Alex Nylander’s OT winner ends Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s Calder Cup run

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are eliminated from the 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs after Game 6 of the Eastern Conference final ended in Toronto’s favor on Sunday night. Alex Nylander scored the game-winning goal 13:44 into overtime at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza, lifting the Marlies to a 2-1 victory and a 4-2 series win.

Toronto, the team coming in one win from the finals, responded after falling behind early. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton scored first when A. McDonough converted on the power play at 6:26 of the first period, but the Marlies answered in the second. Easton Cowan tied the game at 9:11 of the second, and the regulation score stayed locked at 1-1 heading to the third.

The overtime winner arrived after a tense, low-margin sequence. According to the official game sheet, Nylander finished at 13:44 in the extra period, with Borya Valis and Cédric Paré credited with assists. The finish capped a Toronto push in overtime that ultimately mattered more than the shot totals, because the Marlies found the net when the game was at its most urgent.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton created pressure throughout the night, but couldn’t turn it into the second goal that would have forced a Game 7 back to the City of Lights. The Penguins finished with 40 shots on goal to Toronto’s 39, a split that underlined how tight the game was even when the scoreboard looked settled late. On special teams, Toronto went 3-for-4 on the penalty kill and was 0-for-2 on the power play, while Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s lone power-play goal came on 1-for-4.

Between the pipes, Toronto’s Artur Akhtyamov played the key minutes in a one-goal game, stopping 39 of 40 shots. His performance carried the Marlies through a stretch where Wilkes-Barre/Scranton repeatedly tested their defensive coverage and pushed attempts toward the slot.

With Sunday’s result, Toronto advanced to the Calder Cup Finals for the first time since 2018, and for the third time in franchise history. Nylander’s overtime strike gave Toronto the series-clinching edge in the Eastern Conference final, even as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton held steady in possession and generated nearly identical shot volume.

Now the focus shifts to Toronto’s finals opponent. The Marlies will face the winner of the Western Conference final between the Chicago Wolves and the Colorado Eagles, meaning the matchup is not set yet as the Western series moves toward its conclusion.