The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins ran into a wall Tuesday night.
David Rittich turned aside all 25 shots he faced, and the Utica Comets skated out of Mohegan Arena with a 4-0 win that snapped the Penguins’ three-game streak. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, which came in riding one of the league’s top offenses, couldn’t find a way through against one of the AHL’s stingiest defenses.
The Penguins did come out with some jump. They spent the early part of the night pinning Utica in its own end and creating a handful of good looks. But once the Comets absorbed that push, the pressure shifted the other way, and Joel Blomqvist was forced to handle several dangerous chances.
For a while, the game stayed tight. Both goalies were sharp in a quick-moving first period until Utica finally broke the deadlock at 9:58. Stefan Noesen, a former Penguin, got a redirection past Blomqvist for the opening goal.
After that, the second period settled into a much more cautious rhythm. Chances were limited, the pace slowed, and the 1-0 score held through 40 minutes.
Utica then doubled the lead just three minutes into the third when Xavier Parent buried a rebound under Blomqvist’s legs.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton tried to spark a comeback by pulling Blomqvist for an extra attacker with 4:01 remaining, but that move backfired quickly. Lenni Hämeenaho scored into the empty net, and Jack Malone added another with 2:59 left.
Blomqvist took the loss despite a season-high 32 saves.
The Penguins now turn to Friday, when they open a three-in-three weekend against Hershey at GIANT Center. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.
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Penguins Get A Tough Early Read Before A Brutal Weekend
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins got an early reminder of how unforgiving the AHL can be, dropping a 4-0 decision to the Utica Comets at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza. Utica goalie David Rittich turned aside 25 shots for the shutout, while the Penguins struggled to generate enough pressure to make the night uncomfortable for the visitors.
Joel Blomqvist did what he could in net, and the loss still leaves Wilkes-Barre/Scranton looking for a sharper response before a difficult stretch ahead. The next two games on the schedule bring the Hershey Bears and the Hamilton Hammers, a weekend that figures to test the Penguins quickly on both ends of the ice. [Read more 🡒]