<p>We might be just a few days into the 2025-26 season, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to talk about.</p>



<p>We had stellar performances from new and returning faces, a legendary debut out west, and a couple of surprising results from the team’s first few games of the year.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Sounds the Sirens</h2>



<p>Tell me if you’ve heard this before: the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/2025-26-pwhl-team-preview-new-york-sirens-sarah-fillier-kristyna-kaltounkova">New York Sirens</a> have won the first game of the season.</p>



<p>Of the original six franchises, New York is the only team to win each of its three season openers. Just like they did on the PWHL’s first day in 2024, the team grabbed a 4-0 north of the border, this time at the expense of the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/2025-26-pwhl-team-preview-ottawa-charge-gwyneth-philips-emily-clark-gabbie-hughes-brianne-jenner-rory-guilday">Ottawa Charge</a>.</p>



<p>Apparently, the Sirens like coming away with a bunch of goals in the third period in Ottawa. Almost eight months <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/5-takeaways-week-15-pwhl-first-place-race-getting-tight-leads-for-losers">after scoring six goals</a> in the final 20 minutes against the Charge, <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/pwhl-players-of-the-week-taylor-girard-claire-thompson-kayle-osborne-shine-to-start-the-season">Taylor Girard’s natural hat trick</a> in the third powered New York to victory. Girard became the first player in league history to accomplish the feat.</p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="174"></div>



<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A NO LOOK FEED FROM MADDI WHEELER LEADS TO TAYLOR GIRARD'S SECOND GOAL OF THE GAME 😱<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PWHL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PWHL</a> <a href="https://t.co/WgoEJTN1XR">pic.twitter.com/WgoEJTN1XR</a></p>— TSN (@TSN_Sports) <a href="https://twitter.com/TSN_Sports/status/1992421400876077092?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>



<p>On top of that, rookie Maddi Wheeler assisted on all three goals, recording the most points in a PWHL debut.</p>



<p>The third-period onslaught slightly overshadowed goaltender Kayle Osborne’s stellar outing. The Westport, Ont. native, whose first pro win came as a shutout against the Charge, turned away all 28 shots she faced. </p>



<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">CREASE ON LOCK 🔒<a href="https://twitter.com/PWHL_NewYork?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PWHL_NewYork</a>’s Kayle Osborne delivers a shutout to open the year! <a href="https://t.co/UZosWLVucl">pic.twitter.com/UZosWLVucl</a></p>— PWHL (@thepwhlofficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/thepwhlofficial/status/1992428060155768982?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>



<p>While we all know that hot starts for New York don’t necessarily mean long-term success, another promising start could help give the team some early optimism that it needs after a pair of last-place finishes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">“They can do that?”</h2>



<p>In that game in Ottawa, the Charge seemed like they scored first in the opening period, after Gabbie Hughes deflected a Fanuza Kadirova shot on the power play. However, the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/pwhl-removes-coachs-challenge-2025-26-season-three-goaltenders">league initiated a video review</a>. The fans, viewers and broadcasters were confused about why the review was taking so long, as everything about the goal looked clean.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="177"></div>



<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Gabbie Hughes thought she scored the first goal of the Ottawa Charge season but it has been waved off after review.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PWHL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PWHL</a> <a href="https://t.co/aPsEYkqR4b">pic.twitter.com/aPsEYkqR4b</a></p>— TSN (@TSN_Sports) <a href="https://twitter.com/TSN_Sports/status/1992392904359256558?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>



<p>So, when the referee came out and waved the goal off, the 7,100-plus fans at TD Place were outraged. It wasn’t until the public address announcer revealed that the officials found that the Charge had six players on the ice when the goal was scored…even though they had too many players for about 10 seconds.</p>



<p>The immediate reaction from the Ottawa faithful was anger, questioning why the league could take a goal back in that fashion. However, according to Rule 38, on-ice officials can initiate a review for a “missed game stoppage event in the offensive zone leading to a goal.”</p>



<p>The no-goal call proved to be as close as Ottawa came to scoring. Thanks to Osborne’s performance and some bad puck luck, the Charge ended up getting shut out.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="2" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="152"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Micah, you can’t do that</h2>



<p>One final notable moment from Saturday night’s clash in the nation’s capital came not long after the goal reversal. Just over 30 seconds later, Hughes was going to be called for an illegal body check on New York’s Jamie Bourbonnais. However, Sirens captain Micah Zandee-Hart came over to her teammate’s defense and cross-checked Hughes in the face.</p>



<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Micah Zandee-Hart has received a major penalty and a game misconduct for cross-checking following this play.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PWHL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PWHL</a> <a href="https://t.co/faH7eTw34A">pic.twitter.com/faH7eTw34A</a></p>— TSN (@TSN_Sports) <a href="https://twitter.com/TSN_Sports/status/1992394769725604038?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>



<p>Zandee-Hart ended up getting a five-minute major for cross-checking and a game misconduct. Though the brief melee led to some 3-on-3 action in regulation, the Charge were unable to cash in on an extended power play.</p>



<p>As of now, the league hasn’t issued any supplementary discipline, though it wouldn’t surprise me if they don’t since Zandee-Hart missed the majority of the game for her actions.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="3" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="139"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">You wanted Vancouver, you got Vancouver</h2>



<p>Now, to some of the other action around the weekend. We saw the highly anticipated debut of the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/2025-26-pwhl-team-preview-vancouver-goldeneyes">Vancouver Goldeneyes</a> and <a href="https://dailyfaceoff.com/2025-26-pwhl-team-preview-seattle-torrent/">Seattle Torrent</a> at the renovated Pacific Coliseum. The game was sold out, with 14,858 jamming into the former home of the <a href="http://canucksarmy.com/">Vancouver Canucks</a>, giving a very playoff-like atmosphere between the regional rivals. The fans were treated to an exciting game. Though Julia Gosling scored twice for Seattle, Vancouver rallied to tie the game in the third, with Abby Boreen finishing off a sick feed from Tereza Vanišová&nbsp;in overtime, giving the home side a 4-3 victory.</p>



<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">ABBY BOREEN GIVES VANCOUVER THEIR FIRST EVER <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PWHL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PWHL</a> WIN WITH AN OT GOAL 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/GckF1iZmkN">pic.twitter.com/GckF1iZmkN</a></p>— TSN (@TSN_Sports) <a href="https://twitter.com/TSN_Sports/status/1992110450981650870?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>



<p>If there were any doubts that Vancouver could support another pro sports team, the massive crowd last Friday night proved them wrong.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="4" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="133"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Some sort of revenge</h2>



<p>The opening game of the 2025-26 season saw a matchup of the past two semifinals, with the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/2025-26-pwhl-team-preview-minnesota-frost-kendall-coyne-schofield-taylor-heise-maddie-rooney-walter-cup">Minnesota Frost</a> and <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/2025-26-pwhl-team-preview-toronto-sceptres-renata-fast-natalie-spooner-ella-shelton-daryl-watts">Toronto Sceptres</a> meeting on another banner night in St. Paul. Frost captain Kendall Coyne Schofield sparked the home crowd with the first goal of the season minutes into the game. Yet, the turning point came later in the first, as Kelly Pannek was awarded a penalty shot. That resulted in Sceptres netminder Raygan Kirk making a big save to keep her team in the game.</p>



<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Minnesota Frost were awarded a penalty shot but Raygan Kirk SHUTS THE DOOR 🧱<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PWHL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PWHL</a> <a href="https://t.co/mJFEq1wYJF">pic.twitter.com/mJFEq1wYJF</a></p>— TSN (@TSN_Sports) <a href="https://twitter.com/TSN_Sports/status/1992031755747148059?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>



<p>That spurred her team to turn things around. <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/toronto-sceptres-pwhl-sign-ella-shelton-one-year-extension">Toronto defender Ella Shelton</a> scored her first goal with her new team, with Kiara Zanon’s first PWHL goal pushing the visitors to a 2-1 win.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="5" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="134"></div>



<p>While it won’t erase the disappointment from the team’s last two playoff exits, the Sceptres picking up a win over the Fleet is a good way to start the new year. For a Toronto team that lost many key players in the expansion process, showing they can grind out a win on the road early on can give the new group some confidence.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Green Monster is back</h2>



<p>After playing each other twice in the preseason, it only made sense to have the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/2025-26-pwhl-team-preview-montreal-victoire-marie-philip-poulin-laura-stacey-nicole-gosling">Montreal Victoire</a> and <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/2025-26-pwhl-team-preview-boston-fleet-jamie-lee-rattray-aerin-frankel-alina-muller">Boston Fleet</a> renew their rivalry again on Sunday. While the Victoire still has one of the league’s top offenses, Fleet netminder Aerin Frankel showed that she’s the same caliber of goaltender that made her an MVP candidate last season. The American star stopped all 25 shots she faced, guiding her team to a 2-0 victory.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="6" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="136"></div>



<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Did someone say "four minutes of Frankel shutout saves?" 🤨<br><br>Aerin Frankel locked down the crease to secure a shutout in <a href="https://twitter.com/PWHL_Boston?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PWHL_Boston</a>'s home opener! <a href="https://t.co/Prl88hYlzF">pic.twitter.com/Prl88hYlzF</a></p>— PWHL (@thepwhlofficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/thepwhlofficial/status/1992701097715401143?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>



<p>As I said before the season, Boston will live and die based on the level Frankel is at. If she’s at the top of her game on most nights, the Fleet is going to be tough to beat.</p>



<p><em><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/categories/pwhl">Read more PWHL stories on DFO</a></em></p>
