The 2025-2026 Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins raced out of the gates this season, ultimately finishing second in the Atlantic division with 101 points on the year. The young team had many breakout seasons, proving a strong development effort by the Penguins front office, and a stable future for Pittsburgh.

After handling their rival Hershey Bears in just four games, the Penguins faced a red-hot Springfield Thunderbirds team, who knocked off the league-leading Providence Bruins in a tremendous upset. The team faced a challenge but came out on top of their second round matchup in five games, dominating game five with an 8-1 victory, clinching their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since the 2013-2014 season.

This round, the Penguins immediately faced adversity, dropping the first two games, including a game two overtime loss on a fluke bounce. The little Pens backs were against the wall heading to Toronto, and they responded strong, winning both on the road, bringing it back home tied.

Game four started tough, falling down 2-0 at the end of the first period, including a brutal turnover from Sergei Murashov. The Pens would respond early, and often in the 2nd period, burying three goals to put them up at the second intermission. Scooter Brickey got the momentum rolling, netting his first career AHL goal. He was followed by a blue line wrist shot with eyes off the stick of Chase Pietila to even up the game. The Pens would take the lead off the back of Gabe Klassen, breaking the tie with just fifty-one seconds left in the second period.

Toronto responded late in the third, knotting the game up at three a piece. Despite the pressure of falling down 3-1 in the series, forward Rutger McGroarty capitalized on a brutal turnover from Easton Cowan, burying the game winner with three minutes left.

Looking ahead, the Pens get a pivotal game five on the road, looking to win three straight games across the border. Most importantly, a win would put them just one win away from a berth in the Calder Cup Finals, a feat the team hasn’t accomplished since the 07-08 season. The forecheck must be strong, and it will be key to remain disciplined in these upcoming matchups, as nearly every game this series has had multiple scrums. One bad penalty is trouble, as the Marlies have been stunning on the man advantage this playoffs, converting at a strong 23.4%.

Teams Remaining

PP%

PK%

Chicago Wolves

22.7%

80.8%

Colorado Eagles

21.7%

87.5%

Toronto Marlies

23.4%

83%

Wilkes-Barre Scranton

15.8%

80%

The baby Pens have had a strong season already, facing adversity throughout injuries, call ups to Pittsburgh, and playoff troubles. So far, this roster has come up big when it has needed to, being dominant in clinching games and clutch moments, but this Marlies team is much deeper. They will need to execute their fast-paced gameplan to come out on top, bringing a 3-2 back home to Mohegan Arena. The AHL Playoffs is the time to figure out who you are, and the baby Pens are ready to shine.

Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow