2026 PWHL Walter Cup Playoffs Recap
- Lyanna Yeow
- May 22
- 4 min read
Official Standings & Series Summary
Montréal Victoire (18 points, 3-3-0-3) Walter Cup Champions
Ottawa Charge (12 points, 3-1-1-4)
Minnesota Frost (6 PTS, 1-1-0-3)
Boston Fleet (3 PTS, 1-0-0-3)
Semifinals
The 2026 PWHL Walter Cup Playoffs was kicked off with a series between the Boston Fleet vs. Ottawa Charge which took place during the span of April 30, 2026 to May 10, 2026. The Boston Fleet started off strong with a 2-1 regulation Game 1 win. Unfortunately for the Boston Fleet, their momentum became stagnant as they struggled against the Ottawa Charge’s puck possession maintenance and special teams. This series ended in a 3-1 win for the Ottawa Charge which included an overtime win secured in Game 4.
The second series that occurred in the 2026 PWHL Walter Cup Playoffs was between the Montréal Victoire vs. Minnesota Frost which took place during the span of May 2, 2026 to May 11, 2026. This series started with back-to-back overtime wins which split the series, 1-1, after the Minnesota Frost took Game 1 and the Montréal Victoire answered back with a triple overtime win secured in Game 2. Riding the momentum from their gutsy win, the Montréal Victoire were able to secure a Game 3 victory which made them one step closer to the finals. This resulted in the Minnesota Frost fighting tooth-and-nail in Game 4 which ended up forcing Game 5 in this series after they ended with a triumphant 3-1 win. Despite making a huge comeback in the series, the Minnesota Frost fell short as the Montréal Victoire secured a 3-2 series win.
Finals
After a hard-fought Semifinals, the Montréal Victoire and Ottawa Charge were scheduled to battle for the Walter Cup which took place during the span of May 14, 2026 to May 20, 2026. This series had an electrifying start as the Montréal Victoire secured back-to-back overtime wins despite the Ottawa Charge entering with momentum from their three-game winning streak. Down by two in the series, the Ottawa Charge were able to muster a gusty Game 3 win which forced Game 4 to be played. After letting a crucial win slip through their fingertips, the Montréal Victoire entered Game 4 hungry for redemption and ultimately closed out this series with a jaw-dropping 4-0 shutout. After a long playoff run, the Montréal Victoire triumphantly won the Walter Cup with a 3-1 series win.
Overall Stats Summary
Montréal Victoire (18 points, 3-3-0-3) Walter Cup Champions
20 goals scored
242 shots on goal recorded
15.8% power play success rate
92.9% penalty kill success rate
Ottawa Charge (12 points, 3-1-1-4)
15 goals scored
191 shots on goal recorded
8.67% power play success rate
95.7% penalty kill success rate
Minnesota Frost (6 PTS, 1-1-0-3)
10 goals scored
152 shots on goal recorded
11.8% power play success rate
75.0% penalty kill success rate
Boston Fleet (3 PTS, 1–0-0-3)
7 goals scored
142 shots on goal recorded
0.00% power play success rate
91.7% penalty kill success rate
Points Leaders & Goaltending Summary
Montréal Victoire
Points leaders: #11 Abby Roque (4G, 1A) and #29 C. Marie-Philip Poulin ended the playoffs with 8 points recorded
Goals leader: #11 Abby Roque led the team with a total of 4 goals scored during the playoffs
Assists leaders: #29 C. Marie-Philip Poulin led the team with a total of 6 assists recorded during the playoffs
Goaltending: #35 Ann-Renée Desbiens ended the playoffs with a record of 6-2-1 and a 0.944 SV% in 9 games played
Ottawa Charge
Points leaders: #37 Rebecca Leslie ended the playoffs with 6 points recorded
Goals leader: #37 Rebecca Leslie led the team with a total of 4 goals scored during the playoffs
Assists leaders: #3 Jocelyne Larocque and #71 Fanusza Kadirova led the team with a total of 3 assists recorded during the playoffs
Goaltending: #33 Gwyneth Philips ended the playoffs with a record of 4-2-2 and a 0.929 SV% in 8 games played
Minnesota Frost
Points leaders: #5 Sidney Morin (4G) and #12 Kelly Pannek (1G, 3A) ended the playoffs with 4 points
Goals leader: #5 Sidney Morin led the team with 4 goals scored
Assists leaders: #12 Kelly Pannek led the team with 3 assists recorded
Goaltending: #35 Maddie Rooney ended the playoffs with a record of 2-2-1 a 0.930 SV% in 5 games played
Boston Fleet
Points leaders: #11 Alina Müller (1G, 3A) ended this series with 4 points
Goals leader: #5 Megan Keller ended this series with 2 goals
Assists leaders: #11 Alina Müller and #18 Jessie Eldridge ended this series with 3 assists
Goaltending: #31 Aerin Frankel ended the playoffs with a record of 1-2-1 a 0.903 SV% in 4 games played
Achievements during the 2026 Walter Cup Playoffs
Listed below are the achievement(s) that were secured during the 2026 Walter Cup Playoffs and the date(s) that they were recorded:
Hat-tricks
Montréal Victoire Forward, #7 Laura Stacey, recorded the first and only hat-trick of the 2026 Walter Cup Playoffs on May 2, 2026
Overtime
Semifinals
Minnesota Frost
Montréal Victoire
Ottawa Charge
Finals
Montréal Victoire Forward, #11 Abby Roque, scored the Game 1 overtime game-winning goal on May 14, 2026
Montréal Victoire Forward, #91 Maggie Flaherty, scored the Game 2 overtime game-winning goal on May 16, 2026
Montréal Victoire Goaltender, #35 Ann-Renée Desbiens, secured back-to-back overtime wins in Game 1 (3-2) and Game 2 (2-1) of the finals which occurred on May 14, 2026 and May 16, 2026
Shutout
Montréal Victoire Goaltender, #35 Ann-Renée Desbiens, secured two shutouts which occurred on May 5, 2026 (1-0) and May 20, 2026 (4-0)
After 13 games played during the 2026 Walter Cup Playoffs, everything came to an end on May 20, 2026 when the Montréal Victoire shutout the Ottawa Charge in Game 4 of the finals. The Montréal Victoire remained on top after winning a couple series of hard-fought battles which earned them their first Walter Cup win.
Congratulations to the Montréal Victoire and come back for more hockey recaps!
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