On February 17, the Prudential Center held an intense rivalry between the New York Sirens and the Boston Fleet for the 51st game of the PWHL season. Prior to the puck drop presented by Kelly O’Hara at 4:00 p.m., the Fleet had earned three consecutive wins against the Sirens, giving them the upper hand. On a four-game losing streak, the Sirens were out for blood, fighting for a breakthrough. This game was not your ordinary matchup, though as the Sirens were hosting a “Kids Day” game, which celebrated local youth teams and organizations.
As the first period began, the game started slow, but did not lack big hits from both sides. Within the first five minutes, both teams had attempted to score, but with no luck. After a while of back-and-forth shots, New York’s Gabby Rosenthal earned the first penalty of the game for hooking. Not long after, Boston’s Alina Müller scored her fourth goal of the season, putting her team on the board. Fourteen minutes in, the Sirens again committed a penalty. This time, Maja Nylen Persson was sent to the penalty box for cross-checking. The Sirens successfully kept the Fleet away from their net as Persson served her penalty. With only a few minutes left in the period, the Fleet made one last attempt to score another goal, but the opportunity was denied by Kayla Osbourne with an impressive save. The period ended with Boston up 1-0 and both teams looking to make improvements for in the next period.
After an exhilarating first period, the second put both teams to the test. Less than a minute into the period, a nearly occurred after a nasty hit was laid by Sophie Shirley. This left both teams heated and called for a review of the play. After reviewing, the referees determined that the play was deemed a violation of regulations. A major penalty was issued to Shirley for a check to the head, followed by a 10-minute game misconduct due to the severity of the hit.
Shortly after, Britney Spears’ “Gimme More,” echoed through the arena after a power play goal by the Sirens’ Jessie Eldridge tied up the game.
Halfway through the period, both a boarding and cross-checking violation by the Fleet left the teams fuming, and a fight, again, almost broke out amongst most of the players. After the dust settled, two penalties were issued to the Fleet due to illegal hits by Emily Brown and Hannah Brandt. Not long after, as Gabby Rosenthal attempted to break the puck free of Aerin Frankel’s grasp, members of the Fleet went after her, referees quickly stepped in to avoid confrontation.
With 5:32 remaining in the period, Boston’s Hilary Knight scored, making the score 2-1 in favor of the Fleet.
Soon after Jaime Bourbonnais was issued a two-minute for cross-checking. As the violence of the second period diffused, the tension inside the arena was not difficult to sense, and the period came to a close with the Fleet up 2-1.
After a few minutes of the puck moving back and forth across the ice, fans suspected that not much was to come at the beginning of the third period. Despite this, it is safe to say the game picked up pretty fast. After a breakaway, the Sirens anticipated a ring of the goal horn, unfortunately for them, Aerin Frankel’s reflexes were too fast for Elizabeth Giguère’s attempt on goal.
Turning the tables, Boston’s Jamie Lee Rattray took matters into her own hands, putting a shot on the top left of the net, and getting the goal unassisted, increasing the Fleet’s lead to 3-1.
With approximately 12 minutes left in the third, Müller’s shot on Osborne was a close call for the Sirens, still leaving room for the team to turn the game around. Time passed, and eventually with a little more than six minutes left in the game, Bourbonnais earned another penalty, except this time due to tripping. After quickly removing Osbourne, in hopes of being offensively inclined, Hilary Knight showed no mercy, only seconds later scoring on the empty net, nearly confirming a victory for the Fleet. Despite fighting till the last second ticked, the Sirens couldn’t take this one back, and the Fleet’s victory was finalized.
This intense rivalry between both the women of the Boston Fleet and New York Sirens led to an exciting matchup for all. After various physical conflicts between the two, the game had fans at the edge of their seats awaiting what was to come. Despite the fight put up by the Sirens, the Fleet made it clear they would be taking the win home, extending their win streak to two, and adding another loss to the Sirens’ record. Prudential Center will be hosting the New York Sirens once again on Wednesday, so stay tuned for their matchup against the Toronto Sceptres.
