Penguins

AHL HOCKEY

DAN HICKLING Special to the Times-Leader

WORCESTER, Mass. – Penguins coach Todd Reirden called it a measuring stick.

click image to enlarge

click image to enlarge

Select images available for purchase in the
Times Leader Photo Store

To defenseman Ben Lovejoy, it was a measure of redemption.

Either way, the 2-1 triumph chalked up by the Pens over the Worcester Sharks could simply be called impressive.

The Pens got all their offense in a first period span of 1:39, and with netminder John Curry pulling off a 30 save gem, it was all the offense they needed.

“It was a huge win,” said Lovejoy, who netted the first Penguin goal. “We kind of laid an egg last night (Friday’s 2-1 home loss to Norfolk), and we knew we needed to come back with a big response.”

That bounce back came at the expense of one of the hottest teams in the AHL. Worcester had won seven of its last 10 starts.

“They’ve got an excellent team over there,” said Reirden. “We considered this a very good challenge for us. A measuring stick for our team.”

The Pens spent much of the first period with a man advantage – including an extended 5-on-3 – and after being frustrated early on, took a 2-0 lead.

“Goals have been tough to come by, recently,” said Lovejoy. “We’re concentrating on putting pucks to the net and driving to the crease.

Lovejoy did a some of both, when he scored a four on four goal at 16:36.

Cruising in from the right point, Lovejoy snapped a wrister past Worcester goalie Alex Stalock.

“I floated one through,” said Lovejoy. “I was just trying to get it to the net, and luckily it had eyes and found its way through.”

Moments later Letestu scored a power play marker when he took a crisp cross crease pass from Ryan Bayda and parked it in the gaping left side of the net.

“Both Bayda and Kevin Veilleux were battling hard in front of the net,” said Letestu, “and I was able to slip over to the front of the net. I got a pretty good pass. Thank God I was able to put it away.”

The Penguins surrendered a power play goal at 7:44 of the second period, when Steven Zalewski shoveled in T.J. Trevelyan’s short feed to make it 2-1.

However, the Pens slammed the door, with Curry pulling off 14 saves in the third period to seal the win.

NOTES: Prior the contest, D Deryk Engelland was summoned by Pittsburgh to help reinforce an ailing blueline. “Deryk has put in a large term of service with our team,” said Reirden. “He’s a leader among our group, and always stands up for our players. He’s definitely earned an opportunity.”

Also, veteran Worcester coach Roy Sommer was honored in a pre-game ceremony for having collected his 400th AHL win, making him just the fourth head coach to reach the milestone. Reirden, a rookie coach, who is now “just” 394 wins behind Sommer, expressed his respect for the achievement. “I played against his teams,” said Reirden, who spent a brief, seven game stint in Worcester nine seasons ago. “His teams are always prepared. That’s what I remember about them. I think it’s great that the Sharks have a coaching staff like that.”