With just three games remaining on their regular season schedule, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins did themselves a few favors this past weekend in terms of their chances at better playoff positioning.
WBS first defeated the Springfield Thunderbirds, 4-1, on Saturday, followed by a commanding 5-2 win against the Bridgeport Islanders on Sunday. The back-to-back victories snapped a four-game losing streak and put them just two points behind the Charlotte Checkers for third place in the Atlantic Division.
And that means they are also just two points behind Charlotte for a highly coveted first-round bye, which is something five out of the last six Calder Cup champions have had the luxury of.
The matchup against Springfield didn't get off to the best start, as forward Jacob Hudson scored less than two minutes into the first period for the Thunderbirds. However, WBS - rebranded as the Carbondale UFOs for Saturday's game - responded quicky - and they responded twice quickly.
Forward Tristan Broz tallied his 19th goal of the season, and then, just 20 seconds later, Nolan Renwick - a recent NCAA signee out of the University of Maine - scored his first goal in professional hockey to put the Penguins up, 2-1.
And from there, the UFOs took over. Atley Calvert added a second-period goal for his eighth of the season, and Emil Bemstrom scored his 22nd to earn the 4-1 win for WBS/Carbondale.
And the Penguins took that momentum into their Sunday matinee matchup against the struggling Islanders, scoring three first-period goals. Center Gabe Klassen notched his first AHL goal to kick things off, and Renwick and Zach Gallant added on as well.
The Islanders did respond in the second period with two goals from Cam Berg and Ross Mitton to make it 3-2, and Bridgeport began to seize a little bit of momentum. But WBS took it back in the third, when Calvert notched an insurance tally and Avery Hayes added an empty-net goal for his 22nd of the season to seal the 5-2 victory.
The Penguins' final three games of the regular season could prove crucial - especially their first one on Wednesday against the Providence Bruins, who are tied with them in the standings. They will then face off against the division-leading Hershey Bears on Friday before their final game of the regular season on Saturday, when the Cleveland Monsters come to town.
WBS dropped their last two contests against the Monsters on Apr. 4 and 5.
Wheeling Nailers Secure Fourth Best Regular Season In Franchise History
The Wheeling Nailers, the ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, wrapped up their 2024-25 season by going 2-1-0 against the North Division champions, Trois-Rivieres Lions, this past weekend.
Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!