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AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

Hectic First Period Highlights Penguins' 4-3 Win

January 8, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins News Release


ALLENTOWN, Pa. - The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins took down the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, 4-3, in a thriller on Friday night at PPL Center to win their fourth-straight game and improve to 25-8-0-1.

The game's first period featured seven goals scored between the two teams and saw the Penguins gain the lead, lose it, and take it back again with the eventual game-winning goal.

"I really liked the way we kept our composure," said Penguins head coach Clark Donatelli. "We gave up three quick goals, we called a timeout, we regrouped, and we composed ourselves and got back in it. That's a testament to the leadership group in the room, guys sticking to the system, and believing in each other."

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton took an early lead when Niclas Andersén's point shot redirected off the chest of Josh Archibald and behind Lehigh Valley goalie Anthony Stolarz at 4:10 of the first period.

Fifty-one seconds later, Dominik Uher tipped in a cross-crease feed from Tom Kostopoulos, putting the Penguins up, 2-0. Uher's goal marked the fourth-consecutive game in which Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has scored two goals in under one minute.

Lehigh Valley quickly answered as Taylor Leier scored on the Phantoms' first shot of the game, making it 2-1 just 1:46 after the Penguins second goal.

The Phantoms' Sam Gagner and Sam Morin rattled off two quick-succession goals of their own, potting the game-tying and go-ahead goal at 8:23 and 8:46 of the first period, respectively.

Following Morin's goal, Donatelli utilized his lone timeout, and his team responded with intense pressure on the Phantoms resulting in the 3-3 equalizer at 11:50 of the opening frame from Scott Wilson.

Archibald regained the lead for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, rifling a puck off the post and in, making it 4-3 at 15:54 of the first. The Penguins' late-first marker spelled the end of the night for Stolarz, who was replaced by Jason LaBarbera. Stolarz left the game having made seven saves on 11 shots.

The seven-goal period was the first in a Wilkes-Barre/Scranton game since Feb. 25, 2014 against the Hershey Bears in the third period of a 6-5 Penguins win.

Though the second and third periods did not contain any goals from either team, the rest of the game was not short on drama, including Archibald having a hat trick goal disallowed after lengthy video review and the Penguins killing off a five-on-three power play while two of their skaters had broken their sticks.

"I don't think I've ever seen only one guy on the ice with a stick," said Penguins goalie Matt Murray. "At that point, it's just compete and nothing else. It comes down to the desire to make a play. That (penalty kill) was a huge momentum swing for us."

Murray finished the game with 17 saves, while LaBarbera ended up allowing no goals on 12 shots in relief duty.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's next game is tomorrow, Saturday, Jan. 9, and is the lone home game of the season against the Utica Comets. Puck drop between the Penguins and Comets is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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