AHL Playoffs: Rutger McGroarty’s OT goal wins WBS a crucial Game 3

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The Wilkes-Barre Penguins won a pivotal Game 3 in their best-of-five series against Hershey last night. Rutger McGroarty came up huge by redirecting a goal in overtime to send WBS up 2 games to 1 over the Bears with a huge road win.

Rutger McGroarty wins it in OT!!! pic.twitter.com/OHIQaRETUn

— PenguinsSystem (@PensSystem) May 6, 2026

There were a lot of important and encouraging names for Pittsburgh all over this game. Avery Hayes tied the game with just 2:53 to play in the third period to send the game to overtime. Hayes also hit a post earlier and had nearly scored from the front of the net, nearly tying it up before later succeeding. Hayes’ six shots on goal was tops among all players on either team.

GOAL. Avery Hayes ties Game 3 with 2:53 left in regulation.

With Sergei Murashov off for the extra attacker, #WBSPens score 6-on-5 to tie this one up at 3-3.@InsideAHLHockeypic.twitter.com/b23zLfVtYg

— Tony Androckitis* (@TonyAndrock) May 6, 2026

Tristan Broz came up huge, as has been his calling card from scoring a NCAA championship OT goal, by producing three assists on the night. Ville Koivunen chipped in two helpers in the win as well.

Harrison Brunicke had another active night with an assist, three shots and a close call for a goal after activating in the offensive zone.

Nice move at the offensive blue line by Harrison Brunicke, and he takes it to the net before hitting the short side post in the final minute of the 2nd period.@InsideAHLHockeypic.twitter.com/hdzej7CZBj

— Tony Androckitis* (@TonyAndrock) May 6, 2026

Brunicke’s assist started a sequence for Broz to setup Mikhail Ilyin for the 20-year old’s first goal in North America.

GOAL. #WBSPens extend their lead on a tic-tac-toe passing display that ends with Mikhail Ilyin zipping one past Clay Stevenson.

Harrison Brunicke to Tristan Broz to Mikhail Ilyin.

2-0 WBS 6:16 into the 1st period.@InsideAHLHockeypic.twitter.com/3q6DgGgynA

— Tony Androckitis* (@TonyAndrock) May 5, 2026

Ilyin’s goal had Wilkes up to an early 2-0 lead, which they would eventually fritter away and require Hayes’ late goal to send the game to overtime.

Sergei Mursahov made 26 saves on 29 shots, including a few clutch stops when the team needed it, add him to the list with Ilyin, Brunicke, Hayes and Koivunen as players that Pittsburgh will be happy to see shining in a very important point of this playoff series.

On this night, no one will get more shine than McGroarty for the winning goal that pushed the Penguins to win the pivotal Game 3. They now have the opportunity to finish the series off against the Bears on Thursday night’s Game 4 in Hershey. If necessary, Game 5 would be back in WBS.

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