AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

Penguins Scare off Phantoms for Fourth Straight Win

Published on November 14, 2014 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins News Release


WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins extended their win streak to four games with their 3-1 victory over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms Friday night at the Mohegan Sun Arena. Bryan Rust's third period tally ended up being the decision maker in the contest.

Friday's game was the first of three this weekend as the Pens try to replicate last weekend's success of going three-for-three. The win adds to the Pens' East Division lead by pushing their record to 9-5-1-0 (19 points). The loss drops Lehigh Valley's record to 5-6-1-0 (11 points) and puts them fourth in the division.

The Pens got on the board first with a Scott Wilson 5-on-3 power play goal in the opening frame. Petr Straka and Zack Stortini sat in the sin bin for Lehigh Valley when Wilson cleaned up the Jean-Sebastian Dea shot at the 11:16 mark. Dea and Derrick Pouliot were credited with assists on the goal. Pouliot's helper extends his point streak to six games with eight points (2+6) in that time.

After a scoreless second period, Lehigh Valley fired back with a Brandon Manning power play goal. As the Pens tried to kill a Reid McNeill roughing minor, Manning slipped the puck past Pens' goaltender Jeff Zatkoff at the 2:27 mark of the final frame.

It seemed like the Pens might have had another overtime game on their hands until Rust broke the score at the 8:06 mark. Rust entered the Phantoms' zone and instantly dinged a shot of the post. He circled around the zone for a few moments before he was able to wrist a shot past Lehigh Valley netminder Rob Zepp. Andrew Ebbett and Scott Wilson were credited with assists on Rust's team-leading seventh goal. Rust also leads all AHL rookies in goals scored.

Pens fans had to hold their breath as Lehigh Valley pulled Zepp late in the third. With six Phantoms' skaters on the ice, Zatkoff held his ground in between the pipes until Dominick Uher put the biscuit into an open net to secure the win.

The Manning goal was the only blemish on Zatkoff's return to the lineup after missing some time with an injury. He ended the night with 21 saves while picking up the win. Zepp made 22 saves in the loss.

With the victory, the Pens take a 2-1 lead in the season series, as the two rivals will meet up nine more times this season.

The Pens resume action tomorrow when they battle the Syracuse Crunch at 7:05pm in Wilkes-Barre. They wrap up their three-game weekend series on Sunday afternoon in Hershey.

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.

Penguins season tickets, including full season, 22-game, 12-game and 10-ticket flex vouchers, are available directly through the Penguins ticket offices at 570-208-7367.

Check out the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from November 14, 2014


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