The danger of losing Game 1 in the First Round of the Calder Cup playoffs is that you're just one loss away from elimination. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton finds itself on the brink after suffering a 5-2 loss last night to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
Joel Blomqvist, while his effort was not awful, was pulled for backup goalie Taylor Gauthier to start the 3rd period, but the reason why Blomqvist's effort feels less than satisfactory was the lack of offensive pressure by the Baby Penguins.
With 10 minutes left in the game, Lehigh Valley was up 5-0. Avery Hayes, WBS' top-line right winger, ended the shutout to get the Baby Penguins on the board, and Gabe Klassen added on the extra tally in the final 90 seconds to make the score look a little less lopsided.
Avery Hayes scores our first of the playoffs pic.twitter.com/1Hpz7znL83
— x - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) April 24, 2025
Regardless, it's not a good showing on home ice, and now the team has to go on the road in hopes to force a decisive Game 3 at home.
WBS season to date
The Baby Penguins enjoyed their best regular season since 2017-18, which was the final year of a golden era of WBS hockey. They collected 87 points this season with a 39-24-8-1 record, finishing 3rd in the Atlantic Division.
The absence of Rutger McGroarty certainly doesn't help their cause, and that could be a reason why their offensive presence was lacking. However, these are the moments that are supposed to develop young prospects.
Big games at any level are crucial to development. Should WBS be knocked out tomorrow night in Game 2, opportunity for additional experience is lost.
On the other side of the coin, this group now gets the chance to learn what it's like to play in an elimination game. How you prepare, play, and operate when your season is on the line is one of the most important conditioning exercises for a young player.
Need a day from Ville and Brunicke
When Ville Koivunen returned from his excellent cup of coffee with the NHL Penguins, the game slowed down to a crawl for him back in the AHL.
He was held off the scoresheet in Game 1, but look for him to be a notable presence in Game 2.
I'd like to see he and Harrison Brunicke specifically be forces on the ice in these lose-or-go-home games. Brunicke recorded an assist last night on the Klassen goal in the dying seconds, and he was a +1 despite the five goals from Lehigh Valley.
Defensively, the goals were not scored when the most important Penguins prospects were on the ice, but the next step for these young studs is to take over the game when their teammates can't pick up the slack.
Game 2 is tomorrow at 7:05pm.