The Montréal Victoire swiftly chose their first-round playoff opponent after clinching the top spot in the Professional Women’s Hockey League with a 2-1 shootout win against Seattle Torrent. Opting for a best-of-five semifinal against the two-time defending champion Minnesota Frost over the fourth-place Ottawa Charge, the Victoire will kick off their series at Place Bell on Saturday, May 2, at 2 p.m. ET.
Having dominated the Frost in all four head-to-head matchups this season, including two overtime wins, Montreal displayed a strong performance. The Victoire, with a league-best 41 goals allowed and 78 goals scored, strategically picked the third-place Frost as their playoff rival for the second consecutive year.
In another semifinal clash, the Charge will face the Boston Fleet. Boston secured home ice advantage by finishing second in the standings. The series between Ottawa and Boston promises to be intense, with both teams making their second playoff appearance and having a history of close encounters, including shootouts.
Despite regular-season standings, the lower-seeded team has emerged victorious in the past PWHL playoffs. Minnesota, finishing fourth in the standings, went on to claim the championship title twice after defeating higher-ranked opponents. The Frost’s past successes against Boston and Ottawa demonstrate their resilience and ability to excel in playoff scenarios.