(wbspenguins.com) — Anton Zlobin scored at 8:40 of overtime, giving the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins a 3-2 win over the Binghamton Senators in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena on Friday.
The win was the eighth straight for the Penguins over the Senators in postseason play, dating back to 2005.
Binghamton got on the board first with a power-play goal off the stick of Cody Ceci 6:06 into the game.
That score held until Harry Zolnierczyk, who was appearing in his first career postseason game, redirected a Brian Dumoulin feed past Andrew Hammond at 12:23 of the second period.
The 1-1 deadlock didn’t last long though. Jean-Gabriel Pageau blasted a shot through traffic that appeared to deflect off of a body in front. The puck found its way behind Peter Mannino, giving the Sens the one goal lead once again.
A boarding call against Zlobin gave Binghamton a chance to extend their lead, but it was the Penguins who would capitalize during the penalty. Andrew Ebbett’s slapper from the left faceoff circle beat Hammond far side for a shorthanded marker, making it a 2-2 game at 17:57 of the second.
Binghamton took back-to-back penalties late in the frame, giving the Pens a 5-on-3 advantage for the final 1:22 of the period, but the visitors couldn’t capitalize then, or during the ensuing power-play time to start the third frame.
After a scoreless third period, Zlobin capitalized in OT for the win.
Mannino stopped 27 shots to pick up the victory for the Penguins, while Hammond turned aside 34 shots in the losing effort.
The two teams will face off again on Saturday night in Binghamton, before the series switches to Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday night.
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals – Series “C” (best-of-5)
3-Binghamton Senators vs. 6-W-B/Scranton Penguins
Game 1 – Fri., Apr. 25 – W-B/Scranton 3, BINGHAMTON 2 (OT)
Game 2 – Sat., Apr. 26 – W-B/Scranton at Binghamton, 7:05
Game 3 – Wed., Apr. 30 – Binghamton at W-B/Scranton, 7:05
*Game 4 – Fri., May 2 – Binghamton at W-B/Scranton, 7:05
*Game 5 – Mon., May 5 – W-B/Scranton at Binghamton, 7:05
*if necessary… All times Eastern
