On Sunday, Jan. 25, the Seattle Torrent took on the Vancouver Goldeneyes for a 2025-26 Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) Takeover Tour game. 11,612 fans packed into Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, to watch the two teams go head-to-head. The Goldeneyes left the game as the victors with a 3-1 win. The Goldeneyes now lead the season series after winning both previous games.
Eldridge Put the Torrent on the Board
Although the Goldeneyes struck first in the final seconds of the first period, that didn’t deter the Torrent. In the middle of the second period, Anna Wilgren gained control of the puck off a poor shot from the Goldeneyes that went wide. She dropped it down to Julia Gosling, who passed it into the neutral zone for Jessie Eldridge. She had a breakaway as she skated up to the net with speed. She sent the puck past Emerance Maschmeyer to put the Torrent on the board.
This goal marked Eldridge’s fourth of the season, and she now has eight points in 13 games. In this game against Vancouver, she recorded her highest shot total with four. She was rewarded with the only goal because of the way she consistently drove towards the net.
Torrent Had Some Strong Chances
Overall, this game was a close one. The Torrent outshot the Goldeneyes, but not by a large margin. The shots were 34-31, with Seattle taking only three more than Vancouver. Several players had strong looks, including Gosling, who at least recorded an assist on Eldridge’s goal. Both of her shots went wide, but she made the most of her chances.
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This game could have been a lot closer, but thanks to Hannah Murphy in the net, she kept the Torrent strong. She stopped 28 of 31 shots and earned a save percentage (SV%) of .903. She continues to elevate her game each time she steps into the crease; this game just couldn’t earn Murphy her next win.
Torrent Don’t Have the Best Track Record
The Torrent have now played in three Takeover Tour games and have lost two of the past three. Their current record in Takeover Tour games is 1-1-0-1 and their overall record is 4-1-2-6, which is in last place in the PWHL. There are plenty of arguments as to why the Torrent are not having success, whether it’s the neutral sites or the stress on the road, but at the end of the day, there is no need for excuses. This team is just not finding their chemistry.
Seattle is a brand-new team to the PWHL for the 2025-26 season, requiring an expansion draft as established players from other teams came over to Seattle after either being selected in the expansion draft or choosing to sign in the new city during the offseason. Establishing a new team in a new city with a new group of players takes time. Sure, the roster is made up of incredible players, such as Hilary Knight and Alex Carpenter, but they are only as good as their team.
Some lines have found this strong chemistry, such as Gosling’s top line, but others have struggled. This is not a criticism of the team, just an observation. They will need time to establish themselves as a team. Perhaps the Olympic break will do them some good; for the players who are not participating, they will have time to practice together and work on their on-ice chemistry. Keep an eye on Seattle when the second half of the season begins.
Torrent Will Play One More Game Before the Olympic Break
The Torrent will head to TD Place, where they will take on the Ottawa Charge for their final game before the Olympic break.
The season series between the Torrent and the Goldeneyes will continue in Vancouver on April 14.
