AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

Penguins Victorious in First Meeting with IceCaps

Published on January 14, 2012 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins News Release


ST. JOHN'S, Newfoundland - In their first-ever meeting against the St. John's IceCaps, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins tallied three shorthanded goals - including one on a penalty shot - to skate away with a 6-4 win on Saturday at the Mile One Centre.

The game was knotted, 3-3, just past the midway of the third when the IceCaps went on their fifth man-advantage of the game looking to pull ahead. Instead it was the Penguins taking the lead when Bryan Lerg completed a 2-on-1 shorthanded rush with Ben Street at 11:58 for his 14th goal of the season

On the following draw at center ice, Lerg took control of the puck and led defenseman Joey Mormina into the St. John's zone for the wrist shot over David Aebischer and his fourth marker of the year.

Jason Gregorie pulled St. John's within one with 5:26 remaining, but Penguins captain Ryan Craig made the final score, 6-4, on an empty-net goal with 52 seconds left on the clock. The unassisted tally was Craig's second of the night and fifth on the year.

With the two teams coming into second even at one, the Penguins got their first lead of the game at 7:55 of the frame as Zach Sill forced a steal behind the IceCaps net and found Craig in front for the quick stuff shot.

A fortuitous St. John's bounce tied the contest at 9:39 when a Brett Festerling pass clipped off of a Wilkes-Barre/Scranton stick and sailed by an unsuspecting Brad Thiessen between the pipes. The Penguins goalie 23 saves on 27 shots to lift his record to 14-10-2

St. John's had a chance to go ahead late in the period with a 5-on-4 advantage, but a blocked shot led Ben Street shorthanded breakaway. Though he was unable score on the initial chance, a penalty shot would be awarded and Street would convert at 16:18 for a 3-2 Penguins edge.

In the third period, the IceCaps would get their own penalty shot opportunity after Carl Klingberg was taken down on a breakaway at 8:27. Thiessen flashed the leg pad to deny Klingberg, but ten seconds later Ben Maxwell brought the score to 3-3 with a rebound goal on the ensuing faceoff.

The IceCaps and Penguins traded goals in the first stanza as Kenndal McArdle scored even-strength and

Lerg notched his first on the game on the power play.

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins complete their weekend on Sunday, January 15 as they face off against the St. John's IceCaps at 2:30 PM. For more information, visit www.wbspenguins.com.

Check out the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from January 14, 2012


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