Sirens extend win streak to 4 games, send Sceptres to third straight loss

TORONTO (AP) — Kristyna Kaltounkova scored twice, Kayle Osborne had a 31-save shutout and the New York Sirens topped the Toronto Sceptres 2-0 on Tuesday night.

The victory extended New York’s winning streak to four games.

Elaine Chuli made 20 saves for Toronto, which had its losing streak extended to three games.

Kaltounkova tipped in a point shot from Jincy Roese 2:50 into the second period.

Just over a minute later, following a New York chance that caused a big scramble in front, Kaltounkova had a penalty shot opportunity after the officials called a closing hand on puck infraction against Ella Shelton. However, Kaltounkova rang her shot off the right post.

She added an empty-net goal with 6.5 seconds left in the contest.

The Sceptres made a push late, with under a minute remaining but couldn’t beat Osborne. Both sides played sloppily but the Sirens managed to take advantage of one opportunity.

The victory helped the Sirens move past the Minnesota Frost for second place in the PWHL standings, one point behind the Boston Fleet.

Sirens: Host Minnesota on Jan. 16.

Sceptres: Visit Boston on Jan. 14.

AP women’s hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey

New York Sirens' Kristin O'Neill shoots at Toronto Sceptres goaltender Elaine Chuli during first period PWHL hockey action, in Toronto, on Tuesday Jan. 6, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Sceptres' Savannah Harmon, left, competes for the puck with New York Sirens' Elle Hartje during first period PWHL hockey action, in Toronto, on Tuesday Jan. 6, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Sceptres goaltender Elaine Chuli makes a stop as New York Sirens' Casey O'Brien closes in during the first period of an PWHL hockey game, in Toronto, Tuesday Jan. 6, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

New York Sirens' Kristyna Kaltounkova, front, brings the puck around the net to shoot at Toronto Sceptres goaltender Elaine Chuli, second left, during the first period of an PWHL hockey game in Toronto, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

England's players and management are undergoing a performance review following the 4-1 Ashes series defeat in Australia, with England Wales Cricket Board chief executive Richard Gould vowing to “implement the necessary changes over coming months.”

Gould issued a statement after England's five-wicket loss in the fifth test Thursday, highlighting disappointment in the campaign after the squad traveled to Australia with high expectations of ending a long drought Down Under.

The planning, tactics and preparation of head coach Brendon McCullum and cricket director Rob Key will be part of the review, along with “individual performances and behaviors” and the team's ability to adapt and react to conditions.

“This Ashes tour began with significant hope and anticipation, and it is therefore deeply disappointing that we have been unable to fulfill our ambition of winning the Ashes in Australia," Gould said. “While there were moments of strong performance and resilience during the series, including a hard-fought victory in the fourth test in Melbourne, we were not consistent enough across all conditions and phases of the contest.”

Gould said the cricket board was “determined to improve quickly” as the team prepares for the Twenty20 Cricket World Cup in India and Sri Lanka next month.

“We will implement the necessary changes over the coming months,” he said.

Australia retained the Ashes with wins in Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide, before England's drought-breaking win in the fourth test in Melbourne made it 3-1 ahead of the test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Australia has won four consecutive home Ashes series since England's last win here in 2010-11.

England struggled this tour with injuries to key bowlers Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, a heavy workload for skipper Ben Stokes which meant he couldn't bowl on the last day of the series, and a consistently flawed approach to batting in pressure situations.

England's fielding was also problematic across the series, with too many chances put down.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

England's Ben Stokes signs his autograph for a fan following the fifth and final Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Sydney, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Australia's Cameron Green, left, is congratulated by England's Jacob Bethell following the fifth and final Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Sydney, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

England's Ben Stokes, centre, gestures to teammate Brydon Carse, right, during play on the last day of the fifth and final Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Sydney, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)