Wilkes-Barre/Scranton/Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Sergei Murashov (1) sprays water in the air against the Utah Mammoth during their game at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Source: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins beat the Hershey Bears 4-2 in Game One of the Atlantic Division Semifinals in 2026 Calder Cup Playoff.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton drew first blood early on when forward Atley Calvert scored from just outside the slot in the fourth minute. Despite the Penguins getting two opportunities at the power play that eventually proved unproductive, Hershey outshot Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 12-11 by the first intermission.
The Penguins came into the second period on a thunderous start, going on a 10-0 shooting run 10:19 minutes into the frame where they scored their second goal by forward Aidan McDonough and also what turned out to be the game-winning power play goal by defenseman Owen Pickering. Afterwards, Hershey outshot Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 9-2 for the rest of the frame with the first of these shots resulting in a goal by AHL All-Star forward Ilya Protas to cut the lead 3-1.
The Bears would continue with the momentum into the third period, scoring 69 seconds into frame off a breakaway attempt by forward Henry Rybinski. But that was as close as Hershey would come as an empty-netter by Avery Hayes sealed the game for the Penguins.
AHL All-Star and Penz goalie Sergei Murashov made 31 saves off 33 shots for a save percentage of 0.939.
Hershey goalie Clay Stevenson made 22 saves off 25 shots for a save percentage of 0.880.