Game Story: W-B/Scranton - 3 at Lehigh Valley - 1 (3/24/24)

ALLENTOWN, Pa. - In the final game of a three-in-three for both teams, it was the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins persevering in another rivalry matchup with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms to conclude their busy weekend on a positive note.

Lehigh Valley took a 1-0 lead late in the first period on a goal from Adam Brooks, but a big response just over a minute later from Penguins' captain Taylor Fedun - on his first goal of the season - quickly evened the game at 1-1 before the first intermission.

While neither team was able to break the deadlock in the middle frame, the Penguins broke through in the third - getting a goal in the opening minute from Xavier Ouellet and later an insurance marker on a power play tally from Vinnie Hinostroza to extend their lead to 3-1.

Joel Blomqvist was strong in net once again for the Penguins, stopping 34 of the 35 shots he faced. Radim Zohorna chipped in with two assists, having a direct hand in both of the Penguins' third period goals.

Parker Gahagen put together a solid effort in net for the Phantoms, with 25 saves albeit in a losing effort.

Post-Game EXTRA!

W-B/Scranton Penguins  head coach JD Forrest

Thoughts on finishing weekend on a positive note with win

"It wasn't a super clean game by any means. I thought, obviously, we had the big penalty kill there in the second. They had some times where they pushed. It was nice, you get one power play and we're able to bury on that one - it makes a big difference. We had some timely blocks some big saves - it was a real gutsy win. A lot of guys doing a lot of different things out there the right way. Mistakes are gonna happen. What happens next is what separates teams. So, if your teammate makes a mistake, and you cover up for him, can you cover up for yourself? What do you do next? And I thought, tonight, we did a nice job of covering up each other's faults when they happened. And limiting them."

Penguins forward Radim Zohorna

On needing the win Sunday

"I mean, we needed it. We didn't play bad [on Saturday], but we didn't show up for the Friday game so we really needed this game and I'm happy for the team that we won this one."

On the difficulty of playing three games in three days.

"For sure, it's not easy, you know, to play three in three and especially the last game. It's about the mental game and how you're like ready for the game. We focused, everybody's tired, so like just be focused on play the best [we can]."

Penguins defenseman Taylor Fedun

On needing the win today after dropping games on Friday and Saturday

"I think we felt the pressure after dropping the first two. We weren't happy with our effort on Friday. But yesterday, I think it was a step in the right direction. So we just needed to find the energy to try and grit it out here today."

On the atmosphere and intensity ramping up with so few games until the postseason.

"I know it's not the playoffs yet, but it was a playoff atmosphere out there today. And to feel the energy on the bench, the energy in the locker room and the way guys get behind each other even for the smallest plays out there - it's a really good feeling because it's a fun way to play the game."

GAME STORY

The first period played out how you'd expect the third game in less than three days for both teams would be played.

It was a bit of a slow-go for both teams in the opening minutes as both teams were searching for their skating legs.

Blomqvist had to come up big after Lehigh Valley won a puck battle in the corner of the Penguins' defensive zone - leaving () all alone in front of the Penguins' goaltender. Blomqvist came up with two huge stops to keep the game scoreless in the opening five minutes of play.

The Phantoms had the first real extended opportunity to create offense when they were awarded the game's first power play just over eight minutes in.

However, the Penguins were able to kill off the interference penalty assessed to Matt Filipe and the two teams continued to search for the game's opening tally.

The goals would come late in the first period, with Lehigh Valley taking a 1-0 lead with 2:20 left before the first intermission after Tanner Laczynski forced a turnover on a Phantoms' forecheck.

Laczynski stole the puck off Raivis Ansons along the wall, and quickly headed to the net on a mini 2-on-1 rush with Brooks - sliding a pass across and setting up Brooks with a tap-in for his ninth of the season.

The Penguins came up with a major response, tying the game at 1-1 before the first period ended.

Just 1:16 after Brooks had given Lehigh Valley the lead, Joona Koppanen won a puck battle and got it back to the left point for Jack Rathbone who in turn slid a pass across to Fedun.

Fedun fired a shot through a screen that eluded Gahagen for the Penguins captain's first goal of the season, tying the game at 1-1 with 1:04 left in the opening period.

The hard-fought battle resumed in the middle frame, with both teams registering a pair of shots in the opening minutes of the period.

Perhaps the best chance of the middle frame came on a play that wasn't registered as a shot.

Laczynski stole a puck in the neutral zone and skated into the offensive zone before wristing a hard shot that ricocheted off the left post and then the right post before somehow staying out of Blomqvist's net. The game remained 1-1.

Lehigh Valley had a golden opportunity to re-take the lead late in the second period as Penguins defenseman Ty Smith was assessed a double-minor for high-sticking with 5:28 left before the second intermission.

Instead, the Penguins turned in a Herculean effort on the ensuing penalty kill - preventing the Phantoms from getting a go-ahead goal and sending the two teams to the third period in a 1-1 deadlock.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton began the final frame with purpose, getting an offensive zone chance on the opening shift of the period and making the most of it - with Corey Andonovski getting a puck to the left point for a blast from Ouellet that beat Gahagen clean for Ouellet's second of the season to put the Penguins in front 2-1.

Lehigh Valley had a good response, generating some quality chances, but Blomqvist was in position to make all the necessary stops - preserving the Penguins' 2-1 lead into the final 10 minutes of regulation.

That's when a net-front scrum after a Blomqvist save and tie-up for a whistle resulted in the Penguins' first power play opportunity of the game with 9:36 left to go in regulation.

It was their only power play of the game, but the Penguins made the most of it - getting a timely power play marker from Hinostroza after Sam Poulin sprung Zohorna and Hinostroza on a 2-on-1 attack.

Zohorna slid a pass across to Hinostroza, who went forehand to backhand with a nifty move to the top shelf over a sliding Gahagen to stretch the Penguins's lead to 3-1 with 8:56 left in regulation.

Lehigh Valley pressed for offense in the final minutes of regulation, but Blomqvist and the Penguins' defense held on to preserve the 3-1 win.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Lineup Notes

Joel Blomqvist got the start in net for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Sunday in Allentown. Ludovic Waeber served as the team's backup goalie after making his debut Saturday vs Utica.

Apologies for the confusion last night regarding Vasily Ponomarev, who is in fact injured (lower body). There wasn't a day-to-day or week-to-week injury designation assigned to Ponomarev's status moving forward , so no timetable for a return after he left Friday's game with a stoppage with 6:47 remaining in the third period.

As far as lineup changes from Saturday's home loss to Utica entering their third game in less than 72 hours?

Forward Justin Addamo and defenseman Owen Headrick came out of the lineup, while captain Taylor Fedun returned and defenseman Scooter Brickey made his AHL debut - giving the Penguins an 11-forward/seven defensemen look.

Penguins Scratches: Marc Johnstone, Vasily Ponomarev, Jagger Joshua, Peter Abbandonato, Sam Houde, Owen Headrick and Justin Addamo

Lines/Pairings

Vinnie Hinostroza - Radim Zohorna - Austin Rueschhoff Jonathan Gruden - Sam Poulin - Corey Andonovski Matt Filipe - Joona Koppanen - Lukas Svejkovsky Justin Addamo - Raivis Ansons - Avery Hayes

Ty Smith - Ryan Shea Xavier Ouellet - Dmitri Samorukov Jack Rathbone - Owen Headrick

Joel Blomqvist (Backup: Ludovic Waeber)

Lehigh Valley Phantoms Lineup Notes

Parker Gahagen got the start in net for Lehigh Valley Sunday. Cal Petersen served as the team's backup goaltender after playing in Saturday's 2-1 home loss to Bridgeport.

Defenseman Hunter McDonald was injured early in the first period of his pro debut Saturday and was unable to return, remaining out of the lineup Sunday with an upper body injury.

Phantoms Scratches: Will Zmolek, Evan Polei, Jon-Randall Avon and Hunter McDonald

Lines/Pairings

Brendan Furry - Rhett Gardner - Matt Brown Adam Brooks - Tanner Laczynski - Cooper Marody Garrett Wilson - Elliot Desnoyers - Samu Tuomaala Adam Karashik - Jacob Gaucher - Zayde Wisdom

Emil Andrae - Helge Grans Victor Mete - Louis Belpedio Mason Millman - Ethan Samson

Parker Gahagen (Backup: Cal Petersen)

GAME SUMMARY

1st Period

8:11: WBS - (PP) Filipe, minor (interference) 17:40: LV - Brooks (9) - Laczynski 18:56: WBS - Fedun (1) - Rathbone, Koppanen

2nd Period

14:32: WBS - (PP) Smith, double-minor (high-sticking)

3rd Period

0:44: WBS - Ouellet (2) - Andonovski, Zohorna 10:24: LV - Wilson, minor (roughing) 10:24: LV - (PP) Wisdom, minor (roughing) 10:24: WBS - Andonovski, minor (roughing) 11:04: WBS - PPG Hinostroza (13) - Zohorna, Poulin

BOXSCORE

W-B/Scranton  1 - 0 - 2 = 3 Lehigh Valley  1 - 0 - 0 = 1

Shots

W-B/Scranton  13 - 9 - 6 = 28 Lehigh Valley  11 - 12 - 11 = 35

Goalies

WBS: Joel Blomqvist (34 saves - 35 shots) LV: Parker Gahagen (25 saves - 28 shots)

Power Play

WBS: 1-for-1 LV: 0-for-3

Penalty Kill

WBS: 3-for-3 LV: 0-for-1