Playoff hockey hits Canada’s capital — and it will be electric.

The 2025 PWHL Playoffs, presented by SharkNinja, are coming to Ottawa for the first time in PWHL history.
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The Charge and Victoire are tied 1–1 in their best-of-five semifinal after Sunday’s insane

Game 2 — a four-overtime battle that clocked in at 135 minutes and 33 seconds and ended in a 3–2 win for Montreal. Catherine Dubois netted the winner in the longest game in league history.
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In perspective, only eight NHL games have ever gone longer, including the legendary six-overtime clash between the Montreal Maroons and Detroit Red Wings on March 24, 1936.

Mustard packs have fueled a series that has truly seen both teams give it their all—a pair of wild, record-setting games in La Belle Province may be hard to match in Ottawa.

Montreal is no stranger to playing playoff games in overtime. They lost in triple overtime to Boston in the 2024 Walter Cup semifinals, a loss that put them in a 2–0 hole, a series they couldn't recover from. Imagine the relief that Victoire players, staff, and fans felt after getting a more positive outcome in this overtime tilt.

Kristin O’Neill dished a beautiful pass to Quebec native Catherine Dubois, who buried the game-winner and tied the series 1–1. Over 7,100 fans were in Laval to take in the Mother’s Day game, with many missing their dinner. 

Dubois has proven to be a Charge killer this year, registering three of her seven goals against Ottawa - the last being the most significant. She joins Mikyla Grant-Mentis, Kati Tabin, and Jennifer Gardiner as the fourth Victoire player to net a game-winner against Ottawa this season.

It was a long time coming. Montreal had lost four straight playoff games by one goal over the past two seasons. It doesn’t matter how you get it, as long as you finish the job.

It didn’t even look like this game was going to go the distance, as Montreal held a 2-0 lead late in the final frame, but Ottawa clawed their way back, scoring twice in just over four minutes. The Victoire scored the first two goals of the game nine times during the regular season, boasting an 8-0-1 record, so you can imagine what it felt like for the home team when Ottawa tied it up.

Now with Games 3 and 4 in Ottawa, it’s a best-of-three from here on out. And while Montreal was the top team in the regular season, the Charge aren’t buying into the underdog storyline.

Even though Montreal got the last punch in Game 2, the Charge are feeling good. They stole Game 1 on the road and pushed Game 2 to the limit. That’s not a bad weekend.

The Charge still has momentum, especially with Jenner leading the way and goalie Gwyneth Philips playing well beyond her years in net. The rookie goaltender who stepped up after starter Emerance Maschmeyer went down with a leg injury made 53 saves on Sunday.

As the Charge gear up for their first home playoff game, the city’s energy is building, and players are soaking it all in. 

Expect some star power in the crowd at TD Place, with Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, artist Jamie Fine, and members of the Ottawa Senators (including goalie Linus Ullmark) in attendance. The new Ottawa Rapid FC squad from the NSL will also be on hand to support their hometown hockey team.

It's shaping up to be a historic night in Ottawa — a playoff game two seasons in the making, and the energy is off the charts. Puck drop at 7 p.m. ET.