UTICA, N.Y. – In a similar script to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins’ win last Friday, Carter Rowney scored early in overtime to defeat the Utica Comets, 4-3, at Utica Memorial Auditorium on Tuesday night.
Rowney, fresh off of netting the OT game-winner on Friday in Springfield and scoring both of his team’s goals against Bridgeport on Saturday, took advantage of a miscue behind the Comets’ net and won the game 33 seconds into the extra frame.
Utica had stormed back from down 3-0 at one point in the game, only to have their hopes of a win at home dashed by Rowney’s heroics.
“We’d like to protect the lead a little bit better, but that was a big win for us,” said Penguins head coach Clark Donatelli. “When [Utica] tied the game, 3-3, we had a good pushback. They guys responded well, and we were rewarded for it.”
Derek Army gathered a rebound and gave the Penguins the game’s first goal as well as his first career goal with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 7:47 into the first period.
The Penguins jumped out to a 2-0 lead thanks to a power play goal from Kael Mouillierat with just 26.7 seconds left in the first.
A second goal from Army came at 6:09 of the second period, putting the Penguins up, 3-0, after Comets goalie Richard Bachman mishandled a puck at the front of his net and turned it over to Tom Sestito and Army.
Chris Higgins scored his first goal as a Comet 47 seconds later, cutting the Penguins’ lead to 3-1.
A pin-balling shot from Jordan Subban made it 3-2 at 15:08 of the middle frame.
Brendan Gaunce tied the game, 3-3, at 11:24 of the third period.
Even at 3-3 after regulation, the game went to overtime, but not for long. Rowney’s goal 33 seconds into the extra period granted the Penguins the victory and a 31-14-1-1 record on the season.
Matt Murray made 33 saves in net for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, while Utica’s Bachman stopped 21 shots.
You must be logged in to post a comment.