Flaherty hero as Victoire beat Charge in OT again to take 2-0 series lead

Montreal Victoire's Maggie Flaherty (91) scores on Ottawa Charge goaltender Gwyneth Philips (33) against during overtime PWHL playoff hockey action in Laval, Que., on Saturday, May 16, 2026. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press)

For the second game in a row, the Montreal Victoire came from behind to tie the game and win in overtime against the Ottawa Charge in the Walter Cup final at the Place Bell in Laval.

As in the first game, it was a tight contest between two teams rarely making a misstep that teetered on a sharpened skate’s edge throughout.

Charge goalie Gwyneth Phillips and Ann-Renée Desbiens from the Victoire were again formidable, making several key stops and giving opposing shooters little daylight.

In the end, Maggie Flaherty was the hero and Montreal now has a 2-0 series lead in the best-of-five contest with their neighbours to the west.

Chessmatch

As in Game 1, Ottawa was on the scoreboard first when Sarah Wozniewicz eventually punched a puck past Desbiens after a scramble in front of the goal

at 8:38 of the first period.

Laura Stacey then had a number of stellar chances for the Victoire when she broke the defence twice for breakaways. Philips, however, was up to the task and robbed Montreal’s no. 7 of any chance to pull ahead.

Very early in the second period, Montreal evened the score when Kati Tabin backhanded a puck past Philips 32 seconds in.

It was the second game running when a Victoire d-liner got on the scoresheet after Nicole Gosling scored the dramatic, game-tying goal with two seconds on the clock in Game 1.

Speaking of the second game running, Game 2 ended in a tie and we were off to overtime.

And...

Speaking of the second game running, Montreal won.

Maggie Flaherty took a pass from the captain, Marie-Philip Poulin, to the left of the Charge net and made no mistake, burying the chance with a one-timer at 14:12.

The Victoire are now one win away from hoisting the cup.

Game 3 is on Monday in Ottawa.