The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins turned a penalty-filled afternoon into a 6-3 win over the Cleveland Monsters on Saturday at Rocket Arena, and rookie forward Mikhail Ilyin was right in the middle of everything.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton turned four of its eight power-play chances into goals, a huge edge in a game that featured special teams almost nonstop. Ilyin finished with a career-best four points, scoring once and setting up three others as the Penguins improved to 3-2-1-0.
The day started with Cleveland putting Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on the penalty kill just 10 seconds into the game, but the Penguins survived that opening test and struck first. Hugh McGing buried a shot from the top of the left circle at 2:54 for his first goal in Black and Gold.
Avery Hayes made it 2-0 midway through the first period with a power-play goal, his third of the weekend and fifth of the season. Ilyin earned one of his two primary assists on the play.
Cleveland got one back just before the first intermission, with Oiva Keskinen scoring on the power play in the final 6.4 seconds. His wrister from the blueline found its way through traffic and past Taylor Gauthier.
The Penguins answered quickly in the second period. Melvin Fernström finished off a loose puck at 12:50 to make it 3-1, and Rutger McGroarty added another power-play goal 53 seconds later. Ilyin then added to his big afternoon in the third, scoring on the man advantage 28 seconds into the period to complete his four-point performance.
The penalty parade only grew in the final frame, giving both teams repeated chances with the extra skater. Luca Pinelli and Steven Lorentz each scored power-play goals for Cleveland to trim the margin to two, but McGroarty struck again on the power play to lock in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s six-goal total and give him three points on the day.
When the final horn sounded, the teams had combined for 23 minor penalties. Cleveland finished 3-for-9 on the power play, while the Penguins were 4-for-8.
Gauthier picked up the win with 27 saves. Evan Gardner took his first loss of the season after stopping 26 shots.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton returns home Friday, Oct. 23 against the Belleville Senators in its first 28/22 News Fan Control Friday of the season. Select draft beers will be available for $2 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. courtesy of Coors Light, and postgame player autographs are scheduled, presented by Northeast Music Center. It will also be a Kids Free Friday, with children 12 and under admitted free with the purchase of an adult ticket.
Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza.
Season-ticket packages for the Penguins’ 2026-27 regular season, including Full-Season, 22-game, 12-game, Flexbook and Premium Seating plans, as well as Corporate Partnership opportunities are available by contacting the Penguins at (570) 208-7367. Individual-game tickets are available at wbspenguins.com, at the Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza box office or by calling the Penguins’ front office at (570) 208-7367.
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