PWHL playoff notebook: Montreal Victoire in the driver's seat after 4OT win

Exactly a year ago Sunday, the Montreal Victoire battled over three overtime periods, only to come out on the wrong side of the game.

The loss to the Boston Fleet put Montreal down 2-0 in the 2024 Walter Cup semifinal playoff series, a deficit the team couldn't come back from.

This time around, the result was different. After an exhausting four overtime periods against the Ottawa Charge, Kristin O'Neill set up Quebec's own Catherine Dubois for the game winner in front of more than 7,100 fans inside Place Bell. The series is now tied 1-1.

The 3-2 win was Montreal's first franchise playoff victory, after losing four playoff games over two seasons by just one goal each time.

This Victoire team feels different than the one that was swept in the first round in 2024. For one, it's deeper. 

Montreal's fourth line played sparingly, if at all, during last year's series against the Fleet. This time, head coach Kori Cheverie is using her whole bench. Even in Game 1, which ended in regulation, the fourth-line players all logged more than 10 minutes each.

The defence is deeper too. Defender Erin Ambrose played a stunning 61 minutes in triple overtime last year. In this year's marathon game, she still played nearly an hour. But first-round draft pick Cayla Barnes was there to put in more than 50 minutes of work on the blue line, which surely eased the load on Ambrose.

WATCH | Victoire edge Charge with Dubois' winner in 4OT to even series:

Victoire edge Charge with Dubois' winner in 4th OT to even series

Beyond the added depth, Cheverie pointed to another year of experience for many players and the Victoire's staff, who have worked hard on the mental preparation of what this year's playoffs could look like. They've been here before