Ottawa Charge look to even PWHL final series with Montreal

The Ottawa Charge look to avoid elimination in Game 4 against Montreal. CTV’s Dylan Dyson reports the team is optimistic they can keep the finals going.

The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) championship trophy, the Walter Cup, is in Ottawa, but the Ottawa Charge are hoping they won’t see it tonight.

The Charge are playing to keep their playoff hopes alive Wednesday, as they host the Montreal Victoire at the Canadian Tire Centre for Game 4 of the PWHL Finals.

The Charge got a crucial win in Game 3, giving them a second chance in the best-of-five series that Montreal is leading 2-1.

Ottawa’s Rebecca Leslie scored the game winner on the holiday Monday in front of a playoff-record crowd of 16,894 fans.

“This game is going to be close again. It’s two great teams on the ice and I can assure you we love how we’re playing. We really like our game,” said Ottawa Charge head coach Carla MacLeod in a post on the Charge’s website on Wednesday. “We like the brand that we’re bringing day in and day out and honestly, we are genuinely excited to get going again in front of our fans at Canadian Tire Centre. We have to win one in a row and that’ll be our mission. We’re not looking any further ahead.”

Game 4 begins at 7 p.m., with the Charge Fan Zone opening at 4 p.m.

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The Fan Zone features a live host and player walk-ins on Electric Avenue, a Tim Hortons mobile truck, $5 beers, and $3 hot dogs. Milk will have a photobooth, SharkNinja is giving away a BBQ and offering product samples, and fans can enjoy free face painting and Thursty Pedaler rides, the team says.

If the Charge win, the deciding Game 5 will be played at Place Bell in Laval at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.

OC Transpo promises better service

OC Transpo says it has reviewed plans for Wednesday’s game, after customers taking buses to the game on Monday were delayed.

“OC Transpo acknowledges that while 400-series buses were in service for the Ottawa Charge game on May 18, customers experienced delays on certain trips heading to the event. This was due to an error in scheduling the correct start time for bus operators and buses required for the event,” said Joel Lemieux, director of Transit Service Delivery and Rail Operations, in a statement to CTV News Ottawa.

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“We recognize the frustration this may have caused for fans. Service for customers leaving the game operated as scheduled.”

Lemieux said OC Transpo reviewed all operational plans and resources neede for the game.

“The Transit Operations Control Centre will enhance their monitoring of the 400-series bus service (on Wednesday) and make adjustments as needed to support reliable service,” he said.