OTTAWA — The Montreal Victoire lost its first match of the Professional Women’s Hockey League final after the Ottawa Charge bounced back to stave off a sweep Monday night.
The Charge stayed alive with a 2-1 win over the Victoire in Game 3 at the Canadian Tire Centre. Montreal’s Hayley Scamurra broke a scoreless draw at 7:32 in the third period, prompting excited cheers from parts of the crowd.
Facing do or die, the Charge’s Peyton Hemp then tied it up at 14:30 with the team’s first goal of the night. In the final minute, Ottawa took the lead after Rebecca Leslie found the back of the net.
The Victoire now has a 2-1 series lead, and remains one win away from clinching the Walter Cup.
Hayley Scamurra from the Montreal Victoire scores on Gwyneth Philips to make it 1-0 in the third period at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa Monday. Tony Caldwell / Postmedia News
Scamurra described how it was “a little extra special” to score against her former team, and how it “means a lot” to know so many Montreal fans travelled to Ottawa.
“I felt like we had a lot of cheers after the goal,” she told reporters. “Obviously I wish we came out with a win. That part is a little frustrating, but yeah, it was a special moment.”
Marie-Pier Nemey was among those who made the trip, saying she drove two hours from Montreal to attend the game in person. “It’s exciting, it’s fun” to watch the Victoire, she said.
“We have another chance,” she said, adding she is ready to make the trip again to Ottawa for Game 4.
Montreal Victoire fans Cristina Vanciu, left, Daphnée Beaulieu, and Natalie Doyon react as the Ottawa Charge take a late lead in Game 3 of the PWHL Walter Cup Finals in Montreal on Monday, May 18, 2026. Evan Buhler / Montreal Gazette
The arena was packed, with the Victoire faithful among the 16,894 in attendance, a PWHL playoff record. At the start of the first period, Montreal fans could be heard chanting alongside the Charge supporters’ cheers.
Sonya Beaudoin not only had her Victoire jersey and tuque on, she made a poster for the occasion describing herself as “No. 1 fan.” The season ticket holder attended every game this year.
“When I saw that Victoire won the second game (of the series), I immediately bought a ticket to come to Ottawa,” Beaudoin told The Gazette.
Ottawa Charge goalie Gwyneth Philips watches Catherine Dubois from the Montreal Victoire miss the puck during second period playoff action at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa Monday. Tony Caldwell / Postmedia News
The fanbase didn’t just travel from Montreal. Hailey Graves flew from Halifax with her four-year-old daughter for Game 3.
Even though she’s originally from Ottawa, she described herself as a “diehard” fan of captain Marie-Philip Poulin. The Victoire has “stuck with it” in its quest for a championship, she added.
“They’ve been fighting for three years to get the cup and it’s their time,” Graves said.
Fans arrive 2.5 hours ahead of Game 3 between the Montreal Victoire and Ottawa Charge.
Lots of Victoire fans in attendance too, with some telling me they plan to come back Wednesday if Game 4 is necessary. pic.twitter.com/t45MuXXONy
— Kalina Laframboise (@KayLaframboise) May 18, 2026
The PWHL final is a best-of-five series format. Montreal played Games 1 and 2 on home ice, winning both those matches in narrow overtime wins before the series shifted to Ottawa.
Charge fans Emily Mallett and Riley Hickey were hopeful their team would take Game 3, saying they had already bought tickets for a possible Game 5.
“They have a tendency to play well at home,” Hickey said of Ottawa.
Gwyneth Philips #33 of the Ottawa Charge competes to get the puck before Shiann Darkangelo #27 of the Montreal Victoire during the first period in game 3 of the PWHL Walter Cup Final at Canadian Tire Centre on May 18, 2026 in Ottawa. Troy Parla / Getty Images
Game 4 is set for Wednesday night in Ottawa (7 p.m., TSN5, RDS). Game 5, if necessary, will be held at Laval’s Place Bell on Saturday (12:30 p.m., TSN, RDS). While “there’s obviously a better outcome in my brain,” Mallett said, it has been “really nice” to see an all-Canadian final.
“It’s amazing,” she said.
Virginia Champoux had knitted her own sweater with all the Victoire players’ names that she created while watching them play this season. She stood proudly with her daughter Nora-Jin Sokoloff outside the building before the doors opened.
Champoux said she first attended a Victoire game three years ago and then “I was hooked,” saying she loves everything about it.
“I’m OK with Game 5 so we can win at home,” Champoux said cheekily, adding it would be fun to attend the celebrations in Montreal.
Beaudoin was also behind her team no matter the outcome.
“Don’t give up, girls,” she said. “Don’t give up.”
Ottawa Charge Emily Clark tries to rush past Amanda Boulier from the Montreal Victoire during first period playoff action at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa Monday. Tony Caldwell / Postmedia News
We’ll reset, coach says
With the Charge in a must-win scenario, Victoire head coach Kori Cheverie said Montreal knew its opponents were “going to be a desperate team.”
“We thought it was a great game, back and forth for a lot of it,” she told reporters after the game. “And, you know, I think we just need to manage the last 10 minutes better.
“And we’ll reset, refocus and get back to it on Wednesday.”
Ottawa Charge Ronja Savolainen hits Kaitlin Willoughby from the Montreal Victoire during second period playoff action at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa Monday. Tony Caldwell / Postmedia News
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