Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Clinches Playoff Berth In Calder Cup Playoffs

[ASFN Admin]

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are officially headed back to the Calder Cup Playoffs.

They needed a point against the Belleville Senators on Friday night to clinch a spot and got two, winning 2-1 in a shootout. Aidan McDonough scored in regulation for WBS before Avery Hayes scored the shootout winner.

Hayes had a really nice move in the shootout, going backhand, forehand, tucking the puck under the pad of the Senators' goaltender.

AVERY HAYES WITH A NASTY SHOOTOUT GOAL.

After getting stopped on two breakaways in OT, Hayes makes it count in the shootout.#WBSPens win in the shootout in Belleville to clinch their playoff spot with an !@InsideAHLHockeypic.twitter.com/AhjbCEjLcj

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

This was his first game back in WBS after the Penguins re-assigned him on Thursday. Hayes has played in 11 NHL games, recording two goals. Both goals came in his NHL debut on Feb. 5 against the Buffalo Sabres.

With the win, WBS is now 38-16-6-2 overall, good for 84 points. They're the second team to clinch a playoff spot in the Atlantic Division, joining the Providence Bruins.

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