2026 Calder Cup Playoffs: Game 4, W-B/Scranton - 0 at Springfield - 2 (5/21/26)

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Written by: Tony Androckitis

@TonyAndrock on Twitter/X

SPRINGFIELD, MA - The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins find themselves heading back to Pennsylvania to play a one-game series on Saturday night with their season on the line as the Springfield Thunderbirds refuse to go down with a fight to the bitter end.

The Penguins thought they took a 1-0 lead six minutes into the contest when Harrison Brunicke fired one into the back of the net after joining an odd man rush, but referees overturned the goal - citing incidental contact with Springfield goaltender Georgii Romanov.

Unfortunately, AHL officials are unable to use video replays for reference or they would have seen Romanov initiate contact with Penguins' forward Gabe Klassen outside the Springfield goaltender's crease.

The highly questionable decision to overturn Brunicke's goal completely changed the complexion of the hockey game, giving Springfield momentum whilst also sucking wind out of the Penguins proverbial sails'.

Springfield broke the scoreless tie on a power play goal from Dillon Dube late in the second period, and the Thunderbirds added an insurance marker early in the third period from Marc-Andre Gaudet to win Game 4 2-0 and force a winner-take-all Game 5 Saturday night in Wilkes-Barre.