Hershey created late chances in Game 1 but could not convert. Now the focus shifts to execution, special teams, and a stronger start in Game 2.

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — The Hershey Bears return to Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza tonight (6 pm, FOX43.2 Antenna TV) looking to even their Atlantic Division Semifinals series against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at one game apiece. The Penguins took Game 1 by a 4-2 score on Thursday.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton controlled much of Thursday’s opener, jumping out to a 1-0 lead just 3:01 into the first period on an Atley Calvert goal. Aidan McDonough and Owen Pickering extended the lead to 3-0 in the second before Ilya Protas got Hershey on the board. Henrik Rybinski pulled the Bears to within one at 1:09 of the third, but Avery Hayes sealed it with an empty-net goal.



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Rybinski said the Bears had chances to tie it late and believe they can hang with the Penguins over a full series.

“I think it was a coin flip,” Rybinski said. “I think we had chances, and if we’re putting those chances in, that could be the difference in the game, so we’re just going to have the same mindset going into Game 2.”

Head coach Derek King said he liked what he saw from his team overall, but identified one clear priority heading into tonight.

“We’ve just got to figure out a way to beat [Murashov],” King said.

The Bears will need their power play to come alive to do that. Hershey is 0-for-5 on the man-advantage through the first three games of the 2026 postseason. During the regular season, the Bears went 6-for-35 against the Penguins with Ilya Protas and Ivan Miroshnichenko each scoring three power-play goals. Only one of those came at Mohegan Arena, when Miroshnichenko tallied in a 5-1 win on April 15.

The Penguins get reinforcements tonight after two players served one-game suspensions. Forward Tanner Howe, a 2024 Pittsburgh draft pick, was suspended for a cross-checking incident in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s regular-season finale, and Bokondji Imama received an automatic one-game suspension for accumulating a second game misconduct for abuse of officials. Imama led all Penguins players with 21 penalty minutes in nine games against Hershey during the regular season.

One historical note worth watching: in all six meetings this season between these two teams at Mohegan Arena, the team that scored first went on to win.

History gives the Bears reason for some confidence despite dropping the opener. Hershey owns a 31-32 record in Game 2s after losing the first game of a playoff series. The last time it happened, in the 2019 Atlantic Division Semifinals against Bridgeport, the Bears recovered to win the series in five games.

Captain Aaron Ness could reach a milestone tonight as well. He needs one appearance to tie Bears Hall of Famer Ralph Keller for the most postseason appearances by a defenseman in team history, with 74.

2026 Calder Cup Playoffs Atlantic Division Semifinals Schedule | Hershey vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton:

Game 1 | Thursday, April 23 | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton wins 4-2Game 2 – Saturday, May 2 at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton | 6 p.m. FOX43.2 Antenna TVGame 3 – Tuesday, May 5 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton | 7 p.m.Game 4* – Thursday, May 7 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton | 7 p.m.Game 5* – Saturday, May 9 at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton | 6 p.m. FOX43.2 Antenna TV


Special Teams

HER PP: 0.0% – 0/3 in series (20th in AHL) | HER PK: 83.3% (14th in AHL)
WBS PP: 25.0% – 1/4 in series (5th in AHL) | WBS PK: 100.0% (6th in AHL)


Officials

Referees: Ben Betker (42) & Adam Tobias (16)
Linespersons: Brandon Grillo (75) & Chris Martenet (92)


How to Watch

Tonight’s game is on FOX43.2 Antenna TV. Live coverage from Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza begins at 6 p.m. Zack Fisch, Garrett Mitchell, and Todd Sadowski will have the call.  You can find Antenna TV on WPMT 43.2 over the air or on these cable channels:
Xfinity Ch. 247 and 1178
Verizon FiOS Ch. 463
Blue Ridge Ephrata Ch. 91
Blue Ridge Newberry/Duncannon Ch. 88