Nylander Snipes Again, Penguins Fall to T-Birds, 4-2
February 3, 2023 - American Hockey League (AHL) - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins News Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins were downed by the Springfield Thunderbirds, 4-2, on Friday night at MassMutual Center.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (20-18-2-3) received a strong showing in net from rookie Taylor Gauthier, plus another goal from All-Star Alex Nylander. However, Springfield went perfect on the power play and then held on in the final minutes to get the win.
Springfield struck first, receiving a goal from Keean Washkurak at the four-minute mark of the first period. The T-Birds increased that lead to 2-0 on a between-the-legs, power-play tally by Matthew Highmore at 8:50 of the opening frame.
The Penguins answered back with a man-advantage marker of their own late in that first period. Colin Swoyer released a shot from the point that navigated its way to the back of the net for his first AHL goal.
The T-Birds reestablished their two-goal edge during the second period with another strike on the power play. This time, it was Martin Frk uncorking a cannonading slap shot to the top corner at 14:48.
Nylander notched his team-leading 19th goal of the season with a precision shot over Vadim Zherenko's glove at 3:56 of the final frame.
Springfield put Wilkes-Barre/Scranton under siege for stretches of the third period, but Gauthier stopped all 15 shots with which he was tasked during that frame and kept the Penguins within one goal. When the Penguins turned the tables and began to pressure Zherenko, the T-Birds' netminder also held firm.
Eventually, Matthew Peca sealed the victory for Springfield with an empty-net goal, his third point of the night.
Gauthier recorded an AHL career-best 37 saves, while Zherenko turned away 28 shots for Springfield.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's next game is tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 4, against the Hartford Wolf Pack at XL Center. Puck drop between the Penguins and Wolf Pack is slated for 7:05 p.m. The Penguins' are back home next Saturday, Feb. 11, when they take on the Providence Bruins. Game time for the Penguins and P-Bruins will be 6:05 p.m. at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.
Individual game tickets and season-ticket packages for the 2022-23 season are on sale now. Full-Season, 22-game, 12-game, Flexbook and Premium Seating plans are available by reaching out to the Penguins directly at (570) 208-7367.
• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...
American Hockey League Stories from February 3, 2023
- Griffins Score Twice On The Power Play In Win Over Division-Leading Stars - Grand Rapids Griffins
- John Leonard Nets Two Goals in Milwaukee Win - Manitoba Moose
- Wild Point Streak Moves to 13 Games, Iowa Drops Shootout 3-2 to Rockford - Iowa Wild
- Hogs Claim Second Consecutive Shootout Win - Rockford IceHogs
- Nylander Snipes Again, Penguins Fall to T-Birds, 4-2 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Griffins Grab Win Over Stars In Cedar Park - Texas Stars
- Bruins Double Phantoms 4-2 on Friday Night - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Nylander Snipes Again, Penguins Fall to T-Birds, 4-2 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Monsters Buzz Into 2-1 Victory Over Wolves - Cleveland Monsters
- Peca's 3-Point Effort Puts T-Birds in 7th Heaven - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Blais Pots Two Goals to Lead Wolf Pack Past Comets 4-3 - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Crunch Edged by Checkers, 5-4, in Overtime - Syracuse Crunch
- Logan Hutsko Gives Checkers Overtime Win at Syracuse - Charlotte Checkers
- Hutsko Gives Checkers Overtime Win at Syracuse - Charlotte Checkers
- Brazeau, McLaughlin Post Two-Point Nights as P-Bruins Defeat Phantoms - Providence Bruins
- Terry Nets Shorthanded Goal In Loss To Bears On Friday - Bridgeport Islanders
- Wolves Fall to Monsters 2-1 - Chicago Wolves
- Bears Get Back In Win Column With 4-1 Victory Over Islanders - Hershey Bears
- Comets Defeated by Wolf Pack, 4-3 - Utica Comets
- Ice-O-Topes Night Has Sold Out - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Ottawa Senators release statement regarding coaching staff - Belleville Senators
- Monsters Sign Goaltender Hunter Vorva to Pro Tryout Contract - Cleveland Monsters
- Forward Antonio Stranges Assigned to Idaho Steelheads - Texas Stars
- AHL Launches Mentorship Initiative to Promote Inclusion at All-Star Classic - AHL
- Game #45 - Roadrunners at Reign - Tucson Roadrunners
- Game Preview: Iowa Wild at Rockford IceHogs - Iowa Wild
- Wolf Pack Host Comets in Final Meeting of the Season - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Game Preview: Bears at Islanders, 7 p.m. - Hershey Bears
- Amerks Celebrating Annual Hometown Heroes Night February 10 against Springfield - Rochester Americans
- Penguins Sign Justin Addamo to PTO - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Bridgeport Islanders Host Bears at 7 p.m. - Bridgeport Islanders
- Hogs and Wild Battle on 90's Night - Rockford IceHogs
- Wranglers Fall to Condors at Home - Calgary Wranglers
- Belleville Sens Earn Emphatic Win Over Amerks - Belleville Senators
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
