Penguins snap three-game skid with 5-1 road win over Checkers

Tristan Broz ignited the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton attack in Charlotte, producing a goal and three assists in a 5-1 victory over the Checkers at Bojangles' Coliseum. Broz’s four-point night was the first of his pro career and provided a clear spark that helped the Penguins snap a three-game losing streak.

Broz opened the scoring six-and-a-half minutes into the first period with a snipe, stripping a Checkers skater after the end of a man advantage and whipping a pinpoint shot under the crossbar for his team-leading 11th goal of the season. He finished the night with three assists as linemates Atley Calvert and Valtteri Puustinen each contributed a goal and an assist, giving the top unit consistent push and finish throughout the game.

The middle frame featured a tense sequence when a Matt Dumba goal was initially waved off for a crease violation, but Dumba later redeemed the play by setting up Boko Imama for an insurance marker at 17:03 of the period. That goal sealed the Penguins’ grip on the contest and allowed the club to close out the final stanza with a controlled, physical approach that limited Charlotte’s chances.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton improved to 23-9-1-2 with the win, a result that matters for both standings and morale. Snapping a multi-game skid is as much about restoring confidence as it is about points, and a performance in which a depth player like Broz leads the way signals healthier secondary scoring and playmaking options for the organization going forward. Calvert and Puustinen gathering multi-point nights also speaks to line chemistry that head coach staff can rely on as the schedule tightens.

For fans in the stands and those tracking prospects, this game offered several practical takeaways. Broz emerged as a bona fide playmaker who can turn transitional turnovers into immediate offense, a valuable trait for a club that prizes fast puck movement and boarding-zone pressure. The team’s ability to respond after a controversial call in the second period and still generate an insurance goal shows resilience that will be important late in tight divisions.

The takeaway? If you want a blueprint for how this Penguins team rebounds, watch the HPH line and keep an eye on Broz. Catching these games live at Bojangles' Coliseum or on the stream will let you see the kinds of turnovers, net-front work, and line chemistry that are fueling WBS. Our two cents? Bring earplugs for the crowd noise and a notepad — this team is trending back toward the kind of depth scoring that wins playoff series.