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AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

Megna Notches Hat Trick as Penguins Hold off Admirals

April 19, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins News Release


WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - Jayson Megna recorded the first hat trick of his pro career to help lead the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to a 5-4 win over the Norfolk Admirals on Saturday at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza. With the victory, the Penguins clinched the fourth-seed in the Eastern Conference and will face off against the Syracuse Crunch in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Norfolk were tied at one entering the second period before the Penguins were able to get the puck past Admirals goalie Ryan Faragher twice and build a 3-1 lead. Barry Goers put Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on top by one at 7:52 of the frame when a loose puck came to him at the center point and he blasted a slapshot to the back of the net.

Already with one goal on the man-advantage in the game, Megna struck for a second time when Andrew Ebbett found him alone on the right hashmark for a wrist shot to the top left corner on the Norfolk net with 1:07 left until the intermission.

After Tom Kuhnhackl made the score 4-1 for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at 4:27 of the third period, Megna would push the lead to four just 1:31 later. Catching up to flip pass out of the defensive zone by Alex Boak, Megna drove down the right wing and zipped a wrister inside the near post for his third of the night and team-leading 25th goal of the year. It was the first hat trick by a Penguins player since Chad Kolarik tallied three on Apr. 14, 2013 at St. John's.

In what would be their final game in the American Hockey League before moving to the ECHL next season, the Admirals provided a dramatic ending to the contest.

Louis LeBlanc cut into the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton lead less than two minutes after Megna's tally, lifting a shot over the right shoulder of Jeff Zatkoff for a Norfolk power play goal at 7:33 of the third. On the man-advantage once again late in regulation, Michael Sgarbossa slid a change-up by the outstretched pad of Zatkoff with 2:05 remaining in the third to shrink Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's edge down to two.

The Admirals pulled the goaltender in favor of the extra attacker in the final minute of regulation and it was Antoine Laganiere stuffing in wraparound shot to leave the Penguins clinging to a 5-4 lead with 40.1 seconds left in the contest. With their net empty again, Norfolk would be unable to add the tying goal before the final horn.

The Penguins capitalized on the first power play of the game to go ahead, 1-0, at 5:31 of the opening period. Handling the puck at the near circle, Conor Sheary fed a pass into the slot for Megna, who knocked the puck past the glove of Faragher.

With 5:02 left in the same period, Norfolk would even the score after winning a faceoff to the blueline for Brandon Montour. The Admirals defenseman fired a high slapshot that ricocheted of a stick in front before sneaking between the pads of Zatkoff.

Zatkoff finished with 31 saves on 35 shots for his second win in as many starts. Faragher stopped 19-of-25 in the loss for Norfolk.

The Penguins close out their regular season schedule on Sunday, Apr. 19 as they face the Lehigh Valley Phantoms at 5:05 p.m. Listen in on WILK Newsradio or watch online at AHL Live.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton opens up its Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series versus the Syracuse Crunch at Mohegan Sun Arena on Friday, Apr. 24 at 7:05 p.m.

Games 1, 2 and 3 (tickets marked A, B and C for playoff ticket package holders) are on sale now online at TicketMaster.com or by calling the Penguins offices at (570) 208-7367.

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