OTTAWA 鈥� Gwyneth Philips is quickly earning the reputation of being a clutch performer.
The Ottawa Charge rookie goaltender earned her first playoff shutout Tuesday night stopping all 26 shots she faced in a 1-0 victory over the Montreal Victoire.
Mannon McMahon鈥檚 goal at 8:42 of the third period was all the Charge needed to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five Professional Women's Hockey League semifinal series.
Ottawa is one win away from punching its ticket to the PWHL championship final. Game 4 goes Friday in Ottawa and the Charge want to make the most of home ice.
Tuesday鈥檚 game marked the first home playoff game for the Charge and players acknowledged feeling a boost from the crowd.
鈥淪tepping on to that ice today, like the crowd was going from the second the national anthem played, like, how can you not, like, be energized by that,鈥� said McMahon. 鈥淪o, we needed that (Tuesday). So, it鈥檚 huge, and to have that next game too will even be bigger.鈥�
Finishing first overall, Montreal had the choice of its playoff opponent, and the crowd reminded them of that chanting 鈥測ou picked us鈥� at the conclusion of the game.
The Victoire, who were swept by Boston in last year鈥檚 opening round, believe they are playing well but need to generate more traffic in front of Philips.
鈥淚 think we need to take her eyes away,鈥� said Montreal鈥檚 Erin Ambrose. 鈥淚 think she is an elite goaltender 鈥� but I also think we have elite goal scorers on this team, and we鈥檝e just got to find a way to get dirty ones at times.鈥�
Ambrose said the team has made a point of talking about generating more traffic and it will likely be a focus of Friday鈥檚 game.
Marie-Philip Poulin, who led the league with 19 goals this season, had seven shots, including a point-blank one late in the third, but was unable to beat Philips.
Ottawa came out hard and fast in the first period to set the tone and had five quick shots but was unable to beat Ann-Renee Desbiens, who stopped 24 shots, and was the difference for the Victoire in the opening 20 minutes.
It was much the same in the second as both goaltenders went save-for-save.
Ottawa captain Brianne Jenner had a great chance but was denied, while Jennifer Gardiner challenged Philips from in close but was also stopped.
The physicality between the two teams continued to escalate as the game progressed with both teams battling for the crucial first goal.
Ottawa had its second power-play chance after Kati Tabin cross-checked Tereza Vanisova from behind late in the second but the Charge failed to generate a shot on goal.
The third started much the same with both goaltenders remaining perfect until McMahon opened the scoring.
McMahon, also in her first year, won a battle along the boards to free the puck and skated to the front of the net where she put home a Gabbie Hughes rebound to give the Charge the 1-0 lead.
A Brianne Jenner hooking penalty at 11:29 sent the Victoire to the power play and Philips stood tall making a couple big saves to preserve the lead.
Montreal went 0-for-2 on the power play.
鈥淲e believe in the group that we have on the power play,鈥� said Montreal coach Kori Cheverie. 鈥淎nd, you know, they have very talented players. Ottawa is playing us very aggressively high in the zone right now, so we have to find a way to get pucks to the net.鈥�
Montreal pushed hard in the final 90 seconds but was unable to even get a shot through to challenge Philips.
鈥淵ou have to learn to manage those moments, recognizing you鈥檙e probably going to see them quite a bit in playoffs,鈥� said Charge coach Carla MacLeod. "And, you know, I think it鈥檚 an area that we continue to focus on and lean into.鈥�
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 13, 2025.
Lisa Wallace, The Canadian Press
