The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins experienced the same old problem in a new way on Saturday night.
The Penguins were unable to finish a sweep against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms due to a collapse in the third period.
In a game against the Atlantic Division rival, the Phantoms secured a 4-2 victory with four consecutive goals in the last 18 minutes before a crowd of 7,303 at Mohegan Sun Arena.
The Phantoms scored in various ways, including on a power play, a short-handed breakaway, and two close-range shots after the Penguins lost possession of the puck in their own zone.
The Penguins' pattern of struggling when playing the same team on consecutive nights continued in this game.
Despite holding a 1-0 lead going into the third period and having a five-minute power play in a 1-1 tie, the Penguins couldn't secure a sweep after winning the previous night in Allentown.
Completing sweeps has been a challenge for the Penguins throughout the season.
Although the team has won the first game of back-to-back matchups seven out of eight times, they have struggled to complete the sweep the following day, with a 1-6 record in those situations.
Lehigh Valley managed to score four goals on just six shots in the third period.
Samu Tuomala equalized with a power play goal early in the third period.
Lehigh Valley's Garrett Wilson was ejected for a hit to the head, resulting in a five-minute power play that the team maintained even after scoring.
The Penguins failed to produce multiple shots during the extended power play.
Brendan Furry scored a go-ahead, short-handed goal after breaking down the right side and crossing in front of goalie Joel Blomqvist.
Despite trailing 2-1, the Penguins were unable to prevent two frustrating goals.
The Penguins' typically solid defense, ranked fourth out of 15 Eastern Conference teams in goals allowed, fell apart during this game.
Team captain Taylor Fedun's turnover led to an unassisted goal by Adam Brooks, extending Lehigh Valley's lead to 3-1.
Lehigh Valley added another goal when Evan Polei scored, following a pass from Samu Tuomala.
The Penguins earned a penalty shot during a power play, which Sam Poulin successfully converted, but it wasn't enough to pose a real threat to the Phantoms.
Parker Gahagen was penalized for throwing his stick at the puck, resulting in a penalty shot.
The first goal of the game came 15 seconds after the end of a Penguins power play, scored at 10:36 of the second period.
Vinnie Hinostroza, Ty Smith, and Ryan Shea combined for a goal from the top of the right circle to start the scoring in the second period.
NOTES
Despite Lehigh Valley's 14-7 shot advantage, the first period ended scoreless.
• The Phantoms won all three star positions. Furry was named the first star, Gardner the second, and Gahagen the third after stopping 30 shots.
• In the third period, the Penguins had 14 shots to the Phantoms' 6, and for the entire game, they led 32-29.
• The teams will play each other again on Wednesday night at the arena.
• The Penguins (29-20-7-1) are holding onto third place in the Atlantic Division, just one point ahead of the fourth-place Hartford Wolf Pack. Meanwhile, the Phantoms are in seventh place out of eight teams with a record of 24-23-5-2.
