The New York Sirens have outlasted the top team in the Professional Women’s Hockey League, the Minnesota Frost for the third time this season. Jessie Eldridge secured the Sirens’ win with her goal in the seventh round of a shootout, securing the 3-2 comeback.
Eldridge’s game winner comes just three days after her overtime winner against the Toronto Sceptres.
In their previous matchup, the Sirens held a dominant 5-0 win over the Frost, however this would be a prove to be a much closer game.
The Sirens would open the scoring for the evening halfway through the first period. After an earlier goal was called back, forward Paetyn Levis directed an unexpected possession of the puck into the close corner of the net, surprising Frost goaltender Maddie Rooney.
However, the Frost would find an equalizer early in the second period. Capitalizing off of a missed breakaway attempt, forward Kendall Coyne Schofield would find the top of the net past Sirens goalie Corinne Schroeder. It was her fourth goal of the season, all of which have been netted against the Sirens.
The Frost would push late in the third period to take control of the lead. Halfway through the period, defender Mellissa Channell-Watkins would score off a rebound, the first of her career. With 1:01 left in regulation and the goaltender pulled, Sirens forward Sarah Fillier’s goal would force overtime for the third time between the teams.
After a deadlocked overtime period, both teams went into shootouts. Even after a series of five shootouts, the Sirens and Frost could not determine a winner, forcing a sixth pair of unsuccessful shootouts. Finally on the seventh attempt, the first seven-round shootout in PWHL history, Eldridge’s successful attempt would prove victorious after Frost forward Taylor Heise’s miss.
“Tonight, I just felt like our team was poised to come back,” said Sirens Head Coach Greg Fargo.
Sirens goaltender Corinne Schroeder, while unable to secure a third shutout, recorded 28 saves on 30 shots. Her dominant defensive effort assisted in the Sirens’ offensive onslaught, with the Frost’s Rooney stopping a season high 32 shots.
“Corinne has been outstanding, and I think she’s been outstanding all year, not just the last three games. It just feels like when she’s in net, there’s a calming presence to her being back there. It gives our team a lot of confidence to play the way we want to play on the ice, and I can’t emphasize that enough,” said Fargo.
When asked if the Sirens felt a sense of rivalry with the Frost after this year’s series of competitive games, forward Elle Hartje stated that it was simply the “nature of the league.”
“But, in the nature of this league, it’s a pretty small group of teams, and so there’s rivalry amongst everybody. We want to be the best team every time we play them,” said Hartje.
Regarding the close nature of each of the Sirens’ matchups against the Frost, Levis emphasized the team’s focus on securing the three points of victory, in any fashion possible.
“Moving forward, the three points are really important for us. But any team that goes into overtime, when you can get any points off of them is big in this league,” said Levis
The Sirens look to lengthen their win streak next Saturday against the Toronto Sceptres, while the Frost look to rebound tomorrow against the Montréal Victoire.
