Penguins take over in third period, beat Marlies in Game 3

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Published Jun 01, 2026  •  2 minute read

Toronto Marlies goaltender Artur Akhtyamov Photo by Thomas Skrlj /Toronto Marlies

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When the Eastern Conference final began, the Toronto Marlies figured they would be in for the long haul against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

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After winning the first two games of the best-of-seven series in the Calder Cup playoffs, the Marlies now know the Penguins aren’t going away quietly.

In Game 3 at the Coca-Cola Coliseum on Monday night, the Penguins scored three goals in the third period to defeat the Marlies 5-3.

Less than three minutes after Ville Koivunen scored on a one-timer at 7:48, Atley Calvert beat Marlies goalie Artur Akhtyamov for the winning goal.

With Akhtyamov on the bench in favour of an extra skater, Marc Johnstone scored his first of the playoffs at 19:08 to the Marlies to within one.

The Penguins responded with an empty-net goal by Tanner Howe at 19:24.

Marlies rookie forward Easton Cowan missed his second game in a row because of an upper-body issue.

Games 4 and 5 will be at the will Coca-Cola Coliseum on Wednesday and Friday respectively.

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If necessary, Games 6 and 7 will be in Wilkes-Barre next Sunday and Tuesday respectively.

Marlies come up short on the power play

The Marlies had some looks on Penguins goalie Sergei Murashov during three power plays, but were unable to score with a man advantage.

The teams went into the second intermission tied 2-2 after Luke Haymes brought the Marlies even at 17:36 of the second.

Haymes, from the corner to the right of Murashov, banked the puck off defenceman Owen Pickering and into the net.

Not long before the Haymes goal, Akhtyamov stopped Howe on a breakaway.

Vinni Lettieri opened the scoring at 12:15 of the first period when his shot from the point found its way through a screen and past Murashov.

Aidan McDonough had an easy tap-in past Akhtyamov to make it 1-1 on a power play at 14:38 of the first as Michael Pezzetta served a tripping minor.

The Penguins went up 2-1 at 2:04 of the second.

Bill Zonnon, a first-round pick by Pittsburgh, 22nd overall, last June went to the net following a rush by McDonough. Zonnon shoved the puck over the line before he could be checked by the Marlies’ Landon Sim.

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