The Seattle Torrent secured their first-ever franchise win on Wednesday night, defeating the New York Sirens 2-1 in a dramatic contest at Climate Pledge Arena. A late surge in the third period, fueled by two power-play goals within 22 seconds, turned the tide for the Torrent, sending the home crowd of 8,622 into a frenzy. Here are three key takeaways from the game:
1. Power Play Prowess Seals the Deal: After struggling to find the net in their home opener, the Torrent finally broke through with a decisive power-play performance. With just under four minutes remaining in the game, New York rookie Kristýna Kaltounková received a major penalty for checking from behind, handing Seattle a crucial five-minute power play. The Torrent capitalized, with Alex Carpenter scoring the team's first-ever home goal with 1:24 left on the clock, assisted by Hilary Knight and Hannah Bilka. Just seconds later, Knight followed up with another goal, assisted by Hannah Bilka and Julia Gosling, securing the victory. Despite going 2-for-10 on the power play overall, their late-game execution proved to be the difference. In contrast, the Sirens were unable to convert on any of their ten power-play opportunities.
2. Hannah Murphy's Stellar Debut: Goaltender Hannah Murphy, making her professional debut, delivered a standout performance between the pipes for the Torrent. She faced a barrage of shots, stopping 23 of 24, including 12 saves in the second period alone, to keep her team within striking distance. Murphy's resilience was particularly evident during Seattle's penalty kills, where she made several key saves to thwart the Sirens' attack. Her performance earned her the third star of the game. The only goal she allowed was early in the first period when Paetyn Levis scored for the Sirens at 3:15, assisted by Jincy Roese and Lauren Bernard.
3. A Game of Shifting Momentum: The Sirens dominated the early stages of the game, outshooting the Torrent 8-3 in the first period and 12-7 in the second. However, the Torrent found their footing in the third period, matching the Sirens' physicality and generating more offensive pressure. Seattle outshot New York 10-3 in the third period. The turning point came with Kaltounková’s penalty, which shifted the momentum entirely in Seattle's favor. Carpenter, playing against her former team, seized the opportunity, igniting the Torrent's late-game rally. Knight's quick follow-up goal sealed the win, showcasing the Torrent's resilience and ability to capitalize on crucial moments.
The Torrent (1-0-1-1) will look to build on this victory as they continue their five-game homestand on December 17 against Ottawa. Meanwhile, the Sirens (2-0-0-2) will travel to Vancouver to face the Goldeneyes on Saturday.
