In yet another low scoring game between the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Utica Comets - the third of four scheduled meetings on the season - the Comets prevail with a third period power play goal in a 2-1 decision over the Penguins.
The loss snaps a five-game win streak and seven game points streak for the Penguins, who were a bit sluggish for a good portion of the night. Despite a last ditch effort in the final few minutes, the Penguins were unable to find the equalizer.
If the first three meetings between the two teams haven't been hard-fought enough, imagine how important the final meeting between these two teams could be if either is still fighting for playoff position. The Penguins end the 2013-14 regular season in Utica on April 19th.
Beau Bennett made his WBS return after missing 40+ games with wrist injury he suffered with Pittsburgh. Not surprisingly, he looked much like a guy who hasn't played in awhile. Bennett had a few chances throughout the game but was sluggish like most of his teammates.
I'm sure everyone is expecting more out of Bennett as he starts to get back in the swing of things. He'll likely be in the lineup again tomorrow night as the Penguins travel to Atlantic City for another game at Boardwalk Hall against the Albany Devils Sunday at 4:00 p.m. ET.
A little sluggish at the start for the Penguins, who were outshot 7-0 in the first 16:52 of the first period before Adam Payerl got the Pens' first shot on net. Payerl was hooked on the play and after killing off a penalty of their own it was the Penguins with a late first period power play.
The Pens didn't score on the man advantage but they seemed to look like they were heading in the right direction.
Utica continued to carry the edge in play in the midde frame, taking a 1-0 lead on a Pascal Pelletier power play goal with 7:32 left in the 2nd period. The goal ended Mannino's shutout streak at 194:48.
The Penguins responded with a power play goal of their own moments later when Chuck Kobasew tallied his third goal with the WBS in as many games. Andrew Ebbett and Brian Dumoulin tallied the assists on the Pens power play goal.
But ultimately it was the Comets with the final response, tallying a second power play goal 8:01 into the final frame to take the 2-1 lead. The Penguins were dominant in the final five minutes or so, but it wasn't enough to even up the game tonight.
ROSTER NOTES
Peter Mannino got the start in net again tonight, stopping 27 of 29 shots in the loss. I'd expect Jeff Deslauriers will be in net tomorrow against Albany.
Nick D'Agostino rotated in on defense for Barry Goers after being a healthy scratch last night.
Harry Zolnierczyk missed his second straight game with an upper body injury.
Spencer Machacek, who left in the 2nd period of Friday night's game in Syracuse, didn't take the warmup skate and was the veteran scratch.
Chuck Kobasew, Friday night's veteran scratch, returned to the lineup.
Beau Bennett was re-assigned and slotted in on the third line, making Pierre-Luc Leblond a scratch up front.
Also, the WBS Pens announced the additions of defenseman Alex Boak and forwards Matia Marcantuoni and Josh Archibald via ATO's. Conor Sheary was also added to an ATO earlier.
Lines
Megna - Ebbett - Kobasew
Payerl - Drazenovic - Kostopoulos
Bennett - Manderson - Zlobin
Uher - Carman - Farnham
Samuelsson - McNeill
Harrington - Mikkelson
Dumoulin - D'Agostino
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
0 comments:
Post a Comment