WILKES-BARRE TWP. — Andrew Agozzino followed up his all-star game selection earlier in the day by putting the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the early lead Friday night.
The Penguins, however, did not protect their lead or the puck very well.
Agozzino’s two-goal game on his 29th birthday went to waste when the Hershey Bears put together a flurry of three straight goals in the first 5:23 of the second period to break the game open on the way to a 6-2 victory at Mohegan Sun Arena.
The Bears scored three times in a span of 4:19 early in the second period, but Penguins coach Mike Vellucci said the trouble started earlier.
“I don’t think it was the start of the second period,” Vellucci said. “It was after they scored their first goal.
“I think the first seven minutes we were very good, then we just turned so many pucks over it was crazy. They got their first goal, then we were on our heels after that.”
When the Bears quickly made it 4-1 in the second period, Vellucci went to Casey DeSmith in goal in place of Dustin Tokarski.
“At the start of the second, we had talked about it, but still turned it over; three shots, three goals,” Vellucci said. “I pulled Tokarski just to change momentum; not anything on him.
“As a team, we let him down in those first two periods.”
The Bears stretched the lead to 5-1 before the second period was over.
“We haven’t had many stinkers in a long time, but this definitely was one of them,” Vellucci said. “I thought we lost in a shootout the other day, but we dominated the game. When you lose, but you play well, you feel good about it.
“I don’t feel good about this one.”
Agozzino, who had opened the scoring less than seven minutes into the game, scored again in the first minute of the third period.
The league announced Friday that Agozzino had been named to the Atlantic Division roster for the AHL All-Star Classic. The two-day event is scheduled for Jan. 26-27 in Ontario, Calif., with a skills competition the first day, followed by a second-day all-star tournament of abbreviated games played 3v3.
“It’s exciting,” Agozzino said. “Any time you get recognition on a stage league-wide, it’s really something cool.
“I’ve been there before. It’s a fun event. You get to know some guys you’ve played against.”
Agozzino, the team scoring leader, has 14 goals and 17 assists. This is his third All-Star Classic selection.
“He’s a great guy,” Vellucci said. “I like working with him. He’s one of our leaders. I get the chance to talk with him quite a bit.
“He’s been awesome for us, on and off the ice.”
Agozzino opened the scoring when Anthony Angello took a wrist shot from the right wing and the rebound came to him at the left post.
The Penguins recovered defensively to prevent Brian Pinho from having a clean breakaway down the left side, but his backhand shot went off of Tokarski and into the net.
Before long, the game was getting out of hand.
“We were sloppy with the puck,” Agozzino said. “We weren’t managing it well, especially in our end.”
NOTES: Agozzino played his 500th career AHL game on New Year’s Eve. In 501 career games, he has 160 goals and 223 assists. … The next four Penguins games are also at home, tonight vs. Springfield, Wednesday vs. Charlotte, Jan. 10 in another meeting with Hershey and Jan. 11 against Hartford. … Pinho completed the three-game, second-period outburst and finished the game with two goals and an assist to earn recognition as first start. Agozzino was second star. Philippe Maillet, whose goal made it 5-1 after two, was the third star. … Maillet, Liam O’Brien and Eddie Wittchow each had a goal and an assist for the Bears. DeSmith and forward Thomas Di Pauli are set to join parent club Pittsburgh tonight for a game in Montreal. … The Penguins are 17-13-3-2. Hershey is 18-10-2-3.
Hershey 6, Penguins 2
Hershey`1`4`1 — 6
Penguins`1`0`1 — 2
First Period — 1, Penguins, Agozzino 13 (Angello, Lizotte), 6:53; 2, Hershey, Pinho 7 (unassisted) 13:51. Penalties — Johnson, Penguins (slashing) 7:53; O’Brien, Hershey (holding) 11:50.
Second Period — 3, Hershey, Pilon 7 (Sgarbossa, Snively), 1:04; 4, Hershey, Wittchow 2 (O’Brien, Leason), 2:42; 5, Hershey, Pinho 8 (Maillet), 5:27; 6, Hershey, Maillet 6 (Moulson, Nardella), 18:45 (PP). Penalties — Kessy, Hershey (fighting major, game misconduct – fighting at puck drop), Devane, Penguins (fighting major, game misconduct – fighting at puck drop), 2:48; Jonsson-Fjallby, Hershey (hooking), 10:51.
Third Period — 7, Penguins, Agozzino 14 (Angello, Lizotte), 0:56; 8, Hershey, O’Brien 7 (Alexeyev, Pinho), 16:36 (EN). Penalties — O’Brien, Hershey (tripping), 7:41; Alexeyev, Hershey (holding), 14:30.
Shots on Goal — Hershey 14-12-6-32. Penguins 6-8-18-32.
Power-play opportunities — Hershey 1 of 3; Penguins 0 of 4.
Goalies — Hershey, Vanecek 11-5-1 (32 shots-30 saves). Penguins, Tokarski 6-3-1 (18 shots-14 saves); DeSmith 10-8-2 (13 shots-12 saves).
A — 4,927.
Referees — Chris Waterstradt, Rob Hennessey. Linesmen — Tom DellaFranco, Bill Lyons.