WILKES-BARRE TWP. – The streaks continued for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Saturday night.
The Penguins came up with their 21st straight successful penalty kill, playing shorthanded over the final 1:04 of the game, to extend their American Hockey League winning streak to five by holding off the visiting Lehigh Valley Phantoms 2-1.
With the win, the Penguins (10-5-1-1) complete a perfect four-game homestand that has brought them into second place in the Atlantic Division. They have allowed just three goals in the five-game winning streak.
“Obviously, we’re playing well right now,” team captain David Warsofsky said in the on-ice, post-game interview.
Warsofsky scored the game-winner 1:29 into the third period when Sam Miletic made a pass from below the goalline. Warsofky, positioned in the left circle, one-timed it into the net.
“That was huge,” Penguins coach Mike Vellucci said. “We’ve been playing well defensively. We’ve been getting the saves when we need it.
“If we just continued to do that, we knew we’d have enough offense to get us at least one.”
Miletic had scored the game’s first goal when he backhanded in a rebound from the slot on a power play with 1:05 left in the first period.
Adam Johnson took a pass from Warsofky and got off a shot from a tough angle on the right side. The rebound caromed right up the middle to Miletic, who got off a quick shot while there was still plenty of net on which to shoot.
The goal came during a time the Penguins were struggling. Lehigh Valley carried play into the early stages of the second period, getting three good chances in the first minute and tying the game when Mikhail Vorobyev scored on a rebound.
“From about halfway through the second (period) on, I felt we played real well,” Vellucci said.
Dustin Tokarski, who held Utica scoreless over the final 59 minutes to get the winning streak started in his previous outing, came up with 31 saves.
“He’s a really good goalie,” Vellucci said after Tokarski improved to 2-0-1 with the Penguins after getting a late start because of injury. “I was fortunate to win a championship with him last year and I know the guys are really confident in him.”
The Penguins are off until Friday when they play in Springfield. They return home the next night to host the Charlotte Checkers, the team Vellucci guided to the Calder Cup title last season.
NOTES: With Sidney Crosby on injured reserve, the parent Pittsburgh Penguins recalled forward Joseph Blandisi on an emergency basis Saturday. Blandisi was recalled earlier and had a goal and assist in seven National Hockey League games. He had two goals and two assists in eight AHL games. … Warsofsky was Saturday’s first star, followed by Miletic and Tokarski. … The Penguins’ 187-minute unscored upon streak that was broken Friday began with Tokarski, so Casey DeSmith’s personal unscored upon streak was just short of 149 minutes, not the 187 reported in Saturday’s Times Leader.
Penguins 2, Lehigh Valley 1
Springfield`0`1`0`— 1
Penguins`1`0`1`— 2
First Period_1. Penguins, Miletic 2 (Johnson, Warsofsky), 18:55 (PP). Penalty_Rubtsov, Lehigh Valley (high sticking), 18:01.
Second Period_2, Lehigh Valley, Vorobyev 4 (Carey, Wotherspoon), 0:55. Penalty_Abt, Penguins (hooking), 13:33.
Third Period_3, Penguins, Warsofsky 2 (Noesen, Miletic), 1:29. Penalties_Aube-Kubel, Lehigh Valley (hooking), 4:02; Palve, Penguins (holding), 6:52; Frost, Lehigh Valley (hooking), 16:56; Johnson, Penguins (slashing), 18:41.
Shots on Goal_Lehigh Valley 14-8-10—32. Penguins 9-6-10—25.
Power-play opportunities_Lehigh Valley 0 of 3; Penguins 1 of 3.
Goalies_Lehigh Valley, Lyon 3-3-2 (25 shots-23 saves). Penguins, Tokarski 2-0-1 (32 shots-31 saves).
A_4,578.
Referees_Terry Koharski, Alex Normandin. Linesmen_Julien Fournier, Ryan Knapp.
