The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins kicked off their 2026 Calder Cup Playoff run with a statement victory, taking down the Hershey Bears 4-2 in Game One of the Atlantic Division Semifinals. It was a night where grit, goaltending, and timely scoring stole the show—a perfect recipe for playoff hockey.
The Penguins wasted no time setting the tone. Just four minutes into the first period, forward Atley Calvert buried a shot from just outside the slot to give Wilkes-Barre/Scranton an early 1-0 lead. Despite two power-play opportunities later in the frame, the Penguins couldn't extend their advantage, and Hershey pushed back hard. The Bears outshot their hosts 12-11 by the first intermission, but the scoreboard still favored the home side.
If the first period was a feeling-out process, the second period was a full-on takeover. The Penguins exploded out of the gate, firing off 10 unanswered shots in the first 10:19 of the frame. That surge produced two critical goals: forward Aidan McDonough lit the lamp first, and then defenseman Owen Pickering connected on a power-play strike that would ultimately stand as the game-winner. Hershey finally found its footing late in the period, with AHL All-Star forward Ilya Protas cutting the deficit to 3-1. The Bears outshot the Penguins 9-2 for the remainder of the frame, but the damage was done.
Hershey came out flying in the third period, needing just 69 seconds to make it a one-goal game. Forward Henry Rybinski capitalized on a breakaway opportunity, and suddenly the Bears had all the momentum. But that was as close as they would get. The Penguins locked things down defensively, and forward Avery Hayes sealed the deal with an empty-net goal, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
The real star of the night? Penguins goaltender Sergei Murashov. The AHL All-Star was nothing short of spectacular, turning aside 31 of 33 shots for a sparkling .939 save percentage. His composure under pressure—especially during Hershey's third-period push—was the backbone of the win.
On the other end, Bears netminder Clay Stevenson made 22 saves on 25 shots, finishing with an .880 save percentage. While he kept his team in the game, the Penguins' offensive bursts proved too much to overcome.
Game One is in the books, and the Penguins have drawn first blood. With Murashov between the pipes and the offense clicking when it matters most, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton looks poised for a deep playoff run. The Bears, meanwhile, will need to regroup quickly if they hope to even the series.