Not even Alex Carpenter’s return Wednesday evening might snap the New York Sirens out of their present hunch.
Carpenter’s objective within the third interval saved the Sirens from getting blanked on their residence ice, however the Sirens had been out of kinds on each ends of the ice and fell 4-1 to the Toronto Sceptres at Prudential Middle.
The loss prolonged New York’s dropping skid to 6 video games, however the Sirens had nobody in charge however themselves.
“There was just a little bit of a lack of urgency,” Carpenter stated. “It’s obviously hard to do that when you’re on a six-game skid, but I think mentally, that’s what we’re missing. We obviously know how to play. We’ve shown that before. It’s the mental side that we’re missing now.”
The Sirens (4-3-2-9) are as soon as once more the PWHL’s bottom-feeders, sitting a whopping 9 factors from the ultimate playoff spot with a recreation to provide.
However even with the March 2 commerce deadline drawing close to, first-year coach Greg Fargo doesn’t see a necessity for out of doors reinforcements.
“I believe in the group that’s in the room,” Fargo stated. “We’ve seen this team compete at a high level against everybody in the league. I think what you’re seeing is us getting our own way a little bit.”
There was optimism heading into this season after the Sirens flunked their inaugural marketing campaign and completed final within the league in 2023-24. The Sirens employed Fargo from Colgate and drafted former Princeton star Sarah Fillier with the No. 1 decide.
Early within the season, the Sirens appeared like an improved group and had their sights set on a playoff berth. However the Sirens have faltered as of late and dug themselves a gap that might be laborious to climb out with 12 video games left.
It didn’t assist that Carpenter missed greater than two weeks with an upper-body harm. With Carpenter out the previous 4 video games, the Sirens needed to be much more diligent with their execution.
However that’s not what occurred.
As a substitute, the star’s absence confirmed that the Sirens are in dire want of extra secondary scoring and higher protection.
“You quickly realize how big of a hole Alex leaves when she’s out of the lineup, too, and just about every situation that your team relies on her,” Fargo stated.
New York was outscored 16-4 in its 4 losses with out Carpenter.
Wednesday’s recreation wasn’t a lot better.
Toronto outshot New York 33-24, and Carpenter, the group’s main objective scorer, was the one Sirens participant to seek out the again of the online.
It resulted in a somber locker room atmosphere.
“Obviously no one’s happy,” defender and captain Micah Zandee-Hart stated. “Like [Fargo] said, everyone wants to win. We all want to find solutions.”
Many individuals — coaches and gamers — have spoken up all through the three-week dropping streak. Recommendation has been shared, and tears have been shed.
The Sirens desperately wish to flip their season round.
“Obviously a lot of talk has happened,” Zandee-Hart stated, “and the goal is to follow that with some action.”
The Sirens’ subsequent alternative is Sunday when the group travels to Buffalo for the PHWL Takeover Tour and play the Boston Fleet.
