Penguins Open Eastern Conference Final at Home on Wednesday
AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

Penguins Open Eastern Conference Final at Home on Wednesday

Published on May 25, 2026 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins News Release


WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and the Toronto Marlies are set to square off in the Eastern Conference Final of the 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs.

The series pits the No. 2 seed from the Atlantic Division, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, against the No. 4 seed from the North Division, Toronto. The best-of-seven slate starts on Wednesday, May 27. Here's important information to know ahead of Game 1 puck drop at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza...

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL SERIES SCHEDULE:

Game 1: Wednesday, May 27 - Toronto @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 7:05 p.m. Mohegan Arena

Game 2: Friday, May 29 - Toronto @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 7:05 p.m. Mohegan Arena

Game 3: Monday, June 1 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton @ Toronto, 7:00 p.m. Coca-Cola Coliseum

Game 4: Wednesday, June 3 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton @ Toronto, 7:00 p.m. Coca-Cola Coliseum

*Game 5: Friday, June 5 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton @ Toronto, 7:00 p.m. Coca-Cola Coliseum

*Game 6: Sunday, June 7 - Toronto @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 6:05 p.m. Mohegan Arena

*Game 7: Tuesday, June 9 - Toronto @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 7:05 p.m. Mohegan Arena

* = if necessary

THE PATH HERE:

- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton finished the regular season with 101 points (46-17-7-2), earning them a first-round bye in the 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs. They then defeated the Hershey Bears in four games in the Atlantic Division Semifinals, followed by a triumph over the Springfield Thunderbirds in five games during the Atlantic Division Final.

- Toronto held a playoff spot for the entirety of the 2025-26 regular season but still had to contend with a best-of-three first round after finishing 36-26-5-5. The Marlies won that series against the Rochester Americans in three games. Both the North Division Semifinals and North Division Final went to a winner-take-all Game 5, and both times, the Marlies pulled off third-period comebacks to down the Laval Rocket and Cleveland Monsters.

MORE TO KNOW:

- This will be first-ever playoff meeting between Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Toronto.

- This is the fourth time that the Penguins will take on a team from Canada in the playoffs. The Penguins are 0-3 in those series.

- This marks the sixth Conference Finals in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton history, the team's first since 2014.

- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Toronto went head-to-head twice during the 2025-26 regular season. Wins were split at one apiece, and both games were decided by one goal. The visiting team won both contests.

- The Marlies have two former Penguins on their roster: forwards Alex Nylander and Marc Johnstone. Also, Toronto head coach John Gruden is the father of former Wilkes-Barre/Scranton forward Jonathan Gruden.

- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has allowed only 16 goals in its nine playoff games.

Additional Penguins playoff history can be found in the

2025-26 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Media Guide.

Prior to Game 1, the Penguins will also produce an Eastern Conference Final Series Guide, which will include head-to-head stats, rosters, team information, and more. If you plan on assigning photographers/videographers to any Penguins home game during the Calder Cup Playoffs, please alert Allie Debe (adebe@wbspenguins.com) at least 24 hours prior to game time.

Check out the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from May 25, 2026


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