Sports

AHL

By Tom Venesky tvenesky@timesleader.com
Sports Reporter
Tom Venesky on Facebook   |   TLTomVenesky on Twitter

PHILADELPHIA – On Reid Cashman’s first two shot attempts against the Philadelphia Phantoms he broke two sticks.

click image to enlarge

click image to enlarge

Select images available for purchase in the
Times Leader Photo Store

On his third attempt, he broke a tie.

Cashman’s slapshot midway through the third period propelled the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to a 4-1 win over the Phantoms at the Wachovia Spectrum on Tuesday.

The goal was Cashman’s first of the season and first of his AHL career. Ironically, Cashman, who wears number 11, scored the goal at 11:11.

“I had no idea. That’s pretty cool,” he said.

Cashman’s third period goal broke a tie that lasted since 5:29 of the first period and was the first of three Penguin goals in the last 10 minutes of play.

After Tim Wallace and Phantoms winger Rob Sirianni exchanged first period goals, both teams killed off three power plays each to remain tied midway through the third period until Cashman’s goal.

The play that led to the game-winning goal was actually created by Cashman when he made a pinpoint clearing pass to Jeff Taffe in the neutral zone. Taffe skated the puck deep into the Phantoms’ end and then dished it back to Cashman on the point for a one-timer.

After breaking sticks on his first two shots of the night, Cashman said his first AHL goal was the perfect way to forget about the mishaps.

“It was frustrating to start the game like that, especially the second one because I had a lane and my stick just blew up on me,” he said. “It’s nice to get the monkey off my back. It was only a matter of time with the skilled guys we have on this team.”

Cashman was one of several Penguins to take advantage of a regular shift thanks to a rash of call-ups to Pittsburgh. With Chris Minard, Bill Thomas and Luca Caputi all skating with the big club, players such as Cashman, Tommy Goebel and Adam Henrich saw an increase in ice time.

The trio fared pretty well. Cashman had a goal and was a plus-1, Goebel skated with Taffe and J.M. Daoust and was also a plus-1, and Henrich created several scoring chances while centering Aaron Boogaard and Paul Bissonnette.

Head coach Dan Bylsma said his team’s depth has been a strength all season as players routinely went up to Pittsburgh.

“There’s not a lot of drop off when guys like that (Richmond, Goebel and Henrich) go on to play games like they did tonight,” he said. “(Reid Cashman) had a hammer from the point and it’s good to see a guy like him get rewarded. He’s been here most of the year but hasn’t played a ton of games. To get him on the score sheet… good for Reid.”

After Cashman’s goal, Tim Wallace responded by burying his second of the game with two minutes left to play. Wallace skated behind the net and banked the puck off Phantoms’ goaltender Scott Munroe to give the Penguins a 3-1 lead. It was Wallace’s second consecutive two-goal game and he now has five goals in the last three games.

Joey Mormina sealed the 4-1 win with an empty net goal at 19:04.

Wallace attributed his recent success to the play of his linemates.

“We have a good thing going and we’re playing smart,” he said.

But Wallace isn’t the only Penguin on a successful streak. John Curry stopped 21 of 22 Phantoms shots to earn his sixth win in a row.

With the victory – the Penguins’ third in a row, they now trail first place Hershey by seven points.

NOTES - Danny Richmond was scratched due to a family issue.

First Period Scoring – 1. WBS, Tim Wallace 8 (Lovejoy, James) 3:54. 2. PHI, Sirianni 2 (Syvret, Maroon) 5:29. Penalties – PHI, Guenin (interference) 13:19.Second Period Scoring – None. Penalties – PHI, Raduns (holding) 4:40; WBS, Mormina (hooking) 7:23; PHI, Matsumoto (hooking) 12:22; WBS, Goebel (high-sticking) 19:21.Third Period Scoring – 3. WBS, Reid Cashman 1 (Taffe, Daoust) 11:11. 4. WBS, Tim Wallace 9 (James, Jeffrey) 18:02. 5. WBS, Joey Mormina 2 (unassisted) empty net 19:04. Penalties – PHI, Raduns (tripping) 3:13; WBS, Engelland (tripping) 5:35.Shots on goal: Penguins – 9-8-10-27. Philadelphia - 7-10-5-22

Power Play Opportunities: Penguins – 0 for 4. Philadelphia – 0 for 3

Goaltenders: Penguins – John Curry (17-7-0) 21 saves – 22 shots. Philadelphia – Scott Munroe (20-12-1) 23-26

Starters: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton – G John Curry, D Joey Mormina, D Ben Lovejoy, LW Tommy Goebel, C Jeff Taffe, RW J.M. Daoust. Philadelphia – G Scott Munroe, D Nate Guenin, D Danny Syvret, LW Boyd Kane, C Jared Ross, RW David Laliberte

Scratches: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton – D Danny Richmond, C Dave Gove. Philadelphia – LW Garrett Klotz, C Billy Ryan, D Patrik Hersley, RW Jeff Szwez

Referee: Jean Hebert

Linesmen – Dave Brown, Mike Hamilton

Three stars – 1. WBS, Tim Wallace (two goals) 2. WBS. John Curry (21 saves, 22 shots) 3. PHI, Nate Guenin (plus-1)

Attendance – 2,516