Game Story: Cleveland - 1 at W-B/Scranton - 8 (12/9/22)

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - For the second straight game, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins offense exploded in the middle frame to the tune of five goals for. Friday night against Cleveland, the Penguins poured it on in a big 8-1 win on home ice in what was their lone game of the week.

Drew O'Connor had a career-high five points (two goals, three assists) as the Penguins' top line wreaked havoc on their opponent. O'Connor's linemates, Drake Caggiula and Alex Nylander, each recorded a goal and two assists for three-point nights. The Penguins also got goals from Nathan Legare, Corey Andonovski, Jonathan Gruden and Valtteri Puustinen in the win, while Filip Lindberg quietly put together 36 saves on 37 shots.

Cleveland's lone goal came from Justin Richards early in the middle frame in what turned out to be a long night for the Monsters.

The Monsters actually had some early chances to open the scoring, grabbing the first two power plays of the contest in the opening nine minutes, but were unable to convert.

Instead it was the Penguins getting a late first period goal just as their second power play opportunity of the night had expired.

Xavier Ouellet tried to hit Jonathan Gruden with a hard pass cutting to the net but the re-direct just went wide. Fortunately for the Penguins, Gruden got to the loose puck behind the net and got it out in front for Legare at the net front for Legare's third goal in his last four games.

For the second straight game, the Penguins offense exploded in the middle frame for five goals.

O'Connor led the Penguins' offense in the middle frame, scoring in the opening minute of the period to extend the Pens' lead to 2-0.

Cleveland got one back on the ensuing shift as Justin Richards got one past Lindberg, but from there it was all O'Connor and the Penguins.

O'Connor restored his team's two-goal lead with a nifty one-touch snipe to the top corner just 3:41 into the middle frame.

Andonovski sniped one in from atop the left-wing circle to make it 4-1 Penguins at 5:47, prompting Monsters' head coach Trent Vogelhuber to take his team's timeout.

The timeout didn't turn the tides, as Caggiula made it 5-1 with 8:24 left in the middle frame and that spelled the end of the road for Tarasov (12 saves on 17 shots).

Nylander got on the board off a great feed from O'Connor for the latter's fourth point of the period to make it a commanding 6-1 Penguins' lead heading to the third.

Gruden tipped in an Ouellet setup on an early third period power play to make it 7-1 Penguins, and the power play converted one more time later in the frame when Puustinen completed the 8-1 final score on his ninth tally of the season.

Penguins Post-Game EXTRA!

Head coach JD Forrest

On game-planning against Cleveland, and the players executing the game plan to a tee

"We know Cleveland's a team that likes to get up and down the ice. And they can they can get you into these kind of track meet style games, and we thought, you know, if we are responsible with the puck in our end, and then are able to get back quick into coverage, track back hard, and kind of disrupt their line rushes we would find some opportunities the other way. And that's exactly kind of how it started with the first couple there, in the second [period] so yeah, I think that it comes down to working hard in the right areas and sticking to it. And we certainly did that tonight."

Cleveland Monsters Lineup Notes

Daniil Tarasov got the start in net for Cleveland Friday night in Wilkes-Barre. Jet Greaves served at the team's backup goaltender.

Monsters Scratches: Cole Clayton and Brett Gallant

Lines/Pairings:

Cole Fonstad - Brendan Gaunce - Trey Fix-Wolansky Joona Luoto - Justin Richards - Emil Bemstrom Josh Dunne - Cole Sillinger - Robbie Payne Roman Ahcan - Erik Bradford - Tyler Angle

Brandon Davidson - David Jiricek Brendan Miller - Olle Julian Bjorgvik-Holm Samuel Knazko - Billy Sweezey

Daniil Tarasov - Jet Greaves

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Lineup Notes

Filip Lindberg got the start in net for the Penguins Friday night against Cleveland. Dustin Tokarski served as the team's backup goaltender.

Lots of updates on forwards this weekend, starting with Jordan Frasca being cleared to return to game action as Pittsburgh reassigned the rookie undrafted signee to their ECHL affiliate Wheeling Nailers where he will begin his pro career.

Forward Sam Poulin has taken a personal leave of absence from the Penguins, and is back home in Montreal, Quebec where he will continue his on and off-ice training.

Filip Hallander also missed Friday night's game with a non-COVID illness.

Jamie Devane remains week-to-week with a lower body injury.

Ty Glover has been an injury scratch the past few weeks - not a healthy scratch as previously thought. Per Penguins broadcaster Nick Hart, Glover suffered a lower body injury in practice a few weeks ago and hasn't returned to game action since.

Penguins Scratches: Sam Poulin (personal leave of absence/reason undisclosed), Jamie Devane (lower body injury), Ty Glover (lower body injury) and Jon Lizotte

Lines/Pairings:

Drake Caggiula - Drew O'Connor - Alex Nylander Nathan Legare - Jonathan Gruden - Valtteri Puustinen Corey Andonovski - Sam Houde - Kyle Olson Raivis Ansons - Tyler Sikura - Lukas Svejkovsky

Mark Friedman - Taylor Fedun Ty Smith - Mitch Reinke Xavier Ouellet - Jack St. Ivany

Filip Lindberg - Dustin Tokarski

GAME SUMMARY

1st Period

1:35: WBS - (PP) St. Ivany, minor (slashing) 8:56: WBS - (PP) Sikura, minor (high-sticking) 12:05: CLE - (PP) Miller, minor (roughing) 17:55: CLE - (PP) Ahcan, minor (boarding) 19:55: WBS - Legare (4) - Gruden, Ouellet

2nd Period

0:50: WBS - O'Connor (7) - Nylander 1:27: CLE - Richards (6) - Angle, Bemstrom 3:41: WBS - O'Connor (8) - Nylander, Caggiula 5:47: WBS - Andonovski (4) - Olson, Houde 6:48: WBS - (PP) Puustinen, minor (interference) 11:36: WBS - Caggiula (4) - O'Connor 17:45: WBS - Nylander (8) - O'Connor

3rd Period

4:33: CLE - (PP) Sweezey, minor (tripping) 4:39: WBS - PPG Gruden (5) - Ouellet, Smith 7:29: CLE - Payne, minor (roughing) 7:29: WBS - Caggiula, minor (roughing) 9:04: CLE - (PP) Richards, minor (hooking) 9:39: WBS - PPG Puustinen (9) - Caggiula, O'Connor 11:41: CLE - (PP) Gaunce, minor (holding) 18:22: WBS - (PP) St. Ivany, minor (tripping) 19:04: WBS - (PP) Sikura, minor (delay of game)

BOXSCORE

Cleveland     0 - 1 - 0 = 1 W-B/Scranton  1 - 5 - 2 = 8

Shots

Cleveland     13 - 12 - 12 = 37 W-B/Scranton  10 - 8 - 16 = 34

Goalies

CLE: Daniil Tarasov (12 saves - 17 shots in 31:36) and Jet Greaves ( saves - shots in ) WBS: Filip Lindberg (36 saves - 37 shots)

Power Play

CLE: 0-for-5 WBS: 2-for-5

Penalty Kill

CLE: 3-for-5 WBS: 5-for-5