Darkangelo’s winner helps Charge upset Victoire in Game 1 of PWHL semifinal
The Ottawa Charge pulled off a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Montreal Victoire in Game 1 of their best-of-five semifinal series. Shiann Darkangelo played the hero, scoring the game-winning goal at 9:17 of the third period. Brianne Jenner and Ashton Bell also found the back of the net for Ottawa, while goaltender Gwyneth Philips stood tall with 31 saves.
Despite finishing first in the PWHL regular-season standings, the Victoire opted to face off against Ottawa instead of the Minnesota Frost. Marie-Philip Poulin and Maureen Murphy scored for Montreal in a hard-fought battle that saw Ann-Renee Desbiens make 24 saves in front of a raucous crowd at Place Bell.
Darkangelo’s clutch goal came off a pass from Emily Clark, as she beat Desbiens with a precise wrist shot from the top right circle. Philips shut down Montreal’s late offensive surge, including a crucial save on Poulin’s backhand attempt from the slot.
The game marked the first PWHL playoff matchup between two Canadian teams, and it certainly lived up to the hype. Ottawa opened the scoring with a power-play goal from Jenner, set up by Tereza Vanisova. Bell extended the Charge’s lead before Poulin and Murphy responded for the Victoire.
The series opener showcased the intensity and skill of both teams, with Montreal showing resilience despite falling short in the end. The game was a back-and-forth affair, with both sides trading goals and momentum swings throughout.
With Game 2 set for Sunday in Laval, Quebec, and Game 3 heading to Ottawa on Tuesday, fans can expect more thrilling action as these two talented teams continue their battle for a spot in the PWHL finals. Stay tuned for more updates and highlights from this exciting playoff series.
