Sirens’ shutout win over Sceptres the latest sign dramatic rebuild is on right rack

Sirens goalie Corinne Schroeder sees the vision. 

This isn’t the same New York team that took the ice in the PWHL’s inaugural season last year. It’s better, more in sync, more efficient. 

Sure, there’s plenty to be cleaned up. But the potential is there, Schroeder said Sunday after the Sirens’ 1-0 overtime win against the Toronto Sceptres at Prudential Center.

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“We’ve proven that we’re pretty gritty and we can fight back and stay in it,” Schroeder said. 

Nine games into the season, coach Greg Fargo has seen stretches in which New York (3-2-1-3) has played really well and others in which it stumbled. Sunday was a prime example. 

The Sirens have had issues with slow starts this season. But on Sunday, New York outshot Toronto 10-3 in the first period. 

The offensive momentum stalled for the Sirens from there, and defensive miscues opened opportunities for the Sceptres, who outshot the home team 24-8 over the final two periods. 

The Sirens stayed in the game because Schroeder stopped any of Toronto’s attempts from leaking through. 

In the end, though, the Sirens capitalized when it mattered most. Top pick Sarah Fillier sent the puck up the ice for Jessie Eldridge to chase down. Eldridge angled the puck into the net for the game-winning goal in overtime. 

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“There’s gonna be ebbs and flows to any game at this level,” Fargo said. “But I really liked how we started tonight. I really liked how we responded in the third about halfway through. I thought we started to take some of that ice back and that’s all part of learning and growing and finding ways to learn how to win at this level.” 

Schroeder stopped 28 shots for her second consecutive shutout. 

In Fargo’s eyes, there’s no debate as to who is the Sirens’ top netminder. 

“Shroeds has been our No. 1 goalie for a long time within the organization,” he said. “She’s been demonstrating the level of her play since day one, but in particular, there’s a calmness to her game, there’s a competitiveness to her game that we really like right now.” 

With Sunday’s overtime win, the Sirens remain tied for fourth in the league standings with 14 points. 

There’s plenty of season left. With six teams competing for four playoff spots, the margin of error is slim. Only four points separate the first-place Montreal Victoire and fifth-place Boston Fleet. 

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The Sirens finished last in the standings in 2024, which resulted in sweeping changes this offseason. They hired Fargo and made Prudential Center their permanent home after playing at three different arenas last season. 

New York also drafted former Princeton star Fillier with the top overall pick and selected additional depth players with its other six picks, including Maja Nylen Persson and Elle Hartje. 

The retooled roster and new system implemented by Fargo has resulted in New York looking like a much stronger team than a year ago. 

Just ask the PWHL’s reigning Coach of the Year, Troy Ryan. 

“They look a little more solid than they did at times last year,” the Toronto coach said. “The league is so tight on any given night that any team can beat any other team and I think New York has had a relatively good start.” 

The Sirens host the Minnesota Frost on Wednesday before heading out on a three-game road trip. 

The foundation to be a playoff team is there. 

“If we keep doing the right things and we start becoming a little more connected for a full 60 minutes,” Schroeder said, “our games are going to be pretty exciting to watch in the future.” 

“We’re still trying to find that consistency in our game I would say and put it together period-to-period, game-to-game, but I think that’s to come,” Fargo said. “There’s a lot of belief in our room with the people there and what we’re doing, and I just think we’re looking to find more consistency with it. … We’re a work in progress, and we’re going to be. But we’ve got our eyes forward and we’re looking to continue to grow and make sure that we’re playing our best hockey down the stretch and at the most important time of the year.”