Record Crowd Sets the Tone in Nation’s Capital
Washington, D.C. – The energy inside Capital One Arena was unmistakable: a nearly sold-out crowd of 17,228, the largest for a women’s pro hockey game in U.S. history. As the Sirens and Montréal Victoire took the ice, the roar rivaled any NHL game. Montréal’s Hayley Scamurra admitted, “It’s a pretty special moment for me, for sure. I knew they would show out, but I think this exceeded everyone’s expectations. To beat the U.S. record as much as they did is just incredible.”
Fans from all backgrounds—Capitals, Sirens, Victoire, even Toronto—packed the arena, waving signs and chanting. Unlike the “funeral” atmosphere in Newark, the nations capital was alive with passion and authenticity. “That was the loudest they’ve ever been,” Scamurra added. “I heard people at the Caps say that was loudest they’ve been all season.”
Editorial: The League’s Crossroads
The PWHL is still playing catch-up, trailing by decades in visibility and growth. D.C. has proven itself a true sports town, and the record-setting night should be a wake-up call to expand the league even more, there should be a minimum of 12 teams in the league. The league needs to let New York embrace its women’s hockey team by moving the Sirens back to New York and inside the city limits of the Big Apple, and keep cultivating the passionate fanbases that showed up in the nation’s capital.
Montréal’s Head Coach Kori Cheverie put it best: “Everywhere we go, we tend to draw big crowds and we keep producing good quality products on the ice. It’s special to be at our games. You see some of the best athletes in the world performing, and the state of women’s hockey continues to grow.”
First Period: Highs, Hits, and Hype
The anticipation was palpable as the teams awaited the green light from TV crews. The crowd noise—not DJ music—set the soundtrack. NY’s Casey O’Brien registered the first shot just 25 seconds in. On an early power play, Kristýna Kaltounková buried a rare NY power play goal, assisted by Sarah Fillier and Maja Nylén Persson.
“We blocked some incredible shots tonight. We got some great saves, winning face-offs. It was a little bit of everything, but that’s what it takes,” Sirens coach Greg Fargo said.
As Montréal ramped up the physicality, the Sirens responded. Allyson Simpson’s penalty gave Victoire their first power play, but Kayla Osborne and the PK held firm. The crowd erupted for hometown connection Haley Scamurra, whose father played for the Capitals in the 1970s. Montréal pressed, outshooting NY, and tied it on a power play goal from Maggie Flaherty with 30 seconds left in the period.
By the Numbers (After 1)
- Attendance: 17,228 (U.S. women’s pro hockey record)
- First Period Shots: Montréal 13, NY 6
- Power Play: NY 1/1, MTL 1/2
Second Period: Momentum and Missed Chances
Montréal seized momentum with a thunderous center-ice hit by Nicole Gosling, pinning the Sirens in their own zone. “The game was very physical today, and I think we handled that really well,” said NY’s Paetyn Levis. “We came back in the third, and we were ready for the physicality, and I think that we gave it back to them a little bit. We love to play a physical game, so I think that helped us.”
Despite being outplayed, NY found life late in the period. Off a faceoff, Sarah Fillier and Levis set up Anne Cherkowski, who caught Montréal’s goalie off guard for the go-ahead goal. Montréal’s Alexandra Labelle, when asked about their scoring struggles, said, “On a souvent plus de tirs que l’adversaire, alors je suis sûre que ça va venir et au bon moment.”
By the Numbers (After 2)
- Shots (2nd period): Montréal 20, NY 16
- Power Plays: NY 0/1 (1/2 overall), MTL 0/0 (1/3 overall)
Third Period: Controversy and Chaos
As the third period opened, both teams traded chances and heavy hits. The officiating, which had let physical play go most of the night, suddenly clamped down—leaving coaches and players frustrated. With Montréal pressing, a blistering shot appeared to cross the line behind Osborne. The building erupted, convinced the game was tied. Even on the Jumbotron replay, it looked like the puck was in. But after review, officials ruled it “inconclusive.”
Coach Cheverie voiced what many felt: “Watching on the Jumbotron, it looked like it was in. We were told it was inconclusive from the referee box, so they had to rely on the central station. It was definitely a tough one for sure, but I think it motivated our team, the fact that it was called no goal.”
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The sense of injustice was palpable. “You have to earn absolutely every inch of ice. And when we decide to figure that out, like we’re going to be a very scary team. But it’s hard to win games when you’re dealing with that kind of inconsistency,” Cheverie said.
Special Teams: Missed Opportunities
Both teams struggled on the power play: Montréal finished 1-for-4, New York 1-for-5. “I thought the power play really set the momentum for our team tonight. Even though we had the one goal, the other opportunities gave us a lot of momentum,” Fargo said. But the numbers tell a story of missed chances, extended 5-on-4s, but few high-danger looks.
After the Buzzer: The Brawl and the Truth About Hockey
As the Sirens clinched the win, a full-on brawl erupted in front of Osborne’s net—players throwing punches and bodies, gloves and sticks scattered across the crease. The officials jumped in fast to break it up, drawing heavy boos from the crowd. Fans were on their feet, craving more of the raw, emotional spectacle that is hockey’s DNA.
Let’s be honest: it’s time for the PWHL—and hockey at large—to stop pretending fighting isn’t part of the women’s game. No matter how hard the NHL or PWHL try to clamp down, the truth is, you can’t legislate the fire out of the sport. Women already fight in combat sports and serve in the military. Fans, regardless of gender, love the intensity. Let’s also stop pretending women don’t know how to body check. The outdated body checking penalty has overstayed its welcome. Let them play hockey. Let them live their lives.
New York’s Perspective: Resilience and Maturity
Coach Fargo praised his team’s growth: “Tonight was just a more complete 60-minute effort from our team. We saw a lot of the things that we did well at times against Minnesota earlier in the week, but tonight was just a more complete effort.”
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On the D.C. crowd, Sarah Fillier said, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen that many people be at warm up with signs along the glass for us. You can tell there’s a lot of passion here in this city for all other sports but especially women’s sports. So it was a great crowd and it’d be awesome to come back and play here.”
Final Thoughts
On a night when women’s hockey made U.S. history, both teams delivered a game worthy of the moment. The officiating, the physicality, and the brawl after the buzzer all proved that the women’s game has the same fire as any men’s league—and the same need for honest, modern rules. The ability to close out another one-goal game in front of a record crowd is a testament to the Sirens’ maturity, resilience, and belief in each other. With momentum building in D.C. and records falling, the PWHL’s future looks brighter—and tougher—than ever.
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