Saturday, February 22, 2025 | 2:00 p.m. ET | The Arena at TD Place
WATCH LIVE: CBC TV, CBC Gem, cbcsports.ca, ICI TÉLÉ & ICI TOU.TV, PWHL YouTube & thepwhl.com (U.S. / International)
EN: Daniella Ponticelli (Play-by-Play), Becky Kellar (Analyst), Rob Pizzo (Reporter), Andi Petrillo (CBC Studio Host), Hailey Salvian (CBC Studio Analyst), Saroya Tinker (CBC Studio Analyst);
FR: Michael Roy (Commentator), Stéphanie Poirier (Analyst), Christine Roger (Reporter), Roseline Filion (Studio Host), Isabelle Leclaire (Analyst).
MONTRÉAL VICTOIRE
9-3-1-3 | 34 PTS | 1ST PLACE
Top Scorer: Marie-Philip Poulin – 16 GP, 11-2-13 PTS
Last Game: 4-0 L vs. MIN on Feb. 18
OTTAWA CHARGE
6-0-4-8 | 22 PTS | 5TH PLACE
Top Scorer: Tereza Vanišová – 18 GP, 9-4-13 PTS
Last Game: 3-2 OTL vs. BOS on Feb. 20
2024-25 SEASON SERIES: MONTRÉAL LEADS 11-1 IN POINTS (MTL WON 10-5 IN 2024)
Nov. 30 at MTL: 4-3 MTL (SO) | Dec. 6 at OTT: 2-1 MTL | Jan. 19 at MTL (QUÉBEC): 2-1 MTL | Jan. 29 at MTL: 4-1 MTL | Apr. 26 at OTT
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
The Victoire are 5-3-0-1 all-time against Ottawa, including a 3-1-0-0 mark this season. That’s the best record by one team against another across the two PWHL seasons – every other matchup has seen both teams win multiple games (either regulation or overtime). Montréal has also never lost in Canada’s capital city, representing the only matchup across the PWHL where the visiting team remains unbeaten.
Montréal fell to Minnesota, 4-0, at home on Tuesday. It was the first time the Victoire have been shut out this season. They were shut out three times last season, all of which took place on the road, and were 2-0-0-1 in the subsequent games. Their only loss after being blanked came against Ottawa on Mar. 10. Montréal has won all seven games against Canadian opposition this season (4-3-0-0) but is 5-0-1-3 against the league’s three American teams.
The Victoire are a perfect 7-0-0-0 when Marie-Philip Poulin scores a goal this season and are 2-3-1-3 when she fails to find the back of the net. Poulin had a hat trick against Ottawa in their most recent meeting, Jan. 29, the second of her PWHL career (also Jan. 10, 2024 at New York).
Poulin (4G), Jennifer Gardiner (2G, 2A) and Erin Ambrose (4A) are among seven Victoire players with multiple points against the Charge this season. Tereza Vanišová (2G) and Stephanie Markowski (2A) represent Ottawa’s top head-to-head scorers.
Montréal’s Anna Wilgren (Feb. 15) and Ottawa’s Aneta Tejralová (Feb. 13) are the only two players to record a plus-minus rating of +4 in a single game this season.
The Montréal Canadiens are also in Ottawa tonight to face the Senators at Canadian Tire Centre. Both NHL clubs will host skills competitions on Sunday with members of the Victoire and Charge invited to compete.
Ottawa fell to Boston, 3-2, in overtime on Thursday at home, their second consecutive 3-2 OT loss. The Charge are now 4-0-4-3 in one-goal games this season – those 11 such games are the most by any team in the league and includes three games against the Victoire. Their seven combined losses are the most in the league, though their four regulation wins are tied with Montréal for the most.
Tereza Vanišová has scored a goal in three straight games and four of her last five after scoring in just three of her first 13 games this season. Thursday’s game saw Vanišová record a goal, an assist and receive a double-minor for roughing. It was her second game this season with a goal, assist and penalty – the only other player with two such games this season is New York’s Jessie Eldridge.
Ottawa fell behind, 2-0, on Thursday before rallying late in the third period to force overtime. It was the second time the Charge have earned points after allowing the first goal of the game, improving their record in such games to 1-0-1-5 (.190). Montréal has the best record when allowing the first goal of the game at 2-3-0-2 (.571). These teams are tied for the fewest games allowing the first goal (seven each).
Emily Clark (1G, 4A) is tied for the league’s longest active point streak at four games. Her 10 points (4G, 6A) are second-most on the Charge. Ronja Savolainen (1-3-4) has recorded a point in three of her last four games and is second among Ottawa defenders in scoring with seven points (2G, 5A).
Tejralová and fellow Czech National Team member Kateřina Mrázová are hosting their brothers this week in Ottawa, a trip that will include tonight’s NHL game.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“I'm expecting another tight game. They're a team that's hungry for wins at the moment. I'm also expecting our group to come out strong. It's going to be really important. The bulk of our conversations is to see how we respond after the Minnesota game.” - Victoire Head Coach Kori Cheverie.
“This league, from Game 1 to Game 30, you’ve got to get points. Right now, it’s just about executing and getting the job done. We’ve got to start stringing some games together and collect some three points, because you can move in a hurry in the standings. We really believe that the momentum is starting to shift to us, and we feel that we can wear teams down.” - Charge Head Coach Carla MacLeod.
SATURDAY’S GAME: The afternoon matinee between Canadian rivals is expected to feature the second sell-out crowd of the season at TD Place. In attendance will be a group of 51 kids invited by Charge forward Victoria Bach from her Mohawk Bay of Quinte community. The Inaugural Six – a striking work of art crafted with the very hockey sticks used in the PWHL’s first season – created by artist Briony Douglas and presented by PWHL partner Royale returns to TD Place for the second and final game beside Gate 2. GoodLife Fitness will have a booth outside section 18 and will be giving away $10,000 in free training. Fans can visit the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino kiosk outside Section 17 to play a game of Plinko to win prizes.