The Ottawa Charge have every reason to feel aggrieved after a controversial non-call in overtime handed the Montreal Victoire a 2-0 series lead in the PWHL final. With the game tied in the 14th minute of extra time, Victoire forward Kaitlin Willoughby appeared to trip Charge defender Emma Greco, sending her sliding out of position. The play left Maggie Flaherty alone in front of the net to score the winning goal past goaltender Gwyneth Philips.
Missed call changes series momentum
The incident occurred directly in front of the officials, yet no penalty was called. Willoughby, who has no goals, no assists, and no penalty minutes in seven postseason games this spring, escaped without a whistle. The non-call has sparked debate about officiating standards in the championship series. "It needs to be better than that," the article states, emphasizing the pivotal nature of the moment.
Ottawa now faces elimination in Monday's Game 3 at Canadian Tire Centre. The Charge, who were strong in overtime during the regular season, have lost both games of the final in extra time. The series has seen six consecutive overtime games in the PWHL finals, highlighting the tight competition.
Home ice advantage for Game 3
The Charge will benefit from last line change as the home team, a factor that could help them neutralize Montreal's top players. Victoire stars Marie Philip-Poulin and Laura Stacey combined for 14 shots in the first two games, exploiting mismatches at Place Bell. Ottawa head coach Carla MacLeod will look to deploy her best defensive units more effectively.
Despite the 2-0 deficit, the series is far from over. The Charge can draw on their resilience and home crowd support to turn the tide. However, the officiating will remain under scrutiny as the pressure mounts.
