Game Story: W-B/Scranton - 4 at Hershey - 3 (OT) 2/7/26

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Written by: Tony Androckitis

@TonyAndrock on Twitter/X

HERSHEY, PA - The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (32-12-4) made it five straight wins before heading into the AHL All-Star break in another battle with the Bears that went down to the wire.

Avery Hayes completed his hat trick in overtime, scoring a power play goal from the left-wing circle that broke his stick clean in half. He was able to get enough it to get it to go in past Bears' goaltender Garin Bjorklund, concluding the game in dramatic fashion.

Hayes' two goals in the first period had the Penguins off and running, but the Bears responded with goals from Ilya Protas and Ivan Miroschnichenko to erase their early 2-0 deficit.

Melvin Fernstrom scored his first career goal in the second period to put the Penguins back in front 3-2, only to have Alex Suzdalev score 74 seconds later to once again even the game up.

There were no goals and no penalties in the third period until a double minor high-sticking penalty with 11.7 seconds left in regulation gave the Penguins an extended 4-on-3 powerplay in overtime that Hayes converted on to lift Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to the 4-3 OT win.