The Penguins scored on their first two shots of the game to take a 2-0 lead, but the IceCaps battled back with a strong second period tying the game and eventually winning 27 seconds into overtime. The win gives the IceCaps a 3-1 series lead, putting the Pens on the brink of elimination. Game Five is on Tuesday night in Wilkes-Barre.
Back to back overtime losses the last two nights. Heartbreaking losses, but the Penguins have come back from 3-1 series deficits before. All they can do is take it one game at a time, starting Tuesday night.
The Penguins got on the board early when Colin McDonald made a nice move and picked a corner on Eddie Pasquale 4:30 into the game. Credit to Eric Tangradi on a nice pass to McDonald. Picard also got an assist on the play.
The Pens weren't done there. Geoff Walker won a race to a loose puck and nudged a puck to Tangradi who beat a sprawling Pasquale to give the Pens a 2-0 lead just 2:19 later. But from there the IceCaps started to take control and although they didn't score in the first period, they continued to dominate in the second period.
The IceCaps controlled play in the middle frame. Brad Thiessen lost his stick while the Pens were on the penalty kill and Derek Meech cut the Pens lead in half with a point shot through traffic that beat Thiessen. They tied the game later in the period after a nice pass from Paul Postma to Maxime Macenauer connected and Macenauer finished.
Neither team scored in the third period and both teams had their chances but the goaltenders were up to the task. Zach Sill had a shot dribble through Pasquale and just wide, and McDonald clunked one off the side of the post. The Penguins just couldn't get that lucky bounce when they needed it tonight.
Ben Maxwell plays overtime hero tonight, scoring off a net front scramble just 27 seconds into overtime. Tough loss for the Penguins, but they need to regroup and come ready on Tuesday night if they want their season to continue.
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