The Ottawa Charge and Montreal Victoire face off in a pivotal Game 4 of the PWHL Playoffs Semifinals on Friday, May 16, at TD Place Arena in Ottawa. The Charge lead the best-of-five series 2-1, putting Montreal in a must-win situation to force a decisive Game 5.
Game Details
- Matchup: Ottawa Charge (3rd seed) vs. Montreal Victoire (1st seed)
- Date: Friday, May 16, 2025
- Time: 7:00 PM ET
- Venue: TD Place Arena, Ottawa, ON
- TV Broadcast: TSN, RDS, MSGSNHD, PWHL YouTube (U.S./International)
Series Recap
Game 1: Ottawa 3, Montreal 2
Ottawa stunned Montreal in the opener, securing a 3-2 victory behind a strong performance from Gwyneth Philips, who made 32 saves. Shiann Darkangelo scored the game-winner, continuing her breakout season.
Game 2: Montreal 3, Ottawa 2 (4OT)
Montreal responded with a marathon victory, winning in four overtimes—the longest game in PWHL history. Catherine Dubois netted the game-winner at 135:33, while Ann-Renée Desbiens recorded 63 saves.
Game 3: Ottawa 1, Montreal 0
Philips posted a shutout, stopping 19 shots as Ottawa edged Montreal 1-0. Emily Clark scored the lone goal early in the third period, giving the Charge a crucial series lead.
Key Matchups
Marie-Philip Poulin vs. Ottawa’s Defense
- Poulin, the league’s leading scorer, has been held to one goal in the series.
- Ottawa’s top line of Gabbie Hughes, Clark, and Mannon McMahon has effectively neutralized Montreal’s offense.
Gwyneth Philips vs. Ann-Renée Desbiens
- Philips leads the playoffs with a 1.18 GAA and .957 SV%, including a shutout in Game 3.
- Desbiens has been stellar despite Montreal’s struggles, posting a 1.43 GAA and .949 SV%.
Ottawa’s Fast Starts vs. Montreal’s Late Pushes
- Ottawa has scored first in three straight games, capitalizing on early momentum.
- Montreal has struggled offensively, scoring just five goals on 115 shots (4.35%) in the series.
Game Outlook
Montreal faces elimination and must find a way to break through Ottawa’s defensive structure. The Charge have outplayed expectations, shutting down Montreal’s top line and relying on Philips’ elite goaltending.
If Montreal can generate more high-danger chances and capitalize on the power play, they have a chance to force Game 5. However, Ottawa’s ability to hold leads and control the pace makes them the favorites to close out the series at home.
GAME ODDS
Ottawa Charge – 130
Montreal Victoire 4.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, May 19, 2025
