BREAKING: In a nail-biting finish, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins fell to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms 4-3 in a shootout on Sunday afternoon at the PPL Center in Allentown. This marks the Phantoms’ first victory over the Penguins this season, ending a five-game losing streak against their rivals.
The Penguins initially surged ahead with an early goal from Rafael Harvey-Pinard, who netted his sixth of the season to give his team a 1-0 lead after the first period. Just three minutes into the second period, he struck again, extending the Penguins’ advantage to 2-0. However, the Phantoms responded fiercely with back-to-back goals, leveling the score at 2-2 by the end of the second.
The excitement escalated when Oscar Elkind scored his first goal of the season, propelling Lehigh Valley to a 3-2 lead. The Penguins quickly retaliated, tying the game once more with David Breazeale‘s goal, assisted by Chase Pietila and Harvey-Pinard.
As the game progressed into a shootout, the tension reached its peak. The Phantoms’ Tucker Robertson and Cooper Marody successfully converted their shots, while the Penguins struggled, missing both attempts. The decisive moments left the Penguins with a bitter defeat.
Penguins’ starting goalie Joel Blomqvist showcased his skills, stopping 35 of 38 shots throughout the game, but ultimately it wasn’t enough to secure a win.
Looking ahead, the Penguins are poised for two crucial matchups this week as they close out 2025. They will face the Charlotte Checkers on Tuesday, December 31, at 7:05 p.m., at the Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza, followed by a road game against Syracuse on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. The Penguins currently hold a 2-2 record against Charlotte this season, while this will be their first encounter with the Crunch.
Fans are encouraged to stay tuned for updates as the Penguins aim to bounce back from this heart-wrenching loss and regain momentum in their upcoming games.
