The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins got off to a slow start and after falling behind in the second period, were unable to muster up much of anything offensively, falling 3-1 to the Adirondack Phantoms. The Phantoms snapped a four game losing streak with the victory.
For the Penguins, an offensive effort they would like to forget about. They were held without a shot on goal for an over 24 minute span in the 2nd and 3rd periods, and were unable to get many quality shots. The lone Pens chance came with Scott Harrington's shot in the slot late in the 3rd period that Phantoms goaltender Yann Danis was able to glove down.
The Penguins host a red-hot Binghamton Senators team on Friday night.
The Phantoms came out with the extra jump in their step and took an early 1-0 lead on a power play goal from Brandon Manning. Manning's point shot 5:25 into the game beat a screened Deslauriers to give the home team an early lead. Phantoms leading scorer Jason Akeson added an assist on Manning's third goal of the season.
After a slow start, the Penguins got things going midway through the first, aided by four straight power plays and a lengthy 5-on-3 power play that helped them tie the game. Tom Kostopoulos found a loose rebound and sticked a puck past Phantoms goaltender Yann Danis to even the score at 1-1 with 2:19 left in the opening period. Brian Gibbons, in his first game back with the AHL Penguins, and Brian Dumoulin added the assists on Kostopolous' 8th of the season.
From there, it got very physical late in the first period. Bobby Farnham was at it again, trying to start a fight with Phantoms rookie forward Petr Straka. Phantoms team captain Ben Holmstrom noticed Farnham giving Straka a hard time and switched sides with the rookie winger, dropping the gloves with Farnham off the draw.
On the very next face-off, Pierre-Luc Leblond and Kris Newbury began pushing and shoving, though the Phantoms veteran forward declined numerous invitations from Leblond to be the second bout on tonight's card. Both received ten minute misconducts, ending the period with some bad blood on the ice.
Typical rough stuff for a Penguins/Phantoms rivalry, which is starting to heat up a notch. I'm sure the rivalry will only grow stronger next season when the Phantoms move an hour down the road from Wilkes-Barre in Allentown, Pa.
The penalties began to even themselves out in the 2nd period as it was the Penguins in the box for three straight minors after a good start to the period by the Pens.
Petr Straka gave the Phantoms a 2-1 lead on a weird play in front of Deslauriers that was initially waived off by the referees. After further discussion by the guys in stripes, they awarded Straka's goal, giving the Phantoms a one goal lead 6:57 into the middle frame.
The Pens killed off three straight Phantoms power plays, including some 5-on-3 time, but were unable to gain any momentum from it as the Phantoms extended their lead late in the 2nd period on a goal by Chris Vandevelde. His team-leading 6th goal of the season gave the Phantoms a 3-1 lead over the Penguins heading into the second intermission.
In the third period, the Pens were held without a shot on goal through the first half of the period and were unable to muster up another third period comeback. Brian Gibbons took a penalty with 1:38 remaining in regulation that sealed the Pens' fate.
ROSTER NOTES
Pierre Luc Leblond returned to the WBS lineup, on the 4th line with Cody Sylvester and Denver Manderson.
Dominik Uher took a puck under the visor in the 2nd period and did not return.
Still out of action are Nick Drazenovic, Reid McNeill and Peter Merth.
The defense pairings have been juggled, but there's good chemistry among the top four.
Lines
Zolnierczyk - Gibbons - Kostopoulos
Kuhnhackl - Carman - Uher
Farnham - Payerl - Thompson
Sylvester - Manderson - Leblond
Samuelsson - Dumoulin
Harrington - Mikkelson
D'Agostino - Stevenson
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