Penguins come up short against Bruins

First Posted:

WILKES-BARRE TWP. – The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins have scored five goals in their last three games, and there is one common denominator: Chuck Kobasew.

The veteran winger accounted for the lone goal in Wednesday’s 2-1 loss to the Providence Bruins in a game where the Penguins gave a consistent effort and had plenty of chances but came up just short.

The loss is just the second in the last six games for the Penguins, who remain in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, six points behind St. John’s.

In Wednesday’s contest, Providence got on the board the first minutes into the opening period when Craig Cunningham sent a shot into the top corner for a 1-0 lead.

The Penguins picked up the offensive pace in the second period and scored just 17 seconds into the frame when Kobasew punched in an Andrew Ebbett pass while in front of the crease.

The goal was Kobasew’s sixth and he has now scored in all five games he’s played with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Kobasew has now had a hand in all five Penguin goals over the last three games – he scored four and set up another.

While Kobasew has been hot, head coach John Hynes isn’t concerned about the lack of scoring from the rest of his players.

“We’re not getting shut down. We’ve had good chances to score goals from multiple guys and multiple lines throughout the lineup,” Hynes said. “We like the way we’re playing.”

Despite four power plays in the period and outshooting Providence 12-4, the Penguins couldn’t manage another goal in the second period. The Bruins did regain their lead, however, with a power play tally from Ryan Spooner during the last five minutes.

The Penguins pressed throughout the third period and generated numerous scoring chances. The best came with five minutes left when rookie Josh Archibald, who was playing in his first pro game, gained the puck on his stick while stationed at the corner post.

Archibald couldn’t pull the trigger with an open net, and when he reset and shot, the puck careened off the post.

With 15 seconds left, Archibald had another opportunity to tie. With the extra attacker on the ice, Tom Kostopoulos sent a pass out from behind the net to Archibald in front who slammed a one-timer that Providence goaltender Malcolm Subban smothered at the last second.

“I was in the right spot and the guys got me the puck,” Archibald said. “The goalie must of had my number. We were making some great plays at the end, we just couldn’t get things through him”

Subban stopped 31-of-32 shots on the night in a tight game that is typical this late in the season as teams jockey to make the playoffs.

“They’re all going to be tight with everyone fighting for a playoff spot,” Kobasew said. “(Subban) made some big saves down the stretch, but I thought we controlled the play, especially in the third period. Maybe we deserved better.”

– LW Harry Zolnierczyk, C Zach Sill (injury), RW Spencer Machacek, RW Carter Rowney, C Dominik Uher, D Barry Goers, C Matia Marcantuoni, D Alex Boak and LW Conor Sheary were scratched for the Penguins.

– D Philip Samuelsson left the game midway through the second period and didn’t return. Hynes didn’t have an update on his condition after the game.

– G Peter Mannino has yet to allow two goals in any of his last eight starts, dating back to March 1.

***

Providence 2 Penguins 1

Providence` 1` 1` 0` — 2

Penguins` 0` 1` 0` — 1

First Period

Scoring – 1. PRO, Craig Cunningham 22 (Johnson, Trotman) 3:42. Penalties – PRO, Moore (hooking) 4:24; WBS, Harrington (tripping) 10:21; WBS, Carman (holding) 15:40.

Second Period

Scoring – 2. WBS, Chuck Kobasew 6 (Ebbett, Samuelsson) :17. 3. PRO, Ryan Spooner 9 (Cunningham, Griffith) power play 14:50. Penalties – PRO, Randell (holding) 5:44; PRO, Flick (fighting) 8:09; PRO, Randell (roughing) 8:09; PRO, Sexton (boarding) 8:09; WBS, Leblond (roughing) 8:09; WBS, McNeill (fighting) 8:09; WBS, Samuelsson (cross-checking) 13:16; PRO, Parlett (interference) 15:30; PRO, Sexton (high-sticking) 19:59.

Third Period

Scoring – None. Penalties – WBS, Kobasew (cross-checking) 12:21;

Providence – 8-4-8-20

Penguins – 7-13-12-32

Power-play Opportunities

Providence – 1 of 4

Penguins – 0 of 5

Providence – Malcolm Subban 14-8-4 (31 saves – 32 shots)

Penguins – Peter Mannino 6-3-1 (18-20)

Providence – G Malcolm Subban, D Ben Youds, D Zach Trotman, LW Craig Cunningham, C Ryan Spooner, RW Nick Johnson

Penguins – G Peter Mannino, D Reid McNeill, D Philip Samuelsson, LW Beau Bennett, C Andrew Ebbett, RW Chuck Kobasew

Three Stars