Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s Atley Calvert (84) celebrates after scoring the first goal during Game 1 of the Atlantic Division Semifinals on April 30. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s Rafaël Harvey-Pinard takes a shot during Game 2 of the AHL Calder Cup Atlantic Division semifinals at Mohegan Arena on Saturday, May 2, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s Rutger McGroarty (2) takes the puck down the ice during Game 2 of the AHL Calder Cup Atlantic Division semifinals at Mohegan Arena on Saturday, May 2, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
The ‘Pens and fans celebrate after scoring the first point during the first game of the 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs on Thursday, April 30, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s Mikhail Ilyin (70) takes the puck down the ice during Game 2 of the AHL Calder Cup Atlantic Division semifinals at Mohegan Arena on Saturday, May 2, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Show Caption
1 of 5
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s Atley Calvert (84) celebrates after scoring the first goal during Game 1 of the Atlantic Division Semifinals on April 30. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins advanced to the Atlantic Division Final of the AHL’s Calder Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2016 after defeating the Hershey Bears at the Giant Center in Game 4 of the divisional semifinals Thursday night.
After stealing a come-from-behind overtime win in Hershey in Game 3 on Tuesday, the Penguins closed out the best-of-5 series two nights later with a 4-1 win over their in-state rival, setting up a matchup against the Springfield Thunderbirds.
As evidenced all series long, the Penguins generated a balanced offensive attack, getting 13 goals in the four games from 11 skaters.
“I think everybody’s found a way to contribute this year and it’s kind of a next-man-up mentality,” Penguins coach Kirk MacDonald said. “I think that’s given us the road success because we just kind of go play.”
In Thursday’s Game 4, four Penguins scored in the 4-1 win, including two shorthanded goals against a Bears team that allowed just two shorthanded goals all year coming into the contest.
A crucial moment came in the second period Thursday night with Game 4 tied, 1-1, and Hershey on a power play.
A series of passes appeared to give Andrew Cristall an empty net to shoot at, but the Bears rookie forward hit the post, springing the Penguins up ice with defenseman Harrison Brunicke ultimately finishing off a rebound to put the Penguins ahead, 2-1.
“A lot of the stuff the coaching (staff) has been preaching is anytime you can jump in and you see a play developing like that, go attack. And that’s what I did,” Brunicke said. “Lucky enough I got it in. Big goal for us for sure.”
Combine the Penguins depth scoring with stellar goaltending from Sergei Murashov (3-1-0, 1.99 goals-against average, .937 save percentage), and it left their opponent with little room for error, even when the Penguins were shorthanded four times in the third period Thursday.
“You need your goalie to be your best player. You need him to make saves, and he did,” MacDonald said. “And our killers did a great job in front of him, and they were the difference-makers.”
In the Atlantic Division Final, the Penguins will face a formidable foe in Springfield, a team who caught fire after a mid-season coaching change and a late-season trade deadline shakeup.
The Thunderbirds fell flat in their opening game of the postseason against Charlotte, falling, 8-1, in Game 1 of the best-of-3 series before rallying for back-to-back wins to knock off the Checkers.
Springfield then took down the AHL’s top regular season team in four games in the Atlantic Division Semifinals to advance to face the Penguins, finishing off the 54-win Providence Bruins on Thursday night with a 1-0 overtime victory.
Still, the Penguins have home-ice advantage over every team remaining in the Calder Cup Playoffs besides the Grand Rapids Griffins, and are among the final eight teams in the AHL vying for a championship.
“It’s probably the most fun I’ve ever had. With this team, it’s so tight,” Brunicke said. “We have a chance to do something special here.”
Series schedule
Game 1: Tuesday, May 12: Springfield at Penguins, 7:05 p.m.
Game 2: Thursday, May 14: Springfield at Penguins, 7:05 p.m.
Game 3: Tuesday, May 19: Penguins at Springfield, 7:05 p.m.
*Game 4: Thursday, May 21: Penguins at Springfield, 7:05 p.m.
*Game 5: Saturday, May 23: Springfield at Penguins, 6:05 p.m.
* if necessary