Sergei Murashov Blocked 27 shots, Bill Zonon Wilkes-Barre/Scranton scored three goals in three games to beat Springfield 2-1 on Tuesday to take a 2-1 lead in the Atlantic Division finals.
Game 4 of the best-of-five series is Thursday night in Springfield.
Penguins score first Rutger McGroarty get lead pass Avery Hayes and defeat Georgi Romanov A shorthanded breakaway with 19.1 seconds left in the opening quarter.
After a scoreless second period, Zonon doubled the lead at 5:58 of the third period, scoring his third goal since the start of his career. Bokoima Feeding Zonon on a three-on-one rush, the 19-year-old fired a wrist shot past Romanov from 20 feet out to make it 2-0.
Zonon, Pittsburgh’s first-round pick (22nd overall) in the 2025 NHL Draft, joined Wilkes-Barre/Scranton from Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL) late in the conference semifinals and made his debut in the first game last week against Springfield.
Yuraj Pekasik With 3:39 left in regulation, he got around the Penguins defender and sneaked a shot under Murashov for his first playoff goal, putting the Thunderbirds on the board. Springfield tried to tie the game late in Game 2 when they scored two extra possessions to tie the game, but were unable to force overtime.
Murashov (5-2) improved his save percentage to .948 in the series, allowing five goals on 97 shots.
Romanov (6-3) finished with 30 saves on the night.
(WB/Scranton series lead, 2-1)
Game 1 – Tuesday, May 12 – WB/SCRANTON 2, Springfield 0
Game 2 – Thursday, May 14 – Springfield 4, WB/SCRANTON 3 (OT)
Game 3 – Tuesday, May 19 – WB/Scranton 2, SPRINGFIELD 1
Game 4 – Thursday, May 21 – WB/Scranton at Springfield, 7:05
*Game 5 – Saturday, May 23 – Springfield, WB/Scranton, 6:05
*If necessary…all times Eastern
