UPDATE: In a nail-biting finish, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins lost 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 after five unsuccessful attempts, highlighting a significant shift in their rivalry.
The action-packed game saw the Penguins take an early lead with a goal from Rafael Harvey-Pinard, marking his sixth goal of the year. Just three minutes into the second period, Pinard scored again, giving the Penguins a 2-0 advantage. However, the Phantoms fought back, quickly equalizing with two back-to-back goals, making the score 2-2 by the end of the second period.
A pivotal moment occurred when Oscar Elkind netted his first goal of the season, giving Lehigh Valley a brief lead. But the Penguins responded swiftly, with David Breazeale scoring off assists from Chase Pietila and Pinard, bringing the score to 3-3 as the game headed into overtime.
During the shootout, tension was palpable as both Tucker Robertson and Cooper Marody successfully converted their shots for the Phantoms. The Penguins, however, faltered, missing both of their attempts, sealing their fate with a disappointing loss.
Penguins’ goalie Joel Blomqvist started strong, stopping 35 of 38 shots throughout the match. The Penguins now face an urgent challenge as they prepare for two crucial games this week. They will close out 2025 at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza on Tuesday, December 31, 2023, at 7:05 PM against the Charlotte Checkers, followed by a road game against Syracuse on Saturday at 7 PM.
As the Penguins sit at a split record of 2-2 against Charlotte this season, they aim to regain momentum before heading into the new year. Fans are eager to see if they can overcome the recent setback against a fierce rival. Stay tuned for more updates as the Penguins look to bounce back!
