Montreal, QC – May 11
In a game that went to a remarkable four overtimes before finally ending, the Ottawa Charge lost game 3 of the PWHL semifinals to the Montreal Victoire.
With a goal that was scored by Catherine Dubois in the fourth overtime, the Victoire finally ended the game, which had gone on for over 75 minutes longer than the standard 60 minutes of a PWHL game.
The game was categorized by elite goaltending, as both teams’ netminders each ended the game with over 50 saves. Ann-Renée Desbiens of the Victoire ended the game with 63 saves on 65 shots for a save percentage of .969, while Gwyneth Philips of the Ottawa Charge finished with 53 saves on 56 shots for a save percentage of .946, still posting a ridiculously elite performance despite her team’s loss. Desbiens and Philips both ended in the top 5 of regular season save percentage, though these game figures are noticeably higher than their respective averages of .932 and .919.
The game opened with Kristin O’Neill of the Victoire scoring just over 2 minutes in for an early 1-0 lead. In the second period, Laura Stacey would extend this lead to 2-0. The Charge, perhaps taking inspiration from the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets, were not done, though. With just under 5 minutes to go in the third period, Aneta Tejralová would score to make it a one-goal game. And with just over 40 seconds left on the clock, Ottawa team captain Brianne Jenner scored to tie the game up.
After an excruciatingly nerve-wracking 75 minutes of overtime, off of a brilliant entry pass into the slot from teammate Kristin O’Neill, Victoire winger Catherine Dubois would score a wrist-shot over Charge goalie Gwyneth Philips to win the game and tie the series at 1-1.
In the post-game press conference, Ottawa Charge head coach Carla MacLeod appeared in high spirits despite the loss, emphasizing her satisfaction with her team’s effort as well as her happiness that the talented women of the hockey community now have a league in which they can play. Defender Jocelyne Larocque noted that while it was a tough way to lose, she was happy with the team’s overall performance and excited to bounce back from this game.
The game, which went for a real-time total of 5 hours and 34 minutes, was attended by 7,114 fans in Place Bell in Montreal. Game 3 takes place at TD Place in Ottawa on Tuesday at 7PM EST.
