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Two for Bell, Three for Ottawa, and a Giant Step Toward the Playoffs

Ashton Bell scored twice, including a last-minute jailbreak goal, to lift the Ottawa Charge to a 3–2 Pride Night win in front of a record-breaking crowd at TD Place.

Two for Bell, Three for Ottawa, and a Giant Step Toward the Playoffs
Amanda Boulier and Ashton Bell fighting for the puck. (Photo Credit: PWHL)

Pride Night at TD Place had it all: a record-breaking crowd, a surprise anthem singer, and a last-minute jailbreak winner from Ashton Bell to seal a crucial Charge victory.

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The Ottawa defender scored twice, including the game-winning jailbreak goal with just 13 seconds left, as the Charge defeated the Montréal Victoire 3–2 in front of 8,576 fans, the largest crowd at TD Place in franchise history.

Bell opened the scoring midway through the first period, stepping into space and firing home her second of the season to give Ottawa the early lead.

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Video Credit: Ottawa Charge

Just three minutes later, captain Brianne Jenner doubled the Charge’s advantage, tipping home a pass from Tereza Vanišová to make it 2–0.

Montréal answered late in the first, as Anna Wilgren jumped into the rush and buried a rebound to cut the lead to 2–1 heading into intermission.

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Video Credit: Montréal Victoire

The Victoire tied the game early in the third period when Catherine Dubois pounced on a loose puck and snapped it past Gwyneth Philips.

From there, both teams traded chances, but with the Charge shorthanded in the final minute, Bell stepped up again.

Taking a pass at the point, Bell threw a long-range shot toward the net that deflected off a Victoire skater and slipped past Elaine Chuli, sending the TD Place crowd into a frenzy.

“It was exciting,” Bell said. “Obviously, Gabbie [Hughes] did a great job there. I think it was like a four-on-one in the corner, and she was just battling trying to buy some time, and then, she got to put the puck out to the slot. It went off something, but yeah, it went in the net, so we’ll take it.”

The celebration started even before puck drop, when defender Jincy Roese surprised fans and teammates by singing O Canada during the national anthem.

“I was so nervous, but grateful for the opportunity,” Roese said. “I've always had a love for singing, and so I kind of got to bridge two loves tonight, so it was awesome. It was kind of fun to keep the secret [from my teammates] all this time.”

Rookie goaltender Gwyneth Philips stopped 25 shots to pick up her seventh win of the season, while Ottawa’s defenders combined for three points in the victory. Jocelyne Larocque led the team at +3 on the night.

Despite the loss, Montréal head coach Kori Cheverie said she saw positives in her team’s performance.

“I think as a group, we took some steps forward in terms of what we were able to generate,” Cheverie said. “We probably gave up a little bit too much on the other end. On five-on-five I think both teams mismanaged the puck at times, so I think we both were given opportunities to put some pucks in the back of the net. I think it could have easily went 3–2 the other way as well. They put in that hard work on their kill there to get a nice bounce. You have to work hard to get those bounces, and they put in a really hard-fought game.”

Wilgren, who scored Montréal’s opening goal, called it special to regroup with her teammates after the international break.

“It's always great to just come back and be with the group that you started with,” she said. “We're a pretty tight knit group, so just being able to come back together after a pretty long break is pretty special. And like Kori said, I think we can pull some pretty positive things out of that game.”

With Saturday’s win, Ottawa moved four points clear of fifth-place Minnesota. The Charge now have a chance to officially punch their ticket to the Walter Cup Playoffs with a win over the Frost on Wednesday, and if the atmosphere on Pride Night was any indication, TD Place will be ready.

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