Game Story: Toronto - 3 at W-B/Scranton - 1 (3/8/23)

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins came out with purpose Wednesday night against one of the top teams in the American Hockey League (AHL) in the Toronto Marlies, taking it to the North Division-leading

Lukas Svejkovsky scored a power play goal to put the Penguins in front in the second period, but Marlies goals from Jordie Benn and Joseph Blandisi turned the tides in Toronto's favor before Kyle Clifford added an empty net marker as they were able to grind out a 3-1 win to conclude their three-game road swing through Pennsylvania with a win.

It was a bit of a goaltender's duel Wednesday night, with Joseph Woll (31 saves - 32 shots) besting Dustin Tokarski (21 saves - 23 shots).

The two teams traded power play opportunites in the opening 20 minutes but neither was able to break the scoreless tie before the horn sounded for the first intermission.

The Penguins were buzzing on their power play to begin the contest, racking up an 8-1 edge in shots on goal after some Grade-A looks, but the Marlies had some dangerous looks of their own later in the period as they had near back-to-back power plays in the middle of the period.

In the middle frame, the Pens converted on an early period power play chance to open the scoring after Svejkovsky re-directed Mitch Reinke's shot from the left point past Woll. Tyler Sikura added a secondary assist on Svejkovsky's third of the season.

Not to be outdone, the Marlies later evened the game at 1-1 with 13:16 left in the middle period. Benn got a hard shot from the outside through past Tokarski, although the Pens contended that their goaltender was interfered with just prior to Benn's shot attempt.

After a brief discussion amongst the officials, the goal stood as called. Pontus Holmberg and Alex Steeves picked up assists on Benn's second goal of the season with the Marlies.

Holmberg blocked a shot toward the midway point of the period and exited the ice with the Marlies' medical staff, but thankfully he was later able to return.

The two teams played the 1-1 tie well into the third, and the Penguins had chances early in the frame to break the even score but were unable to do so.

Instead, it was Blandisi hammering home a loose puck in a goal-mouth scramble to put Toronto ahead 2-1 with 8:27 left in regulation.

The Penguins continued to out-chance and outshoot their opponent, but as has been the theme of the season their inability to score sees them lose what is essentially another one-goal game.

They pulled Tokarski for the extra attacker for the final three minutes of regulation, before Clifford later sealed the deal with an empty net goal launched from the bottom of the Marlies' defensive zone face-off circle.

Post-Game EXTRA!

Toronto Marlies Head Coach Greg Moore

On the six total power plays in the first 23 minutes of regulation vs second half of game being played mostly at even strength

"The second half of the game I felt like there was a lot more flow, to your point. There was a lot of special teams that disrupted the five on five, the energy on the bench and obviously, spent energy on players that do both power play and penalty kill. But second half of the game, we started to find our way and get our footing and get into some better sequences. We were looking to spend more time in the offensive zone and pressure their goalie.

On the Clifford-Blandisi-Johnstone line

"Blandisi just shoving away - a greasy one. And we had talked about, on the road... - it's been a long road trip for us right now - and it's just gonna be a greasy road win and you have to get an ugly one at the crease. And those guys did a great job of setting up that sequence."

On the play of Joseph Woll (31 saves, 15-1 personal record on the season)

"Joseph Woll had a phenomenal game, made some big saves early where to keep us in it and give us a chance."

Toronto Marlies Lineup Notes

Joseph Woll got the start in net for the Marlies Wednesday night in Wilkes-Barre. Erik Kallgren served as the team's backup.

Marlies Scratches: Keith Petruzzelli, Ryan Chyzowski, Wayne Simmonds, Jack Badini, Bobby McMann, William Villeneuve, Mac Hollowell, Semyon Der Arguchintsev and Orrin Centazzo

Lines/Pairings:

Nick Abruzzese - Logan Shaw - Alex Steeves Radim Zohorna - Pontus Holmberg - Max Ellis Kyle Clifford - Joseph Blandisi - Marc Johnstone xxxxxxx      - Graham Slaggert - Zach Solow

Marshall Rifai - Jordie Benn Noel Hoefenmayer - Tommy Miller Filip Kral - Matteo Pietroniro Matthew Hellickson

Joseph Woll - Erik Kallgren

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Lineup Notes

Dustin Tokarski got the start in net for the Penguins Wednesday night against the Marlies. Taylor Gauthier served as the team's backup goaltender.

Penguins Scratches: Filip Lindberg, Colin Swoyer, Sam Poulin, Josh Maniscalco, Ty Smith, Andrew Nielsen, Jonathan Gruden, Filip Hallander & Xavier Ouellet

Lines/Pairings:

Drake Caggiula - Tyler Sikura - Valtteri Puustinen Corey Andonovski - Sam Houde - Lukas Svejkovsky Kyle Olson - Raivis Ansons - Nathan Legare Ty Glover - Justin Addamo - Jamie Devane

Mark Friedman - Mitch Reinke Jon Lizotte - Jack St. Ivany Peter DiLiberatore - Taylor Fedun

Dustin Tokarski - Taylor Gauthier

GAME SUMMARY

1st Period

3:11: TOR - (PP) Steeves, minor (hooking) 8:12: WBS - (PP) Sikura, minor (tripping) 12:42: WBS - (PP) Legare, minor (interference) 16:35: TOR - (PP) Clifford, minor (hooking)

2nd Period

2:40: TOR - (PP) Clifford, minor (kneeing) 3:26: WBS - PPG Svejkovsky (3) - Reinke, Sikura 3:37: TOR - (PP) Kral, minor (hooking) 6:44: TOR - Benn (2) - Holmberg, Steeves 13:37: WBS - Devane, minor (roughing) 13:37: TOR - Clifford, minor (roughing)

3rd Period

11:33: TOR - Blandisi (12) - Johnstone, Miller 18:11: TOR - Clifford (5) - unassisted 18:11: WBS - (PP) Caggiula, minor (unsportsmanlike conduct)

BOXSCORE

Toronto Marlies  0 - 1 - 2 = 3 W-B/Scranton  0 - 1 - 0 = 1

Shots

Toronto Marlies 9 - 8 - 8 = 25 W-B/Scranton  11 - 10 - 11 = 32

Goalies

TOR: Joseph Woll (31 saves - 32 shots) WBS: Dustin Tokarski (22 saves - 24 shots)

Power Play

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

Penalty Kill

TOR: 3-for-4 WBS: 3-for-3