Three Takeaways: Sirens and Torrent Face-off In Front of a Sold Out Madison Square Garden
Courtesy of MSGE
The PWHL took center stage at the World’s Most Famous Arena on Saturday as the New York Sirens and Seattle Torrent hit the ice for the first ever professional women’s hockey game at Madison Square Garden. History was being made in so many ways and every fan in attendance was full of excitement that was on display throughout the entire night. With plenty of icons in the stands, along with a sold out crowd, the Sirens ended up securing the 2-1 shootout win in thrilling comeback fashion. Here are the biggest three takeaways from Saturday’s game at MSG.
1. Sarah Fillier is back
Even though Sarah Fillier had a slow start, by her standards to the 2025-26 PWHL season, there was never a doubt that she wouldn’t return to her usual form. And that is exactly what’s happened. Through her first 17 games this season, Fillier had just one goal and 10 assists. Now in her last seven games, she has an impressive eight goals and nine points. What’s even more important is the timing of those goals. Her first three-point game of the season came in a 6-2 win over the Ottawa Charge on March 8 and her two tallies in that contest helped secure that victory. Then on April 1, she put the team on her back and made history in the Sirens’ 4-3 overtime win against the Frost. In the third period of that game, she tied the game by scoring two goals just 14 seconds apart, marking the fastest two goals scored by the same player in PWHL history. And then, she scored the overtime game winner and became the first player in PWHL history to complete a hat trick with an overtime game winner. Although, she only scored one goal in the Sirens 2-1 shootout win over the Torrent at MSG, it was the game-tying goal and then she helped the team secure the victory by sinking her shootout attempt as well. There is arguably no one as clutch as Fillier on New York’s roster and her finding her groove again is happening at the perfect time as the team makes a push for the playoffs.
2. The Final Stretch is Here
After the win at MSG on Saturday, the Sirens only have five games remaining this season. Through their first 25 games this season, New York has posted a 8-2-3-12 record and sit in sixth place in the PWHL standings with 31 points. They are just three points behind the Toronto Sceptres for the fourth and final playoff spot and unfortunately for the Sirens, they don’t have any games in hand on the teams in front of them. However, New York does play Toronto twice and Ottawa once in the final remaining five games which could be crucial for them making up ground to qualify for the postseason for the first time in team’s history. Now that the Sirens have won back-to-back games for the first time since mid-January before the Olympic break, it’s easy to build off that momentum during the most important time of the year. With just one playoff spot left and a handful of games to play for all the PWHL teams, it will be a fight to the finish, but one that should be entertaining and stressful all the same.
3. Big Moment for Women’s Hockey
Behind the actual hockey being played at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, the moment was incredibly big for women’s hockey as a whole. This was the first time professional women’s hockey was being played at the World’s Most Famous Arena and MSG was sold out as 18,006 fans came to the game, which set a new U.S. attendance record for a professional women’s hockey game. There are no words to describe the feeling of women’s hockey being on such a huge stage and reaching heights that many fans and players all knew was possible. Hilary Knight, Seattle Torrent captain and five-time Olympic medalist, spoke at length postgame about how this might be the first game at MSG, but certainly won’t be the last and that it’s proof of how far women’s hockey has come.
“It’s funny because people ask if I’m surprised...I’m not surprised that we sold out MSG. It’s a testament to the caliber of play that we have, our fanbase, the product that we put together and the work that we do when the lights aren’t bright. So, to finally have this moment, and I hope it’s not a moment, I hope we’re back here, it’s truly incredible. Even if we were getting booed or cheered for it didn’t really matter, it was an awesome moment for women’s hockey and to be a part of a game where you set a record is truly outstanding.”
Fillier recognized how monumental this game was for the sport and even had a moment herself where she truly realized she was playing at one of the most iconic venues in the entire world.
“For me, I think standing on the blue line during the anthem. I’ve never been in a building like that during the anthem with the fans so engaged, cheering for the Sirens mid-anthem. I had goosebumps. Just looking up in the building. It felt like the longest five minutes of my life. I was so excited for puck drop. I think there you have to take it in and enjoy the moment. It’s bigger than the game happening when you’re playing the most iconic arena in the world in front of [1]8,000 fans [for the] first PWHL game in New York City. It’s something our fans deserve, our team deserves, our staff deserve.”
Selling out Madison Square Garden, setting attendance records and putting women’s hockey in the spotlight is truly just the beginning. Saturday night’s game was important for both the PWHL and the sport as a whole, but it’s incredible seeing how much work the players have put in to have these moments and it’s proof that it’s only going to get bigger in the future.
The Sirens will be back in action on Saturday, April 11 when they take on the Minnesota Frost at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, Minnesota. Puck drop is scheduled for 1 PM EDT.