Credit: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/bbf72531-4e4a-4c31-a9fb-7289a0696b19.jpeg] Credit: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins] may not be taking part in the Stanley Cup playoffs this season. But there is some hope on the horizon for their AHL squad, and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/wbs-penguins-reach-40-wins-after-splitting-weekend-games-against-bears-monsters] are gearing up for their first test in the Calder Cup playoffs. On Wednesday, the WBS Penguins will play the first game of a best of three series against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, the AHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers]. The fourth-seeded WBS went 8-2-2 against the fifth-seeded Phantoms in the regular season, outscoring them 42-30. Whoever wins the best of three Atlantic Division series - which will take place Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday (if necessary) - will advance to either play the top-seeded Hershey Bears or the second-seeded Charlotte Checkers, which will depend on the result of the series between the third-seed Providence Bruins and the sixth-seed Springfield Thunderbirds. The higher seed will take on Charlotte in the second round, while the lower seed will take on Hershey. Both Charlotte and Hershey clinched a first-round bye. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Here is the schedule for WBS's first-round series against the Phantoms: - Game 1: Wednesday, Apr. 23rd at 7:05 p.m. ET (Mohegan Arena in WBS) - Game 2: Friday, Apr. 25th at 7:05 p.m. ET (PPL Center in Lehigh Valley) - Game 3: Sunday, Apr. 27th at 6:05 p.m. ET (Mohegan Arena in WBS)* * - if necessary 2025 Calder Cup Playoff Bracket [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/3cc7ea3e-18a1-4c10-9b38-3b0afab0391d.jpeg] 2025 Calder Cup Playoff Bracket -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- News and notes: - For WBS, keep an eye on forward Ville Koivunen - a late-season NHL call-up for the Pittsburgh Penguins - who was the team's leading scorer with 21 goals and 56 points in 63 games. Despite missing the final few weeks of the AHL regular season, the 21-year-old Finnish prospect finished third among AHL rookies in points and seventh in goals. - Lehigh Valley's leading scorer during the regular season was 25-year-old Swedish forward Olle Lycksell, who registered 19 goals and 44 points in 43 games. - The goaltending tandem for WBS will be Joel Blomqvist and Taylor Gauthier. Gauthier made his first AHL start of the season in WBS's regular season finale, earning a 3-0 shutout win [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/wbs-penguins-reach-40-wins-after-splitting-weekend-games-against-bears-monsters]. Blomqvist figures to get the bulk of the runway, and he posted a .914 save percentage to go along with an 8-7-3 record. - WBS forward Emil Bemstrom - who had 23 goals and 48 points in 43 games for WBS - sustained an injury that required surgery, per Penguins GM/POHO Kyle Dubas. Bemstrom is out for the remainder of the playoffs. WBS Penguins Reach 40 Wins After Splitting Weekend Games Against Bears & Monsters [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/e50ccec8-d2c0-4c2a-b2c6-11a9ffc1cc4f.jpeg] WBS Penguins Reach 40 Wins After Splitting Weekend Games Against Bears & Monsters The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are headed off to the Calder Cup playoffs following a 3-0 shutout victory over the Cleveland Monsters on Saturday night, Taylor Gauthier's first in the AHL. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/wbs-penguins-reach-40-wins-after-splitting-weekend-games-against-bears-monsters] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwquDfCA?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!
