The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins had the game in hand twice, then watched it slip away late in a 4-3 loss to the Utica Comets on Friday night at NBT Bank Arena.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton opened the scoring just 2:46 into the night when rookie Melvin Fernström snapped a wrist shot over the glove of 15-year veteran David Rittich. But Utica answered two minutes later, with Lenni Hämeenaho finishing a breakaway to tie it at 1-1.
The Penguins punched back on their first short-handed opportunity of the first period. Avery Hayes picked off a puck in the Penguins’ zone, accelerated through the neutral ice and into the slot, then buried a shot over Rittich’s glove to make it 2-1. The goal stretched Hayes’ season-opening point streak to seven games and gave him his 100th AHL point.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton built the lead to 3-1 in the second period when Atley Calvert fed Bill Zonnon for a one-touch shot from between the hashmarks at 5:43. That cushion didn’t last long. Utica turned the game around with two goals in eight seconds of game time, first on a Ryan Schmelzer redirection from the point and then on a Shane Lachance blast that went bar-down past Joel Blomqvist before the middle frame hit the 14-minute mark.
From there, the teams settled into a 3-3 standoff until the closing seconds. Then Dmitry Osipov broke the tie with 30.8 seconds remaining in regulation, giving the Comets their first lead of the night. The Penguins used a timeout immediately after the goal, but they didn’t have enough time to answer.
Rittich and Blomqvist each finished with 20 saves.
The Penguins are back in action Sunday, Oct. 30, when they visit the Hershey Bears for the first of 12 meetings between the teams this season. Puck drop is set for 5:00 p.m. at GIANT Center.
Their next home date comes against Utica again on Tuesday, Nov. 10, which will be the Penguins’ first Winning Weekday of the season. If they win, fans in attendance will receive a free ticket to the team’s next mid-week home game. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza.
In Other News...
Sidney Crosby Sent A Clear Message About What Penguins Still Lack
Sidney Crosby was the first Penguins skater on the ice for practice, using the extra time after a recent overtime loss to work on his skills before the full team session began. It was a small detail, but a telling one for a club still searching for steadier footing. Crosby spoke about wanting more consistency and about the need to sharpen his game from night to night, a familiar message from a captain who knows Pittsburgh cannot afford too many uneven stretches.
The Penguins then kept the same lines and pairings in practice as they turned the page toward their next game in Montreal, a sign the coaching staff is not rushing into changes just yet. There was also another notable skater on the ice before practice, adding to the sense that this was a day built around fine-tuning rather than overhaul. For a team trying to turn close losses into points, the bigger question is whether the current mix can provide the consistency Crosby is pushing for. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins Already Have A Goalie Dilemma They Can't Ignore
The Penguins are already navigating a goaltending balance that could shape the early part of the 2026-27 season, with Arturs Silovs emerging as the steadier option while Sergei Murashov waits for a clearer opening. Pittsburgh is trying to sort out how to handle two young netminders who both need development time, but who also cant both get the kind of workload they want if the team keeps leaning on one more than the other.
Coach Dan Muse has made it clear the usage will stay fluid, with decisions tied to performance and development needs rather than a fixed rotation. For the Penguins, that creates an immediate test of patience and timing, because the organization wants to find the right long-term answer in net without letting either goalie sit too long or lose momentum in the process. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins Prospects Let A Winnable Game Slip Away Late
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins had a game in hand against Utica and let it slip away late, falling 4-3 after building a lead and then watching the Comets reel off three straight goals. Melvin Fernstrm and Avery Hayes supplied the offense for Pittsburghs affiliate, while both goaltenders, David Rittich and Joel Blomqvist, finished with 20 saves in a contest that looked winnable for much of the night.
Hayes was a bright spot beyond the score sheet, scoring shorthanded and continuing a strong run of form for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. For a prospect group that needs to bank points and learn how to close out tight games, the finish was a frustrating one, especially after the Penguins had put themselves in position to leave with a result. [Read more 🡒]