Victoire take pride in using ‘smothering defence’ to beat Charge 2-1

By Canadian Press on January 14, 2026.

LAVAL — A late-period goal can often generate momentum for the scoring team.

On Tuesday, in their 2-1 win over the Ottawa Charge, the Montreal Victoire used the goal against to take control of the game.

Ronja Savolainen scored on the power play with 2.9 seconds remaining in the first period to trim Montreal’s lead to one, but the Charge only had seven shots in the final 40 minutes. In the third period, they had three shots, two of them in the final 30 seconds with the goaltender pulled.

“We didn’t like that goal as a team,” said Montreal head coach Kori Cheverie. “Our game plan was very simple tonight, and it was focusing on the habits and the details.”

“I thought that really helped our group stay focused on shutting down and smothering their offence. They took a lot of pride in it, knowing that if we win 2-1, it’s just as good as if we won 6-1.”

The goal was only the second power-play goal that Montreal has surrendered this season. Ottawa has the league’s best power play. The home team snapped Ottawa’s six-game winning streak.

“When we got the puck, we said in the dressing room, it felt like we were thinking, not playing,” said Ottawa head coach Carla McLeod. “When you think in this game, the game’s too fast. You have to know beforehand; you have to be willing to play it, move the puck to where it wants to go.”

This was Montreal’s 11th game of the season, and only one has been with the full group that the team expected to ice when the season started due to injuries and, on Tuesday, a suspension to top-line winger Abby Roque.

Both of Montreal’s goals came from players who were signed as free agents during the off-season, and the Victoire finally feel like things are starting to come together.

“It’s just trusting the process each and every game, and then building,” said Montreal forward Shiann Darkangelo, who had a goal and an assist. “We’ve been building, buying into the process, and you see good things and we have to continue along that way.

“I think good things are going to happen for this group.”

After being outshot 5-0 in the first two minutes of the game, a Montreal power play saw the game start to turn.

“I would say it was probably our most complete 55 minutes,” Cheverie said. “I felt like it was our hardest to play against game that we’ve had.”

It could have been a different score if not for Ottawa goaltender Gwyneth Philips, who made 29 saves and stopped many point-blank scoring chances from the Victoire.

“It’s more exciting,” said Montreal forward Jade Downie-Landry on whether it was getting frustrating to see all the missed opportunities. She had three shots on goals, and two of the best chances of the game.

“At the end of the day, it’s getting chances that’s important. That’s where it starts. At least we had chances, and the next step will be putting them in.”

UNLIKELY GAME WINNER

The eventual game-winning goal was scored by Montreal defender Jessica DiGirolamo, who signed with the team during the off-season. She is known more for her defensive and physical presence, which is why seeing her at the top of the offensive crease was a surprise for most of her teammates.

“I saw (forward Maureen Murphy) was coming up the boards and I thought that was an opportunity to dive down and create some offence. I knew (Darkangelo) was going to shoot it, so just having that net presence, finding the loose puck and burying it,” said DiGirolamo.

It took her 54 games to score the first goal of her PWHL career, which came in the final game of last season. In her 11th with her new team, she got her second.

“I was a little bit iffy on the first decision for her to jump down, because there wasn’t a lot of space for her to jump, and then she proved me wrong so that’s great,” Cheverie said laughing.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 14, 2026.

Jared Book, The Canadian Press