LAVAL (Interstat) — Maggie Flaherty scored 14 minutes, 12 seconds into overtime, and Montreal Victoire defeated Ottawa Charge 2-1 on May 16 in Game 2 of their Professional Women’s Hockey League playoff series at Place Bell. Montreal leads the series 2-0. The Victoire improved to 27-10. The Charge dropped to 20-16.

Ann-Renée Desbiens anchored Montreal in net, making 11 saves on 12 shots to earn the win. Marie-Philip Poulin recorded an assist, two shots and two penalty minutes. Kati Tabin scored one goal and had three shots. Sarah Wozniewicz scored Ottawa’s lone goal and finished with three shots. Maggie Flaherty scored the overtime winner and had one shot. Abby Roque added an assist and one shot. Gabbie Hughes had two shots for Ottawa. Laura Stacey finished with five shots, two penalty minutes and two hits. Brianne Jenner did not record a point. Shiann Darkangelo had one shot.

Ottawa opened the scoring at 8:38 of the first period when Wozniewicz beat Desbiens. The Charge protected the lead for most of the opening frame. Montreal’s Marie-Philip Poulin was called for hooking at 11:51 of the first period, giving Ottawa a power play, but the Victoire killed the penalty and went into the intermission down by one.

The second period began with offsetting penalties to Ottawa’s Emily Clark for cross checking and Montreal’s Laura Stacey for unsportsmanlike conduct at the 27-second mark. Five seconds later, Tabin tied the game for Montreal. The quick strike evened the score, and Desbiens made several stops to keep the game level. Ottawa pressed for a go-ahead goal, but Montreal’s defense blocked shooting lanes and cleared rebounds.

The teams traded penalties in the third period. Ottawa’s Rory Guilday was whistled for interference at 5:55, and Montreal’s Nadia Mattivi received a cross-checking minor at 8:46. Neither team scored in regulation after Tabin’s goal, sending the game to overtime. Ottawa had a late push, but Desbiens turned away the Charge’s final attempts in regulation.

In the extra period, Flaherty ended it at 14:12. Poulin and Roque assisted on the winning goal. Desbiens and the Montreal defense held Ottawa off the scoreboard after Wozniewicz’s first-period strike. Montreal finished with the overtime victory and a two-game lead in the series.

Ottawa had chances to build on its early lead, but Desbiens denied the Charge the rest of the way. Montreal’s penalty kill faced three Ottawa power plays, while the Victoire could not convert on their own opportunities. The physical game included Stacey’s two hits and several penalties on both sides. The Victoire protected the puck late in regulation and carried momentum into the extra period.

Montreal has now won four of the past five meetings between the teams, including the series opener in overtime. The Victoire used home ice to take a two-game lead. Ottawa, meanwhile, will need to regroup after a narrow loss that put it in a difficult series hole. The Charge had won three straight before the series began, but they have dropped the first two playoff games to their rivals.

Flaherty’s overtime goal capped a game that featured tight checking and limited scoring chances. Tabin’s second-period goal was Montreal’s only regulation tally. Wozniewicz’s first-period goal was Ottawa’s only marker. Desbiens finished as the winning goaltender, while Poulin and Roque recorded assists on the decisive play.

The series continues with Game 3 in Ottawa. Montreal will look to take a 3-0 lead, while Ottawa will try to avoid falling behind further.

Interstat’s ELO system had projected Montreal with a 62.7 percent probability to win. The projection favored the home side before the opening faceoff, and Montreal capitalized on home ice to take a commanding series lead.