web1_116351201-0361272248da4f97999da84750a04475.jpg

Convenience stores add hot, cheap options

web1_116350065-2a9bb1c4588744e386f79c46832d26e3.jpg

Tim Tebow’s 1st triple highlights latest week in the minors

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Surrounded by empty locker stalls and a quiet room that for the last seven months bustled with activity every day, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins head coach Clark Donatelli still had a hard time grasping his team&#8217;s first-round playoff exit on Sunday.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s kind of surreal,&#8221; he said. &#8220;This is probably as bad as it gets - losing a series when you have high expectations.&#8221;</p><p>While the sting of the early playoff exit will linger for some time, Donatelli hopes his players remember the feeling immediately after the 2-1 loss to the Providence Bruins in Game 5.</p><p>&#8220;After the game you walk into that locker room, it&#8217;s devastating. That was a pretty big moment to capture,&#8221; Donatelli said. &#8220;It&#8217;s a feeling you don&#8217;t ever want to have again.&#8221;</p><p>Perhaps that feeling will serve as motivation the next time his players have a chance to finish a series early, as they did in Game 4.</p><p>But for now, the feeling of a sudden end to the season will persist for many, along with an uncertain future for some.</p><p>Penguins captain Tom Kostopoulos said he still hasn&#8217;t decided if he will return for a 19th season &#8212; and 11th with the Pittsburgh organization. The 38-year-old veteran led the Penguins in scoring with 54 points and played more than 70 games for the fourth consecutive season.</p><p>Physically, Kostopoulos said he feels fine, but admits it was frustrating to go without a goal in five playoff games.</p><p>He also spoke of his desire to win a championship at least once in his pro career.</p><p>That desire is still strong, he said.</p><p>&#8220;That&#8217;s what keeps me going, keeps me motivated,&#8221; Kostopoulos said, adding the Calder Cup is destined to come to Wilkes-Barre at some point. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure it will happen sooner or later. I would&#8217;ve liked to have been here for it&#8230; but we&#8217;ll see what happens.&#8221;</p><p>Last summer, Kostopoulos waited a week after the season ended before announcing he would return for another. While everyone waits, Kostopoulos did take some time to reflect on the 2016-17 season that saw the Penguins earn the best record in the AHL with a comeback win in the last game of the regular season.</p><p>Kostopoulos was one of several veterans to sit out that game, but it was one of favorite moments of the season.</p><p>&#8220;The way the guys came back to win that game and get us the first overall spot in the league was pretty cool,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I wanted that first overall spot.&#8221;</p><p>Kostopoulos also marveled at the fact that despite numerous call-ups to Pittsburgh and injuries during the season, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton was still able to hold on to first place in a tough Atlantic Division.</p><p>But on Monday, it was evident that standing in an empty locker room with a full summer to ponder his future is not what Kostopoulos envisioned.</p><p>At least not yet.</p><p>&#8220;Everything happens so fast and all of a sudden you&#8217;re packing up to go,&#8221; he said. &#8220;A disappointing way to end the season, but it was a great season.&#8221;</p><p><strong>Shifting the focus to Pittsburgh</strong></p><p>For several Wilkes-Barre/Scranton players, the season isn&#8217;t over quite yet. Goaltenders Sean Maguire and Casey DeSmith, defensemen Cameron Gaunce, David Warsofsky, Frank Corrado and Derrick Pouliot and forwards Garrett Wilson, Tom Sestito, Josh Archibald, Oskar Sundqvist, Dominik Simon, Jean-Sebastien Dea and Kevin Porter will head to Pittsburgh to serve as Black Aces for their playoff run.</p><p>&#8220;Now it&#8217;s all about Pittsburgh,&#8221; Donatelli said, who will join the group and lead them in practice. &#8220;We have to make sure these Black Aces will be readily available if need be. Come Wednesday we have another job.&#8221;</p><p><ins>For other sports stories, <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/category/sports" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">click here</a>.</ins></p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_TTL050217Pens5.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Tim Erixon carries his sticks and gear as the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins headed home for the summer on Monday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_TTL050217Pens5.jpg</photo0><caption0>Tim Erixon carries his sticks and gear as the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins headed home for the summer on Monday. </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_TTL050217Pens2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Penguins equipment manager Paul DeFazio prepares replaces stickers on helmets for thos players who will head to Pittsburgh to serve as Black Aces. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_TTL050217Pens2.jpg</photo1><caption1>Penguins equipment manager Paul DeFazio prepares replaces stickers on helmets for thos players who will head to Pittsburgh to serve as Black Aces. </caption1><photoCredit1>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_TTL050217Pens3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Tom Kostopolous talks with equipment managers in the Coal Street Toyota Sports Complex locker Room on Monday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_TTL050217Pens3.jpg</photo2><caption2>Tom Kostopolous talks with equipment managers in the Coal Street Toyota Sports Complex locker Room on Monday. </caption2><photoCredit2>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_TTL050217Pens4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Kevin Porter of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins signs a stick and jersey before leaving the Toyota Sportsplex on Monday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_TTL050217Pens4.jpg</photo3><caption3>Kevin Porter of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins signs a stick and jersey before leaving the Toyota Sportsplex on Monday. </caption3><photoCredit3>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_TTL050217Pens1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">WBS Penguin Captain Tom Kostopolous is interviewed by members of the media Monday afternoon after the 2016-17 season ended on Sunday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_TTL050217Pens1.jpg</photo4><caption4>WBS Penguin Captain Tom Kostopolous is interviewed by members of the media Monday afternoon after the 2016-17 season ended on Sunday. </caption4><photoCredit4>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit4></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Kostopoulos uncertain about his future</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Tom Venesky</p><p>tvenesky@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p>For video of Tom Kostopoulos talking about the season and his future, read the online version of this story at timesleader.com.</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Tom Venesky at 570-991-6395 or on Twitter @TomVenesky</p></shirttailMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><videoMeta><p><table style="border:none;width:98%;" class="mceItemTable"><tbody><tr><td style="font-weight:bold;font-size:100%;vertical-align:top;text-align:right;border:none;">VideoID:</td><td id="videoid" style="width:50em;font-size:90%;"> P4mC6rzVQqY</td></tr><tr><td style="font-weight:bold;font-size:100%;vertical-align:top;text-align:right;border:none;">VideoType:</td><td id="videotype" style="font-size:90%;"> YOUTUBE</p><p></td></tr><tr><td style="font-weight:bold;font-size:100%;vertical-align:top;text-align:right;border:none;">URL:</td><td id="url" style="font-size:90%;"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4mC6rzVQqY</td></tr><tr><td style="font-weight:bold;font-size:100%;vertical-align:top;text-align:right;border:none;">Video Embed String:</td><td id="videoembedstring" style="font-size:90%;"> </td></tr><tr><td style="font-weight:bold;font-size:100%;vertical-align:top;text-align:right;border:none;">Video Caption:</td><td id="videocaption" style="font-size:90%;"></p><p>WBS Penguins captain Tom Kostopoulos talks about playoff exit and retirement</td></tr><tr><td style="font-weight:bold;font-size:100%;vertical-align:top;text-align:right;border:none;">Video Credit:</td><td id="videocredit" style="font-size:90%;"> Tom Venesky | Times Leader</p><p></td></tr><tr><td style="font-weight:bold;font-size:100%;vertical-align:top;text-align:right;border:none;">Video Position:</td><td id="videoposition" style="font-size:90%;"> </td></tr></tbody></table></p><p style="margin-top:10px;font-size:70%;color:#555;">(use the &#8220;for files&#8230;&#8221; link above to associate attached files with this source)</p></videoMeta></div>

WBS Penguins still stinging from abrupt exit