Title Unchanged: Victory Claims Regular Season Title

Montreal Excitement: The Unforgettable Final Showdown

The Montreal Victory's final regular season game was nothing short of electrifying, played with a sense of desperation on Saturday afternoon. But as the clock ticked, Montreal fans might not have known the Ottawa Charge had already guaranteed their spot at the top of the standings.

The Toronoto Sceptres' matchup against the Ottawa Charge, kicking off at noon in Toronto, dragged into overtime. This, unbeknownst to Victory fans, secured the Charge's first-place position, leaving Montreal to battle for a win against the New York Sirens in Newark.

Marie-Philip Poulin, the Victory's captain, scored a record-breaking goal just 11 seconds into the game, followed by Catherine Dubois' goal less than four minutes later. Dubois' goal marked her sixth of the season and her third consecutive scoring game.

Poulin's 19th goal of the season, in the second period, boosted the Victory to a 3-0 lead, leading to a hard-fought 3-2 victory over the already-eliminated Sirens.

"It's never easy in this league. We had a tough stretch but that's part of the process. We have to roll up our sleeves, fight, and get back to work." Poulin remarked, displaying her determination. "Today, we wanted to bounce back and finish in first place. We wanted that win, and we got it. This group is never satisfied. We want to improve every day. We want to push the limits, and that's what makes it beautiful."

In the third period, Sarah Fillier and Alex Carpenter scored, overcoming Ann-Renee Desbiens, who faced 29 shots. Fillier tied for the scoring lead with 29 points, matching Hilary Knight's total of the Boston Fleet (15-14). With nine points against the Victory, Fillier had proven to be a tough competitor.

Moving into Playoffs

Though we know the Victory (12-7-3-8 - 53 points) will host its first two playoff games at the Bell Centre on May 8 and 11, the question remains: Who will their opponent be? It will either be the Charge or the Minnesota Frost, following their impressive 8-1 win over the Fleet on Saturday.

Daniele Sauvageau, the Victory's general manager, must announce her decision by Sunday evening around 6 PM, according to the LPHF regulation introduced last year. Montreal, as the regular season champion, will have the power to choose its first-round opponent.

Last year, as the regular season champion, Toronto selected a three-game semi-final series against Minnesota, finishing fourth. Despite a strong start, Toronto lost the next three games and was eliminated.

"Every team is tough to face," the head coach observed. "Choosing an opponent will not be easy, but no matter who we pick, it'll be a closely contested battle."

A Day of Drama

The LPHF saw all six teams in action simultaneously for the first time this season. With five teams fighting for playoff spots or positioning, a day filled with unexpected outcomes was expected.

The afternoon began with a matchup between Ontario's Sceptres and Charge. The Sceptres needed a win against the Charge in regulation to challenge Montreal at the top of the standings. They needed the Victory to lose in regulation to the Sirens to secure a spot above the Victory due to more regulation wins.

However, the Sceptres lost 2-1 in overtime, with Katerina Mrazova's goal midway through the extra period securing the Charge's playoff debut. Meanwhile, the Sceptres (12-3-6-9) ended the season with 48 points, finishing second.

Brianne Jenner scored the other goal for the Charge, just 53 seconds after Sarah Nurse broke the 0-0 tie at 12:15 of the second period.

On the other hand, the Fleet (9-6-5-10 - 44 points), who had defeated Montreal and reached the final against Minnesota last year, were eliminated, largely due to fewer regulation wins than the Charge (12-2-4-12 - 44 points) and the Frost (10-5-4-11 - 44 points), despite having the same total points. This same logic also means the Charge, with their 12 regulation wins, rank third ahead of the Frost.

The Montreal Victory showcased their prowess in sports, overtaking the New York Sirens in a hard-fought 3-2 victory, with Marie-Philip Poulin scoring a goal early in the game and later boosting the team's lead in the second period.
As the Montreal Excitement ascends to first place in European leagues, such as the Champions League, the question lingers: Who will they face in their first playoff game, either the Ottawa Charge or the Minnesota Frost, following the Charge's impressive win over the Boston Fleet?
Despite losing the opening game of the day to the Ottawa Charge in overtime, the Toronto Sceptres, with Catherine Dubois' record-breaking goal, managed to secure the second spot in the league, potentially setting the stage for a challenging rematch against the Montreal Victory in the playoffs.
With the fleeting seconds of the season flowing, Sarah Fillier and Alex Carpenter scored, pushing the Victory's goalkeeper Ann-Renee Desbiens to face 29 shots, tying Hilary Knight's total points in the Boston Fleet but securing their place in the post-season.
Montreal's sports dominance extends beyond their home field, with Marie-Philip Poulin's determination driving the team to chase the European leagues' champions-league title, a testament to their unrelenting spirit and drive to push the limits in every game they play.