Penguins Defeat Phantoms, 5-1, in Regular Season Finale
Published on April 19, 2015 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins News Release
ALLENTOWN, Pa. - In his second game with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, defenseman Sean Escobedo recorded his first points in the American Hockey League with a three-point performance (1G-2A) that led Penguins to a 5-1 win over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in their regular season finale on Sunday at PPL Center.
The Penguins had an opportunity to get a jump on the Phantoms with an early 5-on-3 power play and they would take advantage. After Danny Syvret's point shot was stopped by Phantoms goaltender Rob Zepp, the puck kicked over to the far post, where Jean-Sebastien Dea was stationed to deposit his 10th of the season at 3:20 of the first.
With the ensuing 5-on-4 having just expired, Tom Kuhnhackl turned off the right boards with the puck and found space in high slot for a wrist shot to the top right corner of the Phantoms net that made the score, 2-0, just 49 seconds after Dea's tally.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton would build a three-goal lead with 2:56 gone in the second period when Bobby Farnham cut out of the near corner with the puck, making his way to the Lehigh Valley crease before lifting a backhand shot over the shoulder of Zepp.
Oliver Lauridsen got the Phantoms on the board at 9:27 of the frame as he worked down the left wing of the Penguins end and slipped a shot under the right leg pad of Jeff Zatkoff.
The Penguins took the 3-1 lead and a man-advantage into the third period, where Escobedo added to his big night. Signed to a professional tryout agreement by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Apr. 15, Escobedo put his team up by three when he pinched down to the left side to accept a circle-to-circle feed from Carter Rowney and slapped in his first AHL goal at 1:29 of the frame.
Jayson Megna completed the scoring for the Penguins with 9:01 left in the contest, tallying his team-leading 26th marker of the season.
Zatkoff turned aside 32-of-33 shots to pick up his fourth win in his last five starts. Zepp made 30 saves as the Phantoms closed out their inaugural campaign in Lehigh Valley.
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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