WBS Penguins Gameday: Penguins vs. Bruins

Last Game Recap:
Dustin Jeffrey tallied the lone Penguins’ goal in the third period as the team’s six game winning streak came to an end with a 2-1 loss to Portland on Tuesday.

After a scoreless first period, Matt Caruana scored at 5:33 of the second to give the Pirates a lead they held through the end of the period. Early in the third, Mark Mancari put the hosts up 2-0 on a power play. Jeffrey scored at the 6:16 mark to cut the lead in half, but WBS never found the equalizer. Jhonas Enroth stopped 35 of 36 shots for the win; while Brad Thiessen stopped 17 of 19 shots in defeat.

Three Stars:
3. Tyler Ennis (Portland): one assist, +1
2. Mark Mancari (Portland): two points (1+1), +1
1. Jhonas Enroth (Portland): 35 saves on 36 shots

WBS Scratches:
Konstantin Pushkarev
Steve Wagner
Ryan Bayda
Keven Veilleux

News and Notes:
Steve Wagner is expected to miss four weeks with a broken jaw. Wagner was injured on Sunday against Manchester when he was hit with a deflected shot.

Next Matchup:
Who: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs. Providence Bruins
When: Saturday February 27, 2010 at 7:05 p.m.
Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

This is the first meeting between the Penguins and the Bruins this season.

About the Bruins:


NHL Affiliate: Boston Bruins
ECHL Affiliate: Reading Royals
Last Game: 6-4 win over Binghamton on Friday. The Bruins broke a short two game losing skid. Providence scored three goals in the 2nd period to erase a 2-0 Binghamton lead and added another three goals in the third.

Key Statistics/Rank in AHL:
Record: 29-27-3-0 (6th place in Atlantic; 61 points)
Power Play (Away): 19.2% (8th)
Power Play (Overall): 16.2% (20th)
Penalty Kill (Away): 81% (17th)
Penalty Kill (Overall): 80.2% (25th)
Goals for/against: 162/161

The Penguin Connection:
Drew Fata appeared in 83 games for WBS from 2003-2006; posting three goals and 15 assists. He also played 84 games with the Wheeling Nailers where he fared slightly better with a total of 35 points (16+19) over four seasons.

Guillame Lefebvre was in 165 WBS games between 2002-2006 and had 58 points (24+34) in four seasons. He also played 21 games for Pittsburgh during the 2002-2003 and 2005-2006 seasons where he had six points.

Dany Sabourin is the most decorated former Penguin on the Bruins’ squad. He played 69 games for WBS in 2004-2005 and 2005-2006. 2005-2006 was Sabourin’s best season. He finished with a record of 30-14-4 and had a 2.26 GAA and a .922 save percentage; as well as four shutouts. As a result, Sabourin won the AHL’s Aledge “Baz” Bastien award for best goaltender and the Harry “Hap” Homes Award for lowest GAA. His GAA that season is a franchise record and his .922 save percentage is tied with Rich Parent for a franchise record.

Sabourin also played 44 games with Pittsburgh from 2005-2006 until 2008-2009 when he was traded to Edmonton with Ryan Stone for Mathieu Garon and a draft pick.

**Fast Fact: The Baz Bastien award is named for a former Pittsburgh Penguins general manager. Bastien was the Penguins’ GM from 1976-1983.

Andy Wozniewski played 18 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last season after coming over in a trade with St. Louis for Danny Richmond. He recorded four points (2+2) and two points (1+1) in the 2008-2009 playoffs

Bruins to Watch:
AHL All-Star Andy Wozniewski is 6th in the AHL in defenseman scoring with 38 points (9+29) this season.

Zach Hamill had four assists and a +5 rating in last night’s victory. He has 37 points this year (12+25).

Ali’s Analysis:
After dropping Tuesday’s game, the Penguins have another opportunity to gain one point on the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in the race for the final playoff spot in the East Division. The Penguins’ power play, which was held scoreless against Portland, will have to take advantage of Providence’s weakness on the penalty kill to ensure a win.

Whoever is playing goal will also have to spoil Sabourin’s return to Wilkes-Barre as he is turning in a solid season with the Bruins. Will it be Thiessen bouncing back from a tough loss on Tuesday, or will Curry get another chance to show he is back on track? Either way, the Penguins need to put Tuesday's loss behind them and make more progress towards their posteason goals.

Finally, I wold like to wish a Happy Birthday to Dustin Jeffrey and John Curry. Let's get the birthday boys a win!

Posted in: AHL,game day,pre-game,WBS Penguins