Both Montreal hockey teams have the chance that their season will end today, and while the Canadiens hope their season stays alive, if the Montreal Victoire’s season ends it will be with their first Walter Cup.
The Victoire have a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five series as the action shifts to Ottawa and the Canadian Tire Centre tonight.
Walter Cup Final – Game Three (Montreal leads best-of-five series 2-0)
Montreal Victoire @ Ottawa Charge
6:00 p.m. Eastern / 3:00 p.m. Pacific
Canada: TSN/RDS
United States: ION
Outside Canada: YouTube
While Ottawa won both of their playoff games at the Canadian Tire Centre, Montreal is 2-0 there in both of their regular season games over the last two seasons.
”We know that they’re good in their building,” said Montreal head coach Kori Cheverie. “They’re a relentless, fighting team and we know the third win is going to be the hardest to get.”
Montreal has not led the series in regulation time. Their only two leads in the series have come after their overtime winners. Game 1 was scored by Abby Roque, while Maggie Flaherty scored the winner in Game 2.
”Chances are there,” said Ottawa head coach Carla MacLeod. “We’re playing really good hockey. Obviously we have to dig ourselves out, but it’s a best-of-five.”
Poulin, who clearly is not 100%, leads the PWHL in playoff scoring with seven points in seven games and was involved in both overtime winners.
She is now the closest she has been to a Walter Cup championship.
”You work so hard to have these moments,” Poulin said. “Not only to do it with our teammates but all the fans who are behind us is something that is exciting. We know where we are and we have to focus on ourselves.”
This is only the third series out of nine in PWHL history to have a team up 2-0. The two previous ones came in the 2024 Playoffs. Boston completed the sweep of Montreal with a third overtime win, while Minnesota came back from an 0-2 deficit to defeat Toronto. It is the first time that the Walter Cup final has not been tied 1-1.
Teams that win Game 3 of a playoff series have won every PWHL playoff series. It would be the first professional women’s hockey championship for Montreal since Les Canadiennes winning the Clarkson Cup in 2017, which was also at the Canadian Tire Centre.
