Penguins Rout Amerks, 1st Win of Season

Dimitrakos, Tangradi and Gibbons were spectacular tonight!

The Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins won their first game of the season tonight and in impressive fashion, knocking off the Rochester Americans 5-1 tonight in western New York. But the game's most exciting moment occurred late in the second period, after the Penguins were already well on their way with a 3-0 lead.

Brian Gibbons took a slashing minor and five seconds later Zach Sill cleared a puck into the stands. What happened on the next flurry, I will never forget.


Joey Mormina's stick broke, the Amerks kept throwing shots at Thiessen. Thiessen lost his goalie stick and the Penguins were really scrambling down two men and two sticks. Bryan Lerg somehow stole a puck and shot down the ice on a breakaway. His stick was lifted and it appeared like a blown opportunity. But Lerg's second effort with his stick lifted was able to get a piece of the puck and put it over the leg pad of MacIntyre, giving the Pens a 4-0 lead and really deflating Rochester with 1:12 left in the second period.

All in all, a great performance by the Penguins tonight. First win of the season and first road game of the season. Hopefully the Penguins can keep it going tomorrow night when they host the Springfield Falcons.

Eric Tangradi gave the Penguins their first lead of the season 5:10 into the game. The puck was in the corner and Tangradi dug it away from a Rochester defender and swung out in front of the net and buried a puck past Drew MacIntyre.

Brian Gibbons would later send a bank pass to the point and Brian Strait would make it a 2-0 lead. Cody Chupp also got an assist on the goal with 1:56 left in the opening period.

The Penguins got right back to work in the second period. Phillip Samuelsson got his first professional point, an assist on a Colin McDonald goal just 2:20 into the middle frame. After that, the Penguins started the parade to the penalty box and the eventual Lerg heroics.

With a 4-0 lead heading into the final period, the Penguins and Amerks continued to battle.  The top line of Eric Tangradi, Brian Gibbons and Niko Dimitrakos was incredible tonight and got in on the Penguins 5th and final goal of the contest, with Dimitrakos finishing a play made by Tangradi.

The Amerks broke the shutout bid with 3:33 left as Marcus Foligno scored his first pro goal.

Brad Thiessen stopped 29 of 30 shots for the win. Bryan Lerg (1G-1A), Brian Gibbons (0G-2A) and Eric Tangradi (1G-1A) all had two point nights.

Game preview tomorrow afternoon for the Penguins/Falcons matchup.