MARLIES END PENS' SIX-GAME UNBEATEN STREAK

Last Updated on Monday, 02 November 2009 01:06 Written by Penguins Manager Monday, 02 November 2009 01:03

TORONTO, Ontario – Viktor Stalberg orchestrated a four-point outing in just his second game of the season, and James Reimer stopped 34 shots as the host Toronto Marlies defeated the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 4-2 on Sunday evening at Ricoh Coliseum.

The Penguins played catch-up to twice tie the score, but couldn’t muster a third as Reimer played an outstanding game in the Marlies net. Additionally, the Penguins’ power play went an unsuccessful 0-for-3, and has now been held scoreless in four straight games.

The Marlies opened the scoring just after a 5-on-3 power play ended. Former Pittsburgh Penguins center Mike Zigomanis fired a cross-slot pass down low to Stalberg, who one-touched it in front where Christian Hanson had an easy slam-dunk tally past Brad Thiessen, who was making his second AHL start.

Tim Wallace would knot the score at one just 6:40 into the second, tipping down a Ben Lovejoy point shot and through the legs of Reimer for his third of the season. But the Marlies would regain the lead at 12:52, and it would come at the expense of Lovejoy. The blueliner caught an edge trying to back into coverage, and Stalberg took the loose puck and wristed a shot past Thiessen’s blocker for the 2-1 edge.

One more time, the Penguins would tie it up late in the second. Dustin Jeffrey won a defensive zone faceoff, and fired an outlet pass to Ryan Bayda who broke out of the zone on the win. Bayda raced down the right wall and roofed a shot past Reimer for his team-leading sixth goal of the campaign. But late in the third, the combination of Stalberg to Hanson would connect on a two-on-one break, and give the Marlies the lead for good. They would add an empty netter with two seconds remaining in regulation to seal the victory.

The Penguins will return home on Friday, November 6th to face the Norfolk Admirals at 7:05 PM at Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza. The first 5,000 fans through the gates will receive a team photo courtesy of Unigraphic Color Corporation.

NOTES: The Penguins are now 0-for-13 on the power play over their last four games, with their last man-advantage goal scored on October 23 against the Hershey Bears… The Penguins are 1-4 lifetime in Ricoh Coliseum against the Marlies, and hold an overall record of 9-10-3 against active Canadian teams…The Penguins were held to two goals or fewer for the fourth consecutive game, but have picked up four points out of those games.