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WILKES-BARRE TWP. — Prior to playing his last regular-season home game on Saturday, Tom Kostopoulos was honored with a few team awards and was joined by his family for a video tribute of his career.
During the game, Kostopoulos’ teammates honored him with a 7-4 win over the Binghamton Devils, allowing their captain to pursue the one goal that has eluded him over a nearly 20-year career — a championship.
“It was nice. Maybe a little bit too much,” Kostopoulos said of the pregame tribute. “It was good to clinch in front of our fans. This one was special for me, to clinch on this night.”
While a Bridgeport Sound Tigers loss on Saturday sealed a playoff nod for the Penguins late in the game, they were already cruising with a three-goal lead at that point.
After that, all that was left for Kostopoulos to do on the night was soak it in one last time. He did so by shaking hands with the Devils players, tossing his stick to the fans and skating a lap around the ice while his teammates waited at the bench.
“I hope I can skate on it a few more times in the playoffs,” Kostopoulos said. “It was special to acknowledge the fans like that.”
Right from the start it was clear that the Penguins would capitalize on the energy generated by a sellout crowd to clinch in Kostopoulos’ home finale — his 655th game with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The win also marks the 16th consecutive trip to the postseason for the Penguins — the longest active streak in the AHL.
When Jean-Sebastien Dea scored a power-play goal on a play that appeared to be offsides, luck was on the Penguins’ side.
And it remained there for the rest of the period.
Goals from Tom Sestito, Jarrett Burton and Zach Trotman gave the Penguins a daunting 4-0 lead, and Kostopoulos knew it was time to switch his focus on preparing for one final run for the Calder Cup.
“It was so much fun to have the energy of the crowd,” he said. “It was probably one of the best crowds of the year. They brought us a lot of energy to get those four quick goals.”
For his part, the game has changed a bit for Kostopoulos since Wednesday’s decision to retire. He admitted the decision lifted a weight off his shoulders now that the future is known.
“It was cool to be able to tell the fans this would be it and play these last two regular-season games. Now we can stop talking about it and get ready for the playoffs,” he said.
And even though Kostopoulos was held without a point on the night, his teammates made sure there was no doubt that there would be a win.
Even as Binghamton pushed back to make it 4-2 in the second period and 6-4 in the final frame, the Penguins continued to pad the lead. A pair of goals by Christian Thomas and another from Daniel Sprong in the third period made sure the win was never in jeopardy.
With retirement a pending certainty and the playoffs clinched, the only question left is what are his plans for the final four games of the regular season?
“I want to get my game to the highest level going into the playoffs. I want to do what I can to get this team in a good spot,” he said.
