This New Year’s Eve matchup pits the struggling expansion Vancouver Goldeneyes against the inconsistent New York Sirens in a rematch of their early-season encounters. As part of the 2025-26 PWHL regular season, the game features Vancouver’s gritty defense against New York’s opportunistic offense, with both teams looking to build momentum heading into January. New York enters as slight favorites at home, leveraging their rookies’ energy, while Vancouver aims to capitalize on goaltending strength despite key absences.
Venue: Prudential Center
Location: Newark, New Jersey
Puckdrop is set for 1:00 PM EST
Broadcast: Available on Sportsnet ONE (Canada), with streaming on the PWHL app and select regional networks
The Prudential Center, home to the Sirens, offers a lively atmosphere for this afternoon tilt, potentially drawing holiday crowds.
Injury Report
Vancouver Goldeneyes: Forward Sarah Nurse remains on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) with an upper-body injury sustained early in the season. She has been sidelined since opening night and is due for re-evaluation around late December, making her doubtful for this game. No other major injuries reported, though the team has managed without her in recent outings.
New York Sirens: No significant injuries listed. The roster appears fully healthy, with rookies stepping up in recent games to fill any minor gaps
Both teams have avoided major setbacks lately, allowing for full-strength lineups barring last-minute changes.
Player Matchups
Key individual battles could decide this low-scoring affair, focusing on goaltending, forward pressure, and defensive pairings:
| Position | Vancouver Goldeneyes Player | New York Sirens Player | Key Notes |
| Goaltender | Emerance Maschmeyer | Kayle Osborne | Maschmeyer posted a 28-save shutout in their Dec. 6 meeting; Osborne countered with 20 saves in the Nov. 29 win. Expect Maschmeyer’s experience to test Osborne’s consistency. |
| Forward | Abby Boreen | Kristin O’Neill | Boreen netted twice in the Dec. 6 shutout victory; O’Neill scored shorthanded in the Nov. 29 blowout. Boreen’s physicality vs. O’Neill’s speed could spark odd-man rushes. |
| Forward | Kristyna Kaltounkova | Anne Cherkowski | Kaltounkova brings scoring upside for Vancouver; Cherkowski assisted in the Sirens’ home opener win. Watch for secondary scoring here. |
| Defense | Claire Thompson | Lauren Bernard | Thompson contributed offensively in early games; Bernard assisted on O’Neill’s goal. This matchup highlights Vancouver’s need to contain New York’s rookie blueline push thepwhl.com +7 . |
These matchups emphasize Vancouver’s reliance on veteran poise against New York’s youthful energy.
Vancouver sits mid-pack in the expanded PWHL standings, while New York languishes near the bottom despite strong shot volumes
Recent Team Forms
Vancouver Goldeneyes (Last 5 Games: W-L-L-L-W): The Goldeneyes snapped a three-game skid with a 4-0 shutout over New York on Dec. 6, highlighted by Boreen’s multi-goal performance and Maschmeyer’s heroics. Prior losses included a 0-2 shutout at Boston (Dec. 3) and a 1-5 defeat at New York (Nov. 29). They’ve struggled offensively (averaging 1.6 goals per game recently) but boast a stingy defense when healthy.
New York Sirens (Last 5 Games: L-W-L-L-W): New York has outshot opponents in all games this season but converted poorly, as seen in their 0-4 loss at Vancouver (Dec. 6). They rebounded from early inconsistencies with a 5-1 home opener win over Vancouver (Nov. 29), driven by five different scorers. Recent form shows defensive lapses (allowing 3+ goals in three of five) but strong special teams
thepwhl.com +8
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Series History
Vancouver and New York have split their two meetings this season (1-1 head-to-head):
Nov. 29, 2025 (at New York): Sirens 5-1 Goldeneyes – New York dominated with five different goal scorers and strong rookie contributions.
Dec. 6, 2025 (at Vancouver): Goldeneyes 4-0 Sirens – Vancouver’s first regulation win, featuring Maschmeyer’s shutout and Boreen’s brace.
Overall, shots favor New York (56-41 combined), but Vancouver leads in hits (46-35). This is their third clash, with home teams winning both prior games
Betting Trends
Early action favors New York on the moneyline (~60% of bets), with sharps leaning toward the under due to both teams’ low-scoring tendencies (Vancouver averages 1.8 goals/game; New York 2.1).
Vancouver is 2-3 in their last five as underdogs, covering the puck line in wins. New York has gone under in four of five recent games, reflecting strong goaltending but poor finishing.
Historical PWHL trends: Home teams win ~55% of games; over hits in 45% of matchups under 5 goals. Line movement: Opened with New York at -110; shifted to -120 with home ice and Vancouver’s injury concerns
GAME ODDS
Vancouver Goldeneyes 4.5
New York Sirens – 120
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Tuesday, December 30, 2025
