Penguins Bounce Back with 3-0 Win over Monarchs
March 7, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins News Release
MANCHESTER, N.H. - Matt Murray became the first Wilkes-Barre/Scranton goaltender to register four shutouts in a row as he stopped all 32 shots he faced in the Penguins' 3-0 win against the Manchester Monarchs on Saturday afternoon at Verizon Wireless Arena.
The 20-year rookie goaltender gathered his league-leading ninth shutout of the season, while stretching his scoreless streak to 245:22. Murray also tied the AHL mark for shutouts in a season by a rookie, set by Gordie Bell (Buffalo) in 1942-43 and matched by Wade Dubielewicz of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in 2003-04.
In their fourth game of the season versus Manchester, the Penguins took their first lead in the season series with 2:30 left in the first period. Forechecking pressure from Dominik Uher forced an errant pass into the Monarchs slot by Jordan Weal that was intercepted Matia Marcantuoni. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton center quickly spun and fired a shot past Patrik Bartosak for his third goal of the season.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton were able to add to their lead 6:45 into the second period when Tom Kostopoulos' cycle pass kicked off the rear wall and took a direct path toward the near post. Conor Sheary was in position to knock in his team-leading 18th goal of the season to put the Penguins up, 2-0.
The Monarchs looked to get on the board on the power play in third period, but Tom Kuhnhackl stripped Weal of the puck at the Penguins blueline and raced down the ice for a backhander through the pads of Bartosak to the make the score, 3-0, at the 9:00 mark.
On the same power play, a goal-mouth scramble in front of Murray's net led a penalty shot for Manchester after it was ruled a Penguins player closed his hand on the puck in the crease. Murray made a stick save on the ensuing bid by Sean Backman to maintain Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's three-goal lead.
Murray raised his record to 17-8-2 and has now collected shutouts in six of his last eight starts. Bartosak took the loss for the Monarchs, making 24 saves on 27 shots.
The Penguins complete their three-game weekend on Sunday, Mar. 8 with 3:00 p.m. matinee versus the Springfield Falcons. Listen in on WILK Newsradio or watch online at AHL Live.
Individual tickets for all Penguins home games are available at the Mohegan Sun Arena Box Office, online at TicketMaster.com, or by calling 800-745-3000.
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