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WILKES-BARRE TWP. — The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins packed three goals into 3:43 during a second-period comeback Saturday night, but the rally went to waste when the Texas Stars made the most of their limited chances.
Joel L’Esperance answered the Penguins’ flurry with a tying power-play goal later in the second period and the Stars went on to their second victory in as many nights at Mohegan Sun Arena, winning 5-3.
Jason Robertson scored twice in the last five minutes of the first period, including a goal with eight-tenths of a second left for a 2-0 lead. L’Esperance assisted on the first goal.
Back-up goalie Emil Larmi struggled for the Penguins while slipping to 1-2-2 in his first five starts in North America.
“He’s got to play better,” Penguins coach Mike Vellucci said. “He’s got to stay more composed.”
Vellucci assumes he will.
“He’s going to be fine,” the coach said. “He’s going to work his way through it.”
The Penguins slipped to 13-8-2-1 by dropping two straight to the Stars in their only visit here.
Sam Miletic and David Warsofsky assisted on each other’s goals when the Penguins tied the game.
Warsofsky got a shot from the top of the left circle through traffic on a 5-on-3 for the tying goal.
Before the Stars could return to full strength, the Penguins moved in front on a shot from the center point by Zach Trotman.
“A big mistake wound up in the back of the net after we fought back to make it 3-2,” Vellucci said. “We didn’t give them much.”
Joel Kiviranta scored the game-winning goal 15 seconds into the third period and Nicholas Caamano added a shorthanded, breakaway goal with 11.4 seconds left.
NOTES
• The Penguins played without third-leading scorer – second among players on the current roster – Adam Johnson after he suffered an undisclosed injury in Friday’s game.
• L’Esperance, Robertson and Miletic were the first, second and third stars.
• The Penguins are in Hershey Sunday at 5 p.m. for the first of four straight road games before returning home to face the Providence Bruins Dec. 18.
• Jan Drozg, a fifth-round pick in the 2017 NHL draft by the parent Pittsburgh Penguins, was called up from Wheeling of the ECHL Saturday during the day. Drozg was leading Wheeling in goals (11) and points (20). He has played three games here in the previous two seasons.
Texas 5, Penguins 3
Texas`2`1`2`—`5
Penguins`0`3`0`—`3
First Period — 1, Texas, Robertson 9 (L’Esperance, Louis), 15:10; 2, Texas, Robertson 10 (Hanley), 19:59. Penalty — Lucchini, Penguins (hooking), 16:59.
Second Period — 3, Penguins, Miletic 4 (Warsofsky, Agozzino), 4:38; 4, Penguins, Warsofsky 3 (Miletic, Bellerive), 7:17 (PP); 5, Penguins, Trotman 3 (Bellerive, Di Pauli), 8:21 (PP); 6, Texas, L’Esperance 9 (Djuse, Louis), 11:48 (PP). Penalties — MacKay, Texas (tripping), 5:50; Heatherington, Texas (double minor-high sticking), 6:09; Angello, Penguins (interference), 11:13.
Third Period — 7, Texas, Kiviranta 6 (Heatherington, Melnick), 0:15; 8, Texas, Caamano 6 (unassisted), 19:49. Penalties — Agozzino, Penguins (goaltender interference), 3:47; Scarlett, Texas (delay of game), 9:05; Devane, Penguins (slashing), 9:46; Gardner, Texas (instigating, fighting, misconduct – instigating, game misconduct – instigator in last five minutes), 19:48; Scarlett, Texas (roughing, misconduct), 19:48; Devane, Penguins (fighting, game misconduct – third man in) 19:48; Warsofsky, Penguins (roughing, major – slashing, game misconduct – slashing), 19:48; Cecconi, Texas (misconduct), 20:00; Tufte, Texas (roughing, misconduct),20:00; Erkamps, Penguins (roughing, misconduct), 20:00; Larmi, Penguins (misconduct – goaltender beyond center), 20:00.
Shots on Goal — Texas 6-16-11—33. Penguins 10-10-9—29.
Power-play opportunities — Texas 1 of 4; Penguins 2 of 4.
Goalies — Texas, Bow 6-7-1 (29 shots-26 saves). Penguins, Larmi 1-2-2 (32 shots-28 saves).
A — 6,770.
Referees — Mitch Dunning, Michael Markovic. Linesmen — Julien Fournier, Ryan Knapp.