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WILKES-BARRE — The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins saw their 10-game undefeated streak at home, as well as the team’s recent four-game winning streak come to an end on Friday night as they dropped a 3-1 decision to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
The last time the Pens faced off against Lehigh Valley (Oct. 17) they finished the game with their best power-play performance of the season, going 4 for 8 (50 percent). The trend did not continue however, as the Pens finished the game going 0 for 6.
“I don’t think we executed as well as we should have or could have,” Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan said. “I thought we were sloppy with the puck and for me, our special teams let us down tonight. We gave them one on a stretch pass on the penalty kill and for me that’s just too easy. Our special teams let us down and we’ve got to be better.”
The Phantoms got on the board in the second period as Aaron Palushaj got behind the defense and received a pass from Andrew MacDonald. He skated in on the breakaway and put the puck in the back of the net to notch the game at one goal apiece.
At the 9:48 mark of the second period, Mark Alt ripped a laser of a wrist shot past Murray on the stick side to give the Phantoms their first lead of the contest at 2-1.
Despite the miscues, the Penguins outshot the Phantoms 36-22.
In the first half of the first period, it looked as though it was business as usual for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, but the team seemed to lose traction over the rest of the game. While they did have a few more offensive chances throughout the night, it was a combination of turnovers and sloppiness that lead to the loss.
“It was just one of those nights,” Sullivan said. “It wasn’t from a lack of try, that’s for sure. I thought our effort was there, I just don’t think our execution was as sharp as it has been in the past. This team expects to win every night and we have a high standard for this group. I think we were sloppy in a few of areas that for most of this season we have been fairly strong.”
The Pens were 2 for 3 (66.67 percent) on the penalty kill Friday night, which ties for their third-worst performance of the season. Forward Kael Mouillierat took two penalties during the game, one of which lead to a PP goal for the Phantoms.
“Kael plays on the edge,” he said. “He’s at his best when he plays on the edge, and as long as we try to keep him on the right side of that line, that’s what’s best for our team.”
Mouillierat echoed his coach’s statement.
“They came out hard and I thought we were a little sloppy,” the forward said. “For stretches during the game we played well, but for the most part it just wasn’t our game. We weren’t clicking like we usually do, we were missing passes and guys weren’t where they were supposed to be.”
Conor Sheary manufactured the team’s only offense of the night, scoring at the 2:58 mark of the first period as he banged in a rebound up and over the shoulder of Phantoms goalie Anthony Stolarz.
The Penguins will face the Hartford Wolfpack Saturday night and then again on Sunday as they travel to Hershey.
NOTES: Mike Sullivan said that forward Tom Sestito’s injury was not as bad as they initially thought, but he is still not, “day to day.”
-With Conor Sheary’s goal tonight, he’s leading the team in points with 20 (4G-16A).