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Another kicking conundrum for Lions

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins fall to Bridgeport Sound Tigers, 4-1

<p>PITTSTON TWP. &#8212; It took three periods, a five-minute overtime and a shootout, but the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights recorded their first-ever franchise win on Saturday night at the Revolution Ice Centre.</p><p>Carson Knop, who scored the first goal of the game for the Knights, found the back of the net again in the second round of the shootout. The goal proved to be the game-winner after the Knights goalie, Andrey Svistunov, made a save to secure the victory.</p><p>Heading into the game, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton was 0-7-1 on the season and still searching for their first franchise win. Before Saturday night, the team had recorded only one point in an overtime loss to Corpus Christi.</p><p>Knop got the scoring started for the Knights when he picked up a loose puck, skated in and put it top self off of a wrist shot from the far circle, giving Wilkes-Barre/Scranton an early, 1-0 lead at the 12:25 mark of the first period.</p><p>Wilkes-Barre/Scranton again found the back of the net in the first period thanks to the skate of Stephen Kelly. Tanner Bennett drove to the net from the far side of the ice and put a low shot on Johnstown goaltender Nick DeSimone. Although DeSimone made the initial stop with his pads, the puck bounced out to the slot and off of Knights forward Stephen Kelly&#8217;s skate and into the net.</p><p>The Johnstown sticks would awaken in the second period as both Tom Horn and Kelly O&#8217;Brien found the back of the net. O&#8217;Brien stole the puck of a Wilkes-Barre/Scranton defensemen and skated in alone to score his goal on goaltender Avistunov.</p><p>Both teams scored again in the third period to make the score, 3-3, which would remain until the horn sounded. After a number of chances both ways in a 3 on 3 overtime and two rounds in the shootout, the game would be decided.</p><p>The matchup pitted two teams ranked in the top four of the North American Hockey league for penalty minutes. Johnstown, the most penalized team in the league with 238 PIMs coming into this contest, and the Knights, the fourth-most penalized with 177 penalty minutes coming into tonight&#8217;s game.</p><p>Neither team failed to keep their reputation.</p><p>The two combined for a total of 31 minutes over 10 infractions, one of which resulted in a 10-minute misconduct penalty and the ejection of Knight&#8217;s player Jimmy Elser.</p><p>A win is something new for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, and something that they will look to build on over the remaining 51 games this season. They will take the ice against the Tomahawks again on Sunday at 1 p.m.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_Knights-celebrate-first-ever-win.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights celebrate their first franchise victory after winning, 4-3 in a shootout. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_Knights-celebrate-first-ever-win.jpg</photo0><caption0>The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights celebrate their first franchise victory after winning, 4-3 in a shootout. </caption0><photoCredit0>Russ Hryvnak | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_Svistunov-makes-gameending-save.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights goaltender Andrey Svistunov makes the save that decides the shootout against Johnstown forward Alex Alger. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_Svistunov-makes-gameending-save.jpg</photo1><caption1>Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights goaltender Andrey Svistunov makes the save that decides the shootout against Johnstown forward Alex Alger. </caption1><photoCredit1>Russ Hryvnak | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_Carson-Knop-takes-a-face-off.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights forward Carson Knop takes a faceoff during Saturday night&#8217;s game against the Johnstown Tomahawks. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_Carson-Knop-takes-a-face-off.jpg</photo2><caption2>Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights forward Carson Knop takes a faceoff during Saturday night&#8217;s game against the Johnstown Tomahawks. </caption2><photoCredit2>Russ Hryvnak | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Russell Hryvnak</p><p>rhryvnak@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Russell Hryvnak at 570-991-6401 or on Twitter @TLRussHryvnak</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights get their first-ever francise win