Bad bounce does Penguins in

Although the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins have enjoyed success against the Hershey Bears this season, for one reason or another, they haven’t been able to jump ahead of Hershey in the East Division standings.

On Saturday night at Giant Center, the reason was a fluke bounce.

With the Penguins facing a 2-0 deficit in the third period, defenseman Deryk Engelland’s clearing attempt hit referee Ghislain Hebert and deflected right into the slot, allowing Hershey’s Grant McNeill to bang home the puck for the eventual game-winning goal as the Bears defeated the Penguins 3-2.

“You just have to battle through that,” Engelland said. “I think he (Hebert) shouldn’t be there, in that spot, but it could have hit the glass and done the same thing.”

“It’s a break for them, but that’s what happens when you play in the offensive zone,” said Wilkes-Barre/Scranton interim head coach Todd Reirden. “Those chances can come your way.”

The Penguins, who had won five straight games against Hershey, had the majority of the game’s scoring opportunities and power play chances.  The Penguins limited the Bears, who lead the AHL with 252 goals, to just 22 shots on net, while registering 31 shots of their own.

Hershey goaltender Simeon Varlamov (29 saves) held the Penguins off with a whip and a chair, turning aside all 22 shots he faced during the opening 40 minutes of play. Varlamov played a major role in killing off the five Penguins’ power play chances during that time frame.

“For us to continue towards our goal of winning our Calder Cup, our power play has to be something that has to continue to get us in the top ten,” Reirden said. “We’re in the top ten in the league now… We’ve got to continue to rise to the top and capitalize in the beginning of games.”

Hershey, who entered the game with the statistically worst power play in the AHL, took the lead less than one minute after the Penguins failed to capitalize on their fifth power play.

Veteran power forward Graham Mink found the first goal of the game, redirecting Jay Beagle’s centering feed past Penguins’ goaltender John Curry at 13:30. Mink also scored the first power play goal of the game, one-timing Alexandre Giroux’s cross-ice feed over Curry’s glove to give Hershey a 2-0 lead with 14.4 seconds to play in the second period.

“That’s going to happen, we play 80 games, they’re going to score a power play goal before us every now and then,” said center Mark Letestu, who finished with a goal and an assist. “It happens and you just have to stick with it.”

The Penguins mounted a third period comeback, receiving a power play goal from Letestu at 5:28 and an even-strength redirection by Engelland at 6:59.

But the Penguins couldn’t bury the equalizer, which is something the team knows they have to improve on if they want to enjoy continued success as the team prepares for a playoff run.

“No matter what, to get out of the East, you’re going to have to go through these guys or Bridgeport, which are two great teams,” Engelland said. “It was a playoff game tonight and we play them two more times this season, I’m sure it’s going to be the same matchup the rest of the way.”

NOTES

Jean-Philippe Cote, Bill Thomas, Dave Gove, Adam Henrich, and Miroslav Satan were scratched from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s line-up.

Hershey was without Keith Aucoin, who leads the AHL with 64 assists and 86 points. Aucoin was called up to the Washington Capitals earlier in the day.

Sources within the Penguins’ organization said that four additions to the Alumni Game roster will be announced on Monday.

The game was sold out.

BOXSCORE

W-B/Scranton  0 0 2 – 2
Hershey Bears  0 2 1– 3

First Period: No scoring. Penalties: Her, Bouchard (hooking) 1:16; WBS, Bissonnette (fighting) 3:28; Her, G. McNeill (fighting) 3:28; WBS, Boogaard (high sticking double minor) 7:58; Her, Osala (hooking) 12:02; Her, Giroux (tripping) 17:58.

Second Period: 1, Her, Mink 29 (Beagle, Osala) 13:30. 2, Her, Mink 30 (Giroux, Bourque) 19:45 (PP). Penalties: Her, Wilson (roughing) 2:39; WBS, Mormina (interference) 4:57; Her, Bourque (slashing) 10:36; WBS, Goligoski (tripping) 19:14.

Third Period: 3, Her, G. McNeill 2 (Joudrey, Pinizzotto) 3:28. 4, WBS, Letestu 20 (Taffe, Minard) 5:28 (PP). 5, WBS, Engelland 3 (Letestu) 6:59. Penalties: Her, Osala (hooking) 4:31.

Missed penalty shot: Her, Giroux (7:34 of third).

Shots on Goal: W-B/Scranton 7-15-9--31. Hershey 6-10-6--22.

Power-play opportunities: W-B/Scranton 1 of 6; Hershey 1 of 4.

Goalies: W-B/Scranton, Curry (22 shots, 19 saves). Hershey, Varlamov (31 shots, 29 saves).

Three Stars: 3, WBS, Letestu (goal, assist). 2, Her, Varlamov (29 saves), 1, Her, Mink (two goals).

Attendance: 10,708. Time: 2:14.

Referee: Ghislain Hebert. Linesmen: Scott Pomento, Tom George.