PENGUINS LOSE THRILLER TO BEARS IN OT, 4-3

BOXSCORE

HERSHEY, Pa. – In their 300^th regular-season meeting, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Hershey Bears wrote another thrilling chapter in their storied rivalry. However, the Bears escaped the milestone matchup with a 4-3, overtime win on Friday night at GIANT Center.

The spirited, back-and-forth game saw Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (7-5-2-0) take a 3-1 lead in the third period, only for Hershey to come back and force an extra frame. Taylor Gauthier delivered another 43-save performance in net, but the Bears’ 47^th shot of the night foiled his bid at winning a sixth consecutive game.

The winning goal came 3:30 into overtime, when Gauthier charged out of his crease to thwart a Bears forward who was poised to win a footrace for a loose puck. Gauthier knifed the puck away from the attacker, but it was settled at the right-wing boards by Josh Dunne, who then flicked it into the open net.

The Penguins struck first, stringing together a series of passes that set up Hugh McGing for a power-play goal midway through the first period.

Bears rookie Lynden Lakovic broke loose for a tying tally four and a half minutes later.

Gauthier and the Penguins clamped down on a 57-second, five-on-three penalty kill late in the first period to keep the game tied at intermission.

Harrison Brunicke put Wilkes-Barre/Scranton back ahead, 2-1, out of a chaotic scene at the Hershey net-front. After the Penguins hit the post, players for both teams piled into the crease, lunging at the loose puck. The rebound eventually popped loose for Brunicke to step into a shot that he pounded past an unsuspecting Cal Petersen at 10:26 of the second period.

Hershey was awarded its fifth man advantage of the game early in the third period. Avery Hayes stripped veteran Johnny Brodzinski for a shorthanded breakaway, leading to Hayes’ team-leading eighth goal of the season.

The Bears received a spark when a turnover in the Penguins’ zone quickly resulted in Spencer Smallman snapping one to the back of the net at the seven-minute mark of the third. Bears captain Louie Belpedio sent a seeing-eye shot through traffic and behind Gauthier at 13:01, making it 3-3.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Hershey combined for nine shots during the frenzied overtime, until Dunne brought the game to an end.

The Penguins went 1-for-3 on the power play and 6-for-6 on the P.K. with a shorthanded goal, but still suffered their second loss of the week. Petersen earned his first career win over the Penguins by making 26 saves.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s next game is back on home ice tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 14, when the Hamilton Hammers come to town for their first-ever showdown with the Penguins. Saturday is also the Penguins’ Veterans Day Celebration presented by Workers For Warriors. Prior to the game, the Penguins are hosting a donation drive benefitting the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center. Fans are encouraged to bring new, unused winter clothes and/or non-perishable food items and donate them at the East Gate Entrance.

Puck drop for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Hamilton will be 6:05 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 also available by reaching out to the Penguins directly at (570) 208-7367. Individual-game tickets can also be purchased at wbspenguins.com, at the Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza box office or by calling the Penguins’ front office at (570) 208-7367.

Every minute of Penguins hockey can be watched online with the league’s streaming service, AHLTV on FloHockey. AHLTV on FloHockey provides its subscribers access to not just every regular-season and Calder Cup Playoff game for all 32 AHL teams, but also more than 21,000 hockey contests from other professional and junior leagues on FloHockey, as well as access to all other live event streams and replays across FloSports.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How many times have the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins played the Hershey Bears?

Friday, Nov. 13 marked the 300th regular-season game played between the Penguins and Bears. That 300-game figure does not include many epic, playoff series played between the two rivals. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Hershey still have 10 matchups remaining on their 2026-27 schedule.

2. How did Taylor Gauthier perform against Hershey?

Gauthier turned aside 43 of 47 shots on Friday, delivering another outstanding performance between the pipes. He recorded 43 saves for a shutout against the Bears just 12 days prior.

3. Which Penguins players scored against the Bears?

Hugh McGing opened the scoring with a first-period power-play goal, Harrison Brunicke restored the Penguins’ lead in the second, and Avery Hayes scored a shorthanded breakaway goal in the third. Hayes’ tally was his team-leading eighth of the season, and his league-leading third shorthanded strike of the year.

4. How effective were the Penguins’ special teams against Hershey?

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton delivered a strong special-teams performance, converting one of three power-play opportunities while going a perfect six-for-six on the penalty kill. The Penguins also added a shorthanded goal through Hayes, making their special-teams effort a significant positive despite the overtime defeat.

5. When do the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins play their next game?

The Penguins return home Saturday, Nov. 14, to host the Hamilton Hammers at 6:05 p.m. at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza. The historic first-ever meeting will also feature the team’s Veterans Day Celebration, presented by Workers For Warriors, and a donation drive benefiting the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center.