Penguins Make History, Complete Comeback With 5-0 Game Seven Win

Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Only four teams in the 77-year history of the American Hockey League have forced a seventh game after dropping the first three games. Only three teams have come back to win the series. The 2013 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are the only team to complete the comeback with a Game Seven win on the road, a 5-0 final.

"It's hard to explain," Brad Thiessen said. "You go down 3-0 and you're pretty frustrated and things are looking pretty bleak. But, slowly but surely we started to gain momentum and it culminated tonight."

After a first period dominated by the Bruins, the Penguins came out for the 2nd period ready to play.

While on a power play, Brian Dumoulin shuffled a puck to Chad Kolarik at the near side faceoff dot. Kolarik's initial shot was blocked but his follow-up was the difference, as Kolarik skated to the goal line and banked one in off Niklas Svedberg to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead 4:44 into the middle frame.

The Penguins weren't done there. About 10 minutes later, Warren Peters deflects a Joey Mormina point shot and the flood gates open. Adam Payerl scores his 2nd slap shot goal of the series and Zach Sill pops the water bottle as the Penguins put up four goals in the second period, including three on consecutive shots in a span of 4:11.

"It's a good feeling. Guys are able to take a little bit of a deep breath and soak in what just happened,"  Payerl said.

Payerl's goal in the middle of that three goal spurt really seemed to put a dagger in the Bruins' collective side. The series may have begun with the Bruins top line lighting things up offensively, but it ended with guys in the bottom six of the Penguins lineup scoring goals such as Payerl, Peters and Sill.

"You take pride in contributing to your role," Payerl added. "We can pop some goals in here and there it's a plus for the team."

The Penguins advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they take on East Division rival Syracuse. Games 1 & 2 are in Syracuse on Saturday and Sunday night.

I'm not sure if/when the Penguins are scheduled to practice next, but as soon as I know I will put something up in the form of an update as the team gets ready for round three. I'll also breakdown the Pens-Crunch matchup before the series starts this weekend.

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