Montreal Victoire captain Marie-Philip Poulin has led her team to the PWHL Walter Cup Finals, delivering clutch performances despite a lower-body injury. Her two winning goals in the semifinal series against Minnesota, including the Game 5 clincher, propelled Montreal past the defending champions and into their first championship appearance. Poulin, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, has lived up to her 'Captain Clutch' nickname once more.

The finals will feature an all-Canadian matchup as Montreal faces the Ottawa Charge, who advanced after a double-overtime win over Boston. This marks the first time both PWHL finalists are coached by women—Kori Cheverie for Montreal and Carla MacLeod for Ottawa. The series also reunites longtime Team Canada teammates Poulin and Ottawa captain Brianne Jenner.

Goaltending will be a key factor, with Ann-Renee Desbiens facing off against last year’s playoff MVP, Gwyneth Philips. Three players—Philips, Ottawa’s Rory Guilday, and Montreal’s Hayley Scamurra—enter the finals on a high after winning gold with Team USA at the Milan Cortina Games. Montreal won the regular-season series 3-0-1, but Ottawa upset them in last year’s semifinals.