Takeover Tour number six, Sceptres on a hot streak, battle of the goaltenders… this week has it all. Check out what to watch this week around the PWHL. 

Sunday, February 23 at 4 p.m. Eastern 

Boston Fleet vs. New York Sirens at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY

This is the third meeting of these two teams in the last 11 days; the fourth meeting of the season. The Sirens have lost all four games against Boston, three in regulation and one in a shootout. On Feb. 17 the score was 4-1 and the lone Sirens goal was scored by forward Jessie Eldridge with a goalie assist from rookie netminder Kayle Osborne. And of course Boston forward and captain Hilary Knight had a three-point (2G, 1A) game. Two days later, the Sirens met the Toronto Sceptres for another 4-1 loss. New York forward Alex Carpenter returned from injury and scored the only Sirens goal, assisted by forwards Paetyn Levis and Sarah Fillier.

The Sirens, who have lost their last six games, sit in last place all alone now, with 20 points in the standings. 

Boston’s last game was a rousing matchup with the Ottawa Charge, boasting what looks like the first fight in PWHL history between Boston’s Jill Saulnier and Ottawa’s Tereza Vanišová. Neither player received a penalty for fighting, even though it’s pretty clear in the PWHL rulebook what does and doesn’t count as a fight. Anyway, Ottawa made a comeback in the third period with two goals to tie it, but Boston forward Susanna Tapani saved the day in overtime. 

In more Boston Fleet news, the team has signed forward Jillian Dempsey to a full Standard Player Agreement (SPA) on Feb. 21. Dempsey had previously been signed to a 10-day contract on Feb. 12. She was drafted by the Montréal Victoire last season, and is no stranger to Boston winning three Isobel Cup titles and finishing as the PHF’s all-time leading scorer with 146 points in 142 career games, all with the Boston Pride. Boston sits in fourth place with 28 points, and the competition at the top is getting fierce. 

This is the PWHL’s sixth Takeover Tour game, and the first for the New York Sirens. Teams will take over the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY, holding autograph sessions, open practices and engaging with local U12 team practices. Assuming attendance is high like the previous takeover games, it will be exciting for the Sirens to play a “home” game in front of a full (or just… more full) arena. 

All this to say we hope both teams have fun this weekend!

But I hope the Sirens win. At this point I will be happy with two goals. Please. 

Watch: TSN, MSGSN2, PWHL YouTube

Tuesday, February 25 at 7 p.m. Eastern

Toronto Sceptres vs Montréal Victoire

The Sceptres are heating up this month! They’ve got five wins in five games going back to Feb. 1 and forward Hannah Miller has nine points (3G, 6A) in that same timeframe. Miller had a four-point performance in the game against the Sirens on Feb. 19, tying the PWHL single-game record. Toronto scored three powerplay goals against the Sirens penalty kill, which was best in the league (90.9%) before this game (now 85.7%). That’s eight straight games with powerplay goals for the Sceptres.

Toronto forward Daryl Watts is also on a hot streak with eight points (3G, 5A) in the month of February, including a multi-point (3A) performance in the game against the Sirens. Sceptres have scored three or more goals in each of their last eight games. 

And now they’re facing the first-place Montréal Victoire whose six-game winning streak was recently halted by a shutout from the Minnesota Frost on Feb. 18. They’ll play on the road against Ottawa on Feb. 22, then head home for this faceoff against a Toronto team with a ton of momentum. Despite the recent loss, forward and captain Marie-Phillip Poulin still leads the league in goals with 11. Montréal goaltending also stays elite; netminder Ann-Renée Desbiens (who did not play in the shutout loss against Minnesota) still leads the league in all stats: wins (9; tied with Boston goaltender Aerin Frankel), save percentage (0.935) and goals against average (1.79). 

If the Victoire lose on Feb. 22, a Toronto win here could put the Sceptres one (1) win away from first place. Did we mention the battle at the top is getting intense?

Watch: Prime Video, PWHL YouTube

Saturday, March 1 at 2 p.m. Eastern

Boston Fleet vs Montréal Victoire at Bell Centre

Let’s talk a little more about goaltending.

We mentioned that Victoire goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens was and still is league-leading in all stats. 

Boston Fleet goaltender Aerin Frankel is, as mentioned, tied with Desbiens for wins (9). Frankel is second in the other two goaltending stats: save percentage (0.931) and goals against average (1.89). Assuming both goaltenders play in this game, it’s going to be an incredible battle of the tendies. 

Also! This is Montréal’s second annual Duel at the Top game. Last season, Montréal set a new world attendance record for a women's professional ice hockey game in the inaugural contest against Toronto when 21,105 fans packed the sold-out Bell Centre.

Desbiens expects emotions to run as high as they did at the first game at the Bell Centre. “It was so loud last season at the Bell Centre, and I think it will be just as loud this time. What's more, those in attendance are in for a treat, as the team is playing very well, and we'll be welcoming our great rivals from Boston.”

This is shaping up to be a thrilling matchup. 

Watch: CBC, NESN, PWHL YouTube