Victoire take pride in using 'smothering defence' to beat Charge

A late-period goal can often generate momentum for the scoring team.

On Tuesday, in their 2-1 win over the Ottawa Charge, the Montreal Victoire used the goal against to take control of the game.

Ronja Savolainen scored on the power play with 2.9 seconds remaining in the first period to trim Montreal's lead to one, but the Charge only had seven shots in the final 40 minutes. In the third period, they had three shots, two of them in the final 30 seconds with the goaltender pulled.

"We didn't like that goal as a team," said Montreal head coach Kori Cheverie. "Our game plan was very simple tonight, and it was focusing on the habits and the details."

"I thought that really helped our group stay focused on shutting down and smothering their offence. They took a lot of pride in it, knowing that if we win 2-1, it's just as good as if we won 6-1."

The goal was only the second power-play goal that Montreal has surrendered this season. Ottawa has the league's best power play. The home team snapped Ottawa's six-game winning streak.

"When we got the puck, we said in the dressing room, it felt like we were thinking, not playing," said Ottawa head coach Carla McLeod. "When you think in this game, the game's too fast. You have to know beforehand; you have to be willing to play it, move the puck to where it wants to go."

This was Montreal's 11th game of the season, and only one has been with the full group that the team expected to ice when the season started due to injuries and, on Tuesday, a suspension to top-line winger Abby Roque.

Darkangelo's 2-point night enough to defeat her former team, Victoire take down Charge

Both of Montreal's goals came from players who were signed as free agents during the off-season, and the Victoire