The 2025 PWHL Playoffs are Here
Montréal, the top seed, was upset in their opening 2025 PWHL Playoffs game on Thursday, losing 3-2 to Ottawa, the No. 3 seed making their postseason debut.
Who is the Ottawa Charge?
The Ottawa Charge is a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, and a member of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). They are one of the league’s six charter franchises. The team’s name, “Charge,” is inspired by the city’s motto, “Advance – Ottawa – En Avant,” and stands for an energetic force.
Who is the Montréal Victoire?
The Montréal Victoire professional women’s ice hockey team is based in the Greater Montreal area and competes in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). They are one of the league’s six charter franchises. The team’s name, “Victoire,” which translates to “victory” in English, is intended to reflect the city’s pursuit of sporting achievements. The Victoire plays their home games at Place Bell in Laval, Quebec.
A Close Battle
Despite a tight, back-and-forth game, Ottawa’s Shiann Darkangelo scored the winning goal in the third period, giving the Charge an early lead in the best-of-five semifinal series.
The Victoire, who used their top-seed status to choose the Charge as their semifinal opponent, still have not won a playoff game. Thursday’s loss adds to their first-round sweep by Boston last season.
Montréal is already using the loss as motivation to even the series this weekend.
“We outshot them; we had a lot of great opportunities. We were right there,” said Victoire forward Laura Stacey. “If we can put that game together for a whole 60 minutes, it’ll look scary, I think.”
Both teams are strong, and the series has just begun! It will be an exciting and competitive playoff series for both teams and viewers.
