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<p>WILKES-BARRE TWP. &#8212; If Clark Donatelli could erase any portion of Friday&#8217;s game against the Springfield Thunderbirds, it would be the first 10 minutes.</p><p>Wilkes-Barre/Scranton came out a bit flat, or even rusty after playing just one game leading into Friday, and the Thunderbirds took advantage with a quirky goal in the first half of the opening period that went on to be the game winner. The 1-0 loss drops the Penguins to 1-1 on the season with two more game to play this weekend.</p><p>&#8220;We just didn&#8217;t execute in the first 10 minutes of the game,&#8221; Donatelli said. &#8220;They came out really hard and it took us a little bit to get going.&#8221;</p><p>There were other factors contributing to the loss in addition to the start. The puck was bouncing, passes weren&#8217;t connecting, the power play blanked on four chances and, perhaps most of all, Springfield goaltender Reto Berra was unbeatable in net, stopping all 23 shots he faced.</p><p>The first two periods were a struggle for the Penguins offensively. Steve Oleksy and Ryan Haggerty generated two scoring chances in the second half of the first period, but other than that, the Penguins had some difficulty connecting on passes and failed to capitalize on three power plays.</p><p>By the end of the night, the power play was 0 for 4, something the Penguins needed to come through in a tight game.</p><p>&#8220;We had our chances, but we definitely have to capitalize on the power play,&#8221; Kevin Porter said. &#8220;Our power play needed to step up and score a goal.&#8221;</p><p>The Falcons scored early in the first when Jarry failed to recover a rebound, but aside from that one miscue, the young netminder was flawless. He bailed the Penguins out of three Springfield power plays in the first two periods, including back-to-back saves in front of the crease during a scrum for the puck.</p><p>During a four-on-four situation in the third period, the Penguins nearly tied it up when Porter and Tom Kostopoulos both dished backhand shots from in front, but Berra was in position for both.</p><p>Jarry came up big again on the Thunderbirds&#8217; fourth power play midway through the third period when he snared a Jakub Kindl blast from the point to keep the Penguins to within one. Despite a better pace in the final minutes, the Penguins couldn&#8217;t beat Berra.</p><p>They&#8217;ll hope for a better result with a quick turnaround on Saturday at home against Syracuse.</p><p>&#8220;It was a tough loss but a learning experience as well,&#8221; Haggerty said. &#8220;We didn&#8217;t get the job done tonight like we were supposed to, and we want to get back out there after a tough loss and not let the week drag it on.&#8221;</p><p><strong>NOTES</strong></p><p>&#8226; D David Warsofsky was recalled by Pittsburgh before Friday&#8217;s game.</p><p>&#8226; RW Patrick McGrath, C Jarrett Burton, C Adam Krause and D Barry Goers were scratched for the Penguins.</p><p>&#8226; RW Reid Gardiner made his pro debut, skating on a line with Haggerty and Sahir Gill.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry deflects the puck in the second period of Friday night&#8217;s hockey game against Springfield at Mohegan Sun Arena. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_pensspringfield01.jpg</photo0><caption0>Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry deflects the puck in the second period of Friday night&#8217;s hockey game against Springfield at Mohegan Sun Arena. </caption0><photoCredit0>Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_pensspringfield03.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">The pucks glances off the leg of Penguins captain Tom Kostopoulos in the second period of Friday night&#8217;s hockey game against Springfield at Mohegan Sun Arena. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_pensspringfield03.jpg</photo1><caption1>The pucks glances off the leg of Penguins captain Tom Kostopoulos in the second period of Friday night&#8217;s hockey game against Springfield at Mohegan Sun Arena. </caption1><photoCredit1>Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_pensspringfield02.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Cameron Gaunce of the Penguins takes down Ryan Horvat of Springfield. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_pensspringfield02.jpg</photo2><caption2>Cameron Gaunce of the Penguins takes down Ryan Horvat of Springfield. </caption2><photoCredit2>Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Tom Venesky</p><p>tvenesky@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>Springfield 1, <strong>Penguins 0</strong></p><p><strong>Springfield`1 0`0 - 1</strong></p><p><strong>Penguins` 0`0`0&#8212;`0</strong></p><p><strong>First Period</strong></p><p><strong>Scoring</strong> &#8211; 1. SPR, Ryan Horvat 1 (unassisted) 9:25. Penalties - WBS, Sundqvist (interference) 12:03; SPR, Downing (closing hand on puck) 16:59.</p><p><strong>Second Period</strong></p><p><strong>Scoring</strong> &#8211; None. Penalties - WBS, Oleksy (tripping) 1:23; SPR, Lammikko (roughing) 5:00; WBS, Gaunce (hooking) 8:33; SPR, Lammikko (interference) 13:51; SPR, McCoshen (roughing) 13:51; WBS, McNeill (roughing) 13:51.</p><p><strong>Third Period</strong></p><p>Scoring &#8211; None. Penalties - SPR, Acolatse (roughing) 3:21; WBS, Haggerty (roughing) 3:21; WBS, Ruhwedel (interference) 5:32; SPR, Downing (hooking) 8:35; WBS, Sundqvist (tripping) 9:30; SPR, Horvat (high-sticking) 15:08; WBS, Kostopoulos (slashing) 15:08.</p><p><strong>Shots on goal</strong></p><p>Springfield &#8211; 12-7-4-23</p><p>Penguins &#8211; 8-7-8-23</p><p><strong>Power-play Opportunities</strong></p><p>Springfield &#8211; 0 of 5</p><p>Penguins &#8211; 0 of 4</p><p>Goaltenders</p><p>Springfield - Reto Berra 2-0-0 (23 saves-23 shots)</p><p>Penguins &#8211; Tristan Jarry 1-1-0 (22-23)</p><p><strong>Starters</strong></p><p>Springfield &#8211; G Reto Berra, D Jakub Kindl, D Brent Regner, LW Dryden Hunt, C Graham Black, RW Paul Thompson</p><p>Penguins &#8211; G Tristan Jarry, D Tim Erixon, D Cameron Gaunce, LW Jake Guentzel, C Carter Rowney, RW Tom Kostopoulos</p><p><strong>Three Stars</strong></p><p>1. SPR, Reto Berra (shutout) 2. SPR, Ryan Horvat (goal) 3. WBS, Tristan Jarry (one goal allowed)</p><p>Referee &#8211; Cameron Voss, Furman South. Linesmen &#8211; Tom DellaFranco, Jud Ritter.</p><p>Attendance &#8211; 3,910</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Tom Venesky at 570-991-6395 or on Twitter @TLTomVenesky</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins’ rough start leads to 1-0 loss