The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins continue to challenge for the top spot in the Atlantic Division. Despite entering the night two points behind the Hershey Bears, their opponent on Saturday, WBS blew a 3-0 second-period lead en route to a 5-4 overtime loss, allowing the Bears to open up the gap for first place to three points.
The Penguins’ attack was led by Valterri Puustinen, who had two goals and an assist, which tied overtime hero Pierrick Dubé for most points in the game.
Puustinen had a helper on Rutger McGroarty’s opening goal at 9:12, before scoring at 18:40 of the first period. At 11:46 of the third, he restored the Penguins one-goal lead (4-3) with his 10th of the season.
However, it was the last time they would score as Dubé took over and tied things at 4-4 with a lamplighter at 13:32 before scoring the overtime winner at 2:08.
Ultimately, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton blew a 3-0 lead after Ville Koivunen scored 12:26 in the second. Eventually, the Bears clawed their way back into the contest with their first goal at 15:01 off the stick of Ivan Miroshnichenko.
Hershey cut the lead to just one at 6:59 of the third with a Mike Vecchione tally. Then, Miroshnichenko potted his second of the night at 11:38 to tie the game for the first time at 3-3. Although Puustinen restored the Penguins' lead eight seconds later, they could not contain Dubé in the final part of the third and into overtime.
Surprisingly, the Penguins almost won the game despite just 16 shots on goal as Clay Stevenson finished his night with 12 saves (.750 SV%). Meanwhile, Tristan Jarry was much busier, turning away 31 shots to watch his record fall to 6-5-1 with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
The Penguins (29-14-7-1) are off until Mar. 4 when they host the Belleville Senators.