The New York Sirens have reason to celebrate as the calendar turns to a new year. Thanks to a 2-0 win over the Vancouver Goldeneyes on Wednesday, the Sirens jumped back into a playoff spot in the PWHL standings and carry a two-game winning streak into 2026.
In the third of four meetings between New York and Vancouver this season, the home team triumphed once again. The New Year’s Eve victory puts the Sirens (4-0-0-5) in sole possession of fourth place at 12 points, and marks their second straight regulation win after defeating the Seattle Torrent 4-3 on Sunday.
Kayle Osborne posted her second shutout of the season, making 27 saves in her ninth consecutive start.
The Goldeneyes suited up without either of their alternate captains. Star forward Sarah Nurse missed her eighth-straight game and remains on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) with an upper-body injury. Defender Claire Thompson was initially listed in Vancouver’s projected lineup, but was scratched with an upper-body injury before puck drop, leaving the Goldeneyes with just 18 players dressed for the contest.
The Sirens were short-handed as well. New York scratched Sarah Fillier on Wednesday, listing the reigning Rookie of the Year as day to day with an upper-body injury.
Fillier was on the receiving end of a check to the head from Torrent defender Aneta Tejralova on Sunday. Tejralova received a two-game suspension from the PWHL for the hit. Fillier briefly returned to the locker room to be evaluated for a potential head injury, but returned to the ice shortly thereafter. Coach Greg Fargo could not confirm if the injury is related to Tejralova’s hit.
With Fillier scratched, Sirens No. 1 overall pick Kristyna Kaltounkova slid over to center for the first time in her young PWHL career. The rookie made the transition seamlessly — on her first shift of the day, no less.
After New York’s fifth-round pick (No. 33 overall) Anna Bargman wrestled the puck free from a pair of Vancouver defenders, Kaltounkova ripped a laser from the slot that beat Goldeneyes goalie Emerance Maschmeyer on her glove side.
Kaltounkova’s fourth goal of the season — tops among PWHL rookies — gave New York an early 1-0 lead at 1:21 of the first period. Bargman’s primary assist marked the first point of her pro career.
Nine total penalties combined created numerous power-play chances for both sides. Still, neither team scored again until the third period, when fourth-line forward Savannah Norcross gave the Sirens some much-needed insurance.
Norcross intercepted a pass from Izzy Daniel along the far-side boards and swung it across to set up the offensive cycle. Moments later, she crashed the net and jammed in a rebound at 4:39 of the third, extending the Sirens lead to 2-0.
“I actually got on the sheet in the penalty box first, so I was more worried about that,” Norcross chuckled postgame. “But our line was creating some turnovers throughout the game. It’s a result of a process and doing what we need to do. I just was the one who was there.”
Norcross’s first career PWHL goal fed life into the Sirens. New York hounded Vancouver in the final 15 minutes with a relentless forecheck, and the Goldeneyes had little answer.
“I loved it tonight,” Fargo stated. “I thought our forecheck was an important part of the game. Getting to pucks first, our stick habits were really disruptive at times. Felt like their D were turning pucks over, but I really felt like it was a result of our team doing a great job.”
That translated to the defensive zone, even when the Goldeneyes pulled Maschmeyer at 16:10 of the frame. The Sirens allowed just two shots on Vancouver’s 6-on-5, aided by key blocked shots from defenders Jaime Bourbonnais and Maya Nylen Persson. Osborne handled the rest, sprawling out to freeze a puck in the final minute.
After back-to-back games with a power-play goal, New York’s power play was scoreless on five attempts. Instead, their special teams success came on the penalty kill. The Sirens completely stifled Vancouver on four power plays, limiting the Goldeneyes to just four shots on goal across eight minutes.
“The PK was outstanding. Has been in a lot of moments,” Fargo lauded. “There’s a lot of speed in our lineup, a lot of tenacity. I think we did a nice job of trying to deny Vancouver’s ability to set up in zone and get any good looks. When you can throw O’Neill and Wheeler and Levis and Hartje — some of these players who are just on pucks and their speed’s trouble, it’s a lot to handle. They’re doing a great job overall.”
On the flip side, Vancouver’s road woes continue in its inaugural season. The Goldeneyes are 0-0-1-4 away from Pacific Coliseum; they have yet to record a point outside of the Pacific Northwest.
Just nine games into 2025-26, Vancouver is already in the midst of its second three-game losing streak. Their nine points (2-1-15) are tied with the Ottawa Charge for last in the PWHL standings.
Key takeaways after Sirens shut out Goldeneyes 2-0
1. Fourth-liner plays unlikely hero for Sirens
Fillier’s absence called for expanded roles from the rest of New York’s lineup. That responsibility even extended to a reserve fourth-liner.
Norcross totaled just 12:01 of ice time through the first eight games — an average TOI of 1:50 that ranks dead last amongst all Sirens skaters. But with Fillier sidelined, Fargo elevated Norcross from 13th forward to a regular shift on the fourth line.
The 25-year-old made the most of her season-high 6:38, delivering the clutch third-period goal and contributing to a fourth line that stood out defensively despite limited minutes.
On a more personal level, Norcross stamped a remarkable milestone. After 28 PWHL games without a goal, the undrafted forward out of the University of Minnesota finally found the back of the net.
Norcross spent 20 games with the Sirens during the inaugural 2024 season, notching one assist. She attended training camp ahead of the 2024-25 season, but ultimately signed in the SdHL, tallying 18 points (five goals, 13 assists) across 13 games with LuleƄ HF.
Norcross rejoined the Sirens in 2025-26 and dressed for every game so far.
“Every day you can get one percent better, that becomes a huge margin over time,” Norcross explained postgame. “This has been the most confident I’ve been in my career, which is a credit to just working at it and chipping away at it. That’s what the SdHL helped me to do.”
Her reaction to the goal said it all. Norcross raised her hands above her head and kicked her right leg up, before teammates Allyson Simpson, Kayla Vespa, and Emmy Fecteau swarmed her and toppled her onto the ice — a well-earned celebration amid a winding PWHL journey.
2. Kaltounkova showcasing positional versatility
Kaltounkova spent the first eight games of her PWHL career at left wing. With Fillier sidelined, however, Fargo slid his dynamic rookie over to the middle, where she centered a line with Bargman and Anne Cherkowski on the wings.
It’s far from unfamiliar territory for the 23-year-old. Kaltounkova regularly split time between wing and center under Fargo at Colgate University, where she tallied a program record 111 goals.
“Having coached her in the past and seeing her play wing and center in college, obviously it gives you a sense of confidence of what she can do and jump around,” Fargo explained. “Even at the end of the game there, she jumped back to the wing for a shift or two.”
Kaltounkova took a couple of shifts at wing alongside center Casey O’Brien in the third period, helping the Sirens protect a 2-0 lead after the Goldeneyes pulled Maschmeyer. Still, she logged most of her time at center and proved more than capable. The rookie scored in the first period and won 6-of-11 face-offs Wednesday.
Though the decision stems primarily from Fillier’s injury, Fargo isn’t opposed to revisiting it this season.
“There’s benefits to having her in both places,” he noted. “To be interchangeable like that for any player, it’s nice to have as a coach — you can put people in different spots. I think ‘Kalty’ can fill in either spot for us.”
When the Sirens are at full strength, it makes sense to keep Kaltounkova at wing, especially given the team’s lack of experienced goal-scoring. Kaltounkova is a capable playmaker, but her deadliest asset is a firm shot. Pairing her with one of New York’s top playmakers — Fillier, O’Neill, or O’Brien, for example — is likely the best path to harnessing that shot for maximum production.
Of course, that doesn’t mean she should be landlocked at wing. Kaltounkova’s positional versatility should help the Sirens maintain good balance throughout their forward group, and affords Fargo added flexibility with his lineup.
3. No update on Fillier
When Fillier returned to the ice Sunday, the prevailing hope was that New York’s talented forward skirted injury. Their lineup Wednesday indicated otherwise.
Fargo couldn’t pinpoint when the injury occurred and didn’t identify any relation to Tejralova’s massive hit. In fact, the Sirens head coach didn’t relay much of anything regarding Fillier’s status.
“Our medical staff is, with all our players, just taking care of them as best they can, and we’re just taking it a day at a time and waiting for an update,” Fargo said postgame. “But I don’t have anything to share that gives any sort of timeline.”
The Sirens may not be able to confirm any relation to Tejralova’s massive hit, but it’s hard to imagine that it didn’t play a part in Fillier’s injury designation. And if the injury is indeed head-related, expect New York to take a measured approach to her recovery.
4. Osborne’s impressive play, heavy workload continues
New York remains the only team in the PWHL that has yet to use a backup goalie in 2025-26. Osborne made her ninth start of the season Wednesday and looked no worse for wear.
The 23-year-old enjoyed her third career shutout, improving to 4-5-0 on the season with a 2.03 goals-against average (GAA) and .920 save percentage.
“Just take it one game at a time,” Osborne said of her mindset. “Nobody really expects how many games they’re going to play. If your number’s called, you’re ready to go. That’s kind of how everyone in our locker room is.”
Fargo openly stated that New York sees Osborne as a clear-cut No. 1 goaltender, and the playing time backs it up. With that said, it’s worth wondering if he turns to rookie Callie Shanahan on Friday when the Sirens host the Montreal Victoire.
Shanahan had a stellar senior campaign (18-9-2 record, 1.81 GAA, .924 save percentage) at Boston University in 2024-25, leading the Terriers to a Hockey East title and an NCAA tournament appearance. She’s dressed as New York’s backup in every game so far, and would be the expected starter if Osborne sits.
The Sirens haven’t been eager to turn to either of their rookie goalies, but it may not be wise to let Osborne play all 30 games. With one day off between games, it feels like an opportune time to let Shanahan loose and see how the fourth-round pick (No. 28 overall) handles PWHL competition.
