Maggie Flaherty’s overtime goal lifted Montréal to a 2-1 victory over Ottawa, giving them a 2-0 series lead in the PWHL Walter Cup Finals. Flaherty scored 3:23 into overtime at Place Bell, sending the home crowd into a frenzy. The game marked the second straight overtime game of the series.
The defender received a pass from captain Marie-Philip Poulin. Poulin carried the puck into the corner, drawing three Ottawa skaters before finding Flaherty alone in the slot.
Ottawa Draw First Blood, Montreal Respond
Ottawa opened the scoring for the second straight game. Rookie Sarah Wozniewicz found a loose puck in traffic at the side of the crease, giving the Charge a 1-0 lead at 8:38 of the opening frame. The Charge have now scored the game’s first goal in all six playoff contests this postseason. Montréal applied pressure throughout the period, but Gwyneth Philips denied every opportunity.
Philips notably turned aside a short-handed breakaway from Laura Stacey. Ottawa outshot the Victoire 10-5 in the frame.
Kati Tabin tied the game just 32 seconds into the second period. She won possession off an offensive-zone draw before walking in from the hash marks and roofing a backhand shot past Philips. Stacey nearly gave the Victoire the lead midway through the second period with her second breakaway of the afternoon but rang her shot off the post.
Goaltending Duel Extends the Game
With the teams still deadlocked 1-1 after regulation, the contest marked the sixth consecutive Walter Cup Finals game to extend beyond regulation. Ann-Renée Desbiens made 20 saves in the victory. She made a key pad stop on Alexa Vasko from the top of the crease just seconds before Montréal transitioned up ice for the game-winning goal. Philips turned aside 27 shots in the loss, including six in overtime.
Montreal look to close out the series in Ottawa
Marie-Philip Poulin spoke about the support the team has been getting. “We feel so fortunate to have the support of the fans,” she said. “We’ve seen it all week — the initiatives, the people who have come to the arena. The Roch Voisines, the Mitsous, Patrice Bélanger’s crew. So many people have come together. We feel it. When we talk about the seventh player, it’s there — we can feel it — and we’re truly grateful.”
Montréal Head Coach Kori Cheverie commented on the team’s performance. “I did really like our game from start to finish,” Cheverie said. “There were a couple of ups and downs, but in the second, we didn’t give up much.”
Montréal will have the chance to win its first ever Walter Cup on Monday. Game 3 of the best-of-five series heads to Ottawa where the two teams will face off at Canadian Tire Centre at 6 p.m. ET.