PENS LET EARLY LEAD SLIP AWAY, FALL TO RIVER RATS IN SHOOTOUT

WILKES-BARRE, PA - It was a reversal of fortune for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Wednesday night.

In each of their previous two games, the Penguins fell behind by two goals, only to come from behind to post victories against the Hamilton Bulldogs and Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

Wednesday night's contest saw the Penguins jump out to a 2-0 lead against the Albany River Rats, who then scored three times in the second period and posted a 4-3 shootout victory against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at the Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza.

The loss saw the Pens' record fall to 44-26-0-4 on the season. That, coupled with a 1-0 win by the Philadelphia Phantoms, saw Wilkes-Barre/Scranton slide into a virtual tie for the top spot in the East Division with their intra-state rivals. Both teams have 92 points, with the Pens holding a 44-43 advantage in wins.

Albany imporved to 41-27-3-4 on the year, and now sits just three points out of first place in the East.

The loss also kept the Penguins from officially clinching a spot in the Calder Cup Playoffs - although they are about as close to a seventh postseason berth as possible. If the Pens were to lose all of their remaining games in regulation, and the Bridgeport Sound Tigers were to win their final seven contests, the clubs would be tied in points (92), wins (44) and in the season series (8-8 in points). The next tie breaker would be goal differential, a stat the Penguins currently lead plus-32 to minus-14.

The Penguins came out on fire Wednesday, as Chris Minard and Alex Goligoski scored a pair of power play goals in the first period. That marked the first time since March 4 that the team netted more than one power play tally in a game.

But things fell apart quickly in the second period.

Jamie Johnson, the Rats' leading scorer, notched his 21st goal of the season with the man advantage to pull the visitors within one, before Nicholas Blanchard and former Penguin Joe Jensen tallied 1:16 apart to give Albany a one goal lead headed into the third period.

"The way the game was going, being up 2-0, we had an opportunity there. And we squandered that opportunity," said head coach Todd Richards. "I don't know what was said in their locker room [between the first and second period], but I'm guessing the coach said something that stirred up some emotion in them, and their guys played much harder. The difference in the second period was we turned the puck over early in the neutral zone and had to play in our own zone. They created a lot of chances, which created some momentum. They were able to ride that."

The Pens showed improved play in the final frame, outshooting Albany 11-8. One of those 11 shots came off the stick of Dave Gove, who beat Michael Leighton for his 18th of the season - and his first against his former club.

"I like the way we competed in the third period. I thought we played a much harder game. We were more committed to what we needed to do," said Richards. "We were able to score a goal, and I think we generated a couple more opportunites."

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton held Albany without a shot in overtime, while getting four off themselves. But Leighton showed the form that has kept him at the top of the goaltender standings all season. He then snuffed four of five attempts in the shootout, allowing just a Jean-Michel Daoust tally.

John Curry stopped the first three Rats shooters he saw, before surrendering goals to Ben Cottreau and Bryan Rodney to see his record fall to 22-9-3.

The Penguins return to action Friday against the Springfield Falcons at Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza. The first 6,000 fans in attendance will receive a free golf umbrella, courtesy of the Scranton Times Tribune and Citizens Voice.