Semi-final match-up: Charge to square off against Victory
Rewritten Article:
Putting the Pedal to the Metal: Montreal Victory Takes on Ottawa Charge in PWHL Playoffs
The tension between the Montreal Victory and Ottawa Charge is about to reach a fever pitch as the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) gears up for an exhilarating showdown.
On a recent Sunday, Danielle Sauvageau, general manager of the Montreal Victory, made the exciting announcement during a live broadcast on the LPHF's YouTube channel and the league's official website, that her team will go head-to-head against the Ottawa Charge in a best-of-five semi-final series starting May 8 at 7 p.m. at Place Bell in Laval.
The sequel game is scheduled for May 11, also in Laval, at 2 p.m. The third game will take place in Ottawa on May 13, followed by a potential fourth match on May 16, if required. A fifth game, if necessary, will be held in Laval on May 18.
The decision to face the Charge was revealed when Sauvageau opened an envelope and pulled out a card displaying the Charge logo. This unusual approach to determining opponents was implemented by league officials in the summer of 2023, allowing the first-place team to choose their first-round nemesis.
"We stuck to our plan and approached this decision methodically, keeping emotions off the table," Sauvageau explained in a press release. "Having a series close to home will be beneficial."
During her appearance on the broadcast with hosts Tessa Bonhomme and Julia Tocheri, Sauvageau refrained from elaborating on the reasons behind choosing the Charge, nor did head coach Kori Cheverie during a post-announcement video conference.
A series of nail-biters
The Montreal Victory could have opted for either the Charge or the Minnesota Frost as opponents. Both clubs finished the season with 44 points, nine fewer than the unbeaten Montreal squad. The Charge claimed third place, with 12 regulation wins compared to the Frost's ten.
Over the regular season, the Victory managed to secure four wins over Ottawa, including three victories in regulation, and a one-goal margin in each game. However, the Charge managed to snag the last two matches, both at home and in regulation.
During their six matches, the Victory scored 15 goals and conceded 12.
While the Ottawa team did not participate in last year's playoffs, the Minnesota team emerged victorious, grabbing the Walter Cup, the symbol of the playoff final. The Charge and the Frost secured their places in the 2024-25 playoffs on the final day of the season, with the Charge earning a hard-fought 2-1 overtime victory over the Sceptres (likely Toronto Sceptres), and the Frost crushing the Boston Fleet 8-1.
Last year, the top-ranked Toronto team chose to square off against the Minnesota team in a best-of-five series. After winning the first two games at home, Toronto lost the next three, including the deciding game at home, and was knocked out.
In another semi-final series beginning on May 7 in Toronto, Toronto gets a chance at redemption against the Minnesota team.
As for the PWHL's current bracket based on verified data, the Frost and Sceptres are the confirmed semi-finalists [1].
- The exciting 2024 PWHL semi-final series between the Montreal Victory and Ottawa Charge promises to be interesting, given the rivals' close encounters during the regular season.
- Having both teams earning their spots in the 2024-25 playoffs on the final day of the previous season, the Montreal Victory and Ottawa Charge have a history of nail-biting matches.
- In addition to the sportsmanship on display during the games, there will be regulations to adhere to as the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) has added new rules for 2024 to ensure a fair and exciting competition.
- As the Montreal Victory prepares to face the Ottawa Charge on May 8 at Place Bell in Laval, fans of football, as well as hockey, will find themselves drawn to the action-packed series.
