The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins wrapped up their Canadian road trip with a thrilling 4-3 victory over the Toronto Marlies at Coca-Cola Coliseum. The Penguins (39-16-6-2) built an impressive four-goal lead early on, only to fend off a spirited third-period comeback attempt by Toronto.
Rafaël Harvey-Pinard was the star of the night, netting two goals, including the decisive game-winner. Avery Hayes and Aidan McDonough also shone brightly, each tallying two points in the first period.
The Penguins struck first on the power play. Five minutes into the game, Hayes received a slick pass from Rutger McGroarty and fired a wrist shot over the glove of Toronto's Dennis Hildeby.
Hayes then dazzled with a behind-the-back drop pass to Harvey-Pinard, setting up the Penguins' second goal. McDonough added to the lead with a blistering shot that ricocheted off the post and in, closing the first period at 3-0.
Harvey-Pinard extended the lead to four by capitalizing on a rebound midway through the second period. However, Toronto quickly responded when Ben King scored on a rebound after Joel Blomqvist denied Brandon Buhr's breakaway attempt.
The third period saw a resurgence from the Marlies. Alex Nylander capitalized on a power play to bring Toronto back into the game.
His shot was initially blocked by Blomqvist, but a fortunate bounce off a defender saw it cross the goal line. Nylander struck again later, cutting the Penguins' lead to just one goal.
With the clock winding down, Toronto called a timeout and pulled Hildeby for an extra attacker. Despite the pressure, Blomqvist and the Penguins' defense held firm, blocking shots and making crucial saves to secure the win.
Blomqvist finished with 17 saves, while Hildeby managed 13 for the Marlies.
Looking ahead, the Penguins return home to face the Laval Rocket on Saturday, Mar. 28, for a special Star Wars Night at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza. The puck drops at 6:05 p.m.
Fans can explore season-ticket packages for the 2025-26 season, including various seating plans and corporate partnerships. Individual tickets are available through Ticketmaster, the arena box office, or by contacting the Penguins’ front office.
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