EASY LIKE WEDNESDAY MORNING: PENS DOWN PHANTOMS, 4-1
Alex Goligoski’s third period power play goal was the difference, as the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins posted a 4-1 win against the Philadelphia Phantoms Wednesday afternoon at the Wachovia Spectrum.
The win raised the Penguins’ record to 7-6-0-0 on the season, while the Phantoms suffered just their second regulation loss of the year, falling to 13-2-1-0.
The victory was the first in four tries against the Phantoms this year for the Pens, who evened their road record at 3-3-0-0.
The hosts jumped out to a 1-0 lead midway through the first period. Darroll Powe picked up a loose puck in the neutral zone during a Penguins power play, and made his way down the left side of the ice. Powe dumped the puck behind the net, where Frederik Cabana picked it up and stuffed it home with a wraparound for the shorthanded tally.
Connor James evened the score 1:32 into the second period with a blast from the slot. The goal was James’ third of the season.
The score remained tied until Goligoski dug in at the far side of the Phantoms net and banged home his third of the campaign at 2:32 of the third. His close range shot came on the power play, and is his second of the season against the Phantoms.
Fellow rookie defender Jonathan D’Aversa stretched the lead to 3-1 with a boomer from the top of the left circle as time wound down on a Pete Zingoni slashing call. His first career professional goal came at 9:38.
Jeff Taffe later capped off the victory with an empty-net tally.
Ty Conklin bounced back from a sub-par performance against the Springfield Falcons on Saturday, making 23 saves to record his seventh win of the season.
The Penguins return to action on Saturday night in Albany. Game time against the River Rats is 7:00pm. The Pens return home to host the Binghamton Senators on Sunday afternoon at 5:05pm. The first 6,000 fans will receive a 2007-08 Penguins team photo, courtesy of the Times-Leader.
NOTES: Tyler Kennedy recorded two assists in his first game back with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton…D’Aversa also assisted on James’ first period tally for his first career professional point.
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