@ 
7 1
–
Bill Zonnon broke out in a big way Saturday in Hartford with a pair of goals and an assist in the second period as the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins spoil the Hartford Wolf Pack’s home opener with a 7-1 win and the first victory of the season for the Penguins.
After going down 1-0 in the first, the Pens rattle off five in the second and two in the third to completely dominate the previously 3-0 Wolf Pack.
At times it looked like the Penguins could do nothing wrong in the game and no matter what they tried, Hartford could do nothing right.
Should be a happy ride up to Providence for Sunday’s contest against the Bruins.
Here’s how they lined up…
–
Lineup Notes: Melvin Fernstrom and Ilya Solovyov were sent back to the AHL on Friday and Saturday, respectively. Fernstrom drew in, Solovyov did not. They returned to 12F and 6D. Daniel Russell, Brayden Edwards and Fernstrom were in for Maleek McGowan and David Gustafsson up front. Phil Kemp sat as the extra defender.
First Period: Liam Greentree scored a few seconds into the Wolf Pack’s first power play of the game for his first professional goal.
–
Wilkes-Barre outshot the home team 11-5, yet took three penalties. They did not score on their only power play of the period.
Second Period: It was a blitzkrieg of goals for the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins, who scored five in the period. They went in shorthanded, on a power play and three at even strength.
Bill Zonnon scored at the expiration of a Wolf Pack power play to put the Pens even at one. Then 2:58 later, Atley Calvert scores on a deflection at the front of the net off a Chase Pietila shot that made it 2-1.
About four and a half minutes later shorthanded, Avery Hayes scores to make it 3-1. The Penguins have all of the shorthanded goals scored in the AHL (2) thus far in the second weekend of AHL action.
Bill Zonnon cleaned up a rebound for his second of the period about 90 seconds after the Hayes shorthanded goal after Caleb Jones crashed the net to make it 4-1 and then for good measure Mikhail Ilyin capped off a power play for the Penguins with a goal at 17:11 which made it 5-1.
Here’s all the goals….
–
I need a break!
Third Period: No letting off for the Penguins who killed a two man advantage for the Wolf Pack and then see Tanner Howe score to make it 6-1 and then :50 later see Owen Pickering score to make it 7-1.
–
Hartford could not get any closer as the Penguins simply limited them to just seven shots in the period.
Three Stars: 3) Avery Hayes (goal, two assists) 2) Caleb Jones (three assists) 1) Bill Zonnon (two goals, assist)
The Good: Nice to see them come out of the first intermission gangbusters like that for five goals. If ever a team that has something like that in them, I think it’s the Penguins.
The Bad: Five defensemen took penalties. That, I didn’t like.
Turning Point: Let’s give it to Avery Hayes and the shorthanded goal that made it 3-1.
Around the Division: We were a 6 p.m. start against a scoreboard and a night that normally starts at 7 (7:20 if you are Lehigh Valley) and with this being the second weekend of AHL action, let’s mail this in and leave the Saturday scoreboard here for anyone who cares to see how the rest of the division did Saturday.
Standings: Sickos click here.
Florida Update: Rain and lots of it thanks to Hurricane Isaias. The Everblades don’t start till next weekend when they host Orlando.
Video Highlights: I don’t feel confident the Wolf Pack will put on together, considering the last one they did was in April.
Talk to you Sunday after the Pens play the Bruins.
Let’s Go Pens!
WBS News
