Four Overtimes. 135 Minutes. One Hero: Dubois.

In a night that will be remembered for years, Catherine Dubois scored the game-winning goal deep into the fourth overtime, sealing a grueling 135-minute and 33-second marathon, the longest game in PWHL history, and delivering Montreal’s first-ever playoff victory to tie the series 1-1.

It was a must-win for the Victoire. In a best-of-five series, going down 2-0 before heading to Ottawa would’ve been a near-impossible hill to climb. After an exhausting, emotional, and physical battle, Montreal found a way to get it done.

A Fiery Start
What began as a dominant performance quickly turned into a dramatic and intense showdown. The Victoire came out flying, Kristin O’Neill opened the scoring just minutes into the game on Montreal’s very first shot. After a challenging regular season, it was a much-needed boost for O’Neill, and you could really feel the team rally around her. Midway through the second, Laura Stacey extended the lead to 2-0, and it looked like Montreal might be able to cruise to the finish.

The Charge Stays Alive
But closing games hasn’t always been the Victoire’s strong suit, and Ottawa wasn’t going down quietly. Ottawa pushed extremely hard in the third, ramping up the pace and physicality. Aneta Tejralová finally broke through with five minutes left, and with just 41.8 seconds remaining, Captain Brianne Jenner silenced the crowd at Place Bell with the equalizer, sending the game into overtime.

History Repeats Itself, And Then Some
No one could have predicted what came next: four full overtime periods in the longest game the league has ever seen. And in a poetic twist, it happened exactly one year after the previous record: a triple-overtime battle between Boston and Montreal on May 11, 2024.

Overtime hockey is nothing new for Montreal fans, but this was something else. For over 75 extra minutes, the crowd at Place Bell was on edge, riding every shot and save. Both teams had golden chances to end it, but goaltenders Ann-Renée Desbiens and rookie Gwyneth Philips were sensational. Desbiens stopped 63 of 65 shots, while rookie Gwyneth Philips turned away 53 of 56 in a standout performance. This game was without a doubt a goalie battle. 

Unsung Trio
While Montreal’s top line of Poulin, Stacey, and Gardiner generated pressure as expected, it was the third line with Dubois, O’Neill, and Willoughby, who truly made their mark.

Their relentless forecheck and ability to control and create plays in the offensive zone created key opportunities throughout the game.

And finally, at 15:33 of the fourth overtime, it was Dubois who ended it. The building erupted as the fan favorite buried the winner, lifting the team and the city to its first-ever playoff win. After more than five hours of hockey, with players running on pickle juice and mustard, and fans screaming through sheer will, none of it mattered in that instant, because that was the moment Catherine Dubois became a Montreal hero.

Dubois later on stated:  "To be quite honest, I think I blacked out. I don't remember anything except [my teammates] coming to me and celebrating. So, I'm just very happy that that we won this game. It was a team win. We all played together. So, I'm just happy."

Battle Moves to Ottawa
There’s no doubt Montreal will be riding a wave of momentum after this marathon victory. It wasn’t an easy battle, but in the playoffs, a win is a win, no matter how you earn it.

Despite the loss, Ottawa Charge Head Coach Carla McLeod remained upbeat: “How fun is that? Welcome to playoff hockey in the PWHL! [...] That was a heck of a hockey game.  So certainly, I enjoyed it. I really liked how we played, and I think it's probably one in the history books for a little while.”

Ottawa has proven to be more dangerous than many expected, but tonight, Montreal came out on top. And in this case, both teams are headed to Ottawa with something to build on. 

Montreal Head Coach Kori Cheverie summed it up well: "I think that the group showed the grit that was needed to win a playoff game–– the amount of blocked shots, the amount of puck tracking. I'd like to think that the momentum is in our corner, but, we'll have to wait and see and be able to put another game together for 60-plus minutes."

What's next
After a game that will go down in history, the PWHL semifinal between Montreal and Ottawa is now tied 1-1, and the stage is set for a thrilling Game 3 in the nation’s capital. Montreal’s dramatic win was a showcase of endurance, heart, and playoff grit.

But make no mistake, Ottawa is far from rattled.

Despite the heartbreaking loss, the Charge’s performance was anything but disappointing. They were composed, aggressive, and fully engaged for all five hours of play. The Charge locker room is still full of competitive optimism. Ottawa is still very much in this fight. With the series shifting to Ottawa, a new set of variables comes into play. Home ice. Fresh legs. A loud crowd. And the looming awareness for both teams that the winner of Game 3 will be just one step from the PWHL final.

Where to watch
Catch Game 3 on Tuesday, May 13 at 7 PM ET on TSN, RDS, or on PWHL website