WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins dropped the second game of their back-to-back set against the Charlotte Checkers, 4-2, on Saturday night at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (28-19-7-1) charged ahead with a pair of goals in the first period. However, Charlotte rallied with three tallies in the third to split the season series with the Penguins at four wins apiece.
Vinnie Hinostroza scored first just five minutes into the game. Later in the period, Austin Rueschhoff tallied a power-play goal, giving the Penguins a 2-0 lead going into the first intermission. Sam Poulin registered assists on both goals, giving him five helpers in his two games since returning from injury on Friday night.
Zac Dalpe’s second-period strike brought the Checkers within one.
Seven minutes into the final frame, Uvis Balinskis fluttered a puck from the blue line through traffic and into the Penguins’ net, tying things up at 2-2. Michael Benning gave Charlotte the lead with only 2:58 remaining in regulation. An empty netter from Mackie Samoskevich sealed the deal, resulting a 4-2 final.
Penguins goaltender Magnus Hellberg turned away 28 of the 31 shots he faced. Checkers netminder Spencer Knight picked up 30 saves and an assist on the empty-net goal for Charlotte.
The Penguins are back in action on Friday, Mar. 8, when they visit the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Game time is scheduled for a 7:05 p.m. start at PPL Center.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s next home game is a rematch against Lehigh Valley on Saturday, Mar. 9. Saturday’s tilt between the Penguins and Phantoms will begin at 6:05 p.m.
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