Stage is set for the PWHL's 1st all-Canadian Walter Cup final

For the first time in PWHL history, a Canadian team will win the Walter Cup.

The stage was set for an all-Canadian Walter Cup final after the Montreal Victoire defeated the back-to-back champion Minnesota Frost in a deciding Game 5 on Tuesday night. The Ottawa Charge got here by defeating the Boston Fleet in four games earlier this week.

The best-of-five series, which begins in Laval, Que. on Thursday, should be fast and physical. It should also be a goaltending battle between Ottawa's Gwyneth Philips and Montreal's Ann-Renée Desbiens, who've both had stellar postseasons so far.

Desbiens leads all goaltenders with an average of 1.56 goals against over five games, including several big saves under immense pressure from Minnesota's high-octane offence on Tuesday night.

"The recipe doesn't really change [from the series against Boston]," Ottawa Charge captain Brianne Jenner said on Wednesday. "It's how hard are you going to work to get in front of her, to get on the loose pucks around the net, just to make her life as difficult as possible because we know she's a great player."

Philips has also faced a huge workload, but remained steady as Ottawa was outshot by Boston in each of the four semifinal games. Last year's playoff MVP has proven that she handle the brightest of lights, posting a 1.62 goals-against average over four playoff games.

"When something maybe didn’t go quite technically right for herself or she wasn’t quite sure on a play [or] a goal is scored, she just doesn’t waver in those moments," Ottawa head coach Carla MacLeod said.

Thursday, May 14: Game 1, Ottawa at Montreal, 7 p.m. ET
Saturday, May 16: Game 2, Ottawa at Montreal, 2 p.m. ET
Monday, May 18: Game 3, Montreal at Ottawa, 6 p.m. ET
Wednesday, May