Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Blank Islanders 4-0, Complete Weekend Sweep Amid Snow Squall

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton beat the Bridgeport Islanders 4-0 at Total Mortgage Arena on Sunday afternoon to complete a weekend sweep of the home-and-home series, a win that came “amidst a swelling snow squall outside.” Sergei Murashov stopped 25 shots for the shutout and four different Penguins scored in the win.

“Four different Penguins found twine in front of a 25-save shutout by Sergei Murashov,” a game recap noted, and the scoring came from Tanner Howe, Phil Kemp, Gabe Klassen, and Aidan McDonough. Murashov’s performance was described as his third shutout of the season as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton improved to 35-13-3-2.

The Islanders applied early pressure but failed to convert. Bridgeport peppered Murashov with 12 first-period shots, including five in the span of 52 seconds, and Henrik Tikkanen denied Filip Hallander on a late breakaway, but the period ended scoreless. Bridgeport’s push in the opening 20 minutes produced volume but no goals.

Scoring opened in the middle frame when Tanner Howe put Wilkes-Barre/Scranton ahead on a play that followed a blocked backhand by Atley Calvert. “After a backhand try by Atley Calvert was blocked, the puck ricocheted to Howe, who settled it for a spin-around shot that beat Henrik Tikkanen,” with Times Leader and the Penguins’ site listing the goal at 4:26 of the second period and Bridgeport’s release listing it at 4:29. Bridgeport’s notes add that it was Howe’s fifth point in his last three games.

Phil Kemp, the Penguins captain and a Connecticut native, extended the lead late in the second. Kemp “blasted a scorching slap shot behind Tikkanen at 16:31 of the second period,” a marker the Bridgeport release identified as his third of the season. Late in the middle frame Murashov “stepped up,” making a stellar left-pad save on a backdoor deflection by C.J. Smith to preserve the 2-0 lead.

A five-minute major on Bridgeport in the third opened the door for insurance goals. “Ville Koivunen lobbed a sparkling backhand saucer pass ahead for Gabe Klassen, who wired in a man-advantage marker at 7:15 of the third. One minute later, Aidan McDonough banged home a tic-tac-toe setup for another power-play goal,” sealing the 4-0 result and effectively icing the contest.

Bridgeport’s release noted the Islanders dropped to 0-5-0-1 against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season and have not beaten the Penguins in their last ten meetings, dating to Nov. 16, 2024. Tikkanen was credited with 25 saves in the loss in Bridgeport’s account. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton now heads to Rocket Arena to face the Cleveland Monsters on Friday, Feb. 27 at 7:00 p.m., while Bridgeport returns home to host the Charlotte Checkers on Wednesday, Feb. 25 with puck drop slated for 7 p.m.