By Tyler Piccotti, Staff Writer
Jordy Bellerive scored his first professional goal against San Antonio back in October.
He hit another milestone facing the Rampage on Saturday at AT&T Center.
Bellerive recorded his first career multigoal game, scoring in the second and third to give the Penguins a one-goal advantage, and he added the shootout winner for good measure as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton prevailed 4-3. The win is the team’s first on its six-game road trip.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton started strong, getting a redirect goal from Joseph Blandisi at 12:22 of the first period to take the lead. However, San Antonio — normally known for its power-play prowess — responded with Austin Poganski’s shorthanded goal in the second to even things.
Bellerive and San Antonio’s Jake Walman would later trade goals in rapid succession on two occasions, in reverse order, taking the game to overtime.
The Penguins were given a gift in the extra session, as Joey LaLeggia committed a four-minute high stick to hand them 2:25 of power-play time. However, they could not score on the ensuing sequence and a roughing penalty by Anthony Angello after a whistle negated the rest of the advantage.
Bellerive was the only player to score in the shootout, deking left and beating netminder Ville Husso up high. Casey DeSmith stopped all three San Antonio attempts and made 22 saves in regulation and overtime to earn his 12th win.
Pens notes
■ Goaltender Dustin Tokarski came out for warmups and was listed to back up DeSmith. However, he was then named a late scratch and Emil Larmi was the No. 2 netminder instead.
■ The Penguins kept the same forwards in the lineup as in Friday’s game against Texas. John Nyberg made his second start on the blue line, and Macoy Erkamps slotted in for Michael Kim.
Up next
These two teams will meet again, and for the final time this season, 8 p.m. Tuesday at AT&T Center.
Penguins 1 1 1 0 1 — 4 San Antonio 0 0 2 1 0 — 3 First period: Scoring – 1, WBS, Blandisi (Warsofsky, Di Pauli), 12:22. Penalties – WBS, Erkamps, interference 8:36; SA, Nolan, slashing 9:50.
Second period: Scoring – 2, SA, Poganski (Stevens), 9:09 (SH); 3, SA, Walman (Vecchione, Poganski), 15:15; 4, WBS, Bellerive (Lizotte), 16:26. Penalties – WBS, Roy, tripping 3:54; SA, Walker, slashing 8:06; SA, Olsen, boarding 16:51; WBS, Blandisi, fighting 19:17; SA, Vecchinoe, fighting 19:17.
Third period: Scoring – 5, WBS, Bellerive, 10:37; 6, SA, Walman, 11:57. Penalties – SA, Walker, tripping 8:12.
Overtime: Scoring – None. Penalties – SA, LaLeggia, high-sticking (double minor) 2:35; WBS, Angello, roughing 3:59.
Shootout: WBS, Bellerive goal, Berger no; SA, Poganski no, Vecchione no, LaLeggia no.
Shot on goal: WBS 12 11 7 5 – 36; SA 10 11 4 0 – 25.
Goaltenders: WBS, DeSmith (22 saves on 25 shots; 3 saves in shootout); SA, Husso (32 saves on 35 shots; 1 save in shootout).
Power-play opportunities: WBS 0 for 5; SA 0 for 3.
Referees: Mathieu Menniti and Brett Roeland. Linesmen: Fred Hudy and Chase Wilkinson.
Contact the writer: tpiccotti@citizensvoice.com; 570-821-2089; @CVPiccotti on Twitter