Penguins Put Senators On The Brink With Game Three Overtime Win

Chuck Kobasew deflected Conor Sheary's shot to give Penguins a 2-1 series lead. Photo credit: @ItsJacki.

For the third time in as many games in the best-of-five series, 60 minutes was not enough for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Binghamton Senators. For the second time this series, the Penguins prevailed in overtime.

Andrew Ebbett got a puck over to Conor Sheary - appearing in his first career AHL playoff game - and Sheary let go a shot that changed directions and squeaked past BSens netminder Andrew Hammond to send those at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza into a frenzy.

Chuck Kobasew got credit for the deflection and the game-winning goal, but it was the work by Sheary to give himself space high up in the offensive zone between the face-off circles that made it happen. The former UMass forward had a hell of a playoff debut and will get more ice time moving forward to Friday night's Game Four.

Sheary found himself on the Penguins' top line in overtime due to the fact the Anton Zlobin left the game 5:46 into the first period after a very questionable hit from behind by BSens captain Mark Borowiecki. Borowiecki was only assessed a minor for boarding, but it wouldn't be surprising to see the Penguins seeking supplemental discipline for the hit that knocked Zlobin out of the game.

The 3-2 win by the Penguins gives them a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series and a chance to advance to the second round with a win in Game Four at home on Friday night.

The Penguins were off and running in the first period, feeding off the energy from the home crowd. They took a 1-0 lead while a two-man advantage. Chuck Kobasew fed a cross ice pass to Nick Drazenovic, whose one-time shot picked the corner on Andrew Hammond.

The BSens came right back, scoring a shorthanded goal 21 seconds after the Penguins took the lead. Simon Despres was upended at the WBS offensive blue line and Corey Cowick scored on a two-on-one to even things up at 1-1.

The Penguins were dominant at times in the first period, out-muscling the BSens and sustaining some good cycling in the offensive zone.

The trend continued into the middle frame, and the Pens were rewarded at the 16:37 mark when Adam Payerl's screened shot popped the water bottle and put the Pens ahead 2-1.

The BSens battled back in the third period, tying the game at 2-2 midway through the final frame. Jim O'Brien, playing in his first game in six weeks, was in the right place at the right time as a partially deflected pass ended up on O'Brien's stick and he tapped it into what was basically an empty net to send the game to overtime.

Credit Peter Mannino with a huge save in overtime moments before the Penguins scored their game-winning goal. BSens defenseman Cody Ceci pinched in the offensive zone and created a 3-on-2 down low after a sliding Kobasew missed a poke check. Mannino was caught going the wrong direction but somehow managed to get a piece of the shot with his stick to deflect it aside.

ROSTER NOTES

Peter Mannino got the start in net. Matt Murray backed up Mannino.

No changes were made on defense.

Up front, there were two changes. Nick Drazenovic returned after sitting out Game Two as the team's veteran scratch. Spencer Machacek, who sat out Game One, was the veteran scratch tonight.

Also, Conor Sheary made his AHL playoff debut. Mike Carman was scratched to make room for Sheary.

Anton Zlobin took a vicious hit from behind from Mark Boroweicki in the first period and did not return. No update on Zlobin from the team following tonight's game.

Lines

Zlobin - Ebbett - Kobasew
Sheary - Drazenovic - Kostopoulos
Zolnierczyk - Rowney - Payerl
Uher - Sill - Farnham

Despres - McNeill
Harrington - Mikkelson
Dumoulin - Goers