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Ottawa Charge goaltender Gwyneth Philips makes a save in front of Montreal Victoire’s Abigail Boreen during a PWHL game in Ottawa on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. Ottawa won the game 3-1, one of two victories in six meetings with Montreal this season. Photo by Justin Tang /THE CANADIAN PRESSArticle content
The Ottawa Charge should have some added motivation when entering the PWHL playoffs for the first time this week.
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In the determination of first-round opponents on Sunday evening, the standings show the Charge was dealt at least a small amount of disrespect.
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Despite finishing in third place, Ottawa will play the No. 1 seed Montreal Victoire in a best-of-five series that begins Thursday at Place Bell in Laval.
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The Victoire earned the right to select its opening-round opponent by winning the regular season crown, and opted against facing the fourth-place-finishing Minnesota Frost.
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While both Ottawa and Minnesota wound up with 44 points, the Charge had 12 regulation-time victories, the same as Montreal and the second-place Toronto Sceptres.
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The Frost won just 10 games in regulation.
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The Toronto-Minnesota series starts Wednesday.
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Montreal won four of six meetings with Ottawa this season, including a 4-3 shootout victory on opening night in November at Place Bell.
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But the Charge won the last two clashes — by scores of 3-1 on Feb. 22 and 3-2 on April 30 — both of which were at TD Place.
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The Victoire won four of six games against the Frost.
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Montreal did have some sound logic on its side when choosing its first-round opponent.
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Last season, Toronto finished atop the regular-season standings and picked Minnesota, which snuck into the playoffs as the fourth-place finisher.
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Not only did Minnesota eliminate Toronto, but it also went on to capture the Walter Cup.
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By choosing Ottawa, Montreal is also electing a two-hour drive over a two-hour flight for its road playoff games.
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