UPDATE: In a thrilling showdown at the PPL Center in Allentown, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins suffered a heartbreaking 4-3 defeat to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms during a nail-biting shootout on Sunday afternoon. This marks the Phantoms’ first victory over the Penguins this season after five attempts.
The action was intense from the start, with the Penguins taking an early lead thanks to Rafael Harvey-Pinard, who netted his sixth goal of the season, putting them ahead 1-0 after the first period. Just three minutes into the second period, Harvey-Pinard struck again, extending the Penguins’ advantage to 2-0.
However, the Phantoms rallied back, scoring two consecutive goals to level the score at 2-2 heading into the third period. A pivotal moment came when Oscar Elkind scored his first goal of the season, giving Lehigh Valley a 3-2 lead. But the Penguins weren’t done yet; David Breazeale quickly equalized, with assists from Chase Pietila and Harvey-Pinard, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
As the game moved into the shootout, tension filled the arena. The Phantoms capitalized on both of their shootout attempts, with Tucker Robertson and Cooper Marody finding the back of the net. In contrast, the Penguins struggled, failing to convert on both of their attempts.
In goal, Joel Blomqvist showcased impressive skills, stopping 35 of 38 shots throughout the game, but it wasn’t enough to secure the win.
Looking ahead, the Penguins will face a busy week with two crucial games. They will host the Charlotte Checkers on Tuesday, December 31, 2025, at 7:05 p.m., before heading to Syracuse for a match on Saturday at 7 p.m.. Currently, the Penguins hold a 2-2 record against Charlotte this season, while this will be their first meeting with the Crunch.
Fans are eager to see how the Penguins bounce back after this narrow defeat. Stay tuned for more updates on their upcoming games and player performances.
