The Boston Fleet continued their road trip on Thursday night (March 5) as they visited the New York Sirens at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. This was the second of a five-game road trip for them as they came in looking to win their fifth in a row and third-straight over the Sirens this season.
At the beginning of the game, the Fleet sat in second in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) with 32 points, just three back of the league-leading Montreal Victoire. Meanwhile, the Sirens were locked in a tie for fifth with the Toronto Sceptres at 24 points.
Related: Guide to the 2025-26 New York Sirens
The Fleet got their lone goal from Ella Huber, and Aerin Frankel made 23 saves. It was a grind as they scored their goal early and had to play tough defense to hold off the Sirens. Boston won by a score of 1-0.
Fleet Defense Prevails
When your team can score one goal and win a game in regulation, that’s a huge green flag. Anchored by names like Frankel, Megan Keller, and Haley Winn, they are an absolutely lock-down unit for the most part. Frankel saw 23 shots, but didn’t really see any high-danger chances or any quality shots from in tight. The Boston defense was able to keep everything to the outside and shut down chances early.
The Fleet are tied for the PWHL lead with just 25 goals allowed all season. This game isn’t a standalone performance; it’s a testament to their defensive dominance. It can also be attributed to the defensive systems brought in by new head coach Kris Sparre.
Huber Breaks Through
It hasn’t been the easiest stretch of games for Huber, but the opening goal in Thursday night’s game was a great sign for her. It was a gift on a bad turnover by New York that gave her the goal, but she’ll take it wherever she can find it. Her last points came six games ago, with her last goal coming in the team’s last meeting with the Sirens on Dec. 17. It’s no cause for concern for the young second-round pick or the Fleet, for that matter, as she is just a rookie on a fairly young squad.
It is good to have Huber firing on all fronts, though. She has been getting more opportunities in the top-six, specifically on the second line. Her defensive and physical game has always been unquestionable, so if she can find that offensive touch she had in college, she’ll be a great weapon for this team.
Boston Fourth Line Dominates
The Fleet’s fourth line of Loren Gabel, Susanna Tapani, and Jamie Lee Rattray might not show up on the score sheet in this game or as often as the star players, but they are showing up big time for Boston. This depth group throws big and timely hits and forechecks hard, and they put a lot of pressure on a Sirens team who struggled to put together any offense last night.
This fourth line even generated a couple of medium-danger chances in this one, including a breakaway chance early on. This line is crucial to Boston’s success now and will be especially crucial as they eye making their way back to the playoffs.
Fleet Have Three Games Left on Road Trip
After last night’s game, the Fleet get a few days off. They will finish off their tour away from home next week. All times for the games are listed in Mountain Daylight Time.
They start against the Vancouver Goldeneyes on March 10 (8 p.m.), followed by the very next night against the Seattle Torrent on March 11 (8 p.m.), and then finally they take on the Montreal Victoire on March 15 (11 a.m.).
