12/31 WBS Penguins End Year On Winning Note
By: Mike O'Brien
Updated: December 31, 2011
Zach Sill's first two-goal game of his pro career was part of four markers scored in the second period and helped the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to a 4-2 win over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on New Year's Eve at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.
After the first frame failed to result in any goals, it was the Sound Tigers who controlled the majority of play to start the second. The Penguins would weather the storm and quickly jump ahead 2-0 on tallies just six seconds apart.
Alex Grant's shot from the point was initially stopped by Kevin Poulin, but Ryan Craig sent a pass to the slot that Sill ripped off the back bar at 3:25. On the ensuing face-off, Eric Tangradi took the puck down the left wing and beat the Bridgeport goalie clean with a wrist shot for his team-leading 13th goal of the season.
Bridgeport cut Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's lead to one less than four minutes later as Rhett Rakhshani danced toward the crease and slid a backhand pass to Tyler McNeely at the far post for the easy tap-in.
Sill allowed the Penguins to re-establish their two-goal edge at 15:31 with his second of the evening. With Colin McDonald holding the puck inside the Sound Tigers' blueline, Sill came off the bench to take a pass and split the defense before fluttering a wrist shout though the pads of Poulin that made the score 3-1.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton added one more with 28.2 seconds before the second intermission as Bryan Lerg batted a rebound chance into the open cage.
The Sound Tigers would push back in third and get within a pair when Rakhshani once again set up another teammate. This time it was Kael Mouillierat who was the benefactor midway through the period.
Scott Munroe kept Bridgeport of the board for the rest of the contest for his fifth win in six starts, raising his record to 7-3-2 on the year. The Penguins allowed a season-low 16 shots on net.
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins continue their homestand on Wednesday, January 4 with a battle against the Norfolk Admirals at 7:05 PM.
