UPDATE: The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins suffered a stunning defeat to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, losing 4-3 in a shootout on Sunday afternoon at the PPL Center in Allentown. This marks the Phantoms’ first victory over the Penguins this season, breaking a five-game losing streak against them.
The Penguins started strong, with Rafael Harvey-Pinard netting his sixth goal of the season, giving them an early 1-0 lead after the first period. Just three minutes into the second, Pinard struck again, doubling the Penguins’ advantage to 2-0. However, the Phantoms came roaring back, scoring two consecutive goals to tie the game at 2-2 by the end of the second period.
As the third period unfolded, Oscar Elkind scored his first goal of the season, lifting the Phantoms to a 3-2 lead. But the Penguins responded quickly as David Breazeale leveled the score once again, assisted by Chase Pietila and Pinard, making it 3-3 with less than a minute remaining in regulation.
The game moved to a shootout where the Phantoms’ Tucker Robertson and Cooper Marody successfully converted their shots, while the Penguins were unable to score on either of their attempts, sealing their fate in this thrilling encounter.
In goal, Joel Blomqvist performed admirably, stopping 35 of 38 shots against him. The Penguins now face a busy week ahead with two games scheduled. They return to action on December 31, 2025, at 7:05 p.m. against Charlotte at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza, before heading on the road to challenge Syracuse on Saturday at 7 p.m.
Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely as the Penguins look to rebound from this tough loss. Stay tuned for updates on their performance against Charlotte and Syracuse in their quest for victory.
