Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Saturday blew a three-goal third-period lead to the Springfield Thunderbirds, but Emil Bemstrom's overtime goal to complete a hat trick gave the Penguins a 5-4 win in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

Rutger McGroarty's third goal of the year opened the scoring just 1:53 into the game -- the fastest Teddy Bear Toss goal in franchise history. Bemstrom scored on the power play later in the first. Springfield made it a one-goal game to open the second, but Valtteri Puustinen's third goal of the year on the power play and Bemstrom's second goal of the game gave the Penguins a 4-1 lead heading into the third. Springfield scored 17 seconds into the third and then came within a goal less than four minute later. A late Isaac Belliveau slashing penalty gave the Thunderbirds a power play, and the Thunderbirds pulled their goaltender to make it a 6-on-4 and capitalized to force overtime. Bemstrom scored a power-play goal 4:27 into the extra frame to win it. It was his ninth goal of the season.

Bemstrom, perpetually Wilkes-Barre's leader in shots on goal, led in this game with seven. Filip Larsson took the win with 26 saves on 30 shots.

Join me in the live file.

TAYLOR HAASE / DKPS

Whenever Mike Sullivan has been asked to assess Matt Grzelcyk's play this season, he's leaned into the positives -- Grzelcyk's ability to distribute the puck and his influence on the power play, two things he's genuinely been very good at this season. Where Grzelcyk has been lacking has been in his defensive play, obviously. So, I asked Sullivan after the skate what his thoughts have been on Grzelcyk's season defensively.

"I think it's been a little bit of an up and down game," Sullivan said. "I think lately, he's been a lot better when he's playing on his toes and he's anticipating plays and he's using his quickness and his stick and his brain. I think that's when he's at his best. You know, he's not going to go in and out-muscle guys that are bigger than he is, but he's very good with his stick. He's very good with his quickness and he's smart. He can win pucks with those attributes that he has. That's his competitive advantage. And so we're trying to encourage him to anticipate plays, play on his toes, use his stick, use his brain, use his stick skills to win puck battles and help us get out of our end. And I think he's done a nice better job as of late."

The Penguins as a whole have been better as of late, too, but Grzelcyk has started to see slightly better results, especially after being moved from the third pairing alongside Ryan Graves. 

Grzelcyk was supposed to be scratched on Nov. 27 against the Canucks, but ended up having to play that night when Owen Pickering fell ill, and has been in the lineup since. Using that Canucks game as a divider, here's how Grzelcyk's defensive numbers have changed, using per-60 five-on-five rates and where he ranks among the Penguins' defensemen:

Unblocked shot attempts against
Before: 47.78 (worst on team)
After: 46.34 (worst)

High-danger shot attempts against
Before: 15.36 (worst)
After: 13.8 (worst)

Shots on goal against
Before: 34.13 (second-worst)
After: 30.56 (third-worst)

Goals against
Before: 3.41 (third-worst)
After 2.46 (best)

So, the actual chances against have improved slightly, but are still on the lower-end for the Penguins' defensemen. But those chances have proved to be less costly. He went from being on the ice for some of the most goals against to the fewest. And again, those are rate stats, so his decreased ice time isn't the reason for the drop. It's progress.

Penguins defense prospects Kalle Kangas and Emil Pieniniemi were named to Finland’s selection camp for the upcoming World Junior Championship.

Hi from Ottawa. The Penguins are skating here shortly. I’ll have live updates here:

• On the ice: Alex Nedeljkovic, Mike Chiasson, Blake Lizotte, Jesse Puljujarvi, Owen Pickering, Kevin Hayes, Ryan Shea, Matt Nieto, Drew O’Connor.

• The Penguins are blasting Russian music in the training room this morning. Can only guess who won that battle.

• Erik Karlsson cut his hair short. He claims he just took his wig off.

• Tristan Jarry will start tonight.

• Looks like the same lineup as in Montreal. Nieto came off with the game guys.

I wouldn't be me if I didn't point out that no Pittsburgh newspaper is traveling to cover the Penguins on this ongoing Montreal/Ottawa trip. 

We are. 

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