Montreal Victoire will face the position of Ottawa in the first round of the Professional Playoffs of the Women’s Hockey League.
The general manager of Montreal, Daniele Sauvageau, announced the Ottawa team as its first opponent on the “Jocks in Jills” podcast of the League.
The PWHL champion of the regular season has the option of selecting the third seed or the fourth seed to face in a series of the first round of the best of five.
“We have been preparing for this throughout the year if we are in this position,” said Victoire chief coach Kori Cheverie, at a telephone conference on Sunday, without giving too much of what entered the process of selecting the position of third sown.
Ottawa ended in front of Minnesota in fourth place through a tiebreaker after the load, Frost and Boston Fleet finished the season tied at 44 points.
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The position of Ottawa, born in Czech, scores the overtime winner that gives Ottawa a 2-1 victory over Toronto Sceptres on Saturday in the PWHL action.
Game 1 of the series of Victos de Charge goes on Thursday in Place Bell at 7 pm et.
Cheverie said the team made the decision about its opponent on Sunday.
“We took all the time we could as an organization to make sure we have all the information we wanted to have,” he said.
The Victoire’s decision means that the Toronto Sceptres de Segundo sown will face the frost in the first round for the second consecutive year, with game 1 on Wednesday in Coca-Cola Coliseum at 7 pm et.
Toronto obtained the advantage of ice at home at the end of second in the classification. No matter how the semifinals develop, a Canadian team guarantees a PWHL final to compete in a series of the best of five for the Walter Cup.
The position, which is in the playoffs for the first time, won its last two regular seasonal games against the Victire after losing the first four.
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Marie-Philip Poulin scored her goals 18 and 19 and 19 of the season in Montreal’s 3-2 victory over New York. The Victoire assured the first place in the earlier PWHL in the day after Toronto lost 2-1 in extra time against Ottawa.
In the inaugural season of 2024, the regular seasonal champions shows chose to face the fourth frost in the first round. Minnesota bother Toronto before defeating the fleet in the final to claim the first Walter Cup.
Boston swept the victory of second sown in the first round in 2024. Cheverie said the three games were among the best that his team played despite the result.
“We can talk last year everything we want, it was a lesson for all of us,” said Victoire Marie-Philip Poulin’s captain.
“The series are difficult,” he added. “That was difficult last year, it will be more difficult this year, so it depends on us to be ready.”
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PWHL playoff schedule
Montreal Victoire (1) vs. Ottawa Charge (3)
Thursday May 8
- Game 1: Ottawa in Montreal (Place Bell) at 7 pm et
Sunday, May 11
- Game 2: Ottawa in Montreal (Place Bell) at 2 pm et
Tuesday, May 13
- Game 3: Montreal in Ottawa (TD Place) at 7 pm et
Friday, May 16
- Game 4: Montreal in Ottawa (TD Place) at 7 pm et*
Sunday May 18
- Game 5: Ottawa in Montreal (Place Bell) at 7 pm et*
*If required
Toronto Sceptres (2) vs. Minnesota Frost (4)
Wednesday May 7
Game 1: Minnesota in Toronto (Coca-Cola Coliseum) at 7 pm et
Friday, May 9
Game 2: Minnesota in Toronto (Coca-Cola Coliseum) at 7 pm et
Sunday, May 11
Game 3: Toronto in Minnesota (Xcel Energy Center) at 6 pm et^
Wednesday May 14
Game 4: Toronto in Minnesota (Xcel Energy Center) at 7 pm et*
Saturday, May 17
Game 5: Minnesota in Toronto (Coca-Cola Coliseum) on TBD*
^Tentative day/hour
*If required
