Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins drop second game of series vs. Manchester
MANCHESTER, N.H. — Jordan Weal’s goal in the waning minutes of the second period proved to be the game-winner as the Manchester Monarchs downed the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 5-2 on Thursday in the second game of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
On the heels of a grueling triple-overtime triumph the night before, the Monarchs now lead the best-of-seven series 2-0.
In addition to the decisive goal, Weal provided the Monarchs with an insurance score at 5:24 of the third.
“This is the process we have to go through right now to prove that this is a team that can make a deep run.” Penguins coach John Hynes said. “In the first round we played with the lead, and this series has been different.
“Tonight we leave the building knowing that we are playing a real good team, but we’re also leaving the building knowing what price we have to pay to be able to win a hockey game.”
Brian O’Neill got the first strike for the Monarchs midway through the opening period when he emerged with possession of the puck from a multi-player scrum in the corner and releasing a quick wrist shot past Penguins goalie Matt Murray.
O’Neill along with Weal and Michael Mersch make up the high-scoring top line for the Monarchs. Through seven playoff games the trio has accounted for 18 goals and 32 points.
The Penguins were held to just five shots on goal through the first 20 minutes of play.
The Penguins made good on an opportunity to even things while skating with a man-advantage as a result of Jeff Schultz’s minor for delay of game at 11:33 of the second.
Less than a minute into the power play, Conor Sheary’s wrist shot ricocheted off the crossbar behind goalie Jean-Francois Berube and dropped straight down behind the goal line. Video review confirmed that the Penguins had drawn even.
Moments after Sheary’s score,the Monarchs and Penguins traded goals 14 seconds apart as Dominik Uher quickly answered a Justin Auger marker to render yet another deadlock.
But Weal, with helpers from O’Neill and Mersch, propped the Monarchs back up, scoring the eventual game-winner with 2:57 left in the period.
“I thought that those guys were difference makers on the scoreboard,” Hynes said of Weal and his linemates. “In general, for us, it was more of a team effort from our point of view.”
Manchester outshot the Pens 34-20.
Hynes waved off any talk of possible lingering physical effects from Wednesday night’s marathon loss.
“It really doesn’t matter,” Hynes said. “The challenge was to turn the play well enough to win the game, and we weren’t able to do that.”
