PENGUINS FALL IN GAME FIVE, 2-1
WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – Zane McIntyre made 50 saves and Danton Heinen tallied twice, as the Providence Bruins defeated the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, 2-1, in Game Five of the Atlantic Division Semifinal on Sunday afternoon.
With that result, the Penguins postseason came to an end, while the Bruins will face the winner of the Hershey Bears – Lehigh Valley Phantoms series in the Atlantic Division Final.
Even though the Penguins outshot the Bruins 21-9 in the first period, they found themselves in a 1-0 hole at the close of the first 20 minutes. After a too many men on the ice penalty, Providence quickly took advantage with Heinen scoring a power play goal at 12:37 of the first.
Heinen notched his second goal of the game 13 minutes into the third period, giving him an AHL-leading four goals in the playoffs.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton cut Providence’s lead in half thanks to a man advantage marker of its own. Jean-Sébastien Dea did the honors, rifling a shot so hard into the top corner that the puck got stuck between the mesh and back bar. Dea’s goal came with 5:23 remaining in regulation and on the Penguins’ 47th shot of the afternoon.
Despite the Penguins continuing the barrage of shots on McIntyre, the equalizer never came, effectively ending the team’s season.
The Penguins’ power play finished the contest going one-for-six, while their penalty kill nullified two of the Bruins’ three man advantage opportunities.
Casey DeSmith posted 24 saves in the loss.
