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The team beat Phantoms in final regular season game, will see Norfolk in postseason.
WILKES-BARRE TWP. – Chris Collins had to get something off his back during Sunday’s matchup between the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and the Adirondack Phantoms: a 16 game goal-less drought.
With a wrist shot that found the beck of the net, Collins snapped his drought and started a three-goal third period as the Penguins came from behind to beat the Phantoms 4-2 in the season finale.
The win improves the Penguins to 58-21-0-1 with a franchise-best 117 points on the season as they prepare to battle the Norfolk Admirals in the first round of the playoffs.
Norfolk earned a matchup with the Penguins by beating Connecticut on Sunday, creating a series that should feature plenty of physical play. The Penguins are 5-3-0-0 against Norfolk this season.
“Every single game was a war against them,” Collins said.
“A complete war. There will definitely be some bloodbaths between us. I feel like its been playoff hockey the entire season against them.”
The Penguins used Sunday’s game to fine-tune things for the postseason, give additional opportunities to some players vying for ice time, rest others and, in Collins’ case, find some renewed confidence.
“I’ve been squeezing the stick hard and getting tons of chances, but I was always a hair or a fraction off,” Collins said of his goal scoring drought. “I was getting frustrated.”
Collins’ goal – his 13th of the season – came when Zach Sill made a nice backhand pass from the corner. Collins was posted in the right faceoff circle and blew a wrister past Phantoms goaltender Johan Backlund.
It was Collins’ first goal since March 8, and with the playoffs set to begin on Friday, it couldn’t have come at a better time.
“That goal helps me a lot confidence-wise,” he said. “To get it right before the playoffs makes you feel a lot better.”
The goal by Collins tied things up 2-2 and was the start of dominant third period from the Penguins. Ryan Schnell followed with a nice deflection goal in front at 14:14 which proved to be the game-winner, and Nick Petersen added some insurance when he teamed up with Ben Street on a two-on-one, froze Backlund and slid the puck behind his skate at 16:05 to make it 4-2. The tally was Petersen’s second of the game and his fifth of the season.
Schnell’s goal – his second of the season, was his first game-winner of his AHL career and one that he admitted was a surprise.
“I wanted to finish my year on a high note. I don’t think it could’ve ended any better way,” Schnell said. “I definitely wasn’t expecting that coming into this game.”
With head coach John Hynes electing to rest several regulars, he was able give additional ice time to other players auditioning for an opportunity to be in the lineup for the postseason. Forwards Paul Thompson, David Marshall, Andy Bathgate and Schnell all received a long look on Sunday.
“We’re going to need versatility and depth to get through (the playoffs) and last night and tonight was an opportunity for some guys to show what they can do,” Hynes said. “We’re going to have to make some tough decisions during the week, but that’s a good thing.”
The Penguins almost had a bad thing happen when goaltender Brad Thiessen left the game early in the third period and headed to the locker room. Patrick Killeen took his place in the crease, but only for a couple minutes until Thiessen returned and finished the game.
Thiessen said he suffered a cut from a skate blade during a scrum and left to have it checked.
“It wasn’t deep or anything,” Thiessen said. “Just got it patched up and went back out there.”
Watching his star goaltender exit the last game of the season early was the last thing Hynes wanted to see.
“When he came over to the bench I wasn’t sure what it was,” Hynes said. “But it turned out to be nothing.”
Other than that, the Penguins avoided any injuries and finished the regular season with an inspiring third period that saw them grind down the Phantoms. It’s a style of play that has worked all season, and one the Penguins expect to utilize in the playoffs against Norfolk.
“It’s hard to keep up with us for 60 minutes,” Collins said. “It will be close and then we pour it on in the third. Going into the playoffs it’s nice to have a home win like this.”
NOTES
The Penguins rested D Corey Potter, RW Geoff Walker, LW Bryan Lerg, D Steve Wagner and LW Tim Wallace on Sunday, while C Keven Veilleux missed the game completing his two-game suspension…The AHL announced on Sunday that Thiessen and John Curry won the Harry “Hap” Holmes Memorial Award presented to the goaltenders on the team which allows the fewest goals in the regular season…The Penguins surrendered just 183 goals this season.
Winners of the Penguins’ team awards were announced prior to Sunday’s game:
Media Award – Chris Collins
Star of the Year – Brad Thiessen
Rookie of the Year – Ben Street
Community Service Award – Chris CollinsMost
Valuable Defenseman – Corey Potter
Leading Scorer – Brett Sterling
Most Improved Player – Keven Veilleux
Herb Brooks Memorial Award – Ryan Craig
Fan Favorite – Zach Sill
Penguin Award – Ryan Craig
Most Valuable Player – Brad Thiessen
Adirondack
1
1
0
—
2
Penguins
1
0
3
–
4
First Period: Scoring – ADK, Rob Bordson 8 (Hamel, Read) 10:40. 2. WBS, Nick Petersen 4 (Street, Hutchinson) power play 19:38. Penalties – WBS, bench – served by Collins (too many men) 3:33; ADK, Ryan (Hooking) 19:19.
Second Period: Scoring – 3. ADK, Matt Read 7 (unassisted) 11:38. Penalties – ADK, Eddy (roughing) 7:24; WBS, Craig (roughing) 7:24; ADK, Jancevski (hooking) 14:29; ADK, Marshall (delay of game) 14:35; WBS, Craig (delay of game) 14:35.Third Period: Scoring – 4. WBS, Chris Collins 13 (Sill) 9:51. 5. WBS, Ryan Schnell 2 (Mormina, Sneep) 14:14. 6. WBS, Nick Petersen 5 (unassisted) 16:05. Penalties – ADK, Holmstrom (cross-checking) 3:23; WBS, Schnell (cross-checking) 3:23.
Shots on goal: Adirondack – 10-5-10-25. Penguins – 13-6-21-40.
Power-play Opportunities: Adirondack – 0 of 1. Penguins – 1 of 2.
Goaltenders: Adirondack – Johan Backlund 10-19-3 (36 saves – 40 shots). Penguins – Brad Thiessen 35-8-1 (23-25).
Starters: Adirondack – G Johan Backlund, D Dan Jancevski, D Erik Gustafsson, LW Rob Bordson, C Denis Hamel, RW Matt Read. Penguins – G Brad Thiessen, D Brian Strait, D Robert Bortuzzo, LW Chris Collins, C Ryan Craig, RW Joe Vitale.
Three Stars: 1. WBS, Ryan Schnell (game-winning goal) 2. WBS, Nick Petersen (two goals) 3. WBS, Chris Collins (goal)
Referee – Jeff Smith. Linesmen – Jameel Chaudry, Judson Ritter
Attendance – 7,161
Playoff schedule set
The playoff schedule for the Penguins first round matchup against Norfolk:
• Game 1 – Friday, April 15 at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
• Game 2 – Saturday, April 16 at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
• Game 3 – Tuesday, April 19 at Norfolk
• Game 4 – Wednesday, April 20 at Norfolk
• Game 5 – Friday, April 22 at Norfolk (if necessary)
• Game 6 – Saturday, April 23 at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (if necessary)
• Game 7 – Monday, April 25 at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (if necessary)