Game Story: Springfield - 1 at W-B/Scranton - 3 (10/21/23)

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins welcomed back fans to Mohegan Sun Arena for the 25th season as an American Hockey League (AHL) franchise on Saturday night and gave the home crowd something to cheer about in a 3-1 victory over the Springfield Thunderbirds.

After a strong first period didn't net the Penguins any goals, the teams traded goals early in the second period before Wilkes-Barre/Scranton was able to tally a go-ahead goal in the third - later tacking on an empty net goal to complete the final score.

Rem Pitlick's third period power play goal proved to be the difference for the Penguins, who also got tallies from Vinnie Hinostroza and Jansen Harkins. Goaltender Joel Blomqvist stopped all but one of the 32 shots he faced to pick up his first career AHL win.

Adam Gaudette tallied the lone goal for Springfield, while Vadim Zherenko (34 saves - 36 shots) played valiantly in a losing effort.

The Penguins had their chances in the opening period - generating plenty of scoring chances and 14 total shots on goal - but were unable to break a scoreless tie in the opening 20 minutes despite three power plays.

Hinostroza was noticeable in the first frame, as he was creating Grade-A chances with regularity.

While the Penguins failed to convert on their three power play chances, they seemed to control large portions of play and were destined to break things open in the middle frame.

The Pens did just that, breaking the scoreless tie 1:35 into the middle frame after Pitlick nudged a puck ahead through the neutral zone to spring Hinostroza on a breakaway. Hinostroza converted five-hole on Zherenko for his first goal of the season to put the Penguins in front.

The Penguins' lead was short-lived, as Springfield pounced on an awkward bounce off the end boards that saw the puck dribble from behind the net out in front into the crease where Gaudette was able to jam one in past Blomqvist to even the game at 1-1 just 3:16 into the period.

Things were much more even in the second period, in terms of shots on goal and scoring chances, as both teams appeared to settle in after the early period goals.

Springfield started to carry play late in the middle frame, buzzing around the Penguins net with 18 total shots on goal in the period, but credit Blomqvist and the Penguins' defense for bending but not breaking - getting to the second intermission in a 1-1 deadlock.

A roughing penalty on Jack St. Ivany in the final minute of the period put the Penguins shorthanded to begin the final frame, but the Pens' penalty kill prevailed.

It wasn't until the middle part of the third period that the Penguins were able to restore their one-goal lead, but perhaps more importantly was the fact that the go-ahead goal came on the power play - a point of struggle for the Pens in the early season.

It wasn't pretty, but Pitlick was able to finish off a net-front scramble amid traffic - tucking a backhander in past Zherenko after some strong work at the net from Marc Johnstone and Sam Houde made Pitlick's rebound attempt possible.

Harkins added an empty net goal in the waning seconds to complete the 3-1 final score, perhaps relieving some stress/pressure from the shoulders of a player who has been on the waiver wire twice in the past two weeks.

Penguins Post-Game EXTRA!

Head coach JD Forrest

On the strong first period:

I thought the first period was really good. We started off exactly how we want to play except for, you know, the power plays have been sloppy. So we had opportunities early to cash in and we didn't, but I thought five on five, we did what we were looking to do, we're putting some more pucks on net and trying to get some bodies around there. And that was pretty good first period.

On Blomqvist's solid performance:

I thought he was great. The only goal that beat him was a total fluke goal. A play that hits off the wall and he doesn't even know where it is and he actually makes a save and then they get two more cracks at it. If not for Joel, it might have turned ugly there [in the second period], but it was nice to see him get his first AHL win. He definitely earned it. We didn't make it easy on him."

Forward Vinnie Hinostroza

On feeling it early, feeding off energy from home opener crowd:

"Obviously home opener, lots of excitement, and a lot you have to prove. So just trying to put my best effort forward. I think I could be a little better defensively and stuff like that, but yeah it was a huge win for our team."

On the strong start in 1st period, battling through tough 2nd period, and overcoming in the 3rd:

"I think we were just playing simple. We we're using our speed - we got a lot of team speed. We we're getting behind their [defense] and it caused them to make mistakes. I think in the second we got away from our game a little bit and kind of were taking long shifts and kind of playing selfishly a little bit and I think we got right back to it in the third - back to our game - and that's why we're able to come out on top."

Forward Rem Pitlick

On strong first despite power play not cashing in:

"The power play has been a weird one. It was nice to finally get one. I think it was a big thing for our team, and nice to get that win at home."

On the 2nd period:

"I think it's just hockey. Guys are trying. Second night, maybe the legs aren't there, later travel last night. But we got through it."

Springfield Thunderbirds Lineup Notes

Vadim Zherenko got the start in net for the Thunderbirds Saturday night. Malcolm Subban served as Zherenko's backup.

Forward Sam Bitten made his AHL debut Saturday, joining his brother Will Bitten as the first pair of brothers to suit up for Springfield in Thunderbirds' franchise history.

Thunderbirds Scratches: Austin Osmanski, Keean Washkurak, Jamison Rees and Hunter Skinner

Lines/Pairings:

Nathan Walker - Matthew Peca - Adam Gaudette Mackenzie MacEachern - Hugh McGing - Mathias Laferriere Zachary Bolduc - Zach Dean - Will Bitten Sam Bitten - Mikhail Abramov - Drew Callin

Calle Rosen - Matthew Kessel Wyatt Kalynuk - Dylan Coghlan Leo Loof - Joseph Duszak

Vadim Zherenko (Backup: Malcolm Subban)

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Lineup Notes

Joel Blomqvist got the start in net for the Penguins Saturday in the team's home opener. Magnus Hellberg served as the Penguins' backup goalie.

Jansen Harkins cleared waivers and made his WBS Penguins debut Saturday night as the team's #1 center.

The Penguins are over the allowable veteran limit of players who entered the game with more than 260 games of pro experience. Therefore, they'll have some extra healthy scratches each night that might seem out of place without knowledge of the AHL's veteran limit.

Penguins Scratches: Garret Sparks, Alex Nylander, Corey Andonovski (injured), Andreas Johnsson, Sam Poulin (injured), Austin Rueschhoff, Justin Lee and Libor Hajek

Lines/Pairings:

Vinnie Hinostroza - Jansen Harkins - Valtteri Puustinen Rem Pitlick - Colin White - Avery Hayes Sam Houde - Joona Koppanen - Matt Filipe Jagger Joshua - Jonathan Gruden - Marc Johnstone

Ty Smith - Dmitri Samorukov Xavier Ouellet - Taylor Fedun Jack Rathbone - Jack St. Ivany

Joel Blomqvist (Backup: Magnus Hellberg)

GAME SUMMARY

1st Period

2:09: SPR - (PP) Abramov, minor (high-sticking) 9:57: SPR - (PP) Duszak, minor (tripping) 13:46: WBS - (PP) Harkins, minor (tripping) 16:30: SPR - (PP) Rosen, minor (tripping)

2nd Period

1:35: WBS - Hinostroza (1) - Pitlick 3:16: SPR - Gaudette (4) - Walker 19:25: WBS - (PP) St. Ivany, minor (roughing)

3rd Period

7:42: SPR - (PP) Callin, minor (high-sticking) 9:03: WBS - PPG Pitlick (1) - Johnstone, Houde 16:59: WBS - bench minor, too many men (served by Pitlick) 19:19: WBS - ENG Harkins (1) - Houde, Koppanen

BOXSCORE

Springfield  0 - 1 - 0 = 1 W-B/Scranton  0 - 1 - 2 = 3

Shots

Springfield  6 - 18 - 8 = 32 W-B/Scranton  14 - 13 - 10 = 37

Goalies

SPR: Vadim Zherenko (34 saves - 36 shots) WBS: Joel Blomqvist (31 saves - 32 shots)

Power Play

SPR: 0-for-3 WBS: 1-for-4

Penalty Kill

SPR: 3-for-4 WBS: 3-for-3