Boston Fleet Triumphs Over New York Sirens
In a thrilling conclusion to their pre-Olympic break schedule, the Boston Fleet emerged victorious against the New York Sirens with a 4-3 win, secured during an intense eighth round of a shootout. The match, held at the Tsongas Center in Lowell, Massachusetts, showcased a stellar performance by Boston’s Aerin Frankel, who made an impressive 30 saves, as well as the game-winning goal scored by Alina Muller.
Key Performances and Standings
The Fleet, currently at the top of the league standings with 30 points and a record of 8-2-2-2, also benefited from contributions by Abby Newhook, Liz Schepers, and Jamie Lee Rattray, each of whom found the net. In contrast, New York’s Kristyna Kaltounkova stood out by netting two goals and is now leading the Premier Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) with 11 goals for the season. This achievement makes her only the third rookie in the league’s history to accomplish such a feat, following in the footsteps of Grace Zumwinkle and Sarah Fillier. Kristin O’Neill added another goal for the Sirens, but it wasn’t enough to secure a win as New York suffered their third consecutive defeat and fourth in the last five games, with Kayle Osborne stopping 32 shots in goal.
Game Highlights and Future Matches
Adding to the tension, moments before the end of regulation and into the overtime period, Kaltounkova’s penalties allowed New York to exploit power plays, but Boston’s penalty kill continued to shine, maintaining the league’s highest success rate at 96.9% prior to this match. The Fleet had previously triumphed over the Sirens with a 2-0 scoreline on December 17, marking a strong performance against their rivals. This shootout marked Boston’s third in four games, highlighting the competitive nature of their recent outings.
Looking ahead, the New York Sirens are set to host Montreal on February 26, while the Boston Fleet will face Ottawa on February 28, as both teams aim to regroup after this gripping encounter.
