Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs Springfield Thunderbirds 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs: Atlantic Division Finals Game 5
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins advance to the Eastern Conference final after defeating the Springfield Thunderbirds 8-1 in a winner-takes-all Game 5 on Saturday night at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza.
The scoring opened up at 3:56 in the first when Tristan Broz would pot his 2nd of the postseason. About 4 minutes later, after having a goal disallowed in the previous game, Penguins defenseman Harrison Brunicke would put the Pens up by 2. A power-play tally at 16:17 would put the Penguins up by 3 as Tristan Broz would net his second of the game and second of the period. Rafael Harvey-Pinard scores his first of the playoffs to put the Penguins up 4 to end the first period.
The start of the second period began with Springfield pulling Georgii Romanov for Vadim Zherenko after 20 minutes of play, allowing 4 goals on 12 shots. Atley Calvert joins the scoring at 17:21, putting Wilkes-Barre/Scranton by 5.
Springfield starts the third period by going on the penalty kill. The Penguins would use the man advantage to go up by 6 with a power-play goal scored by Ville Koivunen at 2:52. Koivunen’s goal was assisted by Bill Zonnon, securing his first AHL assist and 4th point in 5 games played. A shutout bid for Sergei Murashov would come to an end at 4:30 of the third when Akil Thomas would put the Thunderbirds on the board. At 8:23, the Penguins and Thunderbirds would play at 4-on-5. Springfield pulls for the extra attacker, but that doesn’t stop Rafael Harvey-Pinard from scoring his second of the night and returning the Pens' lead to 6. Ville Koivunen joins the 2-goal club at 10:42.
Romanov wrapped up his Calder Cup Playoffs with a 7-4 Record with a 1.88 Goals Against and .939 Save Percentage. To wrap up the series Penguins goaltender Sergei Murashov posted a 1.55 goals-against average and a .949 save percentage in the five games.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton awaits the winner of the Toronto Marlies vs. the Cleveland Monsters series wrapping up on Sunday night.
Lexis Woodard / Olde City Sports Network
Photos Credit / Melissa Molyneux / Olde City Sports Network
