Inspired by Captain's Milestone, Pens Beat Bears, 5-4
March 6, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins News Release
WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - It was an afternoon of celebration and redemption.
One night after the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins lost to the rival Hershey Bears on the road, the Penguins stormed back for a 5-4 victory at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza on Sunday afternoon.
Carter Rowney scored his first career hat trick, but his feat may have been overshadowed by Tom Kostopoulos putting up three assists during the game in which he became the fourth player ever to play in 600 AHL and 600 NHL contests.
"This was [Kostopoulos'] 600th AHL game, and that's something special," said Penguins head coach Clark Donatelli. "We wanted to get the win for him... Six-hundred games here and then 600 in the NHL, not too many guys have done that."
Shortly after killing a penalty, the Penguins rushed down the ice to force a turnover, which led to Kostopoulos feeding Rowney for the game's opening goal at 2:19 of the first period.
It didn't take long for Hershey to answer the home team's quick strike, as Tyler Lewington's point shot redirected off of a Penguins defenseman and into the net, tying the game, 1-1, just 1:51 after Rowney's early tally.
Aaron Ness rocketed a puck into the top corner on a four-on-three power play for Hershey as the Bears took a 2-1 lead at 7:50 of the first.
Kostopoulos got himself on the scoresheet once again by assisting Jean-Sébastien Dea on a devastating bar-down shot that flew past Hershey goalie Justin Peters, bringing the game back to a tie, 2-2, 1:52 after Ness' go-ahead goal.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton pulled back into the lead, 3-2, at 12:22 of the opening frame thanks to a five-on-three man advantage goal by Carter Rowney.
Just as another Penguins power play expired, Matthias Plachta found Dominik Simon on a long, cross-ice pass that the Czech rookie flung into the back of the net, making it 4-2 at 15:53 of the first.
Hershey potted a five-on-three power play goal of its own when a baseball swing by Riley Barber knocked a puck out of mid-air and behind Brian Foster, bringing the Bears within one with 2:10 left in the first.
By the time the first 20 minutes of play finally came to a close, the Atlantic Division rivals had combined for seven goals and 38 total penalty minutes.
Once again, the two teams were tied after Ness scored his second goal of the game 4:38 into the second period.
It seemed as if the third period was destined for a balanced score, until Kostopoulos sprung Rowney for a shorthanded breakaway goal to complete the hat trick with 54 seconds remaining in the middle frame.
Rowney's hat trick was the first for any Wilkes-Barre/Scranton player this season as well as the first of his career, and it stood as the game-winner as the Penguins' wrapped up the game with a 5-4 victory.
Foster finished the game with 18 saves on 22 shots, whereas Peters stopped 28 of the 33 pucks thrown his way.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's next game is Wednesday, Mar. 9, against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Puck drop for the Penguins and Phantoms is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
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