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RECAP: Maschmeyer Shines Despite Ottawa’s Shootout Loss to Montréal

Maschmeyer Stands Tall, but Ottawa Falls to Montréal in Shootout Thriller

RECAP: Maschmeyer Shines Despite Ottawa’s Shootout Loss to Montréal
Emerance Maschmeyer denies Mikyla Grant-Mentis on a breakaway attempt. (Photo Credit: PWHL)

Even without captain Brianne Jenner in the lineup, the Ottawa Charge came within inches of victory, powered by Emerance Maschmeyer’s remarkable 42-save performance. However, it wasn’t enough to outlast the Montréal Victoire, who claimed a 4-3 shootout win in their season opener at Place Bell. The game, which featured stellar goaltending, key rookie contributions, and dramatic momentum swings, came to a climactic finish when Marie-Philip Poulin sealed the win in front of 10,033 roaring fans.

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Ottawa came out strong in the opening minutes, taking a 1-0 lead midway through the first period when Emily Clark scored her first of the season. The Charge extended their lead early in the second period as rookie Danielle Serdachny made her mark with her first career PWHL goal. The second overall pick deflected a shot past Montréal’s Ann-Renée Desbiens, giving Ottawa a 2-0 advantage. Fellow rookie Ronja Savolainen, a second-round pick, recorded her first career assist on Serdachny’s goal.

However, the momentum quickly shifted in Montréal’s favour. Abigail Boreen got the Victoire on the board with her first PWHL goal before Laura Stacey tied the game later in the second period with a power-play marker. Stacey’s goal energized the home crowd and gave Montréal the edge heading into the final frame.

The Charge’s inability to stay out of the penalty box was a recurring theme. With seven penalties to Montréal’s three, Ottawa’s penalty killers were put to the test throughout the game. Despite solid penalty-killing efforts, including several key saves by Maschmeyer, Montréal’s power play struck twice, including Gardiner’s game-tying goal in the third.

MacLeod addressed the penalty disparity after the game. “You just have to live with it,” she said. “It’s the seven penalty kills to two that was a bigger challenge for us tonight. I think the No Escape rule is doing what the league intended. They want to generate more shots. I’m good with it.”

Despite being outshot 45-32, Ottawa remained in contention thanks to Maschmeyer’s brilliance. Her ability to track pucks through traffic and make sprawling saves on breakaways was on full display, especially in overtime, where she denied Poulin with just 10 seconds remaining to force the shootout.

“It’s classic Pou that she would get an opportunity with seconds to go, but there’s nothing better,” Maschmeyer said after the game. “What better challenge to go against her. I hope she thinks I’m a challenge too.”

After a scoreless overtime, the game moved to a shootout. Maschmeyer kept the Charge alive by stopping the first four attempts, but Poulin delivered in the fifth round, lifting Montréal to victory.

Three Stars

  1. Marie-Philip Poulin (MTL) – Shootout-winning goal
  2. Emerance Maschmeyer (OTT) – 42 saves
  3. Laura Stacey (MTL) – 1 goal, 7 shots

Ottawa will host Toronto in their home opener on Tuesday, December 3rd, while Montréal welcomes New York on Wednesday, December 4th. Both teams will look to build on their opening performances as they settle into Season 2 of the PWHL.

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