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WILKES-BARRE TWP. — Through three periods the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins put up a valiant effort against a Portland Pirates team that was dominating offensively.

Tristan Jarry limited the Pirates to one goal to keep the Penguins in it and Dominik Simon’s third-period tally brought a surge of momentum.

When the game entered overtime, however, none of that mattered.

The Pirates connected on a breakaway goal early in the overtime period to down the Penguins on Saturday, 2-1, in front of a packed Mohegan Sun Arena. The loss erases a two-game win streak and comes in the middle of a three-in-three stretch.

The Penguins are now 6-1 in overtime this season and on Saturday, it simply boiled down to which team would get the better chance.

That turned out to be Portland when Pirates forward Michael Matheson streaked in on a breakaway and beat Jarry at the 1:29 mark.

“(Overtime) turns into a new game. A three-on-three, puck possession, chance-for-chance game,” head coach Clark Donatelli said. “It can end quick.”

The Penguins offense struggled through the first two periods, despite four power-play chances. They seemed poised to strike first when Portland’s Sena Acolatse, who had tape on his fingers, was given a match after a fight with Patrick McGrath.

Halfway through the five-minute man advantage, Tim Erixon was whistled for holding and forced the Penguins to give up two minutes of their power play time.

“We had the power play right off the bat and that kind of set the momentum. I wish we did a little better job there,” Donatelli said, adding the minor penalty interrupted the flow of the power play.

Donatelli felt Portland benefited from the Penguins lack of success on the five-minute power play.

“After that the momentum changed and they were coming pretty hard,” he said. “They got some momentum from killing it.”

In the second period, it took the Penguins more than 12 minutes to generate their first shot.

At the other end, Portland had no problem generating chances, outshooting the Penguins 25-15 through two periods. Jarry kept the Penguins in it, stopping everything that came his way including a sequence of saves in front while Portland was on the power play.

“He played outstanding. He was a rock back there,” Donatelli said. “We have to give him more help.”

As the Penguins struggled to get shots on the net, Portland was the first to get on the scoreboard when Rob Flick picked up a loose puck at the blueline and sniped a wrist shot past Jarry for a 1-0 lead in the third period.

The Penguins managed their fourth shot 11 minutes into the final period, but it came from Simon and tied the game. Kael Mouillierat skated deep into the zone and was knocked off the puck, and Simon pounced on it, turned and fired past Portland goaltender Sam Brittain to force overtime.

Donatelli hoped the momentum from Simon’s goal – which came in his return from an injury, would’ve carried into the overtime period.

“I thought we were playing better after that to get it to overtime,” he said.

The Penguins wrap up the weekend with a 4 p.m. home rematch against Portland on Sunday. Donatelli said he wants to see a few changes from his players.

“Play a little bit harder to start, win some one-on-one battles, simplify our game,” he said. “Get pucks to the net and see if we can get some dirty goals.”

Penguins captain Tom Kostopoulos attempts a shot on goal with Carter Rowney as back up Portland goalie Sam Brittain makes the stop.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_pens_port2_faa.jpg.optimal.jpgPenguins captain Tom Kostopoulos attempts a shot on goal with Carter Rowney as back up Portland goalie Sam Brittain makes the stop. Fred Adams | For Times Leader

Penguins Tom Kostopoulos gets ready to receive a pass as Portland’s defenseman Brett Olsen guards.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_pens3_faa.jpg.optimal.jpgPenguins Tom Kostopoulos gets ready to receive a pass as Portland’s defenseman Brett Olsen guards. Fred Adams | For Times Leader

Penguins’ Ryan Parent gets knocked down behind the goal by Portland’s Dylan Olsen.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_pens_port1_faa.jpg.optimal.jpgPenguins’ Ryan Parent gets knocked down behind the goal by Portland’s Dylan Olsen. Fred Adams | For Times Leader
Pirates snap WBS 2 game win streak on Matheson goal

By Tom Venesky

[email protected]

Portland 2, Penguins 1 OT

Portland`0`0`1`1 —`2

Penguins`0`0’1`0 —`1

First Period

Scoring – None. Penalties – POR, bench – served by Schremp (too many men) 1:03; POR, Acolatse (fighting, match) 3:58; WBS, McGrath (fighting) 3:58; WBS, Erixon (holding) 6:07; POR, Turgeon (roughing) 17:38; WBS, McGrath (roughing) 17:38.

Second Period

Scoring – None. Penalties – WBS, Simon (high-sticking) 5:18; POR, Racine (fighting) 10:13; WBS, Oleksy (fighting) 10:13; WBS, Zlobin (delay of game) 11:25; POR, Gaunce (interference) 12:27; POR, Flick (roughing) 18:26; WBS, Parent (elbowing) 18:26.

Third Period

Scoring – 1. POR, Rob Flick 6 unassisted 3:08. 2. WBS, Dominik Simon 13 (Mouillierat) 11:01. Penalties – None.

Penalty shot – Carter Rowney – NG, 19:00.

Overtime

Scoring – 3. POR, Michael Matheson 4 (Brown, Grimaldi) 1:29. Penalties – None.

Shots on goal

Portland – 13-12-10-1-36

Penguins – 8-7-8-2-25

Power-play Opportunities

Portland – 0 of 2

Penguins – 0 of 4

Goaltenders

Portland – Sam Brittain 6-8-0 (24 saves – 25 shots)

Penguins – Tristan Jarry 11-3-2 (34-36)

Starters

Portland – G Sam Brittain, D Mackenzie Weegar, D Cameron Gaunce, LW Rob Flick, C Wade Megan, RW Tony Turgeon

Penguins – G Tristan Jarry, D Tim Erixon, D Will O’Neill, LW Dominik Simon, C Kael Mouillierat, RW Derek Army

Three Stars

1. POR, Michael Matheson (game-winning goal) 2. WBS, Tristan Jarry (34 saves) 3. Sam Brittain (one goal allowed)

Referee – Terry Koharski. Linesmen – Matt McNulty, Jud Ritter

Attendance – 8,160

Reach Tom Venesky at 570-991-6395 or on Twitter @TLTomVenesky