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WILKES-BARRE TWP. — The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins had a strong second period and an even better third during Saturday’s game against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
Unfortunately, two good periods weren’t enough to compensate for a poor opening frame.
The Penguins gave up three first-period goals to the Sound Tigers and were never able to climb out of the hole, falling 3-2. The Penguins have now lost four out of their last six games and hold a slim lead over the Hershey Bears for first place in the Atlantic Division.
Saturday’s lineup featured six players who have played less than 10 games for the Penguins this season, including four who were recently recalled from Wheeling. Trying to create chemistry among all the new faces was one thing, but trying to do it during a first period in which the Penguins spent extensive time on the penalty kill made the task more difficult.
“We had to kill a lot of penalties and couldn’t get into a rhythm,” head coach Clark Donatelli said. “Having to use the same players over and over, that was a tough first period.”
The Sound Tigers took advantage of the disarray, scoring once on the power play and twice at even strength. Bridgeport’s first goal – a wrist shot from Jared Gomes who was left wide open on the left side, was evident of a Penguins lineup struggling to come together.
The second period was a bit better as the Penguins managed a late goal – a Carter Rowney wrist shot from the slot, and headed to the locker room with a boost of confidence.
“As the game went on we started playing our system and getting to them,” Donatelli said. “We started to get some jam.”
Rowney kept the momentum going in the third period as the Penguins generated offensive pressure from the start. Just under seven minutes into the period, Rowney picked up a loose puck in the high slot, skated down to the side while drawing a pair of Bridgeport players in front of goaltender Christopher Gibson and snuck a shot into the net from the bad angle.
The goal cut Bridgeport’s lead to 3-2, and the Penguins received a golden opportunity to even things up when they went on the power play with 1:45 left, but they couldn’t capitalize.
Rowney said the downfall, however, was the first period.
“That’s not what this team is about. We can’t come out flat,” he said. “Going down three goals – that’s a big hill to climb.”
NOTES
– G Brian Foster, D Harrison Ruopp, D Clark Seymour, C Matia Marcantuoni (injury), F Tyler Biggs (injury), F Sahir Gill (injury), F Dominik Uher (injury), D Barry Goers (injury) and F Dominik Simon (injury) were scratched for the Penguins.
