Brendan Mikkelson tallied the winning goal that sent those at Mohegan Sun Arena into a frenzy. It was Mikkelson's 2nd game-winning OT goal of the season. Team captain Tom Kostopoulos and Nick Drazenovic added the assists on the winner and both had a good night on the score sheet. Kostopoulos finished with a goal and two assists. Drazenovic tallied three assists.
The win stops a two-game slide for the Penguins, who had started the season with six straight victories. These two teams will rematch tomorrow night in Hershey.
Kostopoulos tied the game at 2-2 with a James Neal-esque goal off a set play on an offensive zone face-off with 12:56 left in the third period. Before the face-off, Drazenovic motioned to Kostopoulos to move to exactly where he won the offensive zone draw. It's a good thing Kostopoulos obliged. He ripped a shot off the face-off that stunned Bears netminder Philip Grubauer.
Scary play with 5:14 left in regulation as Bears forward Dane Byers took a run at Simon Despres and connected with a big hit up high on the Pens defenseman, sending Despres' helmet flying off his head and starting a brawl on the ice. Byers was assessed a major for fighting, a major for charging and a game misconduct. Despres went to the WBS bench and returned to the ice for the start of overtime. I'm sure the Penguins will be sending the tape to the league for further discipline.
Dominik Uher scored a power play goal late in the first period, his third goal of the season. Uher only managed four goals in his 53-game rookie season last year, so big strides offensively for the fiesty Czech forward so far this season.
Jeff Deslauriers got the start in net tonight and picked up his 6th win of the season, stopping 22 of the 24 shots he faced tonight. It wouldn't surprise me if Peter Mannino took the net tomorrow night against these same Bears.
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