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| With three points today (2G-1A), Chuck Kobasew has a goal in each of his first four games with the AHL Penguins. Photo credit: @ItsJacki. |
First Brendan Mikkelson knotted things up with 1:04 left on a feed from Chuck Kobasew. Then, Kobasew crashed the net in overtime and after several whacks at a loose puck in Devils goaltender's Keith Kinkaid's crease, the red goal light came on and the Penguins escaped with a 3-2 victory.
Kobasew finished the game figuring in on all three WBS goals with two goals and an assist. He now has six points (5G-1A) in four games and has scored a goal in each of his first four games since being re-assigned from Pittsburgh.
If these two teams meet in the playoffs, the Penguins should push for the Devils' home games to be played there. The Penguins are now a perfect 5-0 against the Albany Devils in games played at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
The win gives the Penguins sole possession of 5th place in the Eastern Conference and they now trail Binghamton by just one point for first place in the East Division. The Penguins return home for their next game Wednesday night against the Providence Bruins.
The Penguins got their first power play of game after a big check by Adam Payerl on Devils defenseman Adam Larsson drew Dan Kelly into an instigating minor in addition to the fighting majors assessed to both players after Kelly took exception to the hit and jumped Payerl.
The Penguins cashed in on the power play with Kobasew tallying what was at the time his 4th goal in as many games in a WBS uniform. Andrew Ebbett extended his points scoring streak to eight games (3G-8A) with an assist on the goal, while Brian Dumoulin's secondary assist extended his points streak to five games (2G-3A).
Through the first 40 minutes, the Penguins defense really stymied the Albany Devils. The Pens defensive zone coverage allowed the Devils to sustain puck possession but they didn't allow many grade A chances or even shots on net. They held the Devils to just 11 shots through two periods of play.
The Devils came out for the third period firing on all cylinders. They tied the game at 1-1 on the opening shift of the period as Adam Larsson tallied his third goal of the season 42 seconds into the final frame to tie things up. They took a 2-1 lead with 12:44 left in regulation after an unassisted goal from Darcy Zajac.
The Devils continued to sustain pressure on the Penguins through the first half of the final period but the Penguins turned the tides in the final eight or so minutes of regulation, managing to tie the game on Mikkelson's goal and steal a point in the standings.
Beau Bennett, appearing in his second game in as many nights with the AHL Penguins, looked much better tonight than he did in his first game not even 24 hours earlier. He was more of a difference-maker tonight, flying around on the ice to loose pucks and even dishing out some hits along the walls. He added an assist on Mikkelson's tying goal.
ROSTER NOTES
Jeff Deslauriers got the start in net this afternoon, stopping 19 of 21 shots in his first start in two weeks. Deslauriers picked up his 20th win of the season this afternoon in Atlantic City.
Harry Zolnierczyk missed his third straight game with an upper body injury. He is listed as "day-to-day" and had been skating at the team's practices in a red no-contact jersey.
Spencer Machacek (upper body) missed his second straight game after leaving in the 2nd period of Friday night's game in Syracuse.
Pierre-Luc Leblond, a healthy scratch last night, returned to the WBS lineup today. Denver Manderson was scratched to make room for Leblond.
The Pens made no changes on the back end as Barry Goers was the team's 7th defenseman and a healthy scratch for the second straight game.
Lines
Bennett - Ebbett - Kobasew
Megna - Drazenovic - Kostopoulos
Uher - Payerl - Zlobin
Farnham - Carman - Leblond
Samuelsson - McNeill
Harrington - Mikkelson
Dumoulin - D'Agostino
Scratches: Harry Zolnierczyk (upper body), Zach Sill (upper body), Spencer Machacek (upper body/veteran scratch), Barry Goers (healthy) and Denver Manderson (healthy)
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