Sunday, February 23, 2025 | 4:00 p.m. ET | KeyBank Center (Buffalo)
WATCH LIVE: MSGSNHD/Z1/Z2, NESN, TSN 2, TSN.ca, TSN App, PWHL YouTube & thepwhl.com (U.S. / International)
Kenzie Lalonde (Play-by-Play), Megan Bozek (Analyst), Rob Pizzo (Reporter)
BOSTON FLEET
6-4-2-6 | 28 PTS | 4TH PLACE
Top Scorer: Hilary Knight – 18 GP, 8-8-16 PTS
Last Game: 3-2 OTW at OTT on Feb. 20
NEW YORK SIRENS
4-3-2-9 | 20 PTS | 6TH PLACE
Top Scorer: Sarah Fillier – 18 GP, 5-13-18 PTS
Last Game: 4-1 L vs. TOR on Feb. 19
2024-25 SEASON SERIES: BOSTON LEADS 11-1 IN POINTS (NEW YORK WON 9-6 IN 2024)
Dec. 8 at BOS: 4-2 BOS | Jan. 31 at BOS: 3-2 BOS (SO) | Feb. 12 at NY: 4-0 BOS | Feb. 17 at NY: 4-1 BOS | Mar. 5 at BOS
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Buffalo is the sixth of nine stops on the PWHL Takeover Tour, while KeyBank Center is the 13th NHL venue and 22nd venue overall to host a PWHL game all-time. Tour attendance has totaled 81,441 through five games. This marks New York’s first-ever PWHL Takeover Tour game, while Boston played in the season’s first at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle where they beat Montréal 3-2 in a shootout.
Boston has won all four meetings between these teams this season (3-1-0-0) after New York won the season series last year (2-1-1-1). The Fleet scored four goals in each of their three regulation wins over the Sirens this season, while New York has scored five total goals across the four games.
The Fleet beat Ottawa, 3-2 in overtime, on the road on Thursday, their third consecutive win (2-1-0-0). They’re now 4-3-0-2 (.667) since Jan. 11, tied with Toronto (5-2-3-1) for the best record in that span. The Fleet are allowing just 1.89 goals per game during that stretch, fewest in the PWHL.
Susanna Tapani scored the game-winning goal in overtime on Thursday with her only shot on goal of the game. She’s the second player this season to score an OT goal with her only shot of a game, joining New York’s Jessie Eldridge (1-0 win over Toronto on Jan. 12). Tapani’s two game-winning goals this season are tied with Hilary Knight for the team lead. Only Marie-Philip Poulin (four) has more.
Alina Müller has scored in three straight games, with each goal scored a different way (empty net, power play, shorthanded).
The Fleet have nine first period goals in their last 10 games (including two on Thursday) after getting just three in their first eight games. New York has been the league’s worst first period team this season, with both the fewest goals scored (seven) and the most goals allowed (17).
Olivia Zafuto, a member of Boston’s Reserve Player list, hails from Niagara Falls, NY, and played for the Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles and Nichols School. Sydney Bard (New Hartford) and Aerin Frankel (Chappaqua) are also New York natives.
New York lost to Toronto, 4-1, at home on Wednesday, and has now lost six straight games (0-0-5-1), with the last five all regulation losses, and the last four all by at least three goals. The five straight regulation losses are tied for a PWHL record – Minnesota lost its last five regular season games in regulation last year before going on to win the Walter Cup.
Alex Carpenter’s team-leading seventh goal of the season accounted for all of New York’s offense on Wednesday, while Sarah Fillier picked up her league-leading 13th assist (tied with Renata Fast). It was the eighth time Fillier and Carpenter have combined on a goal this season – only Toronto’s Daryl Watts and Hannah Miller (10) and Fast and Miller (nine) have done so more often.
While this is considered a home game for the Sirens, the team has played best when on the road compiling four wins and 12 points in eight games away from Prudential Center this season. Fillier has produced in all eight of those games (3G, 9A).
There will be lots of family and friends in attendance cheering on the Sirens with five players within a 2.5-hour drive across the border in Ontario, including Eldridge (Barrie), Fillier (Georgetown), Jaime Bourbonnais (Mississauga), Ella Shelton (Ingersoll) and Kayla Vespa (Hamilton). Abigail Levy, from Congers, is the team’s only New York native.
Thirteen players on Boston and New York rosters developed in NCAA programs across the state including Clarkson’s Loren Gabel, Jamie Lee Rattray and Shelton, Colgate’s Bard, Eldridge, Kayle Osborne, Allyson Simpson and Zafuto, Cornell’s Bourbonnais, Jill Saulnier and Micah Zandee-Hart, St. Lawrence’s Vespa and Syracuse’s Jessica DiGirolamo.
This will be the first professional women’s hockey game played in Buffalo since the PHF’s Beauts hosted the Connecticut Whale on Mar. 5, 2023. Whale forward Taylor Girard, now a member of the Sirens, tallied an assist in the 4-2 win at Northtown Center. Seven former Beauts are currently competing in the PWHL including Fleet reserve Kelly Babstock. Buffalo won the 2017 Isobel Cup, 3-2 over Boston, with a goal and an assist scored by PWHL broadcast analyst Megan Bozek.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“Obviously, hockey is a big part of northern culture and especially in western New York. There's always something to root for so I expect a great crowd, expect them to be rowdy and loud. Some of the best people I've met are from the Buffalo area, so really looking forward to seeing all of them show out for us and cheer us on.” - Fleet defender Sydney Bard.
“We’re excited to be a part of the Takeover Tour here in Buffalo and have had a fun couple of days getting to explore the community. As we prepare for puck drop our group knows how important this game is. We are looking forward to playing 60 minutes of Sirens hockey and are confident that if we stick to our game plan, we will have success. Finally, we can’t wait to meet some new fans and help grow the game!” - Sirens Forward Jessie Eldridge.
SUNDAY’S GAME: The Fleet and Sirens got an early look inside KeyBank Center watching the Buffalo Sabres score a season-high eight goals in an 8-2 over the New York Rangers on Saturday. Players got the game started by beating the drum and leading fans in the ‘Let’s Go Buffalo’ chant. Earlier in the day, both teams held open practices and signed autographs at LECOM Harborcenter. The PWHL has partnered with local nonprofits, Kaely's Kindness and YWCA for today’s game. The initiative aims to promote gender equity and empower the next generation of female leaders by offering access to live women's sports experiences. By partnering with organizations focused on youth development, the PWHL hopes to inspire confidence, break barriers, and encourage girls to see themselves in sports, whether as players or leaders. The Amherst Lady Knights will hit the ice during the first intermission, and Lockport native TJ Dockery will serve as one of the game’s linespeople.