Fleet Finish Strong: Boston Blank Sirens in Regular Season Finale

On Saturday afternoon, the Boston Fleet held one final dress rehearsal at the Tsongas Center before the PWHL playoffs commence. Facing the New York Sirens, who were looking to end a difficult season on a high note, Boston overcame a slow start to secure a dominant 4–0 victory. The win put the Fleet in first place, but the Montréal Victoire won in a shootout to secure the top seed for the playoffs.

The Sirens conclude their season as the only team in the league’s three-year history yet to make the postseason. They will finish third in the “Gold Plan” standings, which determines the draft order for non-playoff teams, securing a top-three pick in this summer’s draft.

Frankel Stands Tall in the Early Going

Before a sell-out crowd of 6,120, the game began with a surprising tilt. Despite New York’s struggling road record (3–10–0–1), they dominated the opening frame, outshooting Boston 16–1.

Fleet goaltender Aerin Frankel was the sole reason the game remained scoreless. Making her 27th start of the season, Frankel turned away several high-danger chances, including two New York power plays. Boston head coach Kris Sparre later quipped that the first period felt like the “coffee machine was broken,” but Frankel’s brilliance kept the Fleet afloat until they found their rhythm.

The Third Period Surge

After a second period where the ice remained tilted toward Boston’s end but the score remained 0–0, the Fleet finally erupted in the third:

• 2:53: Jessie Eldridge tipped home a point shot from Megan Keller for her 14th goal of the season.
• 7:28: Ella Huber doubled the lead with a precise wrist shot over the glove of New York’s Callie Shanahan (a former Boston University standout).
• 13:43: Haley Winn hammered a “bullet” from the left point on the power play to make it 3–0.
• 14:56: Jill Saulnier capped the night with a “Jailbreak” goal—a shorthanded marker that ended a New York power play—to seal the 4–0 win.

The Fleet outshot the Sirens 16–6 in the final frame, though New York held a 30–24 advantage for the game.

Goalie Matchup

Looking Ahead to the Playoffs

With the regular season in the books, the Fleet now shift their focus to the Walter Cup Playoffs. Aerin Frankel and Captain Megan Keller both described the roster as a “special group” and emphasized that the playoffs represent a completely clean slate.

Coach Sparre was encouraged by the team’s ability to “roll up their sleeves” in the final 20 minutes, while Eldridge noted that the team’s depth will be their greatest asset in the postseason.

The Sirens’ Future: Coach Greg Fargo praised his team’s effort for the first 40 minutes but expressed concern regarding rumors of a potential league expansion. He noted that the Sirens are a young group that showed significant growth this season and hopes to keep the core together as they head into the draft with the No. 3 overall pick.

Next Up: The Boston Fleet begin their playoff journey this Thursday at the Tsongas Center. Their opponent will be determined following the final standings and the league’s unique “pick your opponent” window for the first-place seed.