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AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Gets Gutsy 2-1 Win against Lehigh Valley

April 15, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins News Release


ALLENTOWN, Pa. - The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins took down the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, 2-1, at PPL Center on Friday night.

The Penguins seemed to have run into a white-hot goaltender - the same fate that befell them a week ago in a loss to the Phantoms - but they continued to battle and broke through for two gritty goals, enough to skate away with their heads held high and the win.

"You know what? You just have to trust the system and work hard when things aren't going your way," said Penguins head coach Clark Donatelli. "Our guys continued to trust the system and keep plugging away. Nobody got frustrated; they stuck to the game plan. Those guys executed very well."

The Phantoms got on the scoresheet first at 3:12 of the opening period when Robert Hägg picked the top corner with a slap shot.

It didn't take long for the Penguins to respond, though, as Jean-Sébastien Dea tipped in a shot from Will O'Neill 2:04 after Hägg's opening goal.

The assist gave O'Neill his 50th point of the season, joining John Slaney and Micki DuPont as the only Wilkes-Barre/Scranton defensemen in franchise history to reach the 50-point plateau in a season.

After Anthony Stolarz put on a clinic of more than 30 consecutive saves before Jake Guentzel redirected a puck past the Phantoms' netminder, giving the Penguins a 2-1 lead at 7:46 of the third period.

With Lehigh Valley's goalie pulled in favor of an extra attacker, Casey DeSmith was able to fend off a flurry of Phantoms attempts in the final moments of the third and help the Penguins hang on for the win.

DeSmith, appearing in his third AHL start, earned his second win of the season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton with 26 saves. Stolarz made 40 stops in net for Lehigh Valley, but has handed his fourth loss to the Penguins this season.

Special teams turned out to be a non-factor in the contest, as the Penguins did not convert on three power play chances while the Phantoms were unsuccessful on their two man advantage opportunities.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's next game is tomorrow night, Saturday, Apr. 16, against the Providence Bruins. It is also the Penguins' final home game of the 2015-16 season. Puck drop between the Penguins and P-Bruins is scheduled for 7:11 p.m.

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