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AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

Simon, Kühnhackl Form Dynamic Duo as Penguins Win in OT

October 24, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins News Release


WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - On a map of Europe, Germany and the Czech Republic share over 500 miles of common borders.

On the ice, Germany and the Czech Republic shared the puck for two timely goals as the Wyoming Valley witnessed yet another comeback win.

Tom Kühnhackl and Dominik Simon became a dynamic duo as they connected for the game-tying and game-winning goals in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 3-2 overtime victory against the Springfield Falcons Saturday night at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.

Kühnhackl tied the game after receiving a behind-the-back, no-look pass from Simon at the blue line that put the German-native in on a breakaway. Kühnhackl's equalizer came at 6:12 of the third period and made the score 2-2.

Simon won the game just 36 seconds into three-on-three overtime, after a loose puck squirted out of the corner onto the Czech rookie's stick. One backhand shot later, and the Penguins had earned their fourth consecutive win, improving to 5-1-0-0 on the season.

Though Simon's game-winner was credited as unassisted, it was Kühnhackl making the play along the boards to help jostle the puck into a free space where Simon eventually scored.

"I thought that line brought a ton of spark," Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan said of the threesome of Kühnhackl, Simon, and Josh Archibald. "I saw what they were doing, and I stuck with it."

Kühnhackl, Simon, and Archibald did not start the game together, but were united as Sullivan shook up his offensive line combinations in an attempt to help his team even the score against a buzzing Falcons squad.

"That's a team (Springfield) that is still searching for its first win, so they tend to play with a little more urgency in their game," Sullivan said. "I don't know what it was with our guys tonight- maybe it's because we've played so well so many times this season- but I told them after the second period, 'This is gut-check time. Good teams find a way to get points out of these types of games.' That's exactly what they did."

Simon's two points tonight moved him up to second in team scoring with seven points (2G-5A), trailing only Scott Wilson.

Former Penguin Dustin Jeffrey opened the scoring at 6:43 of the first period, beating Murray stick side.

Wilson knotted things up at one goal apiece with a highlight reel wraparound roof job at 13:12 of the first for his team-leading fourth goal and eighth point of the season.

Greg Carey put the Falcons back on top with a spinning shot from a sharp angle that fooled Murray at 4:40 of the second to make it 2-1 Springfield.

It was the first time in Murray's career that Springfield scored more than one goal in a game against him, but with the overtime victory, Murray's all-time record against the Falcons franchise grew to 6-0-0-0.

Murray finished the game with 33 saves on 35 shots.

The Penguins power play, which came into the game with the second-best conversion rate in the AHL, failed to score on four opportunities. It was the first time the Penguins' man advantage was shutout in a game since the season opener on Friday, Oct. 9 in Providence.

However, Wilkes-Barre's penalty kill was a perfect six-for-six on the night.

"I think [our penalty kill] has been our unsung hero all season, not just tonight," Sullivan said.

The Penguins' penalty kill will have its chance to build on its unbeaten streak as the team looks to continue its winning ways when it takes on the Binghamton Senators in its next game on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2015. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.

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