In his first game back with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Penguins prospect Avery Hayes registered a hat trick in a 4-3 overtime win over Hershey. The feat came two days after Hayes scored two goals in his NHL debut for the Penguins, in a 5-2 win over Buffalo.
With the NHL shutting down for the Olympics, the Penguins returned Hayes and forward Rutger McGroarty to Wilkes so they could keep playing hockey through the break. McGroarty assisted on two of Hayes’s goals. Hayes scored two of his goals on the power play, including the game-winner in overtime. His other goal was a short-handed tally.
Interestingly, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton had a hat trick in Friday night’s game as well, a 6-5 win over Lehigh Valley. Veteran NHL defenseman Matt Dumba scored three times in that game, giving him four goals and seven assists in his last four games.
The AHL now enters its All-Star break. Two Penguins prospects were named to the All-Star team. Forward Tristan Broz, who just returned to the lineup after an injury, and goaltender Sergei Murashov will skate for the Atlantic team.
