The Wolves are returning home with work left to do.
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins thwarted an attempt at a championship-clinching victory for the second straight night when they posted a 5-1 triumph Saturday to extend the Calder Cup championship series.
The Wolves still lead 3-2 and have two shots left, if needed, to claim the AHL championship. The next try comes Tuesday night at Allstate Arena.
After being scoreless for more than 31 minutes, the game loosened up quickly with three goals in 3 minutes 16 seconds.
The Wolves opened the scoring, but the Penguins overcame a deficit for the first time in the series to move in front and never stopped.
Bryan Little’s eighth playoff goal gave the Wolves the lead at 11 minutes 20 seconds of the second period.
Jordan LaVallee sent a shot toward the net. The rebound wound up loose in the crease, and Little made a long reach to get it with his backhand before Penguins goalie John Curry could recover.
The lead lasted just 1:15 until Tim Wallace made a strong rush up the right side to set up Dave Gove in front.
Connor James beat Wolves defenseman Brian Fahey up the left wing and went right to the net for the game-winning goal at 14:36.
The Penguins needed less than five minutes to add to their lead when defenseman Mark Ardelan broke for the net on a power play and wound up in just the right spot for a rebound with 31 seconds left in the second.
Luca Caputi scored at even strength and Ben Lovejoy connected on the power play in the third period to complete the scoring.
Curry made 33 saves to help the Penguins overcome the Wolves’ 34-31 shot advantage.
