Despite 'Mustard Marathon' loss, Ottawa Charge listed as favourites to eliminate Montreal
Among the newer kids on the pro sports team block in the nation's capital, Ottawa Charge people don't fully understand those of us who have lived here for a long time.
Article content
They don't get our skepticism.
Article content
They surely know about the rarity of playoff appearances around these parts, but they probably don't realize that next year will mark the 100th anniversary of the Ottawa Senators' most recent Stanley Cup win and that Ottawa CFL teams have brought home exactly one Grey Cup in the past 47 seasons.
Article content
So when Charge coach Carla MacLeod suggested a few times over the past few months that her team had a one-in-six shot of capturing the PWHL championship, we thought, yeah right, sure it does.
The cynicism, in large part, was backed by the stats.
Article content
The Charge finished the season with the same goals for (71) and against (80) as the cellar-dwelling New York Sirens.
Article content
In both categories, the two teams were last in the league.
Article content
The Charge also had the worst power-play percentage (14.9) and the second-worst shorthanded percentage (80.2).
Article content
When Ottawa snuck into the playoffs on an overtime goal by Katerina Mrazova in the regular-season finale, it was a pleasant surprise.
Article content
Along with providing a little excitement, the experience would be good for the group — even in getting swept from the best-of-five by the mighty Montreal Victoire, which not only finished in first-place with a powerful core, but would also be hungry to avenge last season's failure to win a single game in a similar post-season showdown with Boston.
Article content
Not only does Montreal have the best line of women's hockey players in the world — with Laura Stacey flanked by her spouse, the great Marie-Philip Poulin, and another national team member in Jennifer Gardiner — but they would be going against an Ottawa defence missing injured veteran Jincy Roese and with rookie Gwyneth Philips in goal.
Article content
When the two teams meet for Game 3 at TD Place on Tuesday (7 p.m.), many expected it would be the swan song for the 2024-25 Charge.
Article content
Article content
But a funny thing happened in two games over four days at Place Bell.
Article content
The Charge proved that a stretch of four victories in its last five games was more than just a run of desperation.
Article content
If taking the series opener against Montreal wasn't enough, Ottawa was also the superior team for most of the 5 1/2 hour 'Mustard Marathon' that the Victoire pulled out with fear of reaching the brink of elimination for Game 3 at TD Place on Tuesday (7 p.m.).
Article content
And do you know what? Ottawa not only is a legitimate Walter Cup contender, but might be considered a good bet.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
National Post
8 minutes ago
- National Post
Canucks: Do Stuart Skinner's struggles raise Thatcher Demko's value?
In trying to understand the state of the NHL goalie market in the context of the ongoing Stanley Cup Final, you can absolutely look at the performance of Stuart Skinner. Article content The Edmonton Oilers ' main goalie has had a rough last two games. His team now trails the best-of-seven series 2-1 to the Florida Panthers. Article content Article content The Oilers' struggles the past two games are not all on Skinner, but you're not alone if you've thought, 'Man, the Oilers sure could have used a few big saves tonight.' Article content Of course, Skinner hasn't exactly had a lot of help. According to Clear Sight Analytics, the Panthers have generated 27 high-danger chances through just three games — the Oilers gave up just 28 in the whole of the Dallas series last round, 32 across the five games of the Vegas series. Article content That's a lot. If you're going to stick with below-average goaltending, you've got to defend in front better Article content The Oilers have made a choice over the years to not chase after a high-profile netminder. They have stuck it out the past two seasons, paying a combined $3.5 million to Skinner and backup Calvin Pickard, basically a third of what the Panthers pay to just their undisputed No. 1 goalie Sergei Bobrovsky. Article content Article content It will be interesting to see what Florida GM Bill Zito does this summer. Bobrovsky's big contract comes to an end, and it wasn't a deal signed by Zito, rather by his predecessor Dale Tallon (who is now a Canucks senior adviser, for the record). Article content You can look at the choice the Oilers have made with their goalies and note two things: First, that they've made two Stanley Cup Finals back-to-back with this tandem, so maybe goalies are an area you should hold your salary cap line on. But second, that maybe they should have found themselves a goalie that costs a little more? Article content Article content If they do go hunting for an upgrade, even a small one, will that happen this summer? There isn't exactly a surge of goalies coming available in free agency soon — but there could be a number of names available in the summer of 2026. And there are lessons here for the Canucks. Article content Article content 'Why pay premium in the summer when you can shop before the (2026) deadline with a list that currently could include Demko, Markstrom, Bob, Gustavsson, Stolarz, Nedeljkovic, Brossoit, Andersen, Talbot and Ingram,' posits InGoal Magazine's Kevin Woodley. 'Sure, some will re-up, but that's a pretty good list to choose from ranging from great 1B to legit No. 1 starters.' Article content Demko being in the list is a reminder of how the Canucks may have to make some choices in goal themselves: they've got Kevin Lankinen under contract, so half their tandem is clearly settled. But what's the thinking on Demko, who for all intents and purposes remains No. 1 on their depth chart, though he's coming off yet another injury-plagued season.
National Post
8 minutes ago
- National Post
Could the Maple Leafs target Brad Marchand in free agency?
Article content WATCH BELOW: On the latest episode of Off The Post, Toronto SUN Sports Columnist Steve Simmons, Postmedia Hockey Columnist Bruce Garrioch, and Postmedia's Rob Wong discuss Brad Marchand's impact on the Stanley Cup Final so far and what his future may look like. They also talk about Florida imposing their will on the Oilers in the Game 3 victory.
National Post
9 minutes ago
- National Post
T.J. Oshie, Capitals Stanley Cup champion, retires at 38
Article content WASHINGTON — T.J. Oshie, who scored four shootout goals for the U.S. to beat host Russia at the 2014 Sochi Olympics and helped the Washington Capitals win the Stanley Cup in 2018, announced Monday he is retiring after playing 16 NHL seasons. Article content Oshie shared his news in front of hundreds of fans gathered at the fountains at Washington Harbour in Georgetown, seven years to the day of one of the most memorable Cup celebrations in hockey history when he and several teammates jumped into the fountains and took a dip. Article content Article content Article content President of hockey operations Brian MacLellan, general manager Chris Patrick, coach Spencer Carbery and longtime teammates Nicklas Backstrom and John Carlson came out to support Oshie as he called it a career. Article content 'My only contribution was that this could be a good day and place to have (the ceremony),' Oshie said, adding, 'I can't thank the Caps enough. Another first-class move by them to have my retirement here, invite all the people out. It really made this day special.' Article content This is my last time hanging up my skates. What an amazing journey it has been. Thank you to my family, friends, @StLouisBlues, @Capitals, fans and everyone that helped me along the way. I'm so grateful for what the game of hockey has given me and I look forward to the next… — TJ Oshie (@TJOshie77) June 11, 2025 Article content Article content The announcement had been expected for quite some time, with Oshie's contract expiring. The 38-year-old did not play this past season because of a nagging back injury that sidelined him off and on, going on long-term injured reserve instead. Article content Oshie said in the spring of 2024 he would only return to the Capitals if he found a permanent solution or fix to the issue. His final game was at home on April 28 last year against the New York Rangers, a 4-2 loss in the first round that eliminated Washington in a sweep. Article content 'I was fully prepared that could be my last game: I got the pictures taken of me taking off the skates to prove it,' Oshie said. 'I hadn't thought too much about (the end), honestly, besides that moment. Even before that moment, knowing how tough it was on really the whole team with me, what I was going through, actually saying the words out loud at the podium with my family in front of me and the Caps organization, my teammates, all my close friends, it was emotional.'
