The Ottawa Charge's pursuit of the Walter Cup has ended in disappointment once more, as they fell 4-0 to the Montreal Victoire in Game 4 of the Professional Women's Hockey League final on Wednesday night at the Canadian Tire Centre. The loss marks the second consecutive year that Ottawa has finished as runners-up in the championship series.
Roque Leads Montreal to Victory
Abby Roque was the standout performer for Montreal, scoring the game's first two goals. Her first goal came late in the second period on a fortunate deflection off Ottawa defender Rory Guilday's stick, and her second was a shorthanded breakaway in the third period that effectively sealed the game. Roque also scored twice, including the overtime winner, in Montreal's series-opening 3-2 victory.
Maggie Flaherty and Lina Ljungblom added empty-net goals in the final minutes to put the game out of reach. Montreal goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens stopped all 23 shots she faced to earn the shutout, while Ottawa's Gwyneth Philips made 12 saves on 16 shots.
Ottawa's Power-Play Woes Continue
The Charge struggled on the power play, failing to score on three opportunities and even surrendering a shorthanded goal. Despite playing a penalty-free game, Ottawa could not capitalize on its chances. Early in the second period, Sarah Wozniewicz hit the post on a 3-on-1 rush, and Emily Clark's breakaway attempt was turned aside by Desbiens.
The first period was a tight-checking affair, with Montreal holding a 6-5 edge in shots. Ottawa's best chance came in the final seconds when Fanuza Kadirova broke in alone but fanned on her shot. The Charge also had a scare late in the first period when Taylor House crashed into the goalpost and appeared to injure her collarbone or shoulder, but she returned for the second period.
A Bitter End for Ottawa
The loss ends Ottawa's season in heartbreaking fashion, as they were unable to overcome Montreal's strong defense and opportunistic offense. The Victoire became the first Canadian team to win the Walter Cup, while the Charge are left to reflect on what might have been.
