LAVAL (Interstat) — Abby Roque scored 2:29 into overtime and finished with two goals, lifting the Montreal Victoire to a 3-2 victory over the Ottawa Charge on May 14 in Game 1 of their Professional Women’s Hockey League playoff series at Place Bell. Montreal leads the series 1-0. Roque, named the game’s top star for Montreal, also scored in the third period and contributed two shots on goal and two penalty minutes. Laura Stacey had two assists, including one on the winner, and Maggie Flaherty also assisted on the overtime goal. The decisive play came after Montreal tied the game in the final seconds of regulation.

Montreal needed a late comeback to force the extra period. Nicole Gosling scored with three seconds remaining in regulation, tying the game at 2-2. Maureen Murphy and Marie-Philip Poulin assisted on the goal. Gosling finished with one goal and two shots on goal. Poulin added one assist, five shots on goal and two hits. Stacey contributed two shots on goal, while Murphy had one assist and four shots on goal. Flaherty recorded one assist and two hits. Ann-Renée Desbiens stopped 22 of 24 shots for the win. Desbiens was tested throughout, but Montreal’s defense limited Ottawa’s chances late.

Ottawa had taken a 2-1 lead earlier in the third period when Rebecca Leslie scored her second goal of the game. Sarah Wozniewicz assisted on the play. Leslie opened the scoring in the second period, giving Ottawa a 1-0 advantage. She finished with two goals and five shots on goal. Montreal answered in the third when Roque scored from Nadia Mattivi and Stacey, tying the game at 1-1. Leslie’s second goal put Ottawa back in front before Gosling’s late equalizer. Ottawa’s Brianne Jenner also generated pressure, finishing with four shots on goal and two penalty minutes.

The teams combined for five penalties. Ottawa’s Ronja Savolainen received a boarding minor 42 seconds into the third period. Jocelyne Larocque was called for hooking at 4:30 of the second, and Brianne Jenner received a hooking minor at 19:54 of the second. Montreal’s Abby Roque was penalized for slashing at 4:33 of the first period, and Dara Greig received a high-sticking minor at 12:59 of the second. Jenner also recorded four shots on goal for Ottawa. The teams traded penalties throughout but the game remained tight.

Ottawa’s best chances came through Leslie and Jenner, who combined for nine shots on goal. The Charge held a 1-0 lead after two periods and then went ahead 2-1 midway through the third. But Montreal kept pressing and found the equalizer just before the horn. In overtime, Roque beat the Ottawa defense after Stacey and Flaherty moved the puck into the offensive zone. The Victoire celebrated in front of their home crowd at Place Bell. Poulin, Stacey and Murphy created several quality looks for Montreal, while Roque delivered the finishing touch.

Montreal improved to 26-10 this season, while Ottawa moved to 20-15. The Victoire entered the playoff opener after a win over Minnesota, while the Charge arrived after a double-overtime victory over Boston. Ottawa had won six of its previous seven games. Montreal had won the most recent regular-season meeting between the teams, while Ottawa had taken the previous head-to-head matchup in overtime. The series continues with Game 2. Montreal will try to take a 2-0 series lead while Ottawa will look to even the series.

Interstat’s ELO system projected Montreal with a 61.3 percent probability to win before the game. The Victoire will look to take a 2-0 series lead in Game 2, while the Charge aim to even the series. Montreal leads the series 1-0.