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PIRATES DROP PENGUINS, 6-2

 

Colby Genoway notched two goals, former Penguin Zenon Konopka picked up three assists, and the Portland Pirates rode three third period goals to a 6-2 win against the Penguins Saturday night at the Cumberland County Civic Center.

The loss dropped Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's record to 10-3-0-0 on the season, leaving the Pens in a tie for second place in the East Division with the Norfolk Admirals.

Portland, meanwhile, raised its record to 9-4-0-1 on the season, moving the Pirates two points clear of the Providence Bruins for first place in the Atlantic Division.

The game's final score was not indicative of the way the team's played, according to head coach Todd Richards.

"I thought we played hard and did some good things. Obviously we made some mistakes that cost us," said Richards. "You look at the first period. We were getting outshot 12-5, but honestly…we probably outchanced them. A couple breaks, guys in all alone and didn’t get shots off, or shots go wide. It wasn’t a 6-2 game, that’s for sure."

The game got off to a slow start, as six penalties - including five hooking calls - were handed out during the first 11 minutes of play.



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The Pirates' best chance in the early going came during a five-on-three power play that lasted for 1:40. But the Pens penalty killers came up big, limiting the home club to just three shots during the extended advantage.

Portland's first goal actually came at even strength. Konopka intercepted a failed clearing attempt and found Genoway behind the Penguins' net. He then fed Brett Skinner in front of the cage, who squeezed a shot between goalie Andrew Penner's pads at 13:39 for the only goal of the opening frame.

The Pirates looked primed to build on their lead in the second, but twice saw early shots tink the post.

The Pens' Edmonton connection then went to work, as Alexei Mikhnov danced through traffic, dangled at the near faceoff circle, then fed Tom Gilbert in the slot. His blast from 30 feet went untouched until it hit the back of the net for his second goal in as many games. This score came at 12:53.

A delayed penalty call a minute and a half later allowed Portland to go back in front for good, as Nathan Saunders' shot from the point was deflected by Genoway at 14:18.

Skinner gave Portland a two-goal cushion by breaking down the right wing uncontested and planting a cross crease feed from Genoway behind Penner at 18:47.

Seconds later the Pens went on the power play, and found themselves right back in the game. Marc-Antoine Pouliot blasted a puck on net as time was winding down, and Jonathan Filewich got enough stick on it to beat Michael Leighton with just .8 ticks left to make the score 3-2 at the end of 40 mintues.

"It definitely was a boost for us," Richards said of the late tally. "I thought for a good part of the third period that we were going to win the game. We were all over them, we were getting chances, we were getting opportunities. We just weren’t able to finish."

That wasn't the case for the Pirates though, as Portland scored three times in the final period to secure the win.

"In 80 games you aren’t going to be perfect," said Richards. "We’re going to make some mistakes. But Portland’s a good team. They capitalized on their opportunities."

The Penguins will take on the Providence Bruins at the Dunkin Donuts Center Sunday at 4:05pm.

NOTES: Ronald Petrovicky made his season and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton debut after being assigned on a conditioning assignment by Pittsburgh on Friday. "We’re just kind of evaluating him to see where he’s at," said Richards. "He has to get his timing, he has to get his legs. There were some plays out there he was off a little bit."