Wilkes Barre 6 – Binghamton 3
The Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins went 3-for-5 on the power play and got goals from six different players as the Penguins beat the Binghamton Senators 6-3 Friday to earn their first road win of the season.
Wilkes Barre (2-2) was led by winger Chris Conner who opened the scoring 42 seconds into the game with a breakaway goal. Conner (goal, assist) earned the games #1 star and has been Wilkes Barre’s top forward through the first four games of the season.
The return of forward Mark Letestu sparked a much improved power play Friday night. Letestu had two assists, both on the power play as Wilkes Barre was 3-for-5 on the man advantage.
Nick Johnson (1), Ryan Bayda (1) and Konstantin Pushkarev each scored power play goals.
Letestu also played a factor in Nick Johnson having his best game of the season. The two linemates play off of each other very well and Ryan Bayda was a good fit for that line tonight. Bayda was effective on the forecheck and was working harder than he was last week when he saw his first game action.
Bayda was tied for a team high five shots on goal. He finally looked like a player who is over his demotion.
In the defensive zone, Wilkes Barre had an up and down game. The Senators had 41 shots on goal but the tempo of the game for both teams was to attack offensively. It was a very entertaining game to watch.
Defenseman Robert Bortuzzo
did a very good job of keeping forwards to the outside. He rarely let an incoming skater to the inside and uses his speed very well.
Luca Caputi has done everything the organization has wanted from him except put the puck in the net. He has been playing with an edge, aggressive and shooting the puck. Tonight he only had two shots on goal but he’s starting to find ways to create offense on a consistent basis. Caputi had a goal (empty net) and assist.
The chances are there for him.
*Eric Tangradi did not play due to a shoulder injury. Tangradi is day-to-day but won’t play this weekend.
*Aaron Boogaard added a goal for Wilkes Barre in the second period.
*John Curry made 38 saves to improve to 2-2 on the season.
