Minor league report: Penguins, Nailers each lose season finales

Seth Rorabaugh | Sunday, April 16, 2023 12:44 a.m.

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Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins defenseman Ty Smith (left) and forward Valtteri Puustinen celebrate a goal during a 5-4 home overtime loss to the Charlotte Checkers at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday.

Defenseman Ty Smith and forward Valtteri Puustinen each had a goal and two assists for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins who lost their season finale, 5-4, in overtime to the Charlotte Checkers at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday.

Forward Drake Caggiula recorded two assists for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (26-32-8-6) while forwards Ty Glover and Jonathan Gruden each contributed goals. Goaltender Dustin Tokarski made 29 saves on 34 shots for the Penguins, who finished the season in last place of the American Hockey League’s East Division.

Highlights:

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Goaltender Oskar Autio made 19 saves on 22 shots for the Wheeling Nailers who were beaten in their season finale, 4-2, by the Iowa Heartlanders at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa.

Forwards David Jankowski and Brooklyn Kalmikov each scored goals for Wheeling (29-38-5-0), which finished the season in fifth place of the Central Division.

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