHL (@thepwhlofficial) May 9, 2025

The Charge shut down Montreal’s late efforts, with Philips making key saves, including one on Poulin’s backhand from the slot with seven minutes left. Three minutes later, a wrist shot from Laura Stacey rattled off Philips’s cage, but the Charge held firm. Poulin nearly had another chance with 1:56 remaining when she appeared to break away, but the play was whistled down for offside.

Ottawa, making their first playoff appearance, clinched their spot after Katerina Mrazova’s overtime goal against Toronto on the regular season’s final day. Now, they head into Game 2 with a crucial 1-0 lead.

While the loss stung for Montreal, the fans remained optimistic. “I’m a little disappointed, but our team is the best,” said Darianne Blias.

“I have all my confidence in every player of the team, so everything’s going to be fine. We’re going to win in 4,” she added.

“I’m disappointed, obviously, because our home team lost,” said Maggie Docouto, “but they played well and hopefully we’ll get them on Sunday.”

“It’s my first playoff here in Montreal, so I’m very excited. I feel like a kid in a candy store. The ambiance is amazing, and the fans are awesome and obviously the team is great. Hopefully, our first lose at home, but hopefully it will be last one.”

Eve Moren, a passionate fan, shared her pride in the team’s performance despite the loss, emphasizing the significance of the event for her and her friends who also play hockey.

“I’m really proud. It was a really good game. And I’m really happy I was there. The ambiance was awesome, and everyone was awesome,” she added.

“We all play hockey, and I think it’s a really big step. I am really proud of them, and I’m pretty sure they can win a few more games,” she added.

Emma Kopp, who was a little disappointed said, “I feel a little bit sad. We start the series with not a victory, so it’s kind of sad.”

Charlotte Wickett, who drove from Fredericton, New Brunswick, to watch the game, expressed her excitement despite the loss.

“I am here to watch a PWHL game, and it’s my first game, and I’m really excited,” she said.

“It was a very long drive and I drove this morning, and it was very long, very, very long,” she added. “We drove from Fredericton, and it’s special because it’s my first game and my favourite team is the Montreal Victoire.”

Ross MacDonald, a Nova Scotia fan attending his third Victoire game at Place Bell, expressed the importance of women’s hockey for young fans.

“It’s a great opportunity for the young girls to be able to have somebody to look up to when someone chases after their dreams,” he said.

His daughter, Alex, admires Marie-Philip Poulin.

“This is our third time at Place Bell for the Victoire games, and it’s a great atmosphere here. We really love it,” he expressed.

Sandrine Gendron, reflected on the experience. “I am a girl, and I didn’t get the chance to see women’s hockey really much before,” she said.

“It’s fun to be able to cheer on girls as well. I find it really cool,” she added.

The second game of the series is scheduled for Sunday, May 11, and fans remain hopeful for a bounce-back performance from the Victoire.

“It’s only one loss, and we can get the other win, so we have to believe that everything is possible,” said Gendron.

“They are called Victoire for a reason, so we can get a lot of Victoire in the playoffs.”

The team will look to tie the series and keep their playoff hopes alive as the battle between these two Canadian teams intensifies.