It was all systems go for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins this past week, victors in all three of their recent games. Even the weekend snowstorm in New York couldn’t stop WBS from getting in and out of Bridgeport with a shutout win.
A concise look of the games from WBSPenguins.com:
Wednesday, Feb. 18 – PENGUINS 7 at Springfield 2
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton scored a season-high seven goals in its decimation of Springfield, the team’s first win out of the All-Star break. Avery Hayes scored another hat trick, bringing him to 19 goals on the year. Ville Koivunen and Tanner Howe both had two-goal nights in front 30 saves by Sergei Murashov.Saturday, Feb. 21 – PENGUINS 4 vs. Bridgeport 3
The Penguins scored four-straight goals to outlast the Islanders on Military Appreciation Night presented by MetLife. After Bridgeport seized a 2-0 lead, Filip Hållander and Atley Calvet lit the lamp before the first intermission. Sebastian Aho gave Wilkes-Barre/Scranton the lead in the middle frame, and video review granted Koivunen the game-winner in the third.Sunday, Feb. 22 – PENGUINS 4 at Bridgeport 0
Murashov posted 25 saves for his third shutout of the season, while Wilkes-Barre/Scranton secured is third-straight win. Howe started the scoring early in the second period, followed by Connecticut native Phil Kemp. Third-period power-play goals by Gabe Klassen and Aidan McDonough put things to bed.
Just as good as winning is a lot of the names that Pittsburgh will want to see are doing well: Avery Hayes is back up in the NHL, Murashov notched another shutout, Rutger McGroarty had three assists, rookie Tanner Howe is up to seven points in eight games on the season, Ville Koivunen has four goals and six points in the last four games. Lots of encouraging signs from the farm.
Advertisement
Koivunen is one of the most intriguing players in the system, he’s having all sorts of AHL success (including 31 points in 25 games, making him third in the league in points/game). Koivunen’s limitations skating were evident in his NHL games this season, yet his AHL production is showing this is a player on the verge of another chance. It’s now his draft+5 season, he turns 23 over the summer. After accumulating seven NHL points in eight games playing out the stretch in Pittsburgh last season many thought that 2025-26 might have been Koivunen’s time to take that huge step forward. It hasn’t worked out that way to this point, but he looks very close. He might be the most intriguing case of seeing where a fast forward to 10 or 12 months to see where he’s at with his career.
For now, it’s Wilkes’s gain to have such a solid point-producer in the lineup. The Penguins remain in second place in their division, and although they’ve climbed to within two points of Providence, the Bruins have a commanding four-games in hand still to play.
Up next this week will be a tough task for WBS, they’re in Cleveland for two games on Friday and Saturday night. The Monsters are in third place in the North Division and carry an impressive 7-2-1 record over their last 10 games.
