Penguins hold on to take series lead
First Posted:
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — With Providence goaltender Malcolm Subban pulled for the extra attacker and the Bruins gaining the puck deep in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton end, it appeared as though Saturday’s Game 5 would go to overtime with yet another last-second goal.
Peter Mannino made sure it didn’t.
With several stops in the last minute while the Bruins had the extra attacker on the ice, Mannino prevented Providence from forcing overtime for a third straight night as the Penguins held on to win 3-2. Anton Zlobin scored the game-winner late in the third period as the Penguins won two out of three in Providence.
The series now shifts back to Wilkes-Barre on Monday with the Penguins in front in the series, 3-2.
“It’s nice we won the game, but no matter what the series is, the next game is the most important,” Penguins coach John Hynes said. “It takes four to win a series, so we have to be better going into Monday night’s game.”
The biggest difference between Game 4 — when the Bruins tied it with a last-second goal and won it in overtime — and the outcome in Game 5 was that the Penguins had an answer to Providence when the Bruins scored first.
“We wanted to be able to respond particularly after last night,” Hynes said. “Our response to the game in general was good and the fact that we had to come from behind early was something that tested us. It’s nice that we had to fight through the game.”
After Providence scored on the power play via a Ryan Spooner one-timer that was tipped by Craig Cunningham, it was all Penguins after that.
With less than four minutes remaining, Spencer Machacek fed Harry Zolnierczyk in front of the crease for a tip past Bruins’ goaltender Malcolm Subban to make it 1-1.
With two minutes left in the period, Providence’s Seth Griffith went off for interference and it took the Penguins just five seconds to take the lead when Josh Archibald punched in a rebound to make it 2-1.
The goal was Archibald’s first playoff tally as a pro, but the Penguins lead wouldn’t stand.
The Bruins pressed in the first half of the second period, but Mannino was stellar in net. He made a sprawling save on a Spooner shot from the faceoff circle and smothered a tip in front from Jared Knight to keep the Bruins off the board.
Providence did connect late in the period, however, when a flurry of shots ended up with Mannino in front of the crease. Tyler Randell skated in to slide a lose puck behind him for a 2-2 tie heading into the third period.
Both teams came close in the third period, beginning with a Machacek shot that hit the post and slid behind Subban, who covered it up before it crossed the line.
Minutes later, Chuck Kobasew nailed a shot that went over the net, bounced off the glass and landed behind Subban in the crease before being swept out.
At the other end, Mannino continued to come up big, including a stop on a shorthanded breakaway by Matt Lindblad.
“(Mannino) came up huge. If he doesn’t make those saves, it’s a different result,” Hynes said.
After that, the Penguins regained the lead 3-2 when Zlobin stuffed in a puck in front after Jayson Megna drove to the net to create the chance.
The Bruins threatened in the last minute during a 6-on-5 advantage, but they couldn’t get anything past Mannino.
“That 6-on-5 was almost like deja vu from last night,” Hynes said. “At that point their power play was moving the puck real well, so it was important that we had that kill.”
• G Eric Hartzell, D Philip Samuelsson (injury), C Nick Drazenovic, RW Carter Rowney, D Nick D’Agostino, D Harrison Ruopp, LW Bobby Farnham, C Andrew Ebbett (injury), C Dominik Uher, RW Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond, RW Bryan Rust and LW Scott Wilson were scratched for the Penguins.
• New faces in the lineup included C Mike Carman, RW Spencer Machacek and RW Josh Archibald. To make room for the trio, Hynes elected to sit regulars Drazenovic and Uher, both of whom finished Game 4 with a minus-1 and no shots.
***
Penguins 3, Providence 2
Game 5, Eastern Conference Semifinals
(Penguins lead series, 3-2)
Penguins`2`0`1`—`3
Providence`1`1`0`—`2
First Period
Scoring – 1. PRO, Craig Cunningham 3 (Spooner, Griffith) power play 12:47. 2. WBS, Harry Zolnierczyk 3 (Machacek, Sill) 16:29. 3. WBS, Josh Archibald 1 (Dumoulin, Sheary) power play 18:16. Penalties – PRO, Simonelli (interference) 5:27; PRO, Moore (hooking) 9:11; WBS, Carman (tripping) 12:02; PRO, Griffith (interference) 18:11; WBS, Harrington (slashing) 18:51.
Second Period
Scoring – 4. PRO, Tyler Randell 1 (Parlett, Knight) 15:44. Penalties – None.
Third Period
Scoring – 5. WBS, Anton Zlobin 4 (Megna, Despres) 14:20. Penalties – PRO, Morrow (cross-checking) 11:36; WBS, McNeill (interference) 14:45.
Penguins – 9-5-9-23; Providence – 9-14-10-33
Power-play opportunities
Penguins – 1 of 4; Providence – 1 of 3
Penguins – Peter Mannino – 6-3 (31 saves – 33 shots); Providence – Malcolm Subban 2-1 (20-23)
Penguins – G Peter Mannino, D Reid McNeill, D Simon Despres, LW Harry Zolnierczyk, C Zach Sill, RW Chuck Kobasew; Providence – G Malcolm Subban, D Tommy Cross, D David Warsofsky, LW Craig Cunningham, C Ryan Spooner, RW Cory Kane
Three Stars
– Tom Chmielewski, Graham Skilliter. – Brian MacDonald, Trent Knorr
– 2,729
