2/1- WBS Penguins 4 Manchester 1
By: Phil Schoener
Updated: February 2, 2013
WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - In just one game, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins doubled their shorthanded goal total for the season as they struck twice on the penalty kill in a 4-1 win over the Manchester Monarchs at Mohegan Sun at Casey Plaza.
Neither squad would find the back of the net in the first period, but rookie defenseman Joe Morrow gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead with his second goal of the year. Just as a Wilkes-Barre/Scranton power play was expiring, Morrow was free on the far circle with the puck and whistled a wrist shot to the top of the net at 9:01.
Late in the second with the Penguins on the penalty kill, Trevor Smith gave his team some insurance with 1:17 remaining until the intermission. Smith was able to gain control of the puck behind the Manchester net, get a shot in on net and sent his own rebound over the shoulder of goalie Peter Mannino for his 12th goal this season.
The Monarchs would have another power play chance early in the third, but it was Zach Sill taking the puck off the stick of a Manchester defenseman and racing the other way for a shorthanded breakaway goal at 1:32 to make it, 3-0, for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Riley Holazpfel helped the Penguins build a four-goal lead at 11:29 with Adam Payerl picking up his second assist of the contest. Tom Kostopoulos - playing in his 1000th game as a professional - also notched a helper on Holzapfel's tally.
Manchester broke up Jeff Zatkoff's shutout bid 35 seconds later on Vincent LoVerde's tip-in goal. The Penguins goalie finished with 21 saves for his third straight win.
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins take on the Adirondack Phantoms at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza on Saturday, Feb. 2 at 7:05PM. Tune in on MyNetworkTV and 102.3 The Mountain.
