Clark succeeding in shutdown role for Charge as Ottawa looks to even PWHL final

OTTAWA — Emily Clark’s contributions might not be showing up on the scoresheet in this post-season, but her success in a shutdown role has been big for the Ottawa Charge.

The Charge trail the Montréal Victoire 2-1 in the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s best-of-five Walter Cup final, with Game 4 set for Wednesday in Ottawa.

Clark has the unenviable task of shutting down the Montreal Victoire’s top line, featuring captain Marie-Philip Poulin.

Poulin has been held to just two assists through the first three games and Clark, along with linemates Gabbie Hughes and Peyton Hemp, have been instrumental in restricting her opportunities.

“Yeah, there’s a lot of heavy minutes there for the (Hughes, Clark, Hemp) line, and obviously Ronja (Savolainen) and Rory (Guilday) on the back end,” said Charge head coach Carla MacLeod. “Joce (Larocque) and (Brooke) Hobson have also garnered some of those minutes. It’s an important component of course. You know they’re a very talented team, Montreal is. We’ve seen it time in and time out.”

While there were times Monday night that Montreal was able to get a better matchup for the Poulin line, MacLeod said having last change at home is helpful.

“You know, you get an opportunity at home to try and get that crew out against them and you let them go do what they’re so good at doing.”

It’s been a different post-season for Clark. Last season the 30-year-old had three goals and two assists through eight games and was an offensive threat every time she was on the ice. This year, Clark is still looking for her first point of the playoffs.

She has had chances, but capitalizing on them has been a challenge, something that persisted throughout much of the season. After scoring nine goals and recording 19 points a year ago, she managed just three goals and nine points this season.

But MacLeod knows Clark’s value goes far beyond the scoresheet.

“Her effort is always through the roof,” said MacLeod. “You never have to worry about Emily. When she comes to the rink she’s the consummate professional. She’s going to be all in for our crew and she has been every game she’s played here in Ottawa for us…Emily’s the heartbeat of this team and has been for so long and she’s continuing to lead the way.”

While it might not get the same recognition as an offensive spark, Clark is enjoying the challenge of playing a shutdown role.

“You have to have a lot of respect and be aware of them,” said Clark of Poulin and her linemates. “They’re incredible players and some of the best in the world, obviously. So, I think our team’s done a really good job trying to manage them and for us any time we can have that matchup it’s something we get excited about.”

Montreal head coach Kori Cheverie knows the Charge will be looking to come out with a similar effort Wednesday to their 2-1 comeback win in Game 3 looking to push the series back to Montreal for a decisive showdown.

“I thought that we need to continue to match their urgency and play our style of game,” said Cheverie.

Asked what areas she wanted her team to tighten up heading into Game 4, Cheverie wasn’t willing to give much away.

“I think that on both sides of the puck we’d like to be better with the puck and we’d like to be better without the puck,” Cheverie said. “And I think, you know, that’s something that we’ll find the adjustments that we need to make and we’ll make them.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 19, 2026.

Lisa Wallace, The Canadian Press