When the Boston Fleet stepped onto the ice at the Tsongas Center Thursday night for Game 1 of the 2026 Walter Cup playoffs, the building was electric—even if it wasn't technically full. With 4,285 fans packing the 6,496-seat arena, the crowd's energy made it feel like a sellout, and that roar was unmistakable on the livestream.

The Fleet rode that wave to a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Ottawa Charge, kicking off the 2025-26 PWHL playoffs in style. It was a physical, fast-paced battle from the opening puck drop. The first period alone saw 25 penalty minutes handed out, with nine total penalties, one major, and a game misconduct. Every time an Ottawa player headed to the box, the crowd erupted with "to the brig" chants, turning the Tsongas Center into a fortress of sound.

Fleet forward Jamie Lee Rattray soaked in the atmosphere after the win. "It was a lot of fun in the building tonight. For a Thursday night in Lowell, I thought it was pretty loud," she said. "A weird first period with a lot of special teams, but our group stuck together, did all the little things right, and got it done."

The intensity wasn't lost on the visitors either. Charge defender Rory Guilday, making her playoff debut, felt the heat. "Everything is kind of intensified—the speed of the game, physicality, and just overall energy in the building," she said. "It was super fun."

With two strong goaltenders dueling and the stakes at their highest, the Tsongas Center proved it could be a game-changer. As the Fleet prepare for Game 2 on Saturday back in Lowell, that home-ice energy will be a key weapon in their playoff arsenal. For fans heading to the rink, expect more of the same: loud, proud, and ready to push Boston one step closer to the Walter Cup.