Calder Cup Playoffs: Springfield Staves Off Elimination, Forces Game 5 Against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

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Wilkes-Barre/Scranton had a chance to eliminate Springfield in Game 4 of the Atlantic Division Final on Thursday night, but it wasn't meant to be.

It looked like WBS took the lead in the first period with a goal by Harrison Brunicke but it was disallowed due to goalie interference. The officials felt that Gabe Klassen made contact with Springfield goaltender Georgii Romanov and took the goal away.

However, Inside AHL Hockey's Tony Androckitis noticed via replay that it was Romanov who swept Klassen's leg at the top of the crease.


Take a look:

Complete & utter nonsense from AHL officiating yet again in these 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs.

Thunderbirds goalie Georgii Romanov sweeps the leg of Gabe Klassen atop the crease & they call off the goal due to goaltender interference.

Maybe @DarrenDreger can ask the AHL about it. pic.twitter.com/zQ7fdN5aPM

— Tony Androckitis* (@TonyAndrock) May 21, 2026

WBS lost all the momentum after that disallowed goal and couldn't get back to its game. Springfield eventually opened the scoring in the second period, thanks to Dillon DUbe. He scored a power play goal with less than four minutes left in the middle frame.

Springfield scores on the power play, and for the first time this series the Thunderbirds have a lead.

Dillon Dube able to keep a puck inside the zone, and he scores his 5th of the postseason.@InsideAHLHockeypic.twitter.com/74sHy2FNNk

— Tony Androckitis* (@TonyAndrock) May 22, 2026

The Thunderbirds took that one-goal lead into the third period before making it 2-0 with 13:12 left.

The Penguins couldn't get anything going for the rest of the game and ultimately lost by that same score. The series is now even at two games all, meaning there will be a winner-take-all Game 5 back in WBS on Saturday.

Whoever wins Saturday's game will advance to the Eastern Conference Final. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. ET.



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