The Montreal Victoire and Ottawa Charge are set to face off in the third edition of the Walter Cup Final. montreal secured their spot by defeating the Minnesota Frost, while Ottawa advanced after a four-game series victory over the Boston Fleet .

Montreal Victoire's First Playoff Series Win Over the Minnesota Frost

The Montreal Victoire enter the final as the top seed, but their path was historically fraught. According to Daily Faceoff, the Montreal Victoire have a track record of faltering in the semifinals during the first two years of the league's existence. By taking down the two-time defending champion Minnesota Frost in five games, the Montreal Victoire have finally broken through a psychological barrier that has plagued the franchise since its inception.

This victory signals a potential shift in the PWHL power structure. For the first time, the "inevitability" associated with the Minnesota Frost in the postseason has been dismantled. The Montreal Victoire relied on the steady play of goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens and the two-way contribbutions of Hayley Scamurra to survive a series that felt precarious, particularly during a Game 4 delay caused by player illnesses.

Gwyneth Philips and the .951 Save Percentage Wall

While Montreal brings the regular-season pedigree, the Ottawa Charge bring a proven postseason formula centered on elite goaltending. As reported by Daily Faceoff, Gwyneth Philips finished the opening round with a .951 save percentage, effectively neutralizing the Boston Fleet. This performance mirrors the form that earned Gwyneth Philips the Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP award last spring.

The Ottawa Charge strategy appears to be a high-risk, high-reward defensive shell. the team often surrenders a high volume of shots, relying on the brilliance of Gwyneth Philips to cover for a flawed forward roster. This "bend-but-don't-break" approach worked against the Boston Fleet, but it remains to be seen if it can hold up against a more disciplined Montreal Victoire offense.

How Fanuza Kadirova and Ronja Savolainen Fueled the Charge

Ottawa's return to the final was not solely a defensive effort; it required unexpected offensive production beyond stars Brianne Jenner and Rebecca Leslie. Fanuza Kadirova has emerged as a critical net-front presence, creating high-danger chances that the Ottawa Charge will need to penetrate Montreal's tighter defensive structure. Daily Faceoff notes that Kadirova has "unlocked a whole other level" of her game this postseason.

Adding to this depth is Finnish defender Ronja Savolainen, who provided a spark from the blue line. Ronja Savolainen recorded three points in four games against the Boston Fleet, including the game-winning goal in the pivotal Game 3. Her ability to contribute at both ends of the rink provides the Ottawa Charge with a tactical versatility that could disrupt Montreal's rhythm.

The Illness Delay and Montreal's Regular Season Dominance

Despite their status as the best team during the regular season,the Montreal Victoire's journey to the final was nearly derailed by an unexpected health crisis. The delay of Game 4 due to multiple players falling ill created a momentum shift that almost favored the Minnesota Frost. Whether the Montreal Victoire have fully recovered their physical and mental edge heading into the final remains a critical unknown.

Furthermore, the source provides the perspective of Daily Faceoff analysts but does not include official statements from the Montreal Victoire or Ottawa Charge coaching staffs. It remains unclear how the Ottawa Charge intend to adjust their shot-suppression strategy to handle a Montreal team that is significantly more efficient than the Boston Fleet. The central question is whether regular-season dominance can overcome the specific, battle-tested grit of a returning finalist.