The goalies took center stage for the first 40 minutes of play, as a Jack Devine power-play marker late in the first period was the only action on the scoreboard heading into the final frame. Charlotte then tilted the ice in its favor to start the third, lighting the lamp two more times to jump ahead 3-0 with about 10 minutes remaining.
The Penguins punched back in a big way, though. The visitors finally broke through just past the midway point of the frame, tacked on another quickly after and then evened the score - all within the span of four minutes.
That outburst would send the game to overtime, and while both sides created chances in the extra frame it was Penguins defenseman Jake Livanavage who ended things - completing Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s furious comeback.
QUOTES
Head Coach Geordie Kinnear on how the Penguins were able to come back and win the gameThey scored three goals and won it in overtime on a turnover.
Kinnear on his team’s play
We got what we deserved. I didn’t really love the third period. I didn’t love the first period,the power play got us going in the first. Second period we regained it, I thought we were pretty good. And then the third period we got up and kind of stopped skating. Lacked a little bit of focus and gave a really good hockey team some opportunities and they made the most of it.
Kinnear on the takeaway from the game
You have to focus throughout, no matter how you feel in the game. If you’re a little bit physically tired or mentally tired, you just have to go out for that one shift and make sure you have focus. You look at a lot of faceoffs we lost focus. Starting with the O-zone faceoff loss to a breakaway and then a penalty shot, that’s when it turned.
Kinnear on Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
Full credit to a highly skilled hockey team, but we’re still early in the season where it has to be a focus on what we want to do. I thought to the point I just made, we lost focus there for some reason, which I thought in the previous game in Iowa, the focus was throughout even though we were down 4-2 and we were the team coming back. Any time you lose focus against a highly skilled group they’re going to make you pay.
Kinnear on Sam Lafferty’s performance
He physically was strong tonight. That was his best game. I thought he showed a lot of leadership and obviously I can play him a lot of minutes because he’s a pro. He’s physically in great shape and can skate.
Kinnear on Cooper Black returning after making his NHL debut
I always say, that’s what makes my job great, being able to tell someone they’re going up. I’m super proud, he’s an unbelievable kid, unbelievable work ethic. I know his whole family were proud of him, as were we.
