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The team’s top two scorers are still in Pittsburgh. No. 3 on the points list was out with an injury.

Who was left to step up for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Friday night? Carter Rowney.

The winger picked up two assists in regulation and then fired home the game-winner just 24 seconds into overtime to give the Penguins a 4-3 win over Springfield at MassMutual Center. The victory snapped a four-game losing skid.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton had squandered a 3-1 third-period lead as the Falcons controlled play, putting up an 18-7 edge in shots en route to tying things up and forcing overtime.

But former Penguins defenseman Corey Potter was penalized for delay of game in the final seconds of regulation and the Pens turned it into the game-winner — Rowney’s eighth goal of the season off assists from Kael Mouillierat and Will O’Neill.

Springfield outshot the Penguins 45-27 in regulation — Matt Murray made 42 saves in net in his first game back from injury — but Rowney’s shot was the only one needed in overtime.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton entered the weekend in need of some help after another player, Oskar Sundqvist, was called up to Pittsburgh, joining other AHL stalwarts like Scott Wilson, Derrick Pouliot, Conor Sheary and Bryan Rust.

So the Penguins made their own call-ups from Wheeling.

Fittingly, it was one of those new faces, Anton Zlobin, who made a difference, setting up one goal and scoring another.

Zlobin scored his first AHL goal of the season just 28 seconds into the third period to give the Penguins a two-goal lead and some breathing room. He was on the ice at the start of the game as well, setting up defenseman Steve Oleksy for a score in the first 20 seconds. It was Oleksy’s first goal in a Penguins uniform.

Enforcer Tom Sestito set up in front of the crease on the power play to deflect a first-period goal past Springfield goalie Niklas Treutle.

The Falcons got on the board when Steven Delisle scored midway through the second period to cut the lead to 2-1. They answered Zlobin’s goal in the third with two quick tallies from Greg Carey to tie the game.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton also called up Shavertown native Patrick McGrath and center Derek Army to plug into a shorthanded lineup.

McGrath dropped the gloves with Stefan Fournier at the end of a penalty-filled first period. The bout came just three seconds after O’Neill fought with Tyler Gaudet following a boarding call against Gaudet.

Former Penguins defenseman Philip Samuelsson picked up two assists for the Falcons.

The Pens return home Saturday to host Bridgeport at 7:05 p.m.

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Times Leader

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