Game 3: Monday, May 18, 2026 | 6 p.m. ET | Canadian Tire Centre
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EN: Kenzie Lalonde (Play-by-Play), Cheryl Pounder (Analyst), Rob Pizzo (Reporter), Jamie Hersch (Host), Becky Kellar (Panelist), Alison Lukan (Panelist);
FR: Claudine Douville (Play-by-Play), Isabelle Leclaire (Analyst), Catherine Savoie (Reporter), Andrée‑Anne Barbeau (Host), Karell Emard (Panelist)
MONTRÉAL VICTOIRE (1)
Top Scorer: Marie-Philip Poulin – 7 GP, 2-5-7 PTS
Goaltender: Ann-Renée Desbiens – 1.49 GAA, .939 SV%
Special Teams: PP 3/16 (18.8%) | PK 20/22 (90.9%)
OTTAWA CHARGE (4)
Top Scorer: Rebecca Leslie – 6 GP, 3-2-5 PTS
Goaltender: Gwyneth Philips – 1.82 GAA, .939 SV%
Special Teams: PP 2/17 (11.8%) | PK 19/20 (95.0%)
2026 PWHL WALTER CUP FINALS: MONTRÉAL LEADS THE BEST-OF-FIVE SERIES 2-0
Game 1 at MTL: 3-2 MTL (OT) | Game 2 at MTL: 2-1 MTL (OT) | Game 3 at OTT (May 18) | Game 4 at OTT (May 20) | Game 5 at MTL (May 23)
2025-26 SEASON SERIES: MONTRÉAL WON 10-2 IN POINTS (MTL LEADS 31-14 IN POINTS ALL-TIME)
Jan. 13 at MTL: 2-1 MTL | Jan. 24 at MTL: 3-1 MTL | Mar. 22 at OTT (WINNIPEG): 2-1 OTT (OT) | Apr. 3 at OTT: 3-0 MTL
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
This is the first time a team has ever held a 2-0 series lead in the PWHL Walter Cup Finals (the first two were both tied, 1-1, after two games). The only team to ever overcome a 2-0 deficit in the playoffs to win the series was 2024 Minnesota, after Toronto won the first two games at home in the semifinals.
The Victoire have a three-game win streak dating back to Game 5 of the semifinals against the Frost. The longest postseason winning streak in PWHL history (in a single postseason) is four straight by Boston in 2024 (semifinals sweep vs. Montréal and a Game 1 win in the finals against Minnesota). Prior to this run, the Victoire had three total playoff wins all-time.
Maggie Flaherty has recorded a point in each of the first two games of this series after two points in 21 career playoff games entering this series. Her overtime goal in Game 2 was the fifth game-winning goal of her career, the most by a defender in PWHL history. The two-time Walter Cup champion has never had a three-game point streak in her PWHL career.
Kati Tabin scored Montréal’s first goal on Saturday, the team’s first game this season with multiple goals from its defense. Last season, the Victoire had two such games, including Mar. 18 where Amanda Boulier and Anna Wilgren scored in a shootout loss to Boston, and Mar. 1 where Tabin scored twice in an overtime win against the Fleet.
Abby Roque has a point on all three of Montréal’s overtime goals in this postseason: the secondary assist in Game 2, the Game 1 winner and the primary assist in Game 2 of the semifinals. Four of the Victoire’s six playoff wins have come in overtime, with all four goals scored by different players.
Marie-Philip Poulin has a three-game point streak, leads the playoffs in scoring, and scored the first-ever PWHL goal (shorthanded) at Canadian Tire Centre on Dec. 6, 2024. Her seven points is one ahead of Laura Stacey who leads the postseason with 25 shots and is the all-time playoff leader with 70, and Roque who has points in nine straight games against the Charge, including six points (4G, 2A) in five games this season. All three were pointless in both semifinal road games.
The Charge have scored first in each of the first two games of this series and all six of their playoff games this season. They have scored first in 12 of their 14 playoff games all time, the most of any PWHL team. Ottawa has also been outshot in 11 of their 14 playoff games, more than any other team, including all six games this postseason.
Ottawa is facing elimination for just the second time in its postseason history, previously losing 2-1 to Minnesota in Game 4 of the 2025 finals, one of the six straight games in the PWHL Walter Cup Finals decided in overtime.
Sarah Wozniewicz scored the Charge’s lone goal in Game 2 and is the only rookie with multiple goals in this year’s postseason. Her nine total goals between the regular season and playoffs are second among PWHL rookies behind Kristýna Kaltounková (11). Her current three-game point streak is tied for the longest in postseason history, and prior to this series, Ottawa had won all 11 games in which she recorded a point.
Michela Cava and Emma Greco were part of Minnesota’s 2024 semifinal comeback against Toronto, but neither recorded a point in the series. Cava’s offensive impact that season was entirely in the inaugural finals where she amassed eight points (4G, 4A) in five games against Boston but has been held off the scoresheet in six championship series games since. The two-time Walter Cup champion is the only player with three playoff game-winning goals, including the double-overtime tally at Canadian Tire Centre to eliminate the Fleet.
Gwyneth Philips has never lost in regulation in the finals (six games). Game 2 was the 22nd time in 34 starts this season where the reigning Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP has recorded 25 or more saves. She is 29 saves away from 1,000 for the entire season, while her 442 career playoff saves are most all-time, followed by Ann-Renée Desbiens (412), each in 14 games.
Peyton Hemp celebrated her 23rd birthday on Friday and is the second youngest player in the series, with fellow Charge rookie Wozniewicz turning 23 in August. Jocelyne Larocque, the oldest player in the series, turns 38 tomorrow.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“We know that they're good in their building and we know that they're a relentless fighting team, as we've seen it in the past two games. We know that the third win is going to be the hardest to get, so we know that if we outwork them, if we bring our talent to the table, and if we utilize our depth, we're in a good position to set ourselves up for success. That's a good team on the other side, and we're going to have to work for it.” - Victoire Head Coach Kori Cheverie
“In these moments, you have choices to make. The easier one to make is to think that you're down and out. You can have your head down and trip over your bottom lip, but the reality is that the series is the best of five for a reason. Coach said after the game in the locker room, if you were handed this opportunity at the start of the season, you'd absolutely take it. So sometimes it's a hard choice to make but I absolutely believe in this group. And if you think we're going to give up, that's not the case at all.” – Charge Alternate Captain Emily Clark
MONDAY’S GAME: The 2026 PWHL Walter Cup Finals, presented by Scotiabank, continue tonight at Canadian Tire Centre where Ottawa fights to stay alive and Montréal looks to capture their first title in the all-Canadian championship series. The finals return to the nation’s capital for the first time since the Charge hosted Game 2 against the Frost at TD Place on May 22, 2025. Ottawa set a playoff attendance record with 13,112 fans at Canadian Tire Centre for Game 3 of the semifinals against Boston on May 8 and could set a new mark tonight. The Victoria Day festivities will begin in the Charge Fan Zone at 3 p.m. ET featuring a live host and player walk-ins on Electric Avenue. Tim Hortons will have a mobile truck, Milk will have a photobooth, SharkNinja is giving away a BBQ and offering product samples, and fans can enjoy free face painting and Thursty Pedaler rides along with $5 beers, $2 hotdogs, and purchase team gear including discounted items. Inside on the concourse, the Canadian Tire poster station will be located behind Section 106 and 107. Members of Ottawa Rapid FC and the Ottawa Senators will be among the special guests in the house tonight to cheer on the Charge, and Sens forward Ridly Greig will be here to support his sister Dara Greig of the Victoire. Allegra Nocita will perform the national anthem. Only one playoff series in PWHL history has ever ended in three games, while the winner of Game 3 has won all eight series to date. The Charge hold a 5-1 all-time record in playoff games at home and went 7-1-1-4 in games played in Ottawa during the regular season. The Victoire are 1-4 all-time in playoff road games and went 5-3-0-4 in opposing PWHL markets during the regular season. Montréal has defeated Ottawa twice in regulation in two previous games played at Canadian Tire Centre, first by a 2-1 score last season on Dec. 6, 2024, then 3-0 this season on Apr. 3. The Walter Cup, created in partnership with global luxury jeweler, Tiffany & Co, will be in the building tonight and, if the Victoire win, would be presented in a postgame ceremony on the ice along with the Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP Award. Tonight’s referees are Jake Kamrass and Lacey Senuk, with linespersons Laura Gutauskas and Dustin McCrank. Following the game, fans can tune-in to Jocks in Jills on the league’s YouTube channel, streaming live from Canadian Tire Centre.