West Orange, N.J. — New York Sirens forward Sarah Fillier, a standout player in the Premier Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), is experiencing an unusual goal drought during the 2025-26 season. Despite scoring her first goal in the third game of the season on November 29, 2025, against Vancouver Goldeneyes goalie Kristen Campbell, Fillier has been unable to find the back of the net since, a surprising development given her previous prolific scoring.
Fillier, originally from Georgetown, Ontario, had an explosive rookie season in 2024-25, achieving 13 goals and 29 points while earning Rookie of the Year honors. She tied with future Hall of Famer Hilary Knight for the league scoring lead and ranked fourth overall in goals. Yet, as the season extends into March, that single goal remains her only one in her sophomore PWHL campaign.
Consistent Playmaking Despite Scoring Drought
While goals have been elusive, Fillier continues to contribute in other significant ways. Through 17 games, she is just one point shy of leading the Sirens in scoring and has accumulated 10 assists, trailing only Taylor Heise of the Minnesota Frost in league assists. However, her shooting percentage of 1.7% ranks lowest among all PWHL players who have scored at least once this season, highlighting the sharp drop in her finishing success.
Her current streak of 14 games without a goal is the longest of her career, dating back to her freshman season at Princeton University in 2018-19. During her rookie PWHL season, she previously went eight consecutive games without a goal from January 25 to February 19, 2025, although she still contributed seven assists in that stretch.
There’s no sense of anybody hitting the panic button or anything like that — including herself, I think she’s played great.
Greg Fargo, Sirens coach
Sarah Fillier isn’t scoring at the rate she did last year, but she’s easily been the Sirens’ best playmaker.Prime example on this Kristin O’Neill goal. Sirens don’t tie this game without all the work Fillier does at the point.
Lou Orlando, hockey analyst
Fillier remains a central figure on the ice, consistently creating scoring opportunities for her teammates. Statistically, she ranks seventh in the PWHL’s skater model for net rating (+4.5) and offensive rating (+3.8), underscoring her positive impact beyond goal scoring. She maintains a calm and team-focused approach, emphasizing winning over personal stats.
Setting other players up to score is a big part of my game. Just trying to leave every game with a win. And if that’s passing the puck instead of scoring a goal, it’s fine.
Sarah Fillier, forward, New York Sirens
Rookies Step Up as Fillier Adjusts to New Role
Supporting Fillier’s offensive output, rookies Kristyna Kaltounkova and Casey O’Brien have emerged as vital scoring contributors. Kaltounkova, the 2025 No. 1 overall draft pick, leads the league with 11 goals and is second in shot attempts with 75 shots on goal. O’Brien, the third overall pick, has scored five goals, with three assisted by Fillier, showing their growing chemistry.
Fillier has also been increasing her shot volume, hitting a career-high nine shots on goal in New York’s final game before the Olympic break against the Boston Fleet on January 28. Over the last seven games, she collected seven assists and displayed no hesitancy to shoot, maintaining her offensive engagement despite the goal drought.
I think for Sarah — has it been an adjustment? Yeah. She’s got different line mates. She’s had different line mates throughout the year. We’ve changed her lines a lot, and that takes some time and adjustment.
Greg Fargo, Sirens coach
One significant change for Fillier has been the departure of USA Olympic center Alex Carpenter, her top linemate from the previous season who signed with the expansion Seattle Torrent. Throughout 2025-26, Fillier has played alongside a variety of forwards, including Canadian teammate Kristin O’Neill, Sirens veteran Paetyn Levis, and rookies such as Kaltounkova, O’Brien, and Anne Cherkowski, continuing to build new line chemistry.
So the fact that she’s getting chances is great, and the fact that she’s creating and in different ways, I think, is great.
Greg Fargo, Sirens coach
Shifting from Wing to Center: Adapting to a New Role
In an effort to strengthen the lineup down the center, the Sirens moved Fillier from wing to center five games into the season. While Fillier frequently played center during her collegiate career at Princeton, this shift marked her first time centering professionally in the PWHL, where she primarily played on Carpenter’s wing as a rookie and on Team Canada.
She’s playing center for the first time [in the PWHL]. That means you’re getting different pucks at different times. The tendencies of your game are different as a center versus a winger. We’ve seen her kind of focus in on some of her more defensive habits that lead to more offense.
Greg Fargo, Sirens coach
Fillier does not feel the positional change has dramatically altered her offensive approach. She explained that, beyond the red line, position distinctions become less defined and she adapts accordingly.
Once you get over the red line, there’s no true positions, I feel like.
Sarah Fillier, New York Sirens forward
However, she notes unique aspects of each role. Playing on the wing allows her to utilize her exit game more effectively and isolate defenders in creating two-on-two scenarios, while centering emphasizes advancing the puck through the middle with speed. At this stage in the season, Fillier appreciates flexibility in her position as long as the team can secure victories.
Playing wing, I can use my exit game a bit more. Usually leaving the zone with the puck, I can isolate D’s, or have a two-on-two with the other wing that I’m playing with, which is, I feel like, a good part of my game. And playing center, I feel like I can get the puck in the middle with speed. So it’s just two different types of games, but at this point in the season, you just want to play anywhere in the lineup that we can get three points every night.
Sarah Fillier, New York Sirens forward
Team Challenges and Standings Pressure
The Sirens face a challenging stretch this season, having extended a losing skid to five games with a 1-0 defeat against the Boston Fleet at the Prudential Center. This slump pushed them out of playoff position for the first time since early January, as the Ottawa Charge claimed fourth place in the standings.
Where I’m focused on with my attention is not any kind of streak — just day to day, how we’re approaching our business. I think we continue to get better, and that’s going to be the case moving forward.
Greg Fargo, Sirens coach
Despite recent setbacks, Fargo remains focused on incremental team improvement and development, showing patience with the adjustments needed for Fillier and the overall lineup.
For now, Fargo has shifted Fillier back to the wing. This decision aligns with Fillier’s successful role during the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympic Games, where she excelled playing wing for Team Canada.
At the Olympics, Fillier posted six points, including three goals, tying for the team lead and helping Canada secure a silver medal. She formed a potent line alongside Toronto Sceptres’ Daryl Watts and captain Marie-Philip Poulin, highlighting her ability to perform at the highest level under pressure.
Returning to Wing and Looking Ahead
Fillier senses that her Olympic experience has elevated her game, offering a renewed confidence she aims to bring back to her PWHL campaign’s second half.
I think it’s just a product of being in a really high-level environment for a month and a half. No matter who you are in that lineup, and whatever country you play on, I think everyone comes back with an elevated style of play just because the demands are so high going into the Olympics. The stakes are high. The pressure is high. You’re performing at your best. So I think it only makes sense that you come back and want to raise the level of your game.
Sarah Fillier, New York Sirens forward
According to Fargo, the decision to revert Fillier to wing was unrelated to her international success, but instead connected to team health and lineup experimentation.
Sarah and I have talked a lot over the season so far about wing and center, and we’re still working through some different combinations. I think one of the factors is we got almost everybody back. We’ve been without a few familiar faces prior to the break. It was great to have a lineup that was healthy, and wanted to just give some other things a look here early on.
Greg Fargo, Sirens coach
With Anne Cherkowski returning to the roster after a medical procedure and Taylor Girard back from suspension, the Sirens have their full forward corps available for the first time since mid-January. Ensuring Fillier is positioned to succeed offensively is critical, as the team continues to lean heavily on her as a primary creator and puck handler.
Fillier Determined to Break the Drought
Fillier openly acknowledges her desire to score more in the remaining part of the season and is optimistic about ending her prolonged goal drought.
I just know that I want to contribute more offensively. So in this back half, it’d be nice to get a few.
Sarah Fillier, New York Sirens forward
Her track record over five years shows resilience and an ability to overcome scoring slumps. If history is any guide, Fillier’s goals are likely to return sooner than later, potentially providing a vital spark for the Sirens as they push toward the playoffs.
FILL'ER UP WITH GOALS! 🚨🚨🚨
With her empty netter in Detroit, @PWHL_NewYork's Sarah Fillier becomes the first player in PWHL history to score a goal in five games straight. pic.twitter.com/1JtLuHuXBc
— PWHL (@thepwhlofficial) March 17, 2025
Sarah Fillier isn’t scoring at the rate she did last year, but she’s easily been the Sirens’ best playmaker.
Prime example on this Kristin O’Neill goal. Sirens don’t tie this game without all the work Fillier does at the point. pic.twitter.com/yNJzNmQd5b
— Lou Orlando (@SweetLouuuuu) January 29, 2026
