PWHL HOCKEY IS BACK!

Before we get into our game highlights for the upcoming week, we wanted to mention the PWHL Black History Month celebrations featuring a variety of activations with all six teams. Celebrations will include fun collabs and events with local youth organizations and Black-owned businesses. A vibrant BHM logo was also introduced, created by Kezna Dalz, a Montréal-based multidisciplinary artist. 

The New York Sirens played their BHM game on Feb. 2, here are the games still to come in February:  

  • Toronto Sceptres – Feb. 11 (vs. Minnesota) 
  • Boston Fleet – Feb. 16 (vs. Minnesota) 
  • Minnesota Frost – Feb. 23 (vs. Toronto) 
  • Montréal Victoire – Feb. 25 (vs. Toronto) 
  • Ottawa Charge – Feb. 26 (vs. New York)

Check out what to watch this week!

Tuesday, February 11 at 7 p.m. Eastern

Minnesota Frost vs. Toronto Sceptres

We’re picking the first game back ‘cause let’s gooooo! The Frost’s last game was also against the Sceptres—a 4-3 shootout win back on Jan. 28. Minnesota defender Claire Thompson scored two goals and tallied an assist, making it the first multi-goal game of her career. The defender has 14 points (3G, 11A) in 15 games and is tied for second in league scoring with teammates Kendall Coyne Schofield and Taylor Heise. Thompson and Coyne Schofield were named January SupraStars of the Month.

In a roster move on Thursday, Minnesota signed defender Charlotte Akervik, who began the season on Minnesota’s Reserve Player List, after placing defender Natalie Buchbinder on long-term injured reserve (LTIR).

Toronto played two more games after their matchup against the Frost–another 4-3 shootout loss against the first-place Montréal Victoire on Jan. 30 and a 4-2 home win against the Ottawa Charge. The Sceptres hold the league’s best power play, with a success rate of 28.9%, and have scored 13 goals on the advantage. Toronto defender Renata Fast now leads the league in power play points (9) and assists (7). Forward Hannah Miller was named a January SupraStar of the Month, notching three two-point games last month.

Since the whole league was on break it’s been a while for both teams, but Minnesota especially hasn’t played in two weeks. Eight players were on their country’s national teams’ respective rosters for the Rivalry Series games last week, though.

We’re back babyyyy.

Watch: Prime Video, FanDuel Sports Network, PWHL YouTube

Wednesday, February 12 at 7 p.m. Eastern

Boston Fleet vs. New York Sirens

Liz and Sam will BOTH be at this game in person (pending weather, of course), so that’s the main reason you should tune in.

This game is somewhat of a rematch—Boston’s last game was against the Sirens, a 3-2 shootout (and sold out!) win at home on Jan. 31. The Fleet have won four of their five games at the Tsongas Center—a streak that began with a 4-2 victory over the Sirens on Dec. 8. This was (at the time) the most penalized game in regular-season history with 15 minor penalties assessed between both teams, including eight penalties for New York and seven for Boston. Sooo, that bodes well for a lively rematch.

The Sirens last played in a chaotic (and also heavily penalized) 2-1 loss to Montréal at home (season-high attendance, btw!) on Feb. 2. New York forward Alex Carpenter missed the first game of her PWHL career with an upper-body injury. Carpenter’s absence leaves a huge gap in New York’s offense-–she leads the team in goals with six and is tied for third in assists with six. Her twelve points put her tied for second on the team. Rookie netminder Kayle Osborne stopped 18 of 20 shots between the pipes for the Sirens in her fourth start. Speaking of netminders, goaltender Corinne Schroeder was named a January SupraStar of the month.

New York now has 17 individual players who found the back of the net this season, the most of any team in the league. This includes rookie defender (one of six defenders on the list) Allyson Simpson who scored her first career goal in the Feb. 2 game. Defender Ella Shelton holds a four-game point streak, and has eight points (4G, 4A) in nine games. Plus, forward Jessie Eldrige has twelve points (4G, 8A), and she started the last game on the first line with team scoring leader rookie Sarah Fillier. We hope the Sirens can dig deep to fill the gap left by Carpenter's absence and score against a Boston team tied for last place in the standings.

And hopefully, we all make it out in one piece.

Watch: TSN, MSGSN2, NESN, PWHL YouTube

Saturday, February 15 at 2 p.m. Eastern

New York Sirens vs Montréal Victoire

In their last game, the first-place Victoire beat the Sirens 2-1, making them the first team to secure a regulation win against all five other teams this season. The Victoire have collected 14 of a possible 15 points during their current five-game winning streak which began on Jan. 17.

Victoire forward and captain Marie-Philip Poulin scored her 10th goal of the season, the first player to hit that milestone this year. Her goals in that game make her the only visiting player to score in all three of New York’s primary venues over two seasons (Total Mortgage Arena—Bridgeport, CT; UBS Arena – Elmont, NY; Prudential Center – Newark, NJ). Which is very rude, actually. Along with these accomplishments, Poulin was named a January SupraStar of the month alongside Victoire defender Erin Ambrose.

Montréal goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens has a league-leading goals-against average of 1.77 and now leads the league with a save percentage of .935 among goaltenders with at least five games. Her eight victories in 10 games surpasses the seven wins she recorded in 16 games during the inaugural season. New York’s now-hindered offense will have a hell of a time against Montréal’s elite goaltending.

Not to mention, of course, their elite offense.

Watch: CBC, MSG, PWHL YouTube