WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins fell in overtime to the Hamilton Hammers, 3-2, on Saturday night at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (7-5-3-0) received goals from rookies Bill Zonnon and Harrison Brunicke in the first period before Hamilton staged a late comeback. The Hammers, who had gone over 115 minutes without scoring a goal, found the back of the net twice in 34 seconds to tie the game. Pierre Engvall’s second goal of the comeback won the game for Hamilton 1:19 into OT.
Hamilton appeared to snatch the game’s first goal before the four-minute mark of the opening frame, but the Penguins successfully challenged for offside, taking the tally off the board.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton then blitzed the Hammers with shots, eventually breaking through when Zonnon stuffed a bid underneath the pads of Vítek Vaněček at 10:36. Brunicke stretched that lead to two 63 seconds later with a sinister wrist shot.
The Penguins ended the first period with 20 shots, a single-period, season-high. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton threw more rubber at Vaněček in the second stanza, but the veteran’s hard work kept Hamilton’s deficit at two.
Things reversed in the third period, where the Penguins were limited to a single-period, season-low two shots. Their two-goal lead stayed intact until Hamilton pulled its goalie for a six-on-four power play with more than five minutes remaining in regulation. Liam Foudy converted on that man advantage for the Hammers’ first goal of the night.
Engvall scored again 34 seconds later, evening the scoreboard at 2-2. Engvall later added the game-winner with his team-leading seventh goal of the season.
Joel Blomqvist made 28 saves while manning the Penguins’ crease. Vaněček got the win by recording 31 stops.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton completes its three-in-three weekend at home tomorrow, Sunday, Nov. 15, when the Lehigh Valley Phantoms come to town for their first visit of the season. Puck drop between the Penguins and Phantoms is set for 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.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. Who scored for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins against the Hamilton Hammers?
Rookies Bill Zonnon and Harrison Brunicke scored in the first period to give Wilkes-Barre/Scranton a 2-0 lead. Zonnon opened the scoring at 10:36 before Brunicke doubled the advantage just at 11:39.
2. How did the Penguins build an early lead against Hamilton?
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton controlled much of the opening period, recording a season-high 20 shots. After successfully challenging an early Hamilton goal for offside, the Penguins capitalized on their offensive pressure with goals from Zonnon and Brunicke.
3. How did Hamilton come back to defeat the Penguins?
After being held scoreless for more than 115 minutes across multiple games, Hamilton rallied with two goals in just 34 seconds during the third period. Liam Foudy scored on a six-on-four power play before Pierre Engvall tied the game and then later scored the overtime winner.
4. How did Joel Blomqvist perform against the Hamilton Hammers?
Blomqvist stopped 28 of 31 shots for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, helping the Penguins maintain their two-goal advantage deep into the third period before Hamilton’s late comeback forced overtime.
5. Who will the Penguins play next after their overtime loss to Hamilton?
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton will close out its three-in-three weekend on Sunday, Nov. 15, against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza, where the Penguins will look to bounce back on home ice.
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