Best of Five series, Game 1
Place Bell
Start time: 7:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM PT
In Canada: TSN (English), RDS (French)
In the United States/International: Youtube
Place Bell is full to the brim with playoff hockey. After hosting two playoff games for the Laval Rocket, who advanced to the third round of the AHL playoffs, it is now time for the PWHL and Montreal Victoire to host playoff games in the arena.
Montreal, by virtue of finishing first in the PWHL, had the choice of whether to face the Minnesota Frost, or Ottawa Charge in the first round. The two teams finished tied in points (along with fifth-place Boston, who missed the playoffs) but Ottawa was technically ahead due to regulation wins. The Victoire chose to face Ottawa. It will be the first playoff series between two Canadian teams in league history.
| Montreal | Statistics (Reg. Season) | Ottawa |
|---|---|---|
| 12-7-3-8 | Record (W-OTW-OTL-L) | 12-2-4-12 |
| 2.57 (2nd) | Goals per game | 2.37 (T-5th) |
| 2.23 (1st) | Goals against per game | 2.67 (T-5th) |
| 15.5% (5th) | PP% | 14.9% (6th) |
| 82.6% (2nd) | PK% | 80.2% (5th) |
| 3-1-0-2 | Head-to-Head Record | 2-0-1-3 |
Ottawa was tied for last in the league in both goals for, goals against, and goal differential with the last-place New York Sirens. They were one of the league’s best teams down the stretch earning their first playoff berth, and beat Montreal in regulation in the final two regular season meetings between the two teams.
Poulin vs. Jenner
The captains of each team are no strangers to facing each other in playoff games at the professional level, and are long-time teammates and linemates for Team Canada. The two technically met as opponents in the CWHL’s Clarkson Cup final three times, including twice in the nation’s capital. Ottawa hosted the Calgary Inferno and Les Canadiennes in the final in both 2016 and 2017. In 2019, the two teams faced off in Toronto but while Poulin was dressed for the game, did not play a shift due to injury.
The two games in Ottawa were split by the two teams, with Montreal losing in 2016 and avenging that loss in 2017.
No player has more goals or points in PWHL history than Poulin, who had a league-leading 19 goals this season and has 29 in her career. Her 49 points over two seasons are five more than second-place Daryl Watts. Jenner is 11th in points with 35, and although she had only seven goals and eight assists in 28 games this season, when she was scoring, Ottawa was at their best.
Desbiens vs Philips, part two
Ann-Renée Desbiens and Ottawa goaltender Gwyneth Philips faced off in the gold medal game of the most recent World Championship in Czechia. The United States and Philips won the game in overtime after Philips entered the game for an injured Aerin Frankel. Philips is now the starter in Ottawa after an injury to Emerance Maschmeyer, Desbiens’ teammate on Team Canada and a former Canadienne.
All the talk last postseason, which saw Montreal swept in three overtime losses, was about Frankel. The Boston goaltender saved 137/141 shots over the three games (.972%). Desbiens was great in those games as well, finishing with a 1.70 goals against average and .931 save percentage.
This season, she was outstanding leading the PWHL in every goaltending category including wins (15-2-1-1), goals against average (1.86), and save percentage (.932).
Philips was great in her own right, finishing with a 8-5-1 record, 2.11 GAA and .912 save percentage in her rookie season.
If last year proved anything, goals will be difficult to come by in the playoffs and these two will play in a big role in that.
Boulier vs. Vanišová
Amanda Boulier and Tereza Vanišová were traded for each other at last season’s trade deadline in the first trade Montreal ever made. With Vanišová leading the Charge in scoring this season (15 goals, seven assists in 30 games), it looks like Montreal would like a do-over. However, don’t sleep on Boulier’s contributions to this Montreal team. She was a steadying force on last year’s blueline that desperately needed it and was one of the four defenders leaned on heavily by Montreal head coach Kori Cheverie.
This year, she has mostly been on the third pair, but plays tough minutes and is on the team’s second power play unit. Boulier on the team’s third pair will be critical in this series and her experience, puck moving, and all around solid play isn’t the flashiest but all contributed to the team’s success.
Last year, depth was one of the biggest question marks surrounding the team’s playoff exit. This year, Boulier represents part of why that might change this year. Either way, that trade is sure to be in the spotlight during this series.
Montreal’s X-Factors
Mikyla Grant-Mentis was a undrafted invite by the Charge last season prior to training camp, and earned her way onto the team’s roster. After only six games played, she was released and signed by Montreal. She has said multiple times that she still gets a boost every time she plays Ottawa, and had points in the first two meetings between the two teams, including the game-winning goal on December 6.
She is on a mini points drought entering the playoffs, but the line of her, Alexandra Labelle, and Claire Dalton is now back together and it wouldn’t be a surprise if that became the darkhorse key line in this series. That line was one of the best depth lines in the league prior to Labelle’s injury, and it has the makeup of the type of line that you just expect to step up in the playoffs.
Kori Cheverie said before the playoffs that the team is full of players who are potential unsung heroes, and look no further than those three players.
They aren’t alone. Catherine Dubois enters the post-season with goals in three straight games. Kaitlin Willoughby has looked like someone on the cusp of a breakout since being acquired by the Victoire at the trade deadline. Kristin O’Neill always seems to step up in big games, as her World Championship success the last two years has shown. Abby Boreen, Lina Ljungblom, and Maureen Murphy can easily be a line that steps up in big moments with big goals or penalty killing. Dara Greig has made the most of her ice time all season in a depth role, and is usually noticeable when she gets on the ice.
Secondary scoring has been an issue for this team all season, but make no mistake: This team has the horses to change that this postseason. If Montreal is to have success, someone in this group will have to step up.
Ottawa’s X-Factors
It feels weird to shine a spotlight on the person who finished second on the team in scoring, but Emily Clark is the type of player that really can make the difference in a playoff series. She has been a mainstay on Team Canada’s shutdown line, and has more of an ability to flex her offensive muscles in the PWHL while not losing that energy in her game.
She has a knack to score big goals, and it wouldn’t be a shock if she is a name you hear a lot of in this series.
Jocelyne Larocque is a shutdown defender and has been one of the best in the world over her career, but don’t sleep on her offence. She is a player who has playoff experience on a team that doesn’t have it, and after a blockbuster trade just before the new year, is a major reason why this team is in the post-season now.
Kateřina Mrázová is literally the reason Ottawa is in the postseason. Her overtime winner was the goal that punched the team’s ticket. She was held to only 14 games this season, but had seven points. She has a ton of international experience, and the team is much better with her in the lineup. Now healthy, she will be a key part of this team that struggled to score goals through the regular season, as will second overall pick Danielle Serdachny.
It wasn’t the season the rookie wanted, but there’s a reason she was drafted second overall, and she has big game experience, scoring the overtime winner in the 2024 gold medal game at the World Championship for Canada.
Previous Montreal-Ottawa games
November 30, 2024 – Ottawa 3 @ Montreal 4 [SO] (Recap | Highlights)
Place Bell
Winning goaltender: Ann-Renée Desbiens
Losing goaltender: Emerance Maschmeyer
Goals: Abby Boreen, Laura Stacey, Jenn Gardiner (MTL), Emily Clark, Danielle Serdachny, Tereza Vanišová (OTT)
December 6, 2024 – Montreal 2 @ Ottawa 1 (Recap | Highlights)
Canadian Tire Centre
Winning goaltender: Elaine Chuli
Losing goaltender: Emerance Maschmeyer
Goals: Marie-Philip Poulin, Mikyla Grant-Mentis (MTL), Ashton Bell (OTT)
January 19, 2025 – Ottawa 1 @ Montreal 2 (Recap | Highlights)
Centre Videotron (Quebec City)
Winning goaltender: Ann-Renée Desbiens
Losing goaltender: Emerance Maschmeyer
Goals: Catherine Dubois, Kati Tabin (MTL), Shiann Darkangelo (OTT)
January 29, 2025 – Ottawa 1 @ Montreal 4 (Recap | Highlights)
Place Bell
Winning goaltender: Ann-Renée Desbiens
Losing goaltender: Gwyneth Philips
Goals: Marie-Philip Poulin (3), Jenn Gardiner (MTL), Tereza Vanišová (OTT)
February 22, 2025 – Montreal 1 @ Ottawa 3 (Recap | Highlights)
TD Place
Winning goaltender: Gwyneth Philips
Losing goaltender: Ann-Renée Desbiens
Goals: Laura Stacey (MTL), Stephanie Markowski, Emily Clark (2) (OTT)
April 26, 2025 – Montreal 2 @ Ottawa 3 (Recap | Highlights)
TD Place
Winning goaltender: Gwyneth Philips
Losing goaltender: Elaine Chuli
Goals: Anna Wilgren, Catherine Dubois (MTL), Ashton Bell (2), Brianne Jenner (OTT)
Montreal potential lineup
| FORWARDS | ||
|---|---|---|
| 12 JENN GARDINER | 29 MARIE-PHILIP POULIN | 7 LAURA STACEY |
| 28 CATHERINE DUBOIS | 43 KRISTIN O’NEILL | 19 KAITLIN WILLOUGHBY |
| 18 MIKYLA GRANT-MENTIS | 13 ALEXANDRA LABELLE | 42 CLAIRE DALTON |
| 21 MAUREEN MURPHY | 25 LINA LJUNGBLOM | 24 ABBY BOREEN |
| 17 DARA GREIG | ||
| DEFENDERS | ||
| 9 KATI TABIN | 23 ERIN AMBROSE | |
| 5 ANNA WILGREN | 3 CAYLA BARNES | |
| 2 MARIAH KEOPPLE | 44 AMANDA BOULIER | |
| GOALTENDERS | ||
| 35 ANN-RENÉE DESBIENS | ||
| 20 ELAINE CHULI |
Extras: G 30 Sandra Abstreiter (Reserve), D 14 Dominika Lásková, D 51 Kelly-Ann Nadeau (Reserve), D 4 Catherine Daoust (Reserve), F 26 Clair Degeorge, F 8 Gabrielle David (Reserve), F 22 Kennedy Marchment (LTIR)
Ottawa potential lineup
| FORWARDS | ||
|---|---|---|
| 26 EMILY CLARK | 17 GABBIE HUGHES | 18 MANNON MCMAHON |
| 13 TEREZA VANIŠOVÁ | 27 SHIANN DARKANGELO | 19 BRIANNE JENNER |
| 94 ANNA MEIXNER | 16 KATEŘINA MRÁZOVÁ | 92 DANIELLE SERDACHNY |
| 12 VICTORIA BACH | 10 ALEXA VASKO | 37 REBECCA LESLIE |
| DEFENDERS | ||
| 23 JOCELYNE LAROCQUE | 21 ASHTON BELL | |
| 88 RONJA SAVOLAINEN | 3 ZOE BOYD | |
| 71 JINCY ROESE | 2 ANETA TEJRALOVÁ | |
| 6 STEPHANIE MARKOWSKI | ||
| GOALTENDERS | ||
| 33 GWYNETH PHILIPS | ||
| 35 LOGAN ANGERS |
Extras: G 32 Lucy Morgan (Reserve), G 38 Emerance Maschmeyer (LTIR), D 5 Sam Isbell (Reserve), D 9 Jessica Adolfsson (Reserve), F 8 Natalie Snodgrass, F 22 Taylor House
Series Schedule
Game 1, Thursday May 8: Ottawa @ Montreal, 7pm (Place Bell)
Game 2, Sunday May 11: Ottawa @ Montreal 2pm (Place Bell)
Game 3, Tuesday May 13: Montreal @ Ottawa 7pm (TD Place)
Game 4*, Friday May 16: Montreal @ Ottawa 7pm (TD Place)
Game 5*, Sunday May 18: Ottawa @ Montreal 7pm (Place Bell)
(* – if necessary)
