Prospects Of The Week
Tanner Howe Records Four-Point Game In Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Win Over Lehigh Valley
Tanner Howe went without a point in five games before recording four points in a 5-1 win for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Sunday. Howe recorded primary assists on the first two Wilkes-Barre/Scranton goals, scored the third, and added a secondary assist on the fifth goal of the game. The 2024 second round pick recorded 46 points in 47 games between the Regina Pats and the Calgary Hitmen in the WHL last season after averaging over a point-per-game in the three previous seasons. Howe missed the first half of the 2025-26 season recovering from injury and now carries a respectable 14 points in 20 games as a rookie in the AHL.
Bill Zonnon Powers Blainville-Boisbriand Armada To 2-0 Series Lead In QMJHL Playoffs
Bill Zonnon helped the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada jump out to a 2-0 series lead in the opening round of the QMJHL playoffs with six points in the first two games of the first round. Zonnon recorded a pair of an assists in the opening game of the series and scored and added three more assists in the second game. The 2025 first round pick finished sixth on the team in the regular season with 46 points, but only played in 35 games–good for second on the team with a 1.31 point-per-game average. Blainville-Boisbriand added Zonnon pick prior to the start of the 2025-26 season to help push a stacked roster over the edge and compete for a QMJHL championship.
Mikhail Ilyin Leads Severstal Cherepovets In KHL Playoff Scoring
Despite falling behind 1-3 in the opening round of the KHL playoffs, Mikhail Ilyin led the team with three goals, including two goals in the only win of the series for the Severstal Cherepovets. The 2023 fifth round pick finished the regular season second on the team with 44 points in 68 games–a nice jump on 30 points in 64 game last season. Ilyin signed with the Penguins organization in the 2025 offseason and, if Cherepovets fails to come back in the series, look for Ilyin to get a look in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton as the AHL season winds down.
Down On The Farm
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Earn Weekend Wins Behind Strong Offense And Goaltending
Despite being outshot 34-24, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins managed a 3-1 win over the Laval Rocket on Saturday night. Avery Hayes scored twice and added a helper. Aidan McDonough scored the other Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins goal. Gabe Klassen and Finn Harding finished with assists. Sergei Murashov stopped 33 shots.
The Penguins jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period and led 5-1 with just under two minutes remaining in regulation in a 5-1 win over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Sunday. Tanner Howe scored and finished with four points. Joona Koppanen and Rafael Harvey-Pinard both scored and finished with three points. Chase Pietila and McDonough scored the other WIlkes-Barre/Scranton goals. Alex Alexeyev, Klassen, and Sebastian Aho all finished with assists. Joel Blomqvist stopped 30 of 21 shots in the win.
Wheeling Nailers Sweep Worcester Railers Behind Strong Goaltending Performances
Taylor Gauthier and the Wheeling Nailers blanked the Worcester Railers 4-0 on Friday night despite being outshot 34-23. Connor Lockhart led the offense with a goal and three assists. Tristan Thompson, Matthew Quercia, and Ryan McAllister scored the other Wheeling goals. Mathieu De St. Phalle recorded a pair of assists, and Blake Bennett finished with a helper.
Gauthier shined again the next night with 49 saves in a 2-1 win with the Nailers being outshot again, 50-27. Lockhart and De St. Phalle scored. Brent Johnson recorded a pair of assists. Alexander Kuqali and Brayden Edwards both finished with helpers.
The Nailers completed the sweep of Worcester on Sunday, winning 4-1 despite being outshot again, 38-22. Quercia scored twice. Edwards and Johnson scored the other Wheeling goals. Thompson finished with two assists. Armstrong, De St. Phalle, and Bennett all finished with helpers. Maxim Pavlenko stopped 37 shots in the win.