Game information
#5 Hershey Bears (3-2) vs. #2 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (2-1)
May 7, 2026 | 7 p.m. | GIANT Center | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton leads, 2-1
Referees: Stephen Hiff (46), Mike Sullivan (47)
Linespersons: Dylan Blujus (57), Devon Gale (97)
Giveaway: The first 6,000 fans will receive a fan clapper, thanks to Penn State Health, Pepsi, and Shippensburg University.
Broadcast Information
PXP: Zack Fisch, Garrett Mitchell, Mitch Lamoureux, and Todd Sadowski
TV: Antenna TV (WPMT FOX 43.2, Xfinity Ch. 247 and 1178, Verizon FiOS Ch. 463, Blue Ridge Ephrata Ch. 91, and Blue Ridge Newberry/Duncannon Ch. 88)
Radio: WFVY-100.1-FM, Fox Sports 1460-AM, In-arena on 88.9-FM
Watch live: AHLTV on FloHockey
Listen live: Froggy Valley 100.1-FM Stream, Fox Sports 1460-AM Stream
Radio pre-game coverage starts at 6:30 p.m.; Television coverage starts at 7 p.m.
Game preview
The Hershey Bears gave up two early goals to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in Game 3, but came back with authority, scoring three consecutive goals and showing an identity that could take them deep in the playoffs. As the team tried to close things out late in the third, the Penguins’ Avery Hayes tied the game up after a blown call by officials.
Then, in overtime, Rutger McGroarty stole the game for WBS, deflecting a shot past Clay Stevenson while all alone in front of the net and setting off a chaotic scene at Giant Center.
Now, the Bears will have to author a big comeback and force a Game 5, which, according to Bears’ head coach Derek King, is just how this year’s “Too Dumb To Quit” team finds its success.
“This team’s never done anything easy this year, so we’re going to have to do it the hard way,” he said.
The Bears have been led by their first line of Andrew Cristall (2g, 4a), Ilya Protas (2g, 4a), and Bogdan Trineyev (3g, 3a), who all have six points apiece in the postseason. Cristall enters tonight’s game riding a four-game point streak, while Protas and Trineyev have points in five straight.
Per the Bears, Cristall and Protas are the first Bears rookie duo to record at least six points in a single postseason since Hendrix Lapierre and Ethen Frank did so during the team’s 2023 playoff run.
Puck drop for tonight’s game is at 7 pm.
RMNB’s feature on Alex Alexeyev and the Bears’ Russian-speaking players
Lines
Hershey Bears
Unavailable for the Bears tonight due to injury/illness: Cam Allen, Spencer Smallman, Eriks Mateiko
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
1st Period
Puck is dropped.
Sonny Milano healthy-scratched in Game 4 of Hershey Bears-Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins series
Not an ideal start as Joona Koppanen pounces on a bad Bears turnover and lifts a backhand past Clay Stevenson.
1-0 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Goal: Joona Koppanen (1). Assists: Tanner Howe (1), Aidan McDonough (1). Time: 01:15
Dalton Smith and Bokondji Imama have dropped the gloves, and Smith gets the takedown.
Ilya Protas splits the defense and has Sergei Murashov beat, but hits the side of the net.
Stevenson stops Harrison Brunicke wide-open in front of Hershey’s cage.
Tristan Broz bumps Stevenson up high after he freezes the puck, and we have a melee on the ice.
Penalty kill
Louie Belpedio roughing penalty at 09:49
Murashov robs Protas, and Brett Leason hits the post on the rebound.
Power play
Mikhail Ilyin hooking penalty at 19:00
Ivan Miroshnichenko swipes a loose puck over the goal line after a Louie Belpedio point drive to tie the game. Power-play goal from the goal-scoring winger.
1-1 Tie
Goal: Ivan Miroshnichenko (2). Assists: Louie Belpedio (1), Andrew Cristall (5). Time: 19:54
Big-time scrum to end the first frame. Avery Hayes gets two free punches on Jon McDonald.
At intermission: Tie game after 20 minutes with Miro’s late-period tally. Shots are tied 14-14 apiece.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
Four-on-four hockey to start the period. Avery Hayes and Jon McDonald received matching roughing penalties.
Clay Stevenson makes a breakaway stop on Rutger McGroarty.
Bokondji Imama throws a dirty hit from behind on Ryan Chesley and is headed to the box. Somehow escapes a five-minute major penalty.
Power play
Bokondji Imama interference penalty at 05:01
Andrew Cristall can’t find the back of the net on a bang-bang play, and the Penguins go the other way to score shorthanded.
2-1 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Goal: Harrison Brunicke (1). Assists: Gabe Klassen (2). Time: 06:20
Ivan Miroshnichenko spins a backhand pass to a wide-open Henrik Rybinski, but he fires the shot wide.
Penalty kill
Ilya Protas high-sticking penalty at 17:34
At intermission: Penguins up one after their second-period shorthanded goal. The Bears are up 24-23 in shots.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
Harrison Brunicke is down for the Penguins, and the trainer is out on the ice.
Power play
Joona Koppanen interference penalty at 01:08
Penguins kill the penalty, and Ville Koivunen finishes at the other end to put the Penguins up two goals.
3-1 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Goal: Ville Koivunen (1). Assists: Mikhail Ilyin (2), Tristan Broz (4). Time: 03:33
Power play
Avery Hayes delay of game penalty at 05:36
Penguins kill off another Bears power play. Feels like Hershey needed a goal there.
Penalty kill
Ilya Protas holding penalty at 08:47
The Bears kill off the minor and will get another power play of their own.
Power play
Bokondji Imama cross-checking penalty at 12:03
Clay Stevenson makes a shorthanded breakaway save on Gabe Klassen.
Just not enough getting the puck to the net, and another power play opportunity is wasted.
Penalty kill
Matt Strome roughing penalty at 15:08
Another late power play for the Bears, and they call their timeout.
Power play
Sergei Murashov interference penalty at 17:42
Clay Stevenson has been pulled for an extra attacker.
Gabe Klassen hits the empty net.
4-1 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Goal: Gabe Klassen (1). Assists: Owen Pickering (1). Time: 19:29
Penguins win 4-1 and eliminate the Bears in four games. Hershey’s season has come to an end.
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