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AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

Penguins Rally to 6-4 Win over Lehigh Valley

October 17, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins News Release


WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - The late New York Yankees star Yogi Berra was famous for his many quirky quips and curious adages that have become common place over time. The most famous of which being perhaps, "It's not over 'til it's over."

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Head Coach Mike Sullivan was in the same line of thinking as Berra- but much more direct- in his postgame press conference after the Penguins home opener at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza on Saturday evening.

Sullivan said, "You're never safe in this league."

The Penguins overcame an early 3-0 deficit to division rival Lehigh Valley Phantoms, but reeled off five consecutive goals en route to a 6-4 victory.

Lehigh Valley came out firing on all cylinders with the opportunity to play spoiler for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's home opener, and jumped out to a 3-0 lead by the 5:06 mark of the first period.

Former Penguin Chris Conner wasted no time making his old team pay, dashing down the wing and setting up Petr Straka for the opening goal just 1:11 into the game.

Jay Rosehill capitalized on a Penguins defensive zone turnover for his first goal of the 2015-16 campaign to put the Phantoms up 2-0.

Tim Brent finally cracked the Penguins' once unblemished penalty kill to extend Lehigh Valley's lead to three goals. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's penalty kill was a perfect eight-for-eight prior to that score.

Will O'Neill netted his second power play goal of the season with a slap shot at 8:22 of the first to bring the Penguins to within two goals at the end of the opening frame.

Making his 481st appearance in a Wilkes-Barre/Scranton uniform, Tom Kostopoulos scored twice, including the insurance goal, and added an assist on O'Neill's first marker.

The first Kostopoulos goal came on the man advantage during a carry-over power play from the first period, pulling the Penguins closer to the Phantoms, 3-2, just 28 seconds into the second.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton capitalized on three of four power plays in the second period, as well as Niclas Andersén's first goal in North America, and the Penguins went into the second intermission with a 5-3 lead and the home crowd on its feet.

"The fans were fun," Penguins forward Oskar Sundqvist said after the game. "We felt their support all game, even when we were down."

The Phantoms made things interesting by outshooting the Penguins 12-9 in the third period and scoring with a Nick Cousins snipe 1:45 into the final frame of regulation to make it 5-4. But Kostopoulos scored his second of the evening at 12:01 to snuff the visitor's comeback and seal the win.

"It used to be in this league and the NHL that when you got off to a two-goal lead you would win the game," Sullivan said. "Not anymore... Never did I think we were safe.

"There were a lot of mistakes made tonight on both sides, and that makes for exciting hockey for the fans; maybe not for the coaches, but definitely exciting for the fans."

Lehigh Valley finished the game with only 15 skaters on its bench, as injuries sustained before and during Saturday's game put the Phantoms in dire straits late in the Pens' home opener.

Matt Murray made 22 saves for the Penguins, while Jason LaBarbera stopped 26 of the 31 pucks he saw standing between the pipes for the Phantoms.

The win brings Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to 2-1-0-0 as they head to Bridgeport to face off against the team that handed the Penguins their only loss in this young season. Puck drop between the Sound Tigers and Penguins is scheduled for 5:05 p.m. on Sunday at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Conn.

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