Penguins win second in a row – Wilkes-Barre Citizens’ Voice

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins got off to a strong start in a four-game week.

Trailing by one at Springfield after one period, the Pens scored two straight goals, and Gabe Klassen got the game-winner with 11 minutes left as they held off the Thunderbirds, 3-2, at the MassMutual Center on Monday afternoon in AHL play.

It’s the second straight win for the Pens following Saturday’s victory over Hartford. It’s also two straight against the Thunderbirds, improving the Pens to 2-0 against Springfield this season.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (26-11-1-2) and Providence remain deadlocked for first in the Atlantic with 55 points. However, the Bruins have four games in hand. Charlotte and Lehigh Valley are third and fourth, respectively. Springfield is eighth in the Atlantic.

Simon Robertsson gave the Thunderbirds the lead in the first period. But just 1:36 into the second period, the Penguins tied it on Valtteri Puustinen’s seventh goal of the season. Then, at 15:41 of the second, Chase Pietila scored on assists from Puustinen and Atley Calvert to give the Pens a 2-1 after two. It was Pietila’s first AHL goal.

Springfield’s Matthew Peca tied the game at 2-2, scoring on a power play early in the third. But Klassen’s 10th goal of the season at the 9:07 mark of the third period gave the Penguins the lead for good at 3-2.

Goalie Sergei Murashov stopped 25 of 27 shots.

The team returns to the home ice of Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza to host the Belleville Senators on Wednesday night at 7:05 in the first meeting between the two teams this season. The Penguins head to the Giant Center on Friday night to face off with the Hershey Bears at 7 p.m., then host the Charlotte Checkers at the arena Saturday at 6:05 p.m.

Prior to Monday’s game, Springfield’s parent club, the St. Louis Blues, announced that Thunderbirds coach Steve Konowalchuk was relieved of his duties and will be replaced by Steve Ott. Assistant coach Chad Wiseman coached the Thunderbirds against the Penguins. Ott, who played 848 games over 15 seasons in the National Hockey League, will join the team later this week.