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Rebecca Leslie’s fourth playoff goal kept the Ottawa Charge’s championship hopes alive on Monday night. Leslie scored the game-winner with just 56 seconds remaining, lifting the Charge to a 2-1 victory over the Montreal Victoire. The win forces a Game 4 in the best-of-five Professional Women’s Hockey League Walter Cup final.
Montreal still holds a 2-1 series lead, having won two overtime games on home ice. Game 4 is set for Wednesday in Ottawa.
Leslie capitalized on a rebound from teammate Sarah Wozniewicz and fired the puck through traffic to beat Montreal goalie Ann-Renee Desbiens, who made 26 saves. A lengthy video review was requested following the goal due to a possible missed stoppage in play, but the goal stood, sending the playoff record crowd of 16,894 into a frenzy.
Montreal struck first at 7:32 of the third period when Maureen Murphy’s shot off the backboards led to Hayley Scamurra collecting the puck and scoring past Ottawa goalie Gwyneth Philips, who made 27 saves.
Ottawa tied the game at 14:30 of the third when Peyton Hemp capitalized on a loose puck and scored her first playoff goal. The Charge started the period on a power play but generated only one shot early on.
Both teams exchanged scoring chances throughout the game. Hemp had a close look at net, as did Montreal’s Kaitlin Willoughby, but neither could score in the first two periods.
Ottawa held a 90-second two-man advantage in the second but failed to take a shot. Marie-Philip Poulin of Montreal had several chances but was denied by Philips. Poulin was penalized for hooking with just over a minute left in the second, but Ottawa struggled to create significant offensive opportunities on the ensuing power play.
The first period ended with no goals but plenty of action. Ottawa controlled the puck in the offensive zone early and outshot Montreal before consecutive penalties shifted momentum to the Victoire. Catherine Dubois came close for Montreal from close range, and on the second power play, Laura Stacey had a strong chance, but Philips remained solid in net.
