Shiann Darkangelo delivered a statement performance against her former squad, scoring and assisting in a 2-1 Montreal victory that snapped Ottawa’s league-best six-game win streak and kept Place Bell undefeated.
The Moment That Mattered
Three minutes and 58 seconds into Tuesday night, Shiann Darkangelo crashed the crease, batted a Maggie Flaherty rebound out of mid-air, and ignited a 2-1 Montreal Victoire triumph that doubles as the PWHL’s most emotionally charged statement win of the season.
The goal was more than a early lead—it was personal. Darkangelo spent 2024-25 in Ottawa red, black and cream. Returning to Place Bell in Victoire blue, she produced her first multi-point outing in a Montreal jersey and became the latest ex-Charge player to dent her old club’s armor.
Scoreboard Snapshot
- Montreal Victoire 2 – Ottawa Charge 1
- Darkangelo: 1 G, 1 A, +2, 4 SOG
- Jessica DiGirolamo: 1 G (first as a Victoire)
- Ann-Renée Desbiens: 17 saves, remains unbeaten at home (3-0-0-0)
- Ronja Savolainen: 1 PP-G for Ottawa
- Gwyneth Philips: 29 saves, league-leader in stops
How the Ice Tilted
Montreal opened on the power play and never let Ottawa breathe. Darkangelo’s tip-in came off a designed overload—Flaherty walked the blue line, threw a wrist shot wide intentionally, and Darkangelo sprinted off the half-wall to swat the carom past Gwyneth Philips.
Before the period ended, Jessica DiGirolamo dove helmet-first to poke a loose puck under Philips—her first goal since signing out of college free agency. Victoire led 2-0 and out-shot Ottawa 15-6 through 20 minutes.
Ottawa’s lone response arrived with 2.9 ticks left in the first when Ronja Savolainen slammed home a rebound during a 5-on-3. It was the only crack in Ann-Renée Desbiens, who slammed the door the final 40 minutes to keep Place Bell unblemished.
What the Numbers Whisper
Montreal’s third straight victory vaults them to 6-3-0-0, good for sole possession of second place, two points clear of Toronto and three back of Boston. More importantly, the Victoire are now a perfect 3-1-0-0 on home ice—best home points percentage in the PWHL.
Ottawa’s record-setting six-game heater ends at 6-4-0-0, but Gwyneth Philips still paces the league with 232 saves and a .935 SP during the streak.
Behind the Bench
Montreal accomplished the upset without Abby Roque, their top-line center, who sat out a one-game suspension for a match penalty vs. Boston. Head coach Danielle Marmer shuffled the deck, elevating Darkangelo to the second line and giving Flaherty power-play quarterback duties. The tweaks produced both goals.
Ottawa coach Carla MacLeod refused to blame fatigue, instead crediting Montreal’s structure: “They boxed us out better than anyone has in three weeks. We’ll learn and reset.”
What’s Next
Ottawa buses to Brooklyn for a Jan. 20 date with the New York Sirens, desperate to start a new streak. Montreal gets the same opponent Sunday afternoon at the Prudential Center, aiming for a franchise-best four-game win string.
Circle both matchups: Victoire-Sirens could vault Montreal within striking distance of first place, while Charge-Sirens is a battle of two clubs that play a heavy, north-south style—expect fireworks and maybe another goalie-highlight reel from Philips.
Fan Thread to Watch
Trade-deadline murmurs already link Ottawa to a right-shot defender and Montreal to forward depth. Victoire GM France St-Louis was spotted scouting the Sirens’ last homestand, fueling speculation that Sunday’s tilt could double as an audition session.
Meanwhile, Darkangelo’s revenge narrative is far from finished: Victoire and Charge meet twice more, including a Feb. 8 outdoor clash at TD Place—ticket demand is already surging.
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