Prospects Of The Week
Broz Powers Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Offense
Despite a disappointing end to a promising 2024-25 AHL season for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Tristan Broz impressed in the postseason with a goal and three points in two games on only four Wilkes-Barre/Scranton goals. Broz recorded a secondary assist on the first Penguins goal in a 5-2 loss to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Wednesday and scored a goal and set up another in a 3-2 loss on Friday. The 2021 second round pick finished a solid rookie season eighth on the team with 37 points in 59 games.
Brunicke Scores First AHL Goal In Calder Cup Playoffs
Another bright spot in the otherwise dim postseason, Harrison Brunicke scored for the first time at the AHL level, recording two points in the two games, and finished with a +2 plus/minus rating. The 2024 second round pick set up a late goal in a 5-2 loss to Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Wednesday and gave the Penguins a brief 2-1 lead with a goal on Friday. Brunicke joined Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at the conclusion of the WHL season, leading blueliners on the Kamloops Blazers and finishing sixth overall with 30 points despite only playing 41 games and recorded two assists in 10 AHL games.
Hayes Keeps Scoring In The Postseason
Avery Hayes scored the first goal of the postseason for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a 5-2 loss to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Wednesday after a strong sophomore season in the AHL. The undrafted forward earned a contract with the NHL team in March and finished the regular season tied for the team lead with 23 goals and finished fifth with 42 points in 60 games.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Suffers Similar Fate As Last Season, Bows Out Of Playoffs In Two Losses To Lehigh Valley
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins fell flat in the opening game of the playoffs, falling behind 5-0 in a 5-2 loss to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Avery Hayes spoiled the shutout with under five minutes to play in regulation off Samuel Poulin and Tristan Broz assists, and Gabe Klassen tacked on a goal off Harrison Brunicke and Filip Kral assists. Joel Blomqvist surrendered three goals on 26 shots and left the game due to injury after two periods. Taylor Gauthier started the third period and made five saves on seven shots.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton never really gained control in a 3-2 Game 2 loss on Friday night. Broz scored on the power play to tie the game 1-1 late in the second period, and Brunicke scored to give the Penguins a brief 2-1 lead in the third, but the Phantoms tied the game 1:28 later and took the lead again with two minutes remaining in regulation to win the game and the series. Ville Koivunen two assists and Boris Katchouk and Broz tacked on helpers. Sergei Murashov finished with 28 saves on 31 shots.
Wheeling Nailers Battle Until The End, Lose Opening Round Series In Five Games To Norfolk
After two consecutive 4-0 losses, the Wheeling Nailers finally scored a goal in the ECHL Playoffs, albeit in a 5-1 loss to the Norfolk Admirals in Game 3 to go down 0-3 in the series. Matthew Koopman scored shorthanded off a Matthew Quercia assist. Sergei Murashov surrendered four goals on 21 shots in the loss.
The Nailers fought off elimination with a 4-1 win in Game 4. Mathieu De St. Phalle scored twice, and Cole Tymkin and Eli Lieffers added goals. Jordan Martel, Quercia, Chase Pietila, Philip Waugh, Jack Beck, Brent Johnson, Koopman, and Louie Roehl all recorded assists, and Jaxon Castor turned away 29 shots in the win.
Wheeling fell short again in a 5-2 Game 5 loss, ending a promising season early. David Jankowski and Beck scored. Kyle Jackson recorded two assists, and Chase Pietila and Gabe Klassen added helpers. Taylor Gauthier, despite some big saves throughout the game, surrendered five goals on 26 shots in the loss.