AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

Penguins fall to Manitoba in season opener

Published on October 13, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins News Release


Wilkes-Barre, Pa (Wednesday, October 13, 2004) – Jimmy Roy and Jason King each recorded two goals and assist and goaltender Wade Flaherty stopped all 15 shots faced in relief as the Manitoba Moose opened the 2004-05 AHL season with a 6-3 win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

The Penguins got off to a fast start in the first period as they took an early 2-0 lead. The Penguins scored on their first shot of the season 2:52 into the contest as Ramzi Abid came skating down the right wing on a 2-on-1 break and beat goaltender Alex Auld with a slap shot from inside the right circle. Later in the period, the Penguins increased their lead to 2-0 as Shane Endicott beat Auld with a shot high to the glove side at 9:41.

But the Moose bounced back late in the period and tied the game on goals by King and Ryan Kesler less than two minutes apart. King got Manitoba on the scoreboard as he beat goaltender Andy Chiodo with a slap shot from the right circle at 12:53 and then Kesler tied the game with his first goal of the season at the 15:30 mark.

The Penguins chased Auld a little over a minute into the second period as Abid scored his second goal of the game to give the Penguins a 3-2 lead. Auld, who stopped just one of four shots faced, gave way to Wade Flaherty, who just over four months ago helped the Milwaukee Admirals to a sweep of the Penguins in the Calder Cup Finals. Flaherty came in and made several key saves, especially during a 5-on-3 power play midway through the period.

After killing off the two-man advantage, Manitoba tied the game as King beat Chiodo on a breakaway to tie the game at 3-3. Then, with under two minutes remaining in the second period, the Moose took their first lead of the game as Roy broke free in the slot and snapped a back-hander past Chiodo at 18:21.

In the third period, Manitoba put the game out of reach with two goals in a span of 1:12. Roy scored his second goal of the game at 14:03 and Peter Sarno added a power play goal at 15:15 to give the Moose a commanding 6-3 lead.

Andy Chiodo stopped 19 of 25 shots in the loss for the Penguins, while Flaherty picked up the win relief, stopping all 15 shots in 38:50 of action.

The Penguins were scoreless on seven power play attempts, while Manitoba scored one power play goal on seven play power chances.

The Penguins return to action on Saturday when they visit former Penguin Tom Kostopoulos and the Manchester Monarchs at 7:35 p.m. at the Verizon Wireless Arena.

GAME NOTES

Scratches for the Penguins were Darcy Robinson (healthy), Ross Lupaschuk (knee), Pascal Morency (healthy), Ben Eaves (knee) and Cam Paddock (healthy) ... Defenseman Alain Nasreddine was named team captain, while Kris Beech and Matt Murley will serve as alternate captains ... For the fifth straight season, the Penguins opened the season at home ... The Penguins are 1-5 in season openers, including a 1-4 mark at the Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza ... The Penguins extended their consecutive sellout streak to 141 games ... The Penguins will practice tomorrow morning at 10:30 a.m. at the Ice Box Skating Complex in Jenkins Township.




American Hockey League Stories from October 13, 2004


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