Pens lose in OT, but secure six-of-eight points for the week

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – Gutting it out in the final game of a busy weekend schedule, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins threw together a strong performance only to fall in overtime to the Portland Pirates, 3-2, on Sunday at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.

Down 1-0 in the third period of their third game of a three-in-three, the Penguins battled to a 2-1 advantage only to see the Pirates come back and beat them once again in overtime.

“We battled hard there in the third,” said Penguins head coach Clark Donatelli. “I liked the effort and resiliency of our team. We were playing with a lot of pace and taking it to them… We’re proud of the way that third period went, but we’re not happy with our fate.” 

The first period was a penalty-filled affair with more than half the period played on special teams. Both teams had three power play opportunities, but all six penalties were successfully killed.

The scoreless tie was broken when Wilkes-Barre/Scranton was on its fourth man advantage of the game, but it was Portland’s Wade Megan wiring in a shorthanded goal at 13:08 of the second.

Tom Kostopoulos finished a tic-tac-toe set up for his 13th goal of the season, tying the game at one goal apiece with a power play goal at 3:15 of the third period.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton took control of the lead when Sahir Gill tipped in a Will O’Neill shot from the point, making it 2-1 at 8:23 of the third.

Down a man due to a late period penalty, Portland pulled their goalie to even things up at five-on-five with an extra attacker. A desperation toss to the netmouth from behind the goal line by Megan ricocheted off of Kyle Rau and past Matt Murray, tying the game at 2-2 with under 20 seconds left in regulation.

Both teams exchanged chances during the overtime period, but Dylan Olsen’s goal 3:31 into the extra frame ended the game and gave the Pirates the 3-2 win.

Murray was handed his first overtime loss of the season, making 34 saves on 37 shots. Portland’s Mike McKenna stopped 32 of 34 puck thrown his way in the win.

Though Wilkes-Barre/Scranton fell in overtime to Portland on consecutive night, the Penguins earned six-of-eight possible points in their four games over the past week.