The Professional Women’s Hockey League’s Walter Cup Finals are now into their third game, with Montréal Victoire holding a 2‑0 lead over Ottawa Charge. Game 3 is scheduled for May 18 at the Canadian Tire Centre, where the crowd is expected to set a new playoff attendance record. The series has already delivered six overtime finishes in its 15‑game history, underscoring how tightly contested the matchups have been.
A milestone within reach
At the heart of Montréal’s surge is forward Marie‑Philip Poulin, who has been named the league’s Player of the Week presented by SharkNinja. In seven playoff games she has amassed seven points — two goals and five assists — and sits just one point shy of the single‑season playoff record shared by Taylor Heise and Michela Cava. Her contributions have helped the Victoire win the first two games in overtime, and she continues to extend her point streak.
Between the pipes, Montréal’s Ann‑Renée Desbiens and Ottawa’s Gwyneth Philips have been nearly identical, each posting a 1.85 goals‑against average and a .939 save percentage. Both netminders have made 185 saves this postseason and have allowed exactly 12 goals. Desbiens, who has posted 21 shutouts this season, will look to extend her streak, while Philips, with 22 games of 25 or more saves, brings a wealth of experience.
Should Montréal close out the series, the victory would mark the first time a Canadian franchise lifts the Walter Cup, a milestone that would also add six players to the Triple Gold Club and bring the league’s first Canadian champion to the top of the standings. The win would also cement the Victoire’s status as the first team to finish first in the regular season and capture the championship in the same year.
Beyond the ice, the finals have drawn over 83,000 fans across 11 playoff games, averaging more than 9,000 per game this season. The league’s partnership with Tiffany & Co. to create the Walter Cup, and its broadcast on TSN, RDS, and The E.W. Scripps Company’s ION network, have helped broaden the sport’s reach across North America.