Hello Penguins fans from Hershey, PA. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton got back to work today after the tough 4-3 overtime loss to Hershey last night at the GIANT Center. From the score alone, you can tell it was far from the dominating Penguins performance that we saw in Games 1 & 2.
The Bears were finally able to exhibit several of the trends that made them so successful during the regular season. First, the league's top-scoring team in the first period this year jumped out to a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from D.J. King and Cameron Schilling.
Second, after the Penguins rallied back, Hershey's top lines were able to find the scoresheet for the first time this postseason. Kyle Greentree gave the Bears their lead once again late in the third off of assists by Jacob Micflikier and Cody Eakin
Lastly, Hershey's power play got untracked at the perfect time. Scoreless in their previous 10 chances on the man-advantage, Ryan Potulny -who led the AHL with 19 power play goals in 2011-12 - potted the game-winner at 2:57 of OT.
Despite the positives for the Bears in Game 3, the general consensus in the Penguins' locker room is that Wednesday's loss was just as much a result of what W-B/Scranton did not do well in the contest.
In the first period, the Penguins did not get the puck deep with the same effectiveness as they had in previous games and were not able to establish the forecheck that caused so many turnovers and offensive opportunities.
A few too many defensive lapses by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton saw the puck find the back of the net twice, which will eventually happen if you repeatedly give chances to a team as talented as the Hershey Bears.
The glass half-full view of the Game 3 though is that the Penguin's power play unit was able to find convert not once, but twice and despite not playing its best game, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton was in a position in the end to close out the series.
The Penguins went through a quick, fast-paced practice this morning and seemed focused as they prepare for Game 4 tomorrow night.
Head Coach John Hynes talked with reporters after the game about facing adversity in the series and the impact that players such as Eric Tangradi had in their return from Pittsburgh.
Check back tomorrow for more updates from Hershey.
-Obie
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