Pezzetta gets the OT winner as Marlies beat Penguins in Game 2

The Marlies lead the series 2-0 and play host to Games 3 and 4 on Monday and Wednesday, respectively.

Get the latest from Terry Koshan straight to your inbox

Published May 29, 2026  •  Last updated 4 minutes ago  •  2 minute read

Michael Pezzetta (61) celebrates his overtime goal with his Toronto Marlies teammates after a 2-1 victory over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in Game 2 of the AHL Eastern Conference final on May 29, 2026. Photo by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins /Handout

See more Toronto Sun on Google — save as a Preferred Source

Article content

Michael Pezzetta’s third goal of the 2026 Calder Cup playoffs came at the perfect time.

Article content

Article content

The Toronto Marlies forward scored at 14:53 of overtime on Friday night, giving the Marlies a 2-1 victory in Game 2 of the AHL’s Eastern Conference final against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

The Marlies lead the best-of-seven 2-0 and will head home to play host to Games 3 and 4 at the Coca-Cola Coliseum on Monday and Wednesday, respectively.

The winner at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza came after Pezzetta flipped the puck toward the net from the Penguins’ blue line. The goal originally was credited to Marc Johnstone after the shot found its way past goalie Sergei Murashov and over the line, but was changed to Pezzetta. In Game 1, Pezzetta also scored the winner.

Rookie forward Easton Cowan, who scored in each of the Marlies’ previous two games, did not play. Cowan’s exclusion from the Toronto lineup was thought to be for precautionary reasons, though coach John Gruden was expected to address the matter after the game.

Article content

It was the first time in 15 playoff games this spring that the Marlies went to overtime.

Artur Akhtyamov made 33 saves for the Marlies. Murashov made 37 saves for the Penguins.

The Marlies carried a 1-0 lead until 8:01 of the third period when Tanner Howe got the Penguins on the scoreboard.

Howe collected a Chase Pietela rebound out of a scramble in front of the net, spun around and beat Akhtyamov with a shot along the ice.

Alex Nylander opened the scoring at 18:21 of the first period with his fourth goal of the playoffs.

It was the result of some creativity.

Nylander came off the side boards at the blue line, passed to Luke Haymes and immediately took a return feed. That got Murashov out of position and Nylander had an open net to hit.

The Marlies went 1-for-2 on the power play, while the Penguins did not score on their only man advantage.

[email protected]

X: @koshtorontosun

Read More

1. 

   Michael Pezzetta scores late GWG as Marlies beat Penguins in Game 1

2. 

   Marlies, Penguins begin AHL's Eastern final on Wednesday

Article content