Atley Calvert scored just under 10 minutes remaining to seal a 5-3 victory for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins over the Toronto Marlies on Monday evening.

Facing a 4-2 deficit, Marc Johnstone scored with 52 seconds remaining, but it wasn’t enough for the Marlies. Tanner Howe added an empty-net goal to secure the 5-3 win for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Toronto holds a 2-1 series lead, with Game 4 taking place at Coca-Cola Coliseum on Wednesday.

“There was a lot of good to like. We knew this wasn’t going to be easy. Our backs are against the wall now. It’s a must-win for us in Game 4,” Marlies head coach John Gruden said post-game.

Vinni Lettieri opened the scoring, beating Penguins goaltender Sergei Murashov through traffic to open the scoring. Aidan McDonough responded with a goal near the net-front, tying the game ahead of the first intermission.

Bill Zonnon, Pittsburgh’s 2025 first-round pick, put Wilkes-Barre up in the second period, before Luke Haymes responded for the Marlies. Haymes banked a shot off Penguins defenceman Owen Pickering into the net for the game-tying goal.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton pulled away in the third period, winning the transition battle all game. Villu Koivunen worked a give-and-go with Tristan Broz, firing a laser from the slot for a 3-2 lead. Calvert scored what stood as the game-winner, before Johnstone added a last-minute goal for the Marlies, that was quickly forgotten about Howe’s empty-netter.

Artur Akhtyamov was terrific for the Marlies, recording 29 saves on 33 shots. Akhtyamov was clearly the Marlies’ best player, during a free-flowing up-tempo game, where the Penguins used their speed to their advantage.

“We’re so blessed here with the goaltending we have,” Marlies defenceman Dakota Mermis said post-game. “Him and Dennis (Hildeby) are outstanding. They’re not talking about Dennis enough right now, he’s so good for us, too. Artie is so quick in there, he reads the play so well. He gives us every opportunity to win every game.”