The New York Sirens are embarking on a fresh start in their third PWHL season as the sole team in the league that has yet to compete in a playoff game. Their season debut was a success as they triumphed over the Ottawa Charge with a commanding 4-0 victory.
Despite the departure of four of their top five scorers from the previous season, and the exit of long-standing goaltender Corinne Schroder who joined the Seattle Torrent, the Sirens (1-0-0-0) are adapting well. Kayle Osborne has seamlessly assumed the No. 1 goaltender position and delivered a shutout performance against the Ottawa Charge (0-0-0-1) for the second time in her PWHL career.
“We’re a young team that demonstrated our ability to compete in this league tonight,” Osborne remarked.
On the offensive front, New York exhibited dominance with four goals scored in the final 12:11 of the game, including a hat trick by forward Taylor Girard and an empty-net goal by Maja Nylen Persson.
New York’s first overall draft pick, Kristýna Kaltounková, made a physical impact early in her debut game, but her aggressive play led to a boarding penalty. Ottawa appeared to capitalize on the ensuing power play, but their goal was nullified due to having too many players on the ice.
Tensions escalated during the game, resulting in the ejection of New York’s captain, Micah Zandee-Hart, for a five-minute major penalty after a cross-check incident. Despite the physicality, both teams acknowledged the competitive nature of the league.
Gwyneth Philips, Ottawa’s goalie and last season’s playoff MVP, put up a strong performance, keeping the Charge on par with the Sirens for most of the game. However, New York eventually broke through in the third period, with Wheeler and Girard finding the back of the net.
Osborne, who has a perfect record in Ottawa games, attributed her success to the support of friends and family in attendance at TD Place.
The Charge’s scoreless season opener reflects their ongoing struggles with scoring, a trend that continued from the previous season. Despite the loss, the Charge remain focused on their upcoming games against Vancouver and Minnesota.
The Sirens will look to build on their strong start as they face off against Montreal before hosting the Vancouver Goldeneyes in their next games.