Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is on the brink of elimination after losing 5-2 in Game 1 of their best-of-three first-round matchup against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
The Phantoms took a 5-0 lead before Avery Hayes stopped the bleeding with a goal in the final five minutes, and Gabe Klassen added another with 69 seconds left in the game.
The Penguins are the higher seed, they dominated the regular-season series against Lehigh Valley 8-2-1-1 in 12 meetings, and they opened at home. Knowing the stakes and the circumstances, Tristan Broz was still fuming postgame over what transpired.
"They just wanted it more than us tonight," he said. "It's (expletive) embarrassing. It's a short series, and now we're going into a Game 6 and our backs are against the wall."
Game 2 will be on Friday in Allentown, Pa., where the Penguins will look to avoid being swept in the first round by the Phantoms for a second year in a row.
Want to participate in our comments?
Want an ad-free experience?
Become a member, and enjoy premium benefits! Make your voice heard on the Steelers, Penguins and Pirates, and hear right back from tens of thousands of fellow Pittsburgh sports fans worldwide! Plus, access all our premium content, including Dejan Kovacevic columns, Friday Insider, daily Live Qs with the staff, more! And yeah, that's right, no ads at all!
THE ASYLUM
Taylor Haase
3:43 am - 04.24.2025Wilkes-Barre, Pa.Broz: 'Backs are against the wall'
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is on the brink of elimination after losing 5-2 in Game 1 of their best-of-three first-round matchup against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
The Phantoms took a 5-0 lead before Avery Hayes stopped the bleeding with a goal in the final five minutes, and Gabe Klassen added another with 69 seconds left in the game.
The Penguins are the higher seed, they dominated the regular-season series against Lehigh Valley 8-2-1-1 in 12 meetings, and they opened at home. Knowing the stakes and the circumstances, Tristan Broz was still fuming postgame over what transpired.
"They just wanted it more than us tonight," he said. "It's (expletive) embarrassing. It's a short series, and now we're going into a Game 6 and our backs are against the wall."
Game 2 will be on Friday in Allentown, Pa., where the Penguins will look to avoid being swept in the first round by the Phantoms for a second year in a row.
Want to participate in our comments?
Want an ad-free experience?
Become a member, and enjoy premium benefits! Make your voice heard on the Steelers, Penguins and Pirates, and hear right back from tens of thousands of fellow Pittsburgh sports fans worldwide! Plus, access all our premium content, including Dejan Kovacevic columns, Friday Insider, daily Live Qs with the staff, more! And yeah, that's right, no ads at all!
We’d love to have you!