SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins saw their four-game win streak come an end on Friday night in a 3-1 loss to the Springfield Thunderbirds at MassMutual Center.
The Penguins (46-19-3-0) found themselves in an insurmountable three-goal hole late in the third period as Thunderbirds’ goaltender Sam Brittian recorded 27 saves for just his third victory of the season.
After a scoreless first period, Springfield earned the game’s first goal on a point shot by Matt MacKenzie navigated its way through traffic and into Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s net. MacKenzie’s fourth tally of the season came at 10:18 of the second.
An unfortunate bounce early in the third period victimized the Penguins and presented a gift to the Thunderbirds for them to extend their lead to 2-0. Fifty-five seconds into the frame, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton goalie Tristan Jarry went behind his cage to retrieve a dump-in, but the puck caromed off the glass and into the slot where Anthony Greco could fire the biscuit into an open net.
Kyle Rau made it 3-0 for the Thunderbirds at 12:19 of the third.
Ryan Haggerty sent a heat-seeking missile to the top corner of the Falcons’ net, spoiling Brittain’s shutout bid with 4:05 left to play in regulation.
The Penguins’ penalty kill was five-for-six on the night, with Greco’s strange tally early in the final stanza the only man advantage marker allowed on the night by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Jarry recorded 23 saves on 26 shots faced for the Penguins.
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