Posted on by Tim Jarrold
Vancouver Goldeneyes vs. Boston Fleet January 3, 2026 - In Play! magazine
This marked Vancouver’s first win in six games away from their home at Pacific Coliseum. Photo: Tim Jarrold - In Play! magazine
04
Jan

Vancouver Goldeneyes vs. Boston Fleet: Game Review January 3, 2026

In an exciting matchup at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit as part of the PWHL Takeover Tour presented by Ally Financial, the Vancouver Goldeneyes mounted an impressive third-period comeback to defeat the first-place Boston Fleet 4-3. The victory snapped a three-game losing streak for Vancouver, while handing Boston their second consecutive loss.

First Period

The Fleet came out strong, dominating the opening frame with a 16-4 shot advantage. Boston struck first when rookie Olivia Mobley netted her third goal of the season at 4:22, assisted by Ella Huber and Rylind MacKinnon. Vancouver responded quickly, as Hannah Miller scored her first goal of the season just 23 seconds later, tying the game at 1-1. The Fleet regained the lead less than three minutes later when Susanna Tapani converted on a breakaway opportunity, thanks to a perfect feed from Sophie Shirley.

Second Period

The second period saw more balanced play with both teams recording six shots each, but neither team was able to find the back of the net. Goaltenders Emerance Maschmeyer for Vancouver and Aerin Frankel for Boston stood tall, keeping the score 2-1 in favor of the Fleet heading into the final frame.

Third Period

Boston extended their lead to 3-1 just 19 seconds into the third period when Jamie Lee Rattray scored her first goal of the season, ending a 16-game goalless drought dating back to the previous season. However, the Goldeneyes refused to go away quietly.

Vancouver began their comeback at 4:21 when defender Claire Thompson scored to cut the deficit to 3-2, with assists from Tereza Vanišová and Michela Cava. The Goldeneyes then capitalized on the power play at 8:01 as Sophie Jaques tied the game 3-3, assisted by Miller and Izzy Daniel. This marked the first power-play goal allowed by the Fleet this season, who had previously killed off 21 consecutive penalties.

The comeback was completed at 11:31 when Daniel scored what would prove to be the game-winning goal, assisted by Miller and Jenn Gardiner. Maschmeyer shut the door the rest of the way, preserving Vancouver’s 4-3 victory.

Standout Performances

Vancouver Goldeneyes

  • Hannah Miller: Led the way with a three-point night (1G, 2A), including the game’s opening goal and assists on two third-period tallies
  • Izzy Daniel: Recorded her first career multi-point game and game-winning goal (1G, 1A)
  • Claire Thompson: Scored a crucial goal to spark the comeback and continued her strong offensive production from the blue line
  • Sophie Jaques: Scored the power-play equalizer, her third goal of the season
  • Emerance Maschmeyer: Made 24 saves, including several key stops to preserve the lead in the final minutes

Boston Fleet

  • Olivia Mobley: Scored the game’s opening goal and led all players with six shots on goal
  • Susanna Tapani: Netted her third goal of the season on a skillful breakaway
  • Jamie Lee Rattray: Scored her first goal of the season to give Boston a two-goal lead early in the third period
  • Sophie Shirley: Provided a beautiful assist on Tapani’s goal

Key Moments

The turning point came in the third period when Vancouver scored three unanswered goals in a span of 7:10. Boston had been nearly perfect on the penalty kill all season before Jaques’ power-play goal tied the game, which clearly shifted momentum in Vancouver’s favor. The Goldeneyes’ ability to overcome a two-goal deficit in the third period showcased their resilience and determination.

Pre-Game and Post-Game Notes

  • The game was part of the PWHL Takeover Tour in Detroit, drawing an impressive crowd of 9,624 fans to Little Caesars Arena
  • Boston signed defender Mia Biotti to a 10-day contract prior to the game, and she made her PWHL debut, playing 9:45 and recording one hit
  • Several Michigan natives participated in the game, including Melissa Channell-Watkins and Anna Segedi for Vancouver, and Megan Keller and Riley Brengman for Boston

League Context

The win improved Vancouver’s record to 3-1-1-5, while Boston fell to 6-0-1-2 but remained in first place in the PWHL standings. The Fleet had previously set a PWHL record with a five-game winning streak to start the season but have now lost three of their last four contests.

This marked Vancouver’s first win in six games away from their home at Pacific Coliseum. The Goldeneyes will look to build on this momentum as they travel to Ottawa for their next game, while Boston will aim to bounce back when they host Seattle on Wednesday.

Photos: Tim Jarrold – In Play! magazine

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Tim Jarrold

Tim Jarrold...our multi-sport shooter feels as much at home behind the glass at any arena as he does on the edge of a high-speed racing track. Tim is responsible for most of the hockey photos (Red Wings and Spitfires) you see here on the IPM website and he is hoping to expand that coverage for you!