Philips Shuts Out The Victoire, Elimination Now Looms

Ottawa now leads the series 2–1 after a physical showdown filled with tension, missed chances, and one clutch goal.

It was a disappointing night for the Montreal Victoire in Game 3 of the PWHL semi-finals. With the series tied at one, the stakes were high. Ottawa now leads 2 to 1 and is just one win away from clinching their spot in the Walter Cup final.

Lineup Change and Strong Start from Ottawa
The game began with a strategic move by Coach Cheverie, who promoted the third line of Dubois, O'Neill, and Willoughby to the second line after their standout performance in Game 2. It was a move that made sense, given their momentum.

However, it was Ottawa that came out strong. They controlled the pace early, kept the puck deep in Montreal’s zone, and set the tone with sustained pressure. Despite Ottawa’s early dominance, Montreal responded well, evening out the pace and shot count as the period progressed. Ann-Renée Desbiens remained calm and focused in net—doing what she does best—and kept her team in the game. Both teams had their chances, but the first period ended scoreless.

Philips Stays Unshaken
In the second period, Montreal showed flashes of why it’s been their strongest period all season. The top line generated significant offensive pressure and created several quality scoring chances. But Gwyneth Philips, Ottawa’s sensational rookie goaltender, continued her stellar run. Despite facing heavy shots from stars like Laura Stacey and Marie-Philip Poulin, Philips kept her composure and turned everything aside.

The intensity ramped up. Physical play increased in front of both nets, and verbal exchanges were constant. You could sense that if fighting were allowed, tempers might have boiled over. The energy was electric, a clear sign that a fierce rivalry is taking shape between these two teams.

Third Period Drama
Heading into the third with the score still 0–0, the threat of another overtime loomed. But this time, Ottawa struck first. Manon McMahon netted her first of the series, capitalizing on a rebound to give the Charge the lead.

That goal shifted momentum—and controversy soon followed. Laura Stacey was penalized for a hit on Ashton Bell, sparking loud protests from the home crowd. What many thought was a major penalty ended up being just a two-minute minor, fueling outrage and adding to the growing tension inside TD Place.

Montreal kept pushing but struggled to create clean scoring chances. A few costly turnovers hurt their rhythm, and in a late sequence that felt like déjà vu from Sochi 2014, a shot rang off the post of Ottawa’s empty net. It was the kind of moment that could have changed everything—but the puck stayed out.

Montreal Searching For Goals
Montreal’s offense has hit a wall, and a big part of that wall is wearing #29 for Ottawa. After another frustrating night on the scoresheet, the team knows exactly what they’re up against. Defender Erin Ambrose summed it up clearly when describing what makes Ottawa’s goalie so elite:
“I think we need to do a better job of taking her eyes away. I think that she is an elite goaltender. [...] But I also think that we have elite goal scorers on this team, and we’ve just got to find a way to get dirty ones at times. And I think that that's something that all of us are wanting to do, but just aren't executing on it."

Meanwhile, on the Ottawa bench, the mood is one of calm confidence. Philips has been rock-solid between the pipes, and according to her, that confidence stems from more than just personal performance:
"Personally, it's just knowing how much I trust my teammates and how much they give it back to me.”
That trust and chemistry appear to give Ottawa an extra edge, the kind that often makes the difference in tight playoff series. The Charge has found its identity at just the right time.

Game 4 is Do or Die
With Ottawa now leading the series, Montreal heads into Game 4 with their season on the line. To stay alive and force a decisive Game 5, they’ll need to ramp up offensive pressure, create more traffic, and get bodies in front of the net to finally crack the Philips puzzle if they want to force a deciding Game 5 and keep their championship hopes alive.

Where to watch
Catch Game 4 on Friday, May 16, on TSN, RDS, or stream it on the PWHL website