Ottawa Charge Beat Montreal Victoire 3-2 in PWHL Semifinal Opener

The Ottawa Charge defeated the Montreal Victoire 3-2 in the first game of their 2025 PWHL playoff semifinal series at Place Bell, putting Montreal at a disadvantage in the best-of-five series. This marks Ottawa's first-ever playoff game, a significant milestone after barely securing a playoff spot in their inaugural season under the Charge name. Despite being underdogs and Montreal's strong regular-season performance, Ottawa's recent momentum and rivalry with Montreal add intensity to the series. Key players include Montreal's Marie-Philip Poulin, the league's top goal scorer, and Ottawa's Teresa Vanišová, a leading point scorer. The teams have a history of close contests, with Montreal winning most past matchups but Ottawa securing recent victories. The series continues with the second game scheduled for May 11, as both teams and fans eagerly anticipate the next critical playoff encounter.