The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins started strong, taking a 3-0 lead by the end of the second period. Avery Hayes opened the scoring early in the first period, followed by Sam Poulin’s goal later in the same period. Tristan Broz added another goal in the second period. The Phantoms’ Jon-Randall Avon and Rodrigo Abols scored in the second and third periods, respectively, to bring the score to 3-2. Filip Kral restored the Penguins’ two-goal lead with a goal in the third period, but Helge Grans quickly responded to make it 4-3. Despite a strong push from the Phantoms, the Penguins’ goalie Joel Blomqvist made crucial saves to secure the win.
Period Highlights
First Period
6:46: Avery Hayes capitalized on a turnover in the Phantoms’ zone and scored with a wrist shot from the slot, making it 1-0 Penguins.
9:12: Penguins’ goalie Joel Blomqvist made a crucial save on a breakaway attempt by Phantoms’ forward Elliot Desnoyers.
13:34: The Phantoms hit the post on a shot by Emil Andrae, narrowly missing the opportunity to tie the game.
16:03: Sam Poulin intercepted a pass in the Phantoms’ defensive zone and scored on a quick snapshot, extending the Penguins’ lead to 2-0.
Second Period
4:55: Phantoms’ goalie Parker Gahagen made a spectacular glove save on Penguins’ forward Lukas Svejkovsky’s one-timer.
8:47: Tristan Broz redirected Filip Kral’s point shot past Gahagen, making it 3-0 Penguins.
14:30: The Phantoms’ power play generated several scoring chances, but Blomqvist made a series of impressive saves to keep them off the board.
18:28: Dan Renouf engaged in a fight with Garrett Wilson of the Phantoms.
19:02: Jon-Randall Avon took a pass from Bobby Brink and fired a shot from the top of the circle, beating Blomqvist to cut the deficit to 3-1.
Third Period
1:10: Rodrigo Abols scored a shorthanded goal for the Phantoms, deking Blomqvist and sliding the puck into the net, making it 3-2.
5:40: Filip Kral received a pass from Owen Pickering at the blue line, skated in, and scored with a wrist shot, restoring the Penguins’ two-goal lead at 4-2.
6:28: Helge Grans responded quickly for the Phantoms, scoring on a rebound to bring the score to 4-3.
10:45: The Phantoms applied intense pressure, but Blomqvist made a remarkable save on a point-blank shot by Jackson Cates.
18:30: With the Phantoms’ net empty, the Penguins blocked multiple shot attempts to preserve their lead.
19:59: The final buzzer sounded, sealing the Penguins’ 4-3 victory.
Player Stats
Avery Hayes: 1 goal, 2 assists
Sam Poulin: 1 goal, 1 assist, 1 fight (Gordie Howe hat trick)
Tristan Broz: 1 goal
Filip Kral: 1 goal, 1 assist
Joel Blomqvist (Penguins’ goalie): 31 saves on 34 shots
Parker Gahagen (Phantoms’ goalie): 25 saves on 29 shots
Game Stats
Total Shots: Penguins 34, Phantoms 34
Shots on Goal: Penguins 31, Phantoms 30
Power Plays: Penguins 2/3, Phantoms 1/2
Penalty Minutes: Penguins 6, Phantoms 8
Faceoff Wins: Penguins 45%, Phantoms 55%
Hits: Penguins 28, Phantoms 32
Blocks: Penguins 15, Phantoms 18
Giveaways: Penguins 12, Phantoms 10
Takeaways: Penguins 8, Phantoms 7
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