Sunday, January 12, 2025 | 12:00 p.m. ET | Prudential Center
WATCH LIVE: MSGSNHD/MSGSNZ1/MSGSNZ2, TSN 3, TSN.ca, TSN App, PWHL YouTube & thepwhl.com (U.S. / International)
David Korzeniowski (Play-by-Play), Gigi Marvin (Analyst), Abby Labar (Reporter)
TORONTO SCEPTRES
2-0-1-5 | 7 PTS | 6TH PLACE
Top Scorer: Renata Fast – 8 GP, 0-8-8 PTS
Last Game: 4-2 L vs. MTL in Vancouver on Jan. 8
NEW YORK SIRENS
3-1-1-3 | 12 PTS | 4TH PLACE (TIED)
Top Scorer: Alex Carpenter – 8 GP, 5-5-10 PTS
Last Game: 3-2 L vs. OTT on Jan. 7
2024-25 SEASON SERIES: NEW YORK LEADS 3-0 IN POINTS (TOR WON 11-4 IN 2024)
Dec. 18 at NY: 4-2 NY | Jan. 12 at NY | Jan. 25 at TOR | Feb. 19 at NY | Mar. 19 at TOR | Apr. 29 at TOR
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
The Sirens picked up a 4-2 home win when these teams met on Dec. 18. It was New York’s first win against Toronto since the inaugural PWHL game, a 4-0 New York win on Jan. 1, 2024. Between the two, Toronto won four times, with one of the wins coming in a shootout.
The Sceptres fell to Montréal, 4-2, in Vancouver on Wednesday after losing 2-1 to Ottawa on Dec. 31. It’s the first time Toronto has scored two or fewer goals and lost in consecutive games since a run of three straight from Jan. 10-17 (games 3, 4 & 5 of last season).
Renata Fast assisted on both Toronto goals on Wednesday, her seventh and eighth assists this season. The only other PWHL player with more than six assists is Minnesota’s Claire Thompson (nine). Fast, who totaled 10 assists in 24 games last season, has at least one helper in seven of her eight games this season, the most of any PWHL player.
Toronto has converted on the power play in three straight games and lead the PWHL with a 26.3% efficiency. The Sceptres penalty kill ranks sixth in the PWHL at 69.6% and surrendered two PPG on a season-high five shorthanded opportunities against New York in their last meeting.
Emma Woods scored against her former team the last time the Sceptres and Sirens played at Prudential Center, which also happened to be her 29th birthday. She’s one of six Toronto forwards with two or more goals this season, trailing only Minnesota who have nine forwards with two or more goals.
The Sirens lost to Ottawa, 3-2, at home on Tuesday after falling behind 2-1 in the first period. New York has allowed nine goals in the opening frame this season, most in the PWHL. However, the Sirens have allowed five in the second (fewest in the league) and five in the third (tied for fewest in the league).
In their last meeting, New York scored all four of their goals against Toronto in the second period. The Sirens are the only team in the PWHL with a four-goal period this season.
Defender Micah Zandee-Hart scored her first career PWHL goal against Toronto (GWG). She is fourth in team scoring and in points among blue liners with seven (1G, 6A). The captain will celebrate her 28th birthday on Monday.
Defenders Ella Shelton and Maja Nylén Persson scored New York’s two goals on Tuesday. The Sirens have five goals from defenders this season, only Ottawa has more (six) in the PWHL. Last season, New York’s 13 goals from defenders led the league.
Shelton has the league’s longest active point streak at three games (1G, 2A). Dating back to last season, she has points in seven straight games (4G, 7A).
Toronto has scored first in just two games this season, fewest in the league. The Sceptres are 1-0-1-0 when scoring first, and 1-0-0-5 when allowing the first goal. New York is 3-0-0-1 when scoring first and 0-1-1-2 when allowing the first goal this season.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“Towards the end of our last game we were connected, all of us. We didn’t have the start we wanted, but I think that as the game went on, we started to play more of our game. We started playing in the offensive zone more, cleaner breakouts, more shots on net. I think that if we bring that into our game against New York and play a full 60 minutes then we’ll be able to get the win.” - Sceptres forward Jesse Compher.
“We’ve got a good opportunity against Toronto and to respond well here at home. Both teams will be hungry looking to get back on track with important points on the line. For us, it’s about our mentality, getting to our game and staying on our game. I’m expecting our compete to be at another level.” - Sirens Head Coach Greg Fargo.
SUNDAY’S GAME: The Sirens will be Honoring Community Heroes as part of the PWHL’s Unity Game calendar, recognizing heroes in hockey communities across New Jersey and New York. Rebecca Morse, Director of the Princeton Tiger Lilies youth program, is today’s Hockey Hero. Morse was born and raised in Westfield, NJ, and won the Isobel Cup in 2018 with the PHF’s Metropolitan Riveters. She is an advocate for fostering young talent and advancing the sport at the grassroots level while promoting skill growth and inclusivity.