PWHL Game Preview: Boston Fleet (9-3-2-2) vs. Vancouver Goldeneyes (5-1-2-9)

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Game Details

  • Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM PDT (10:00 PM EDT).
  • Venue: Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

This historic arena, with a capacity of around 16,000, has been the home of the Goldeneyes since their inaugural season and offers a vibrant atmosphere for West Coast PWHL action. Doors open 90 minutes before puck drop.

  • Broadcast: Available on NESN (for Boston viewers) and Prime Video.

Recent Team Forms

Boston is on fire, riding a five-game winning streak that includes a 1-0 shutout over the New York Sirens on March 5 and a 3-2 shootout win over the Ottawa Charge on February 28. Their last 10 games: 7-1-0-2, with a dominant defensive stretch allowing just 1.7 goals against per game.

Key to their success has been stellar goaltending and timely scoring, outscoring opponents 12-5 in their streak.

Vancouver, meanwhile, is struggling to regain momentum post-Olympic break, dropping a 2-1 decision to the Toronto Sceptres on March 1—their second straight loss.

Their last 10 games: 3-5-2-0, with offensive woes evident as they’ve scored the second-fewest goals league-wide (19) while allowing the third-most (27).

The Goldeneyes have shown flashes of comeback ability but need better consistency at home.

Series History

This will be the second meeting between these teams in the 2025-26 season. Vancouver pulled off a stunning 4-3 comeback win on January 3 in Detroit during the PWHL Takeover Tour, snapping Boston’s early-season dominance.

The Goldeneyes overcame a third-period deficit with goals from Claire Thompson, Sophie Jaques, and Izzy Daniel (game-winner), outshooting Boston 28-27.

Overall head-to-head: Vancouver leads 1-0-0-0, with an average of 7 total goals per game. As cross-conference foes, their matchups are rare but high-scoring and competitive.

Injury Report

  • Boston Fleet: Defender Zoe Boyd is on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) with a lower-body injury suffered in practice.
  • Forwards Sophie Shirley and Olivia Mobley are also on LTIR with undisclosed injuries.
  • Defender Riley Brengman recently returned from an upper-body issue and is expected to play after missing two games.

The Fleet have been managing depth well but could be thin on the blue line if any day-to-day issues arise.

  • Vancouver Goldeneyes: Forward Katie Chan is sidelined with an undisclosed injury.
  • Defender Claire Thompson is out with an upper-body injury sustained post-Olympics, potentially longer-term, forcing the team to sign forward Brianna Brooks to a 10-day contract for depth.
  • Forward Sarah Nurse missed a recent game with an upper-body issue but returned earlier in the season from an eight-week arm injury and is expected to suit up.

Key Player Matchups

This game features intriguing battles between Boston’s balanced attack and Vancouver’s Olympic-laden roster. Expect these matchups to dictate the pace:

  1. Aerin Frankel (BOS, G) vs. Emerance Maschmeyer (VAN, G): Frankel, fresh off her fourth shutout of the season (23 saves in the 1-0 win over New York), boasts a .940 save percentage and leads the PWHL with 11 wins.
  2. Maschmeyer, a Canadian silver medalist, will counter with her veteran presence, but Vancouver’s defense has allowed 2.4 goals per game.

Goaltending could decide a low-scoring affair.

  • Megan Keller (BOS, D) vs. Sarah Nurse (VAN, F): Boston captain Keller, a U.S. gold medalist, leads the Fleet in shots (four per game recently) and anchors a penalty kill at 91.9%.

She’ll face Nurse, Vancouver’s alternate captain and a dynamic scorer with three goals in her first two games back from injury, though her power play (7.9%) has struggled.

  • Ella Huber (BOS, F) vs. Sophie Jaques (VAN, D): Huber has been Boston’s clutch performer, scoring the lone goal in their last win and adding points in four straight games.

Jaques, a Canadian silver medalist, will try to neutralize her with physical play, having scored a power-play goal in the teams’ prior meeting.

  • Susanna Tapani (BOS, F) vs. Tereza Vanišová (VAN, F): Tapani’s breakaway speed was key in Boston’s earlier loss to Vancouver.

Vanišová, leading Vancouver with a +5 rating, brings Czechia Olympic grit and could spark counterattacks.

Other notables: Boston’s Abby Newhook (+6 rating) vs. Vancouver’s Izzy Daniel (game-winner in January matchup).

Betting Trends

  • Boston is 5-0 in their last five games, covering the spread in four, and 7-1-0-2 in their last 10.

They’ve gone under the total in six of their last eight, averaging 4.2 combined goals.

  • Vancouver is 0-2 since the Olympic break, failing to cover in both, and 3-5-2-0 in their last 10.
  • Home games have trended over (4-2 in last six at Pacific Coliseum), but their power play ranks last at 7.9%.
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  • Head-to-head: The lone game went over 4.5 goals, with Vancouver covering as underdogs.
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  • League-wide: PWHL games post-Olympics have seen 60% unders due to fatigue and injuries, but cross-conference matchups average 5.1 goals.

GAME ODDS

Boston Fleet                                      – 140

Vancouver Goldeneyes                 4.5

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, March 9, 2026