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WILKES-BARRE TWP. — Dustin Jeffrey didn’t exactly greet his former team with open arms on Tuesday.

Instead, Jeffrey reminded the Springfield Falcons of what they lost when he was traded earlier this month by posting a three-point night in a 4-3 Penguins win.

Tom Sestito’s power-play goal proved to be the game winner as the Penguins allowed the Falcons to tie it three times. The win improves the Penguins to 41-22-4-1 and they trail the Hershey Bears for first place in the Atlantic Division (.649 to .640).

Against a Springfield team that is last in the Eastern Conference and out of the playoff hunt, the Penguins knew the Falcons could still be a dangerous team.

“Everyone has something to play for. Everyone’s a pro out here and they know they have to play until the end of the year,” Sestito said. “These are the teams you have to worry about most.”

The Penguins struck first thanks to Jeffrey, who took a Steve Oleksy pass through the neutral zone sprung him for a breakaway. Jeffrey skated up to the crease and neatly slid the puck through the five-hole for a 1-0 lead in the first period.

“You always want to prove something when somebody trades you,” Jeffrey said. “Anytime you can get some points up against a former team it feels good.”

Springfield answered minutes later to make it 1-1, but the Penguins regained the lead when Dominik Simon one-timed a pass from Jeffrey for a 2-1 advantage heading into the second period.

Springfield evened it up less than a minute into the period on a seemingly harmless shot from Craig Cunningham at the top of the right faceoff circle. The shot, which appeared to be tipped, caught Jarry off-guard and floated into the net for a 2-2 tie.

But the Penguins took the lead for a third time when Niclas Andersen fired a shot from the point that beat Springfield goaltender Marek Langhamer as Jean-Sebastien Dea provided a screen in front.

Andersen’s goal was his first in 22 games and came less than two minutes after Springfield tied it up.

“It’s very important that we respond right after they scored,” head coach Clark Donatelli said. “It was very important that we respond with a big shift.”

With a 3-2 lead, the Penguins were put to the test when penalties to Oskar Sundqvist and then Tom Kostopoulos gave the Falcons a two-man advantage for 1:01.

Jarry came up big during the kill, ending Springfield’s five-on-three by gloving a shot from Greg Carey.

“That was a big five-on-three kill,” Donatelli said. “They get one there and it’s a different ballgame.”

Sestito gave the Penguins some breathing room when he set up shop in front of the net during a power play and tipped a Will O’Neill slapshot past Langhamer for a 4-2 lead with 10 minutes remaining.

Still, Springfield kept pushing back and scored with a little over a minute remaining to make it 4-3.

After being shutout last Saturday against Providence and then letting the Falcons stay in it on Tuesday, Sestito said the Penguins need to improve.

“We didn’t play our best hockey,” he said. “We’re not doing everything 100 percent right now. We have eight games left until playoffs start so we better really ramp it up.”

NOTES

– Donatelli said newly-signed defenseman Ethan Prow could report to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton by this weekend. Prow, 23, who is a Hoby Baker Award finalist, wrapped up his final season at St. Cloud State, setting career highs in goals (8), assists (30), points (38) and plus-minus (plus-29) in 37 games.

– D Harrison Ruopp, F Patrick McGrath, F Teddy Blueger, F Jake Guentzel, D Ryan Parent, F Tyler Biggs (injury), F Sahir Gill (injury) and F Dominik Uher (injury) were scratched for the Penguins.

Springfield defenseman Hunter Fejes shoves Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Tom Kostopoulos during Tuesday’s game at Mohegan Sun Arena.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_pens_fal1_faa-1-.jpg.optimal.jpgSpringfield defenseman Hunter Fejes shoves Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Tom Kostopoulos during Tuesday’s game at Mohegan Sun Arena. Fred Adams | For Times Leader

Penguins Tom Kostopoulos and Carter Rowney watch the puck along the boards along with Springfield goalie Marek Langhamer and defenseman Justin Hache.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_pens_fal2_faa-1-.jpg.optimal.jpgPenguins Tom Kostopoulos and Carter Rowney watch the puck along the boards along with Springfield goalie Marek Langhamer and defenseman Justin Hache. Fred Adams | For Times Leader

Penguins Jarrett Burton steals the puck away from Springfield’s Daniel New during Tuesday’s game.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_pens_fal3_faa-1-.jpg.optimal.jpgPenguins Jarrett Burton steals the puck away from Springfield’s Daniel New during Tuesday’s game. Fred Adams | For Times Leader

By Tom Venesky

[email protected]

Penguins 4, Springfield 3

Springfield`1 2`1 – 3

Penguins` 2`1`1—`4

First Period

Scoring – 1. WBS, Dustin Jeffrey 18 (Oleksy, Simon) 5:11. 2. SPR, Domenic Monardo 5 (Carey, Delisle) 8:14. 3. WBS, Dominik Simon 21 (Jeffrey, O’Neill) 10:53. Penalties – WBS, McNeill (cross-checking) 2:03; WBS, bench – served by Sestito (too many men) 18:03; SPR, Samuelsson (holding the stick) 18:08.

Second Period

Scoring – 4. SPR, Craig Cunningham 19 (Bunting) :58. 5. WBS, Niclas Andersen 4 (McNeill, Mouillierat) 2:26. Penalties – SPR, Carey (high-sticking) 3:06; SPR, Monardo (tripping) 7:03; WBS, Sundqvist (boarding) 12:37; WBS, Kostopoulos (high-sticking) 13:36; SPR, Bunting (roughing) 20:00; SPR, Hache (fighting) 20:00; SPR, Smith (roughing) 20:00; WBS, Archibald (roughing) 20:00; WBS, Oleksy (roughing, fighting) 20:00.

Third Period

Scoring – 6. WBS, Tom Sestito 5 (O’Neill, Jeffrey) power play 10:52. 7. SPR, Greg Carey 26 (New, Smith) 19:05. Penalties – SPR, Hache (high-sticking) 9:05; SPR, Monardo (high-sticking) 16:12.

Shots on goal

Springfield – 8-7-16-31

Penguins – 9-15-7-31

Power-play Opportunities

Springfield – 0 of 4

Penguins – 1 of 4

Goaltenders

Springfield – Marek Langhamer 6-9-2 (27 saves-31 shots)

Penguins – Tristan Jarry 17-10-3 (28-31)

Starters

Springfield – G Marek Langhamer, D Dakota Mermis, D Dylan Reese, LW Michael Bunting, C Laurent Dauphin, RW Craig Cunningham

Penguins – G Tristan Jarry, D Tim Erixon, D Steve Oleksy, LW Matthias Plachta, C Carter Rowney, RW Tom Kostopoulos

Three Stars

1. WBS, Dustin Jeffrey (goal, two assists) 2. WBS, Dominik Simon (goal, assist) 3. WBS, Will O’Neill (two assists)

Referee – Evegeny Romasko, Tom Chmielewski. Linesmen – Jason Mandroc, Jud Ritter.

Attendance – 3,960

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