Sunday, May 11, 2025 | 2:00 p.m. ET | Place Bell
WATCH LIVE: TSN 1, TSN.ca, TSN App, RDS, RDS.ca, RDS App, MSG/MSGHD, PWHL YouTube & thepwhl.com (U.S. / International), more below.
EN: Kenzie Lalonde (Play-by-Play), Cheryl Pounder (Analyst), Kelly Greig (Reporter);
FR: Claudine Douville (Play-by-Play), Isabelle Leclaire (Analyst), Catherine Savoie (Reporter), Andrée-Anne Barbeau (Studio Host), Karell Émard (Studio Analyst)
OTTAWA CHARGE (3)
Top Scorers: Bell, Darkangelo, Jenner (1G each)
Goalie: Gwyneth Philips, 1-0, 2.00 GAA, .939 SV%
Series Stats: PP 1/3 (33.3%) PK 0/2 (0%)
MONTRÉAL VICTOIRE (1)
Top Scorers: Murphy & Poulin (1G each)
Goalie: Ann-Renée Desbiens, 0-1, 3.04 GAA, .889 SV%
Series Stats: PP 2/2 (100%) PK 2/3 (66.7%)
2025 PWHL PLAYOFFS: OTTAWA LEADS BEST-OF-FIVE SERIES 1-0
Game 1 at MTL: 3-2 OTT | Game 2 – May 11 at MTL | Game 3 – May 13 at OTT | Game 4 – May 16 at OTT | Game 5 – May 18 at MTL
2024-25 SEASON SERIES: MONTRÉAL WON 11-7 IN POINTS (MTL WON 10-5 IN 2024)
Nov. 30 at MTL: 4-3 MTL (SO) | Dec. 6 at OTT: 2-1 MTL | Jan. 19 at MTL (QUÉBEC): 2-1 MTL | Jan. 29 at MTL: 4-1 MTL | Feb. 22 at OTT: 3-1 OTT | Apr. 26 at OTT: 3-2 OTT
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Ottawa won their first-ever playoff game, 3-2, over Montréal on Thursday, handing the Victoire their second straight playoff loss by that score and first regulation loss in the postseason after three straight overtime losses to Boston in 2024.
The Charge opened the scoring in Game 1 at 4:54 of the first period. During the regular season, Montréal allowed just one goal within the first five minutes of a game, the fewest by any PWHL team in either this season or last.
Gwyneth Philips has backstopped the Charge to five wins in their last six games, allowing two or fewer goals against in all six starts. The American rookie has also helped the team win five straight on the road, surrendering just six goals against with a .953 save percentage in those games since Mar. 22.
Shiann Darkangelo has points in five straight road games (4G, 3A) including Thursday’s game-winning goal. Game 1 was also her best in the faceoff circle, winning a career-high 16 of 20 draws (80%).
Game 1 was Brianne Jenner’s sixth career game with a power-play goal (including playoffs). That is the third-most games with a PPG in PWHL history, behind Natalie Spooner (eight) and Laura Stacey (seven), neither of whom have done so in a playoff game. The Charge have won 14 of 15 games all-time when their captain scores.
The line formed by Darkangelo (5), Jenner (4) and Tereza Vanišová (5) led the Charge offense by generating 14 of the team’s 27 shots on goal in Game 1. The trio have all recorded points in consecutive games.
Emerance Maschmeyer is celebrating her first Mother’s Day since the birth of her son Beckham in September. She’s one of two moms on the Charge, along with Jenner who has three children (daughter June, twin sons Fritz and Lowell).
During the regular season, the Victoire had eight regulation losses. In the games immediately following those losses, they had six wins (four regulation, two OT) and two regulation losses – both losses were to the Charge.
Montréal lost to Ottawa despite scoring two power-play goals in Game 1. The only other team to score multiple power-play goals in a postseason game is Minnesota, who has done so twice and won both games (Game 5 vs. Toronto last season, Game 2 vs. Toronto this season).
Maureen Murphy has points in three straight games for the first time all season (1G, 2A). She is also the only Montréal player to record a point in each of the team’s four all-time playoff games (2G, 2A).
Erin Ambrose holds the next longest active playoff point streak carried over from 2024 with three assists in three games.
Marie-Philip Poulin has three goals in her last two games and went 11-for-23 in the faceoff circle on Thursday, giving her 414 total faceoff wins (including playoffs) this season, the most in the PWHL. Last year, Poulin won 326 faceoffs (including playoffs), second to Kelly Pannek’s 344.
The line of Poulin (8), Stacey (6) and Jennifer Gardiner (4) compiled 18 of the Victoire’s 33 shots on goal in Game 1.
Gardiner (1A) and Anna Wilgren (1A) both recorded points in their playoff debuts in Game 1. The two points from two Montréal rookies is one behind the three points from three Minnesota rookies produced in Game 1 of the league’s other semifinal. Wilgren is the first rookie defender to get on the scoresheet so far this postseason.
On this day, May 11, 2024, Montréal and Boston played the longest game in PWHL history at Place Bell. Boston won the Game 2 playoff marathon, 2-1 in triple overtime, at 111:44.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“Montréal just did what they had to do when they picked us for the opening round. We don’t need external motivation when you have the top four teams playing right now. For us, it’s not really about that at all. Montréal earned that opportunity to select their opponent. They selected us. That was their job and now it’s our job just to keep pushing and playing.” – Charge Head Coach Carla MacLeod.
“I think we’re in a good place and that we’re determined, urgent, desperate, but no panic. I think that’s where the group is at. I think that the players felt like it wasn’t their best game collectively. I think that there were certainly some bright spots in the game. The fact that we were able to generate as much as we did. I think that there’s unwavering confidence amongst the players that they can get the job done. So I’m excited for the game.” – Victoire Head Coach Kori Cheverie.
SUNDAY’S GAME: The Victoire host the Charge for a Mother’s Day matinee at Place Bell for Game 2 of the PWHL Playoffs, presented by SharkNinja. Fans will receive Royale rally towels upon entry and can also enjoy partner activations with Factor, the Canadian Tire ‘My Team, My Sign’ station, and Scotiabank ‘Make it Merch’ all on the concourse. DJ Montana will be in command of the turntable which will be sure to raise the roof of the Victoire’s home.
In addition to live broadcast coverage exclusively on TSN and RDS in Canada, today’s game will be available to fans in the U.S. on MSG Network, on various stations distributed in partnership with Gray Media (Gulf Sports & Entertainment Network, Peachtree Sports Network, Palmetto Sports Network, Rock Entertainment Sports Network, Tennessee Valley Sports & Entertainment Network, Matrix Midwest), and Scripps Sports (Fort Myers, West Palm Beach, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Green Bay, Boise and Twin Falls), and on YouTube. Internationally, the game will be distributed by NOVA Prime in Czechia and Slovakia.
© 2025 PWHL
