Grant-Mentis leads the way as the Montreal Victoire outlast the Ottawa Charge 6-3 in the final preseason game for both teams
Grant-Mentis leads the way as the Montreal Victoire outlast the Ottawa Charge 6-3 in the final preseason game for both teams
Denis-Savard Arena, in Verdun, Que., played host to the final preseason game between the Ottawa Charge and Montreal Victoire. Montreal walked away with the 6-3 win, despite Ottawa’s best efforts to keep the game close.
“These games aren’t about the result, but learning about your team and every scenario gives you the chance to evaluate where your team’s at,” said Ottawa head coach Carla MacLeod. She was then asked about the length of the preseason.
“It just puts a little bit extra weight on your practices and how you can evaluate, and what you are looking to see from the players that are trying to earn their spots,” McLeod said.
Montreal forward Mikyla Grant-Mentis scored twice in the preseason affair, stiffling the Charge’s attempt to take the lead. The Brampton, Ontario-born attacker started the game on a line with Kristin O’Neill and Jennifer Gardiner.
The first 20 minutes was all Montreal in terms of possession. They outshot their opponents 12-5 in the frame, testing Gwyneth Philips early. Grant-Mentis finally foiled the netminder. After missing high and wide on an initial breakaway attempt, Grant-Mentis received a chip pass from Jennifer Gardiner on the same shift, electing to deke out Philips and tuck home the opening marker.
“I think after my first breakaway, missing the net completely, I told myself that I couldn’t miss the net again,” Grant-Mentis joked. She spoke on playing her former team and whether or not there was an extra edge to her game.
“I mean, I totally forgot that we were playing them until I stepped on the ice today,” she said. “There’s definitely a little something there every time I play them … the players on the team told me that.”
“We want to be an organization that players want to come to and that they are going to get an opportunity here,” said Montreal head coach Kori Cheverie on Grant-Mentis. “She was able to capitalize on some opportunities, and that’s her strength, is finding open ice and reading when possession changes.”
Gabrielle David extended the Victoire lead upon receiving a feed in tight from Clair DeGeorge following an o-zone turnover. David roofed the supporting goal, making it a 2-0 game.
Ottawa would not be outdone, however, thanks to 2024 second overall draft pick Danielle Serdachny. The attacker went end-to-end before shelving her first preseason goal over the right shoulder of Elaine Chuli, narrowing the lead 2-1 before intermission.
Ottawa applied its new name by taking charge in the second frame. Montreal’s Maureen Murphy scored an insurance marker on the power play following a boarding call assessed to Taylor House, but Ottawa responded to regain the momentum. A point shot from Rebecca Leslie found its way through traffic and past Chuli, making it a one-goal-game once again.
The start of the third period had both teams fighting to claim momentum. Ottawa found a rythym, and eventually tied the game. it was forward Tereza Vanišová who tore in on goal, placing a backhander post-and-in on Marlene Boissonnault, who replaced Chuli for the start of the frame.
Montreal bounced back in a big way. Grant-Mentis rolled up her sleeves to create space in front, and a shot from Kati Tabin deflected off her face to give the Victoire back the lead, 4-3. Not a minute later, Alexandra Labelle raced horizontally along the faceoff line and fired the puck by Philips. An empty net goal by Tabin with 17 seconds left sealed a 6-3 win for the home team.
No goal was scored in the overtime period, and Montreal outscored Ottawa two goals to one in the shootout, with captain Marie-Philip Poulin notching the winner.