ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins concluded their preseason with an unblemished 2-0 record, defeating the Lehigh Valley Phantoms 3-1 on Saturday night at PPL Center behind a balanced offensive attack and strong goaltending from Filip Larsson.
In front of 1,740 fans at PPL Center, the victory marked sweet redemption for the Penguins in the building where they’ve been eliminated from the playoffs in consecutive postseasons, as they used disciplined special teams play and contributions from three different goal scorers to take down their Pennsylvania rivals.
First Period: Gallant Opens the Floodgates
Zach Gallant opened the scoring just five minutes into the contest, capitalizing on his own rebound after Phantoms goaltender Carson Bjarnason made an initial save. At the 5:10 mark, despite being knocked to the ice, Gallant managed to force a second shot across the goal line, giving the visitors an early 1-0 advantage.
The 25-year-old left winger finished with a game-high 17 shots on goal, constantly pressuring Bjarnason and the Phantoms’ defense. He received helpers from center Nolan Renwick and right winger Cal Burke on the opening tally, setting an aggressive tone in what would become a physical rivalry affair.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton outshot the Phantoms 6-5 in the opening frame while Larsson turned aside all nine shots he faced to preserve the one-goal lead. The Phantoms’ best opportunity came from captain Garrett Wilson, who registered 15 shots on the night but couldn’t find the back of the net.
Second Period: Criscuolo’s Power Play Strike Breaks It Open
The middle frame belonged to veteran forward Kyle Criscuolo. At 11:30, Criscuolo, who played for the Phantoms six seasons ago, delivered a crucial 5-on-3 power play goal that gave Wilkes-Barre/Scranton a commanding 2-0 lead. The 33-year-old center showcased his familiarity with PPL Center, converting on the two-man advantage with assists from center Aaron Huglen and defenseman Chase Pietila.
Criscuolo finished with a goal and three shots on goal, providing the veteran presence and special teams expertise needed in a chippy road environment. The goal came during a critical juncture as the Penguins dominated possession and territorial play, outshooting Lehigh Valley 11-3 in the period.
The Penguins’ penalty kill continued to shine, with Sebastian Aho leading the defensive effort with three shots blocked. The Phantoms struggled to generate quality chances despite power play opportunities, as Karsen Dorwart (three shots) and Alex Bump (three shots) couldn’t convert.
Third Period: Pietila Provides Insurance, Eklind Spoils Shutout
The 22-year-old rookie defenseman put the game out of reach at 14:16 when Chase Pietila netted his second goal of the preseason, finishing the night with a goal and an assist for a multi-point performance. Cal Burke collected his second assist of the night on the play, with right winger Atley Calvert also contributing a helper to push the Penguins’ advantage to 3-0.
Pietila, who secured three points (2G-1A) during the exhibition slate, continues to make a strong impression as he pushes for regular season playing time. His two shots on goal and plus-1 rating complemented his offensive contributions from the blue line, earning him Second Star honors.
Lehigh Valley finally broke through at 18:12 when Oscar Eklind deflected an Alex Bump shot past Larsson during a 6-on-5 extra attacker situation. The forward’s goal was his lone tally of the night, with assists from Bump and rookie Denver Barkey, who impressed with one assist and a plus-1 rating. Despite the late goal that spoiled Larsson’s shutout bid with just 1:48 remaining, Eklind’s determined effort and plus-1 rating earned him Third Star recognition.
Goaltending: Larsson’s Statement Performance
Filip Larsson’s performance was the story of the night, earning him First Star honors with a commanding 60-minute effort. The 23-year-old Swedish netminder stopped 21 of 22 shots (.955 save percentage), remaining perfect through 58:12 before Eklind’s late deflection ended his shutout bid. His composed, technically sound performance provided the backbone for the Penguins’ victory and sent a clear message about his readiness for regular season action.
On the other end, Carson Bjarnason battled valiantly in his 56:36 of action, making 19 saves on 22 shots. The Phantoms’ netminder faced constant pressure, particularly from Gallant’s relentless attack and Max Graham’s nine-shot barrage. Backup goaltender Yaniv Perets dressed but did not see action. For the Penguins, Maxim Pavlenko remained on the bench as Larsson went the distance.
Offensive Contributions Up and Down the Lineup
Cal Burke led the Penguins’ scoring parade with two assists and a plus-2 rating, demonstrating excellent playmaking ability and two-way awareness throughout all three zones. His chemistry with multiple linemates was evident on both goals he assisted.
Beyond the primary scorers, several Penguins made their presence felt. Max Graham fired nine shots on goal, constantly attacking the Phantoms’ defense, while Aidan McDonough posted a plus-2 rating with strong defensive zone play. Aaron Huglen added an assist and two shots with a plus-2 rating, and Brayden Edwards brought a physical presence throughout.
Despite matching the Penguins in total shots (22), Lehigh Valley couldn’t solve Larsson when it mattered. Wilson’s game-high 15 shots couldn’t find twine, while Tucker Robertson added seven shots. Hunter McDonald contributed four shots from the blue line, showing his offensive instincts from the back end.
Special Teams: The Decisive Factor
The game’s narrative centered on special teams execution. The Penguins converted on their crucial 5-on-3 power play opportunity in the second period (1-for-4, 25%), with Criscuolo’s goal proving to be the eventual game-winner. Despite accumulating 32 penalty minutes on nine infractions, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton maintained discipline when it mattered most.
Meanwhile, Lehigh Valley struggled mightily on the power play, going 0-for-5 despite 30 minutes of man-advantage time and quality looks from Wilson, Robertson, and Dorwart. The Penguins finished the preseason with a perfect 9-for-9 record on the penalty kill, an impressive statement heading into the regular season.
Sebastian Aho anchored the defensive effort with three blocked shots, while key faceoff wins from Criscuolo and Jordan Frasca helped the Penguins control puck possession during critical penalty kill situations.
Looking Ahead
The Penguins now turn their attention to their 2025-26 season opener against the Hartford Wolf Pack on Saturday, October 11, with puck drop scheduled for 6:05 p.m. at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza. With a perfect 2-0 preseason record, stellar penalty killing (9-for-9), and strong goaltending from Larsson, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton enters the regular season riding a wave of confidence.
Coach Kirk MacDonald will have difficult roster decisions to make in the coming days, but performances like those from Pietila, Gallant, Criscuolo, and Larsson make for welcome selection headaches. The depth and versatility displayed throughout the preseason—from veteran leadership to rookie contributions—should serve the team well during the grueling 72-game regular season.
For Lehigh Valley, the preseason finale against the Hershey Bears awaits on Sunday at 3:05 p.m. before Opening Night on October 11 against the Belleville Senators at PPL Center, where fans will receive rally towels to kick off the 12th season of Phantoms hockey in the Lehigh Valley. Head coach John Snowden will use Sunday’s game to finalize his roster, with several players still competing for final spots.
Game Summary
Final Score: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 3, Lehigh Valley Phantoms 1
Date: Saturday, October 4, 2025
Venue: PPL Center, Allentown, PA
Attendance: 1,740
Game Time: 7:14 PM EDT – 9:39 PM EDT (2:25)
Scoring Summary:
- 1st Period (5:10) – WBS: Zach Gallant (1) – Assists: Nolan Renwick, Cal Burke
- 2nd Period (11:30) – WBS: Kyle Criscuolo (1) PPG (5-on-3) – Assists: Aaron Huglen, Chase Pietila
- 3rd Period (14:16) – WBS: Chase Pietila (2) – Assists: Cal Burke, Atley Calvert
- 3rd Period (18:12) – LV: Oscar Eklind (1) (EN-6-on-5) – Assists: Alex Bump, Denver Barkey
Period Scoring:
- 1st: WBS 1, LV 0
- 2nd: WBS 1, LV 0
- 3rd: WBS 1, LV 1
Game Statistics:
- Shots on Goal: WBS 22 (6-11-5), LV 22 (9-3-10)
- Power Play: WBS 1/4 (25.0%), LV 0/5 (0.0%)
- Penalty Minutes: WBS 32 min (9 infractions), LV 30 min (8 infractions)
Three Stars:
- Filip Larsson (WBS, #31, G) – 60:00 min, 22 SA, 21 SVS, 1 GA, .955 SV%
- Chase Pietila (WBS, #44, D) – 1G, 1A, 2 SOG, +1
- Oscar Eklind (LV, #43, F) – 1G, 0A, +1
Top Performers:
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton:
- Zach Gallant: 1G, 17 SOG (game-high), +1
- Cal Burke: 2A, +2
- Kyle Criscuolo: 1G (PP), 3 SOG, +1
- Aaron Huglen: 1A, 2 SOG, +2
- Max Graham: 9 SOG, +1
- Sebastian Aho: 3 blocked shots
Lehigh Valley:
- Garrett Wilson: 15 SOG (team-high)
- Tucker Robertson: 7 SOG
- Alex Bump: 1A, 3 SOG
- Denver Barkey: 1A, +1
- Carson Bjarnason: 56:36 min, 19 SVS, 3 GA
Goaltending:
- WBS: Filip Larsson (W) – 60:00, 22 SA, 21 SVS, 1 GA, .955 SV%
- LV: Carson Bjarnason (L) – 56:36, 22 SA, 19 SVS, 3 GA
Next Games:
- WBS: Saturday, October 11 vs. Hartford Wolf Pack, 6:05 PM (Season Opener)
- LV: Sunday, October 5 vs. Hershey Bears, 3:05 PM (Preseason Finale)
The Pennsylvania rivalry remains one of the AHL’s most intense, and Saturday’s chippy affair at PPL Center served as a preview of the battles to come throughout the 2025-26 campaign. With both teams making final roster decisions ahead of Opening Night, this preseason finale offered valuable insights into depth, system execution, special teams prowess, and individual player readiness as meaningful hockey returns next weekend.
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