On March 22 2026, the Takeover Tour made its most recent stop at the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, MB to a crowd of 15,225. The Ottawa Charge were set to host the Montréal Victoire in a consequential game in the final third of the season. Ahead of puck drop, the Charge sat three points behind the Toronto Sceptres with a game in hand for the fourth and final playoff spot. Meanwhile, the Victoire were three points back on the Boston Fleet for second, with both a game and the tiebreaker in hand. Marie-Philip Poulin was once again unavailable for Montréal, putting the pressure of creating offense on Laura Stacey, Abby Roque, et al. In the two prior meetings between these teams, the story was defense, with both matches only recording a total of six non-empty net goals.For the third time this season, the Charge opted for Gwyneth Philips in net, while the Victoire went with Ann-Renée Desbiens.

After a heavy bit of forechecking to open the period, Montréal’s Tamara Giaquinto placed the game’s first shot on goal, which was followed quickly by a follow-up from Jessica Digirorlamo. Philips was sharp early, keeping both pucks out of the net. Both teams traded shot attempts through the eighth minute, but the defense was strong on both ends. Jade Downie-Landry presented the Charge with their first power play of the game after a delay of game penalty at 7:14. Aside from a Ronja Savolainen shot, Ottawa didn’t generate much on the woman advantage, and following a shot block by Maggie Flaherty, the Victoire exited the zone, back at even strength. After a bid from Stacey in the twelfth minute, the Charge pushed back on a chance from Fanuza Kadriova. Both her and Sarah Wozniewicz’s rebound attempt were denied. The physical play returned for the following several minutes. In the eighteenth minute, the Charge had a series of shots that broke through the defense from Brooke McQuigge, Rory Guilday, and Alex Vasko, but Desbiens was up to the challenge. After matching minors from Nicole Gosling and Rebecca Leslie at 19:04, the Charge applied pressure with two more quick shots, yet the Victoire carried the game into the intermission tied a zero. Ottawa led the shot board 10-6.

Kateřina Mrázová placed a shot on Desbiens less than thirty seconds into the second frame. The tie held. The heavy defensive play from early in the first took hold again to start the second period. In the fifth minute, the Victoire applied pressure with three shot attempts, two of which made it to Philips. Montréal couldn’t take the lead. After Philips’ stop on Nicole Gosling in the seventh minute, the Charge countered, and Gabbie Hughes broke the tie with her fourth goal of the season. Natálie Mlýnková tried and failed to answer thirteen seconds later. The Charge controlled possession into the ninth minute, but Hughes was called for interference at 8:36, putting Montréal on the woman advantage. Gosling had the only shot on goal during the Victoire power play. They kept the momentum after the penalty expired, and Gosling put the equalizer past Philips. The rest of the period was dictated by physical play and low event hockey., as only three pucks made it to the net in the last eight minutes of the period. At the buzzer, the Charge once again held the edge in shots 8-6.

The physical play carried over into the third. After a shot from Roque ten seconds into the period, both teams attempted to impose their will. Savolainen and Brianne Jenner got pucks to Desbiens in the first four minutes. They were unable to break the tie. A goalie interference penalty on Wozniewicz put the Victoire in prime position to break the tie. Montréal’s power play pressed hard. Stacey had two looks in the opening thirty-five seconds in the advantage, while Flaherty had two bids of her own. Philips managed to keep the score even. Kardirova and Jocelyne Larocque pushed back after the penalty expired; however, Desbiens continued to keep the score even. The game ground to a slow, physical match at the midpoint of the frame once again. Karirova and Catherine Dubois traded looks in the fifteenth and sixteenth minute to no avail. Leslie sent Montréal to the power play at 17:16. Ottawa had the only shot on goal during the advantage. Roque equalized the woman power with a slashing penalty of her own at 18:27. Wozniewicz and Greig both made attempts to end the game in regulation. Neither goalie budged. Savolainen found Leslie on the power play, and Leslie put the puck past Desbien to secure a 2-1 win for the Charge.

The headline from this one for Ottawa is the continuation of the marvelous breakout season from Rebecca Leslie, as she has reached nineteen points in twenty-two games, keeping her tied with Brianne Jenner for the most on the team. Philips also continued to be sharp while Sanni Ahola is unavailable for maintenance. Overall, with the overtime win, the Charge now sit just one point behind the Toronto Sceptres for the last playoff spot. If the race stays tight between the two provincial rivals, they are slated to play two more times this season: April 11th and April 25th, with the second match being the regular season finale.

For Montréal, this game was an extension of how the team has played since the Olympic break. The Victoire have had a higher xGF than their opponents in every game since the break, but aside from the 4-0 victory over Minnesota on 1 March, they haven’t substantially outplayed their opponents, leaving the outcomes of games to goaltending and finishing. 

• Christian