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WILKES-BARRE — With 14 games left in the regular season, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins view any point they can get as a victory.
And when it comes to gaining an extra point against the team they’re chasing for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division, such an achievement is monumental.
The Penguins edged the Providence Bruins 2-1 in overtime on Saturday, closing the gap between the two teams to five points. Tristan Jarry was remarkable with a 36-save effort, and Adam Johnson scored the overtime winner.
The Penguins have two games in hand on the Bruins, and even though a Providence goal midway through the third period forced overtime and a point for each team, Penguins coach Clark Donatelli was happy with the outcome.
“We would’ve liked to win it outright in regulation, but we’ll take the two points,” he said. “We’re still driving the bus (in the playoff chase). We just have to take it one game at a time.”
After a scoreless first half of the game during which both teams played with good pace but were a bit tentative at times with the offense, the Penguins broke through with a goal late in the second period.
As the Bruins tried to exit the zone, Jimmy Hayes stood at the blueline and stuck his skate out to deflect the puck to his stick. Hayes promptly raced in to the Bruins’ end with Jake Lucchini heading toward the net. Hayes’ shot hit netminder Zane McIntyre int he chest and bounced out to Lucchini at the corner, who slammed it home for a 1-0 lead.
The goal was the first of Lucchini’s pro career and came in his second game.
“He’s been good and that line with Hayes and (Joseph) Cramarossa has some chemistry,” Donatelli said. “Lucchini being a young guy right out of school, he’s bringing some energy.”
In the third period, the Bruins brought the offense.
After an enormous penalty kill by the Penguins that saw the Bruins keep the puck in the offensive zone for the entire power play, they did allow Providence to tie it midway through the third after Jarry was unable to corral a loose puck. Providence leading scorer Ryan Fitzgerald tapped in the puck at the corner for the 1-1 tie.
The Penguins’ penalty kill came up big again late in the period after Ryan Haggerty was whistled for boarding, and Jarry was a huge factor as the Bruins held a 21-7 shot advantage in the period.
Jarry put the period in perspective.
“I think it was the whole game,” he said. “It always helps when you’re able to kill penalties, especially late in the game. It gives us a boost.”
During overtime, Johnson found an open spot in the neutral zone and waited while Ethan Prow gained possession in the defensive zone. Prow hit Johnson with a pass, springing the speedy forward on a breakaway resulting in a backhand shot under the crossbar for the win.
“I saw Prow had some time and he usually finds me, so I just took off,” Johnson said. “I was able to get a step and finally got one of those half-breakaways to go in.”
The Penguins face the Toronto Marlies at home on Sunday while Providence is off. A win could move the Penguins to three points behind the Bruins for fourth place.
“Our mindset it to take it one game at a time. We have another game tomorrow so it’s just about preparing for that one now,” Jarry said.
