Click here to subscribe today or Login.
WILKES-BARRE TWP. – The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins streak of killing off 17 consecutive power plays, dating back to the Nov. 5 game against Bridgeport, ended on Saturday in the third period against the Hershey Bears.
But it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
By the time Bears center Kyle Wilson scored Hershey’s first power play goal a minute into the third period, the Penguins penalty killers had already done their jobs and sealed the 4-3 win.
First, they killed off four consecutive Hershey power plays in a span of five minutes during the first period, including three separate 5-on-3 Bears advantages.
Then, the penalty killers added a goal in the second period when Bill Thomas put the puck in the Hershey net on a 3-on-2 breakaway to give the Penguins a two-goal lead.
“All the penalty killers were awesome tonight. It shows how hard we were working and how frustrated they got,” said Thomas. “We were fortunate to add a goal as well and contribute on both ends.”
The Penguins continued their new-found penchant for starting off hot in the first period when Danny Richmond’s pass sprung Dustin Jeffrey for a breakaway goal five minutes into the game.
Hershey answered 13 seconds later, but Jonathan Filewich’s second goal of the season at 8:38 gave the Penguins a 2-1 lead and momentum.
That was until the penalties came, forcing the Penguins to spend the next five minutes trying to silence Hershey’s talented power play specialists.
The penalty killers responded, keeping Hershey’s power play quiet while goaltender John Curry stopped all eight shots he faced.
“That was a time in the game when we built some momentum,” said head coach Dan Bylsma.
The momentum carried into the second period when Thomas scored his short-handed goal. Later,Jeff Taffe added a power play goal to give the Penguins a 4-1 lead and enough support to endure two Hershey goals from Wilson later in the night.
Richmond set up Taffe’s goal, giving him three assists on the night – his first points of the season. “He probably wouldn’t have said it was bothering him, but I’m sure he was glad to get that goose egg out of there,” Bylsma said.
Richmond admitted it felt good to finally get some points on his stat sheet.
I was getting frustrated the last few nights. I was hoping for maybe one off my shin pads or something,” Richmond said. “It feels good.”
NOTES : The short-handed goal by Bill Thomas was the Penguins’ fourth of the season, equaling their total for all of last season. … Chris Minard’s assist in the first period extended his point streak to 11 games.
Hershey
1
1
1
–
3
Penguins
2
2
0
–
4
First Period
Scoring – 1. WBS, Dustin Jeffrey 2 (Richmond) 5:51. 2. Her, Sami Lepisto 2 (Wilson) 6:04. 3. WBS, Jonathan Filewich 2 (Taffe, Lovejoy) 8:36. Penalties – Her, Helmer (hooking) 9:36; WBS, Thomas (interference) 10:09; WBS, Lovejoy (tripping) 10:45; WBS, Mormina (slashing) 12:16; WBS, Lovejoy (delay of game) 14:06.
Second Period
Scoring – 4. WBS, Bill Thomas 1 (Richmond, Wallace) shorthanded 3:26. 5. WBS, Jeff Taffe 9 (Richmond, Minard) power play 12:23. 6. Her, Kyle Wilson 2 (Bourque, Gordon) 17:29. Penalties – WBS, Engelland (hooking) 1:47; Her, McNeil (fighting) 5:50; WBS, Boogaard (fighting) 5:50; Her, Amadio (holding) 6:05; Her, Bouchard (holding) 10:53; WBS, Cashman (hooking) 11:13; Her, Giroux (slashing) 12:00; WBS, Wallace (hooking) 15:22.
Third Period
Scoring – 7. Her, Kyle Wilson 3 (Collins, Bourque) power play 1:02. Penalties – WBS, bench, served by Minard (too many men) :44; Her, Machesney, served by Bouchard (delay of game) 2:15. Shots on goal: Hershey – 16-9-7-32; Penguins – 5-5-7-17. Power Play Opportunities: Hershey – 1 for 7; Penguins – 1 for 5Goaltenders: Hershey – Daren Machesney 3-6; Simeon Varlamov (3-1-0) (16:25 in the first period) 3-4; Machesney (start of third period) 7-7. Penguins – John Curry (3-2-0) 29-32