Sirens rally late to beat Sceptres, boost playoff hopes

Three straight third-period goals lift New York over Toronto in key PWHL matchup

Apr. 16, 2026 at 4:41am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a PWHL hockey game, with the players and action broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in the colors of the Sirens and Sceptres uniforms.The Sirens' thrilling comeback victory over the Sceptres showcases the intensity and drama of a crucial PWHL playoff race.NYC Today

Denisa Křížová, Maja Nylén Persson and Casey O'Brien scored three consecutive goals in the third period to help the New York Sirens rally past the Toronto Sceptres 3-2 on Wednesday night. The win pulls the Sirens even with the Sceptres in the PWHL standings, as both teams chase the final playoff spot.

Why it matters

The Sirens and Sceptres are locked in a tight race for the last playoff position in the PWHL. This comeback victory gives the Sirens a crucial two points and the head-to-head tiebreaker over their division rival as the regular season winds down.

The details

After the Sceptres took a 2-0 lead in the third period, the Sirens stormed back with three unanswered goals. Křížová scored 39 seconds after Toronto's second goal, Nylén Persson tied it on the power play, and O'Brien netted the game-winner with under four minutes left. The Sirens' rally extended their longest single-season home winning streak to four games.

  • The Sirens scored three straight goals in the third period to rally past the Sceptres on April 15, 2026.
  • The Sirens and Sceptres are tied for fifth place in the PWHL standings with 34 points each, trailing Ottawa by 2 points for the final playoff spot.

The players

Denisa Křížová

A forward for the New York Sirens who scored one of the team's three third-period goals in the comeback win.

Maja Nylén Persson

A forward for the New York Sirens who scored the game-tying power-play goal in the third period.

Casey O'Brien

A rookie forward for the New York Sirens who scored the game-winning goal with under four minutes remaining.

Daryl Watts

A forward for the Toronto Sceptres who opened the scoring late in the second period.

Ella Shelton

A former Sirens defender who scored the Sceptres' second goal to give them a 2-0 lead.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We knew we had to dig deep and find a way to come back. The girls showed a lot of heart and resilience to get this huge win.”

— Denisa Křížová, Sirens forward

What’s next

The Sirens begin a three-game road trip to end the regular season, beginning with a matchup against Ottawa on Saturday. The Sceptres next play on the road in Minnesota on Sunday.

The takeaway

This thrilling comeback victory keeps the Sirens firmly in the playoff hunt, as they continue to battle with the Sceptres and other teams for the final postseason spot in the PWHL. The Sirens' ability to rally from a two-goal deficit showcases their resilience and determination to reach the playoffs.