Wednesday, December 18, 2024 | 7:00 p.m. ET | Prudential Center
WATCH LIVE: MSG/MSGHD, TSN 1/4, TSN.ca, TSN App, PWHL YouTube and thepwhl.com (U.S. / International)
Jamie Hersch (Play-by-Play), Dave Starman (Analyst), Caroline Hendershot (Reporter)
TORONTO SCEPTRES
1-0-0-2 | 3 PTS | 6TH PLACE
Top Scorers: Nurse (2G, 1A), Watts (1G, 2A), Fast (3A)
Last Game: 6-3 L vs. MIN on Dec. 7
NEW YORK SIRENS
1-1-0-1 | 5 PTS | 3RD PLACE (TIED)
Top Scorer: Sarah Fillier – 3 GP, 2-4-6 PTS
Last Game: 4-2 L at BOS on Dec. 8
2024 SEASON SERIES: TORONTO WON 11-4 IN POINTS
Jan. 1 at TOR: 4-0 NY | Jan. 5 at NY: 3-2 TOR | Jan. 26 at TOR: 2-0 TOR | Feb. 23 at TOR: 2-1 TOR (SO) | Apr. 28 at NY: 6-2 TOR
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
New York topped Toronto 4-0 in the inaugural PWHL game on New Year’s Day last season, but the Sceptres won each of the following four games between the teams, outscoring the Sirens 13-5 in those games. The season series was capped off by a Sarah Nurse hat-trick as part of a 6-2 win on Apr. 28, the most goals any single team scored in a game last season.
After winning their season opener, the Sceptres have lost their last two games. Toronto had just two multi-game losing streaks last season – a three-game streak in January and a two-game streak in March-April. In allowing six goals in their last game, the Sceptres allowed Minnesota to equal their single-game PWHL goal record.
Through Toronto’s first two games this season, Jesse Compher had totaled seven shots on goal, second most on the team (Nurse, 8) but had not scored on any of them. Compher scored with her only shot on goal in the Dec. 7 loss to the Frost to equal her goal total from her 24-game campaign last season.
Toronto spoiled New York’s home opener last season at Total Mortgage Arena with a 3-2 win, which also featured the PWHL’s first shorthanded Jailbreak Goal, scored by Emma Maltais.
Sceptres forward Emma Woods joined the team as a free agent this off-season after spending the inaugural year with New York. This will be her first time playing against her former team in regular season action.
New York suffered a 4-2 loss to Boston on Dec. 8 after allowing four total goals over its first two games. This will be the Sirens’ first home game this season and their third game at Prudential Center after going 1-0-0-1 at the venue last season.
Micah Zandee-Hart assisted on both New York goals against Boston, giving her at least one in all three games so far this season, tying her with teammate Sarah Fillier for the league lead with four. The captain had three total assists in 19 games last season. The last time she had a longer point streak was an eight-game streak to end her collegiate career at Cornell in February-March 2020.
Led by Fillier’s six points, the Sirens have four players with at least four points so far this season (also Alex Carpenter, Jessie Eldridge and Zandee-Hart). The only other PWHL player with more than three points is Boston’s Hilary Knight (4). Including her final six games at Princeton earlier this year, the No. 1 draft pick has 19 points (13G, 6A) in her last nine games.
Sirens third round draft pick Allyson Simpson leads all rookies with 13 shots on goal, and fourth round pick Gabby Rosenthal leads all rookies with a shooting percentage of 50%.
Fillier will play her first PWHL game against former Princeton teammate Maggie Connors. The duo was 1-2 in Tigers scoring during the 2018-19 and 2022-23 NCAA campaigns.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“I’m looking forward to playing back in New York and the chance to see some familiar faces. It’ll be fun competing and battling against old teammates and friends. I’m sure they’re excited about their home opener but we’re looking to play spoiler.” – Sceptres forward Emma Woods.
"History isn’t just made - it’s lived. Tonight, the Sirens take the ice at ‘The Rock’ for the first time, a moment that can never be repeated. With our fans by our side, we’ll rise together in our quest for pride, success, and excellence.” - Sirens General Manager Pascal Daoust.
WEDNESDAY’S GAME: The Sirens make their 2024-25 debut at Prudential Center following a three-game road trip to begin the season, and for the first time since a 4-3 win over Ottawa on Apr. 30. The puck will drop following a special activation called “Sound the Siren,” which will be led by the Mayor of Newark - Ras Baraka. A video tribute will take place during the first period to honor former Sirens forward, Madison Packer, who announced her retirement Nov. 23. Packer played nine professional seasons, including eight as a member of the PHF’s New York/Metropolitan Riveters.