Did Montreal pick the two-time PWHL champs to avoid red-hot Charge and the MacLeod Factor?

Ottawa Charge players celebrate a goal during the regular-season finale against the Toronto Sceptres at the TD Place Arena on April 25, 2026. Photo by Josh Kim /PWHL

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Intangibles can truly be difference makers in a best-of-five showdown, especially when there’s very little in the way of concrete substance between teams.

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Sure, the Ottawa Charge finished the regular season with 18 points fewer than the Boston Fleet, its first-round opponent in the upcoming Professional Women’s Hockey League playoffs. But all four of their meetings during the 2025-26 campaign extended beyond 60 minutes, and Ottawa won three of them, two via shootouts and one in overtime.

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Not only did the Charge finish the season as the PWHL’s hottest team, but it will be coming off what should be its proudest accomplishment when traveling to Lowell, Mass., for the series opener Thursday at the Tsongas Center.

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With the final post-season berth on the line and needing only to avoid a regulation-time loss against the desperate Toronto Sceptres, Ottawa skated away with a 3-0 victory while recognizing what could be the greatest intangible of all in its pursuit of a Walter Cup championship.

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The Carla MacLeod Factor.

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Immediately after recording her third shutout of the season, goalie Gwyneth Philips used words like “motivational” and “inspirational” when telling a TV audience what it was like to have MacLeod, the team’s coach, back for a game at TD Place for the first time since she stepped away from the team on April 6 to focus on her treatment for breast cancer.

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On Thursday, the MacLeod factor will be in full force when she returns to her post behind the bench.

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“Obviously, it was a surprise (to find out) we were going to miss her for a couple of weeks, but it’s really great to have her back,” Charge captain Brianne Jenner said Monday on a Zoom call. “Just to have her in the building last game was really special. We’re really excited about this opportunity. and really excited to have everyone back together, and we’re just looking to go to work.”

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Whether intentional or not, MacLeod seemed to be drawing parallels between her personal battle and the one that faced her team in the final weeks of the season.

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To qualify for the playoffs on the last day, the Charge won its last four games, surrendering a total of just two goals in the process.

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The last-place Vancouver Goldeneyes also won their last four, but gave up 12 goals over that span.

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“Obviously, the journey for our group has been what I would call a really steady one,” said MacLeod. “I think it’s been exactly what we anticipated heading into the season. We knew it was going to be hard fought. We knew it would most likely go to the end of the regular season. But our group is one that just continues to show resiliency and is really invested in getting better every day.

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“Certainly, for me, not being on the bench the last five games was a challenge. But also in the same breath, our group made it quite easy for me. They just kept competing, and that’s all you can ask for as a coach. So I’m really thrilled. We get this opportunity to go into the postseason, and I’m just really proud of our group.”