Another late goal broke the backs of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the Eastern Conference finals on Friday night, this one coming well after the end of regulation.
Now, the Pens will have to head to Toronto down 2-0 with a long way to climb back into the series.
Marc Johnstone scored the game-winner with just over five minutes remaining in overtime as the Penguins fell to the Toronto Marlies 2-1 on Friday night at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza.
The Marlies were kept out of the goal for over two periods after taking a lead in the first period, but Johnstone was able to sneak one by Penguins keeper Sergei Murashov to seal another road victory for Toronto.
It’s the second win of this series for the Marlies secured by a goal in the final two minutes of regulation or late. Toronto scored two goals in the final two minutes on Wednesday to beat the Penguins in the series opener.
The Marlies took the lead late in the first period after a hooking penalty on Mikhail Ilyin put Toronto on the power play.
Alex Nylander made the opportunity count and slid one in to give the Marlies the lead, with assists from Luke Haymes and Noah Chadwick. It was Nylander’s fourth goal of the postseason.
Just like the series opener, the Penguins found themselves trailing heading into the final period. And just like in that contest on Wednesday, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton was able to come up with an equalizer.
With 8:01 gone by in the third, Tanner Howe tied the game 2-2. Chase Pietila and Rutger McGroarty had the assists for Howe’s goal; it was the second straight game with some heroics from McGroarty after he scored for the Pens in the third period on Wednesday.
The two teams went the rest of the third period and nearly 15 minutes into overtime before the next goal was scored.
Unfortunately for the Pens, it was a Marlies stick that put the puck in the back of the net and sent the home crowd home in Wilkes-Barre Township home deflated.
Murashov made 37 saves despite the loss for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. After managing just 16 shots on goal in Game 1 but still managing to win, the Marlies’ offense was much more prodigious in Game 2, putting 39 shots on Murashov.
The Eastern Conference finals now shift to Toronto, where the Marlies will return home with a 2-0 lead in the best-to-seven series.
The puck will drop at 7 p.m. on Monday night for Game 3 at the Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto.
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