Ashton Bell scores twice, including shorthanded in final seconds, to lift Charge over Victoire 3-2

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Ottawa Charge goaltender Gwyneth Philips (33) reaches over teammate Jincy Roese (71) and Montreal Victoire’s Abigail Boreen (24) to make a save during the second period of a PWHL hockey game in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Ottawa Charge’s Ashton Bell (21) blocks a shot by Montreal Victoire’s Lina Ljungblom (25) during the second period of a PWHL hockey game in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Ottawa Charge’s Ashton Bell (21) and Montreal Victoire’s Lina Ljungblom (25) battle for the puck during the second period of a PWHL hockey game in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Ottawa Charge goaltender Gwyneth Philips (33) reacts after losing her blocker as teammates Emily Clark (26) and Ashton Bell (21) fall to the ice during the second period of a PWHL hockey game against the Montreal Victoire in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Ottawa Charge’s Ashton Bell (21) and Montreal Victoire’s Marie-Philip Poulin (29) chase down the puck during the second period of a PWHL hockey game in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Montreal Victoire’s Dominika Laskova (14) tracks the puck as Ottawa Charge’s Anna Meixner (94) falls to ice during the first period of a PWHL hockey game in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Ottawa Charge’s Ashton Bell (21) scores on Montreal Victoire’s goaltender Elaine Chuli (20) during the first period of a PWHL hockey game in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Montreal Victoire’s Marie-Philip Poulin (29) takes an open ice hit by Ottawa Charge’s Gabbie Hughes (17) during the first period of a PWHL hockey game in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Ottawa Charge’s Brianne Jenner (19) celebrates her goal against Montreal Victoire during the first period of a PWHL hockey game in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Ottawa Charge’s Mannon McMahon (18) fights for possession of the puck in front of Montreal Victoire’s goaltender Elaine Chuli’s net during the first period of a PWHL hockey game in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Ottawa Charge’s Mannon McMahon (18) attempts a shot on Montreal Victoire’s goaltender Elaine Chuli (20) during the first period of a PWHL hockey game in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Ottawa Charge’s Tereza Vanisova (13) and teammate Stephanie Markowski (6) celebrate their win over Montreal Victoire after a PWHL hockey game in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Montreal Victoire’s Catherine Dubois (28) scores on Ottawa Charge goaltender Gwyneth Philips (33) during the third period of a PWHL hockey game in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Montreal Victoire’s goaltender Elaine Chuli (20) reacts after letting in a goal by Ottawa Charge’s Ashton Bell (21), not seen, during the third period of a PWHL hockey game in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Montreal Victoire’s Laura Stacey (7) looks for a scoring opportunity as Ottawa Charge goaltender Gwyneth Philips (33) tracks the puck during the third period of a PWHL hockey game in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Montreal Victoire’s Catherine Dubois (28) celebrates her goal against the Ottawa Charge during the third period of a PWHL hockey game in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)

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OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Ashton Bell scored two goals, including a shorthanded winner with 13 seconds remaining, to rally the Ottawa Charge to a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Victoire as the Professional Women’s Hockey League returned to action on Saturday after a nearly month-long international break.

Bell’s winner came after Shiann Darkangelo was sent off the ice for two minutes for slashing with 1:39 left in regulation.

Darkangelo and Jocelyn Larocque both notched their seventh assists of the season when Bell scored at the 10:38 mark of the first period to put Ottawa up 1-0.

Brianne Jenner netted her sixth goal of the campaign to give the Charge (12-1-4-11) a 2-0 lead a little over three minutes later. Darkangelo had another assist and Tereza Vanišová collected her sixth of the season.

Anna Wilgren scored in the final minute to pull the Victoire (11-6-3-8) with a goal at the end of the first period. Laura Stacey earned her 11th assist and Jennifer Gardiner her 13th on the goal.

That was all the scoring until Catherine Dubois tied the game six minutes into the third period with her fourth goal — unassisted.

Elaine Chuli finished with 24 saves for first-place Montreal, which has already earned a spot in the playoffs with 48 points but failed to clinch one of the top two seeds with two games remaining.

Gwyneth Philips totaled 25 saves for Ottawa. The Charge moved into third place with 42 points, two ahead of the Boston Fleet who were playing later in the day.

Montreal will host Boston on Monday. Ottawa will host Minnesota on Wednesday.

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AP Women’s Hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey