BELLEVILLE, Ont. – The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins went a perfect three-for-three in the shootout to defeat the Belleville Senators, 2-1, on Friday night at CAA Arena.
With the win, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (38-16-6-2) clinched its spot in the 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs. The victory did not come easy though, as the Pens and Sens went back and forth in a tight-checking contest all night. Several golden opportunities to win the game in overtime were thwarted by Belleville, but the Penguins persevered thanks to their three starry shootout attempts.
Aidan McDonough shot first, tucking a backhander over the Senators’ goalie. After Belleville also scored on its opening bid, Gabe Klassen converted with a slick move through the five-hole. Avery Hayes, in his first game back from the NHL, smoothly showcased several quick dekes before lifting a forehand shot to the back of the net for the win.
McDonough kickstarted the scoring with his team-leading seventh power-play goal two minutes into the second period. McDonough muscled his way through a Belleville penalty killer before ripping a wicked shot under the crossbar.
Belleville buried a two-on-none rush with Tyler Boucher tying the game with 4:38 left before the second intermission.
The Penguins staved off back-to-back penalty kills in the third period to stretch the game to OT. Joel Blomqvist and Leevi Meriläinen then traded clutch stops in the sudden-death session. Blomqvist denied the league’s leading goal-scorer, Arthur Kaliyev, on multiple occasions, and Meriläinen thwarted Hayes on two separate breakaways.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton secured the win (and its playoff berth) with its first three-for-three outing in the shootout since Oct. 19, 2019.
Blomqvist finished with 28 saves through regulation and overtime, and turned aside one of Belleville’s two shootout attempts. Meriläinen went
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton concludes its Canadian road trip against the Toronto Marlies on Sunday, Mar. 22. Game time between the Penguins and Marlies is set for 4:00 p.m. at Coca-Cola Coliseum.
The Penguins return to home ice on Saturday, Mar. 28 to take on the Laval Rocket for Star Wars Night. Puck drop is slated for 6:05 p.m. at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza.
