Montreal Victoire & Canadiens: Two road games, two high-stakes matchups
Posted May 18, 2026 10:33 am.
Last Updated May 18, 2026 6:39 pm.
Montreal is set for one of its biggest nights of the hockey season, with both the Montreal Victoire and the Montreal Canadiens playing pivotal road games that could shape their playoff futures.
One team is on the verge of a championship. The other is trying to keep its season alive.
And across the city, fans are preparing to follow every moment.
Victoire one win away from Walter Cup
The Montreal Victoire are one win away from capturing the first Walter Cup in franchise history after building a 2-0 lead in the PWHL Final against the Ottawa Charge.
Saturday’s Game 2 win at Place Bell came in dramatic fashion, as Maggie Flaherty scored the overtime winner in a 2-1 victory.
Ottawa opened the scoring early in the first period before Kati Tabin tied the game in the second. After a scoreless third period, Flaherty buried the winner 3:23 into overtime off a setup from captain Marie-Philip Poulin, giving Montreal a commanding series lead heading into Game 3 in Ottawa.
The Victoire now have their first opportunity to clinch the Walter Cup Monday night at Canadian Tire Centre, with puck drop set for 6 p.m. Eastern.
A win would make Montreal the first team in PWHL history to capture the Walter Cup after taking a 2-0 lead in the finals. The Victoire also enter the game riding a three-game playoff winning streak.
Fans say the success of the team has energized the city alongside the Canadiens’ playoff run.
“I feel like it’s going to be so energetic, especially since we have both teams happening,” said one fan outside the Bell Centre before Monday’s games. “Ever since the PWHL started, more people have gotten behind not only the Habs, but also the Victoire. It’s so exciting that fans are able to root for both teams, and especially this year, both teams at the same time. We are definitely a hockey city.”
For many supporters, the rise of the Victoire has become about more than wins and losses. One fan, who has attended every home playoff game this season, said the response from the city has surpassed expectations.
“We all knew that the PWHL was going to be sustainable, that there was going to be a fan base for these teams when it started out,” he said. “But I don’t think some of us could have predicted just how big it was going to be and the way that people have been showing out for their teams.”
He said the possibility of Montreal lifting the Walter Cup would represent another milestone not only for the franchise, but for women’s hockey across the country.
“To have the Walter Cup come to Montreal, the best hockey city in the world, and then to see what that does for the league — and we’ve already seen the expansion teams that are going to be coming next year — it’d be a pretty special thing to see for sure.”
The same fan said confidence around the team continues to grow heading into Monday night.
“I’m excited, obviously. I’ve been to every single home playoff game this year,” he said. “And it’d be nice to clinch it at home. But I think we want to have a little bit of an easier time this time. Close it down in three. So I’m feeling good about our chances tonight.”
Maude Lanteigne, in-game host for both the Montreal Victoire and Montreal Canadiens, said the atmosphere surrounding both teams has created a unique moment for the city.
“Tonight is a crazy night,” she said. “It’s a great day to be a Montreal fan tonight, a hockey fan in general. There’s something that’s going to happen tonight. Either we lose, we win — even for the Habs or for the Victoire. There’s a chance that we win the cup. So it’s really, really exciting, and you can feel the tension and the energy, even in the building here in Ottawa.”
Lanteigne said the Victoire’s success also reflects the continued growth of women’s sports in Canada.
“Everything that’s happening right now in women’s sports, it’s getting bigger and bigger,” she said. “There’s new fans every year, every season. There’s a lot more media coverage with everything that’s happening with the Walter Cup.”
“It’s a very, very good thing that’s happening in women’s sports.”
She added that Montreal’s support for both teams has remained visible, even with both clubs playing on the road.
“Montreal is a big, big city for sports, for hockey especially,” she said. “Everybody in Montreal and Quebec are cheering for both teams.”
Canadiens face winner-take-all Game 7 in Buffalo
Meanwhile, the Montreal Canadiens are preparing for a decisive Game 7 in Buffalo after a dramatic collapse in Game 6 at the Bell Centre.
Montreal held a 3-1 lead on Saturday night before the Sabres scored seven unanswered goals in an 8-3 win to force the series back to Buffalo.
Now, the Canadiens will try to regroup with a spot in the Eastern Conference Final against the Carolina Hurricanes on the line.
Puck drop at KeyBank Center is set for 7:30 p.m. Eastern.
The Canadiens will also lean on recent Game 7 experience after eliminating the Tampa Bay Lightning in seven games earlier this postseason. Montreal has also found success on the road during the playoffs, winning five of its seven away games so far.
Fans gathering around the Bell Centre ahead of Monday’s game said they remain confident despite the loss in Game 6.
“Trying to stay positive,” said one Canadiens supporter. “Hopefully, they can bounce back from last game and do what they need to do. I think they have a good coach and a good group of players. And they know what needs to happen. So it’s just a matter of getting out and executing. I’m hopeful.”
He also pointed to discipline and consistency as the difference in a winner-take-all matchup.
“Hopefully not give up eight goals for sure,” he said with a laugh. “But yeah, they know how to play. Stay disciplined, stay focused, and go out there and execute.”
Another fan said the Canadiens need to return to the style that carried them through the opening games of the series.
“Last game, it was a struggle, but we always bounce back,” he said. “And today, we’re going to bring it home for sure.”
He added that discipline on both ends of the ice will be key.
“We’ve got to focus on the passing, focus on defense for sure, try to avoid mistakes like before, and just keep our minds in the game,” he said. “I think that’s the best way forward… They have to know everyone here is rooting for them. So they just have to pull in the energy and keep going forward.”
Another supporter standing outside the Bell Centre with his son said confidence remains high heading into Game 7.
“We’re pretty confident for the game tonight,” he said. “We’ve got to believe. I think that’s the main thing that we need to do. Belief is the key here, and we hope we’re going to go all the way.”
Another fan said the Canadiens simply need to return to the identity that brought them this far.
“I am feeling pretty good about Game 7,” he said. “I think they just have to keep playing like they’ve always played. Last game was a little bit of a disappointment, but we’ll call it an anomaly. And hopefully they come out real strong.”
One young fan described the emotional swings of the series as both exciting and stressful.
“It’s so exciting. We’ve come so far already, so I’m super proud of the team to begin with,” she said. “The energy in Montreal is definitely up. Everyone’s so behind the team and so excited for tonight.”
Even with the Canadiens on the road, thousands of fans are expected at a sold-out watch party inside the Bell Centre. Doors are scheduled to open 90 minutes before puck drop, with playoff towels, alumni appearances, and in-game entertainment planned throughout the evening.
Fans say the atmosphere around the city already feels like a home playoff game.
“So far, from what I’ve seen, it’s electric,” one supporter said outside the Bell Centre. “You’d think there would be a home game here. It’s that kind of atmosphere.”
A city watching two defining moments
For Montreal hockey fans, Monday night represents a rare moment where two teams are simultaneously playing some of the most important games of their seasons.
The Victoire are one win away from a championship.
The Canadiens are one win away from the Eastern Conference Final.
One fan said nights like this reflect Montreal’s unique connection to hockey.
“I think it’s unmatched globally,” he said. “I think we are extremely fortunate and very lucky to live in the city that we do. And it’s a great sport.”
Another fan described the atmosphere around the city as something special.
“It’s definitely something insane to be living in,” he said. “Our city is so vibrant and everyone loves hockey. The Victoire are trying to bring it home, and the Habs are pushing through. So it’s amazing.”
One Victoire supporter said he plans to spend the evening following both games at once.
“I’m going to a Victoire watch party tonight, but I’m going to have the Habs game on my phone,” he said. “I’m going to be keeping up with both games all night long for sure.”
Whether it ends with a championship celebration, another playoff round, or both, Montreal will spend Monday night locked into two road games carrying enormous stakes — and a city-wide belief that something special could still happen.
“Being here in Montreal, it’s the best hockey city in the world,” one fan expressed. “You can see the way we rally around our teams, the Habs, the Victoire, whoever it is. I think the way that people have been showing up to games, people have been supporting the team, has been pretty incredible to see.”
