Samuelsson's Saturday Success - Pens Win 4-2

Photo credit: Ron Morin/Portland Pirates

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins bounced back with a 4-2 win over the Portland Pirates tonight in what was a career night for Penguins defenseman Philip Samuelsson. Samuelsson figured in on all four Pens goals tonight, tallying one goal and three assists for his first four-point night of his pro career.

The Penguins go back to Providence tonight for a Sunday afternoon tilt with the AHL Bruins.



Tonight's game started the exact opposite of how last night's contest in Providence did. Portland's Chris Brown took a holding minor in the opening minute of the period and Scott Harrington gave the Pens an early 1-0 lead with his third goal of the season on the power play 1:07 into the game. Paul Thompson and Philip Samuelsson added the assists.

The Pirates tied the game at 1-1 with 7:38 left in the opening period after Brandon McMillan beat Eric Hartzell on a bad angle shot. McMillan's 5th of the season was assisted by Brandon Gormley and Connor Murphy.

The Penguins re-gained the lead in the 2nd period, with the defensemen continuing to light the lamp. Simon Despres made it 2-1 with 11:14 left in the middle frame. Samuelsson picked up his second assist of the night and Carter Rowney got his first point as a Penguin with the secondary assist.

The Pens extended the lead to 3-1 late in the middle frame when Philip Samuelsson unleashed a one-timer from the point that eluded Mark Visentin. It was Samuelsson's third point of the night, and his first three-point performance in his pro career. Reid McNeill got his first point of the season and Denver Manderson added the second assist.

Simon Despres tallied his second goal of the night to make it 4-1 Pens early into the third period. Samuelsson added his third assist and fourth point of the night on the play. Nick Drazenovic added the secondary assist.

The Pirates battled back and got it within two at 4-2 after Gormley found a rebound and beat Hartzell on the power play to give the home team some life 9:32 into the third period. Unfortunately for the Pirates, that's as close as they would get tonight in their first regulation loss in the last seven games.

ROSTER NOTES

Eric Hartzell got the start in net for the Penguins against Mark Visentin for the Pirates.

Denver Manderson returned to the lineup, taking the third line center position from Mike Carman. Carman was moved to the wing and Dominik Uher was moved up to the second line alongside Zack Torquato and Anton Zlobin. Tom Kuhnhackl was a surprise healthy scratch.

No changes were made on defense for the Pens. Harrison Ruopp took the warmup skate as the team's 7th defenseman. Nick D'Agostino was also a healthy scratch on the blue line tonight.

I didn't see Bobby Farnham on the ice for a single shift following a 2nd period minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct with 5:32 left in the middle frame. The Pirates didn't score on that power play chance, but it didn't keep head coach John Hynes from keeping Farnham on the bench, unless there was an injury.

Tonight's Lines

Zolnierczyk - Drazenovic - Kostopoulos
Carman - Manderson - Thompson
Uher - Torquato - Zlobin
Leblond - Rowney - Farnham

Samuelsson - Despres
Harrington - Mikkelson
Dumoulin - McNeill