Catherine Dubois scores in 4th OT to lift Victoire over Charge 3-2 for first playoff victory

LAVAL, Quebec (AP) — After almost seven periods and six hours of hockey, Montreal Victoire forward Catherine Dubois doesn’t even remember her winning goal.

Dubois took a pass from Kristin O’Neill at the left circle and fired a wrist shot past Ottawa goaltender Gwyneth Philips to give the Montreal Victoire a 3-2 win in Game 2 of their Professional Women’s Hockey League semifinal on Sunday night.

The goal came at 15:33 of the fourth overtime period. It ended the longest professional women’s hockey game in North America passing the Canadian Women’s Hockey League semifinal on March 18, 2018. The previous longest PWHL game was played exactly a year ago between Montreal and Boston.

“I blacked out,” Dubois said. “I don’t really remember what happened, I just remember the girls coming towards me. We dealt with the opposite last year and it hurt so I’m really happy we came away with the win.”

The win ties the best-of-five PWHL series at 1-1, and was the first playoff win for the Victoire in the team’s history.

“With a win it does give us a little bit of momentum,” said Montreal coach Kori Cheverie. “I think Ottawa came into playoffs believing in their group, and belief is a powerful tool. I think that tonight, we took a little bit of that belief in our room.”

The long game led to unconventional practices to get through it. Ottawa taped packets of mustard to the bench so players could take them to help prevent cramping. Both teams said pickles and pickle juice were consumed during some of the six intermissions to help with cramping.

The Victoire team nutritionist ran around getting the team peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and smoothies as the game extended well beyond what they had prepared for. After the game, players noted they had not eaten since 10 a.m.

O’Neill had a goal to go with her game-winning assist, and Laura Stacey also scored for Montreal. Defender Anna Wilgren had two assists. Ann-Renee Desbiens made 63 saves.

“If your team keeps doing the right things, like we did today, especially in overtime, eventually we’re going to get one,” said Desbiens. “I had to make sure that I made the saves so that the girls could have what they worked so hard for all game long.”

Ottawa came back from a 2-0 deficit with two goals in the final 4:34 of regulation. Jenner’s goal forced overtime with 41.8 seconds remaining. The Charge had pulled their goaltender for the extra attacker.

Brianne Jenner had the tying goal and an assist. Aneta Tejralova also scored for the Charge. Gwyneth Philips made 53 saves.

Both teams had five-on-three power plays in the first overtime period, but were unable to capitalize.

The Victoire opened the scoring 2:25 into the game when O’Neill scored her first of the postseason.

It took until 4:34 remaining in the third period for Ottawa to get on the scoreboard.

“We have such a belief in each other, and we could tell that Gwen felt a little bit down, and I think we really wanted to play for her and not have that be what the result was,” said Ottawa defender Jocelyne Larocque.

“She even thanked us after the game to get us back to being tied,” Larocque said. “It’s so great to be a part of and I love this team.”

The series now shifts to Ottawa for Game 3 on Tuesday night at TD Place.

“We know we have an opponent that is a great team, a great opponent,” said Ottawa coach Carla MacLeod. “No stone will be left unturned from either side, but we’ll be really, really excited to get back to Ottawa and go play in front of our fans and see what that brings for us.”

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

Ottawa Charge's Rebecca Leslie (37) moves in against Montreal Victoire goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens (35) as Victoire's Mariah Keopple (2) defends during second-period PWHL hockey playoff action in Laval, Quebec, Sunday, May 11, 2025. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Victoire's Catherine Dubois (28) shoots against Ottawa Charge goaltender Gwyneth Philips, left, during second overtime period PWHL playoff hockey action in Laval, Quebec, Sunday, May 11, 2025. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Victoire's Laura Stacey (7) tries a wraparound against Ottawa Charge goaltender Gwyneth Philips (33) during third overtime period PWHL hockey playoff action in Laval, Quebec, Sunday, May 11, 2025. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Victoire's Kristin O'Neill (43) celebrates with teammates after scoring against the Ottawa Charge during first-period PWHL hockey playoff action in Laval, Quebec, Sunday, May 11, 2025. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Victoire's Catherine Dubois (28) scores against Ottawa Charge goaltender Gwyneth Philips, left, during fourth overtime period PWHL playoff hockey action in Laval, Quebec, Sunday, May 11, 2025. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands of nurses in three hospital systems in New York City went on strike Monday after negotiations through the weekend failed to yield breakthroughs in their contract disputes.

The strike was taking place at The Mount Sinai Hospital and two of its satellite campuses, with picket lines forming. The other affected hospitals are NewYork-Presbyterian and Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx.

About 15,000 nurses are involved in the strike, according to New York State Nurses Association.

“After months of bargaining, management refused to make meaningful progress on core issues that nurses have been fighting for: safe staffing for patients, healthcare benefits for nurses, and workplace violence protections,” the union said in a statement issued Monday. “Management at the richest hospitals in New York City are threatening to discontinue or radically cut nurses’ health benefits.”

The strike, which comes during a severe flu season, could potentially force the hospitals to transfer patients, cancel procedures or divert ambulances. It could also put a strain on city hospitals not involved in the contract dispute, as patients avoid the medical centers hit by the strike.

The hospitals involved have been hiring temporary nurses to try and fill the labor gap during the walkout, and said in a statement during negotiations that they would “do whatever is necessary to minimize disruptions.” Montefiore posted a message assuring patients that appointments would be kept.

“NYSNA’s leaders continue to double down on their $3.6 billion in reckless demands, including nearly 40% wage increases, and their troubling proposals like demanding that a nurse not be terminated if found to be compromised by drugs or alcohol while on the job," Montefiore spokesperson Joe Solmonese said Monday after the strike had started. "We remain resolute in our commitment to providing safe and seamless care, regardless of how long the strike may last.”

New York-Presbyterian accused the union of staging a strike to “create disruption,” but said in a statement that it has taken steps to ensure patients receive the care they need.

"We’re ready to keep negotiating a fair and reasonable contract that reflects our respect for our nurses and the critical role they play, and also recognizes the challenging realities of today’s healthcare environment,” the statement said.

The work stoppage is occurring at multiple hospitals simultaneously, but each medical center is negotiating with the union independently. Several other hospitals across the city and in its suburbs reached deals in recent days to avert a possible strike.

The nurses’ demands vary by hospital, but the major issues include staffing levels and workplace safety. The union says hospitals have given nurses unmanageable workloads.

Nurses also want better security measures in the workplace, citing incidents like a an incident last week, when a man with a sharp object barricaded himself in a Brooklyn hospital room and was then killed by police.

The union also wants limitations on hospitals’ use of artificial intelligence.

The nonprofit hospitals involved in the negotiations say they’ve been working to improve staffing levels, but say the union’s demands overall are too costly.

Nurses voted to authorize the strike last month.

Both New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani had expressed concern about the possibility of the strike. As the strike deadline neared, Mamdani urged both sides to keep negotiating and reach a deal that “both honors our nurses and keeps our hospitals open.”

“Our nurses kept this city alive through its hardest moments. Their value is not negotiable,” Mamdani said.

State Attorney General Letitia James voiced similar support, saying "nurses put their lives on the line every day to keep New Yorkers healthy. They should never be forced to choose between their own safety, their patients’ well-being, and a fair contract.”

The last major nursing strike in the city was only three years ago, in 2023. That work stoppage, at Mount Sinai and Montefiore, was short, lasting three days. It resulted in a deal raising pay 19% over three years at those hospitals.

It also led to promised staffing improvements, though the union and hospitals now disagree about how much progress has been made, or whether the hospitals are retreating from staffing guarantees.

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

FILE - A medical worker transports a patient at Mount Sinai Hospital, April 1, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)