It goes down as a loss. But it will almost certainly be the hardest-earned point of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s season.
Down by five goals late in the second period, the Penguins rallied to tie the game in the third before dropping a 6-5 decision to Lehigh Valley on Friday night in Allentown.
In the midst of a surge that has seen the Penguins push back up the Atlantic Division standings, the Penguins were brought back down to earth with a thud by the Phantoms, who torched the team and rookie goalie Emil Larmi for five goals in just 21:01 of game time.
And that 5-0 lead held all the way until the final minute of the second period before the scoring spark came from an unlikely source. Tough guy Jamie Devane scored his first goal in a Wilkes-Barre/Scranton uniform to give the Penguins some life and Adam Johnson capped off the rally with exactly 2:00 left in regulation with the tying goal at 5-5.
T.J. Brennan rescued Lehigh Valley from a humbling loss by scoring with a minute left in overtime, but the Penguins (12-6-2-1) still managed to steal a point to keep pace with the division leaders.
Devane’s goal came on the power play to get things started, but the momentum didn’t immediately carry through the second intermission.
It was another newcomer to the team, top-line center Andrew Agozzino, who then started a four-goal flurry in less than nine minutes to shock the host Phantoms.
Agozzino scored the Penguins’ second and fourth goals sandwiched around an Anthony Angello tally before Johnson made it 5-5. Agozzino led the way with three points, helping set up Johnson’s goal.
Sam Miletic and defenseman Matt Abt added two assists apiece.
After a miserable start to the night, Larmi settled in and finished the game, making 20 saves on 26 shots.
The Penguins are back on the ice tonight at Mohegan Sun Arena as they host Bridgeport for a 7:05 p.m. start.
