WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins finished the weekend with a 5-1 loss to the Providence Bruins on Saturday night at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (11-9-3-0) failed to contain the Bruins’ line of Jesper Boqvist, Georgii Merkulov and Justin Brazeau, which scored all five of Providence’s goals. Merkulov was the most productive, registering two goals and three assists for five points.
Merkulov opened the scoring at the six-minute mark of the first period, beating Blomqvist with a quick snap shot from the right circle.
Brazeau extended the Bruins’ lead at the 11:25 mark in the second period, followed by another marker by Boqvist four and a half minutes later.
A breakaway goal from Merkulov halfway through the third period put the Bruins in a commanding, 4-0 lead.
The Penguins saved face with a power-play goal late in the third period. Alex Nylander notched his team-leading eighth goal of the season to put Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on the board.
However, Boqvist sealed the Bruins’ win with an empty netter.
Penguins netminder Joel Blomqvist made 18 saves on 22 shots, while Bruins goalie Brandon Bussi turned away 30 shots.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s next game is Wednesday, Dec. 13, against the Syracuse Crunch. Puck drop between the Penguins and Crunch is slated for 7:05 p.m. at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.