Rutger McGroarty capitalized on a turnover from Easton Cowan to secure a 4-3 victory for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins over the Toronto Marlies on Wednesday, evening the AHL’s Eastern Conference Finals at two games apiece.

Cowan committed a brutal giveaway, McGroarty raced in alone and tucked the puck past Artur Akhtyamov for the game-winner. After the game, Cowan took complete responsibility for the loss.

“It starts with me. I cost my team the game. I have to be better, and I will be Friday,” Cowan said.

Cowan was arguably the Marlies’ best player through the first two frames, but it was overshadowed by the costly mistake. The 21-year-old was buzzing through the offensive zone and made smart reads with the puck constantly.

“We had four breakaways, we had chances to score some goals, and their goalie is seeing it,” Marlies head coach John Gruden said post-game. “We’re going to have to take a little out of their page and just be a little quicker, and get pucks to the net and get some traffic. (Cowan) is going to be a pro for many years. He’s a gamer. He’d like to have it back, so would all of us, but that’s not going to define who he is as a person, and it’s not going to define who he is as a Toronto Maple Leaf.”

Bo Groulx opened the scoring for the Marlies, after Penguins goaltender Sergei Murashov badly mishandled the puck. Groulx tapped the puck home into an empty cage. Vinni Lettieri scored for the second consecutive game, with Cowan registering the primary assist, as the Marlies took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission.

Wilkes-Barre fought back in the second frame, with three unanswered goals from Scooter Brickey, Chase Pietila and Gabe Klassen.

It was an eventful third period, as Luke Haymes tied the game on the power play. The goal was immediately waved off, but Marlies captain Logan Shaw pleaded his case to the officials, and the call was overturned. McGroarty then notched the game-winner with just under three minutes remaining.

“This was a tough way to lose, but it is hockey,” Gruden said. “We can’t hang our heads. We have to make sure we keep them high and understand what works. It’s 2-2 in a best-of-seven.”

Despite the loss, Gruden spoke about the team’s improved transition defence.

“We did a really good job, but sometimes, we didn’t manage the puck very well. That is a mindset. You’re not going to be able to make a play in the middle of the ice all of the time. Sometimes, it is okay to throw it off the glass when in doubt. “Mark Giordano it out,” he says. He made a lot of money doing that. Again, we’ll bounce back.”

Game 5 takes place Friday at the Coca-Cola Coliseum.

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