Penguins Pull out OT Victory over Wolf Pack
Mar 30, 2018By Matt Morin
Daniel Sprong’s goal with 39.8 seconds left in overtime gave the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins a 4-3 win over the Wolf Pack Friday night at the XL Center.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton had battled back from a 3-1 deficit in the game, after the Wolf Pack got goals in the second period from Gabriel Fontaine, Dawson Leedahl and Scott Kosmachuk.
Christian Thomas had two goals and an assist for the Penguins, and Zach Trotman scored the other Wilkes-Barre/Scranton goal.
The Penguins struck first, when Thomas got a shot past Alexandar Georgiev at the 9:16 mark in the first period. The goal was Thomas’ fourteenth of the season, and he was assisted by Ethan Prow and Jarrett Burton.
The first period would end in a scuffle, after Hartford defenseman Ryan Lindgren crashed the net, much to the disapproval of the Penguins’ defense. Both Chris Summers and Lindgren received roughing minors at 19:56, and the second period would start with four-on-four hockey. Eighteen seconds into the second period the ice would open up a little more when Kevin Czuczman was sent to the penalty box for hooking. The Wolf Pack did not waste the man advantage, as Fontaine tied the game with his eighth of the season at 1:54, assisted by Kosmachuk and Cole Schneider. The assist extended Schneider’s point streak to seven straight games.
Fontaine’s goal turned the four-on-three advantage into four-on-four hockey, and the Wolf Pack continued to thrive in the open ice. At 3:52, Leedahl was able to backhand the puck into the back of the net and gave Hartford a 2-1 lead over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
“That’s the area of the ice he needs to go to, in front of the net, and that’s the type of goal he needs to score,” said Wolf Pack head coach Keith McCambridge of Leedahl, who was assisted on the goal by Hubert Labrie and Dan DeSalvo.
The Pack’s offensive pressure was not finished there. Kosmachuk made an outstanding play in the neutral zone to disrupt Penguins’ transition game and continue to fight for the puck along the boards. Boo Nieves was able to scoop up the loose puck Kosmachuk created and cut through the slot. Nieves then passed back across to Kosmachuk, who had an open net to put the puck into for his fifteenth goal of the season. The goal came at the 11:13 mark in the second period.
Hartford’s lead was cut to one after Trotman scored with 3:07 left in the second period. Trotman was assisted on the goal by Jarred Tinordi and Thomas.
The Penguins would wipe out the rest of that lead in the third period, when Thomas scored his second goal of the game and fifteenth of the season. The time of the goal was 6:25, and Tom Sestito picked up the lone assist.
The rest of the third period would remain scoreless, largely due to the play of Georgiev, who faced 16 shots in the third. Those included an Adam Johnson penalty shot, after he was hooked by Simon Denis while breaking in on Georgiev at 9:38.
The Wolf Pack and the Penguins would both get their fair share of scoring chances throughout the overtime period but, ultimately, the Penguins snatched the win when Sprong scored his 27th of the season, tops among AHL rookies, on a hard shot from the right-wing side.
“I thought [Georgiev] played well tonight,” said McCambridge about his goaltender’s second game back from his time with the New York Rangers. “When there was a scramble he was able to stay strong and steady and track pucks.”
Georgiev, however, gave the credit for his strong performance to his defenseman. He said that he, “Had trouble controlling the puck in the first couple periods and those guys were always there to clear it out.”
McCambridge agreed, saying, “Both [Chris Bigras] and [Brandon Crawley] played real strong tonight, as well as Labrie, he was strong back there as well. They’ve got a big team Wilkes-Barre, so you have to be real strong in your positioning, and I thought those guys did a good job.”
The Wolf Pack are back at the XL Center on Saturday night, hosting the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at 7:00 PM. The first 1,000 kids 12 or younger into the game will receive a free Wolf Pack youth jersey, presented by KeyBank.
Tickets for all Wolf Pack 2017-18 home games are on sale now at the Agera Energy Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499.
Season ticket information for the Wolf Pack’s 2017-18 AHL season can be found on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com. To speak with a representative about all of the Wolf Pack’s many attractive ticketing options, call (855) 762-6451.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 4 (OT) at Hartford Wolf Pack 3
Friday, March 30, 2018 - XL Center
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 1 1 1 1 - 4
Hartford 0 3 0 0 - 3
1st Period-1, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Thomas 14 (Prow, Burton), 9:16. Penalties-Albert Hfd (slashing), 7:04; Dea Wbs (high-sticking), 13:00; Blueger Wbs (hooking), 17:55; Summers Wbs (cross-checking), 19:56; Lindgren Hfd (cross-checking), 19:56.
2nd Period-2, Hartford, Fontaine 8 (Kosmachuk, Schneider), 1:54 (PP). 3, Hartford, Leedahl 2 (Labrie, DeSalvo), 3:52. 4, Hartford, Kosmachuk 15 (Nieves), 11:13. 5, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Trotman 5 (Tinordi, Thomas), 16:53. Penalties-Czuczman Wbs (hooking), 0:18; served by Gropp Hfd (bench minor - too many men), 14:22; served by Sprong Wbs (bench minor - too many men), 19:55.
3rd Period-6, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Thomas 15 (Sestito), 6:25. Penalties-Fogarty Hfd (holding), 13:50.
OT Period-7, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Sprong 27 (Cramarossa), 4:20. Penalties-No Penalties
Shots on Goal-Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 12-12-16-7-47. Hartford 14-11-5-3-33.
Power Play Opportunities-Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 0 / 3; Hartford 1 / 4.
Goalies-Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Leighton 8-4-4 (33 shots-30 saves). Hartford, Georgiev 13-11-7 (47 shots-43 saves).
A-5,277
Referees-Peter Tarnaris (17), Chris Waterstradt (88).
Linesmen-Brent Colby (7), Glen Cooke (6).