Stand Tall in Thunderdome - Habs vs Pens, Game 7

Let's get this started right today:

"It was a game, now it's a war
we're not ashamed to want some more
Stand Tall"

Game 7, it's here. Virtually no one called for this series to go 7 games, and yet here we are.
2 Teams enter, 1 team leaves:



This has been an unreal series so far, each team responding to adversity when it came calling. In Game 6, The Habs refused to accept a defeat and forced yet another team to another Game 7. Do they have it in them to win another one? The Pens have responded to each loss with a huge response game, will they respond again?

Projected Pens Lineup:

Kunitz-Crosby-Dupuis
Talbot-Malkin-Guerin
Cooke-Staal-Kennedy
Rupp-Letestu-Adams

Orpik-Gonchar

Eaton-Letang

Leopold-Goligoski

  Fleury

KEYS TO GAME:
1. Every Pen needs to bring their "A" game
2. Every Pen needs to play 60 minutes, more if needed
3. The Pens need to make sure they have more goals than the Habs

It's just that simple, Dan Bylsma has the line change advantage to get who he wants on the ice against whoever Martin throws out. Spacek and Gill should be be ready to go

Notes:
-Outdoor screen is back
-The Pens are asking to "Bring the Noise"
-or Bring the Noise?
-Pens fans getting anxious
-Do the Habs have enough experience for Game 7
-Sami Salo played in Game 6 of the Chi/Van Series - *STICK TAP* and a bag of ice
-Another Goalie bites the dust in Philly
-Flyers have won 2 straight against Boston to make it a series again
-Chicago closes out Vancouver 
-ThePensblog boys have more depth to why Game 7 shouldn't faze the fanbase


If you thought Lando could only destroy Death Stars and pitch Colt 45....

Read more »

WBS Penguins 2009-2010 Season Wrap Up Part 1: The First 80 Games

A Note from Ali:
This is the first part of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins regular season wrap up. It will focus on the highlights and lowlights of the 2009-2010 Penguins regular season. A more detailed edition (statistics, team grades, etc.) will be published after the Baby Penguins are eliminated from playoff contention.

The regular season came to an end for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Sunday as they defeated the Binghamton Senators by a score of 3-0. As Baby Penguins fans, players, and coaches look ahead to the Calder Cup playoffs this upcoming Wednesday; let’s take a look back at some of the greatest and not so great, moments from the first 80 games.

Top Five: Best Games of the Season:



5. October 29 (at Manitoba): Ryan Bayda scored the game’s only goal 39 seconds into overtime to give the Penguins a 1-0 win over the defending Western Conference champions Manitoba Moose. John Curry turned aside 23 shots for his first shutout of the season.

4. November 11 (Portland): Three Wilkes-Barre/Scranton rookies (Brian Strait, Zach Sill, and Eric Tangradi) scored their first professional goals in a 6-1 thumping of the Portland Pirates. The game also featured four fights; including fellow rookie Lane Caffaro getting his first professional fighting major. Wade Brookbank received a game misconduct for having his fight strap come untied during his scrap with Jeff Cowan.

3. February 13 (Hershey): The Penguins picked up a stunning win against Hershey by shutting out the Bears 5-0. Five different players (Wyatt Smith, Dustin Jeffrey, Chris Conner, Jesse Boulerice, and Eric Tangradi) scored for the Penguins. Brad Thiessen stopped all 29 Bears shots for his first AHL shutout while Braden Holtby had a rare off night stopping only 15 out of 20 shots.

2. March 19 (Springfield): After falling behind 4-1 at the end of the second period to one of the worst teams in the league, the Penguins charged back to take a 5-4 overtime win from the Falcons. Nick Johnson led the comeback with two goals for the Penguins while Mark Letestu racked up two assists. Deryk Engelland scored the game winning goal 4:26 into overtime. The Pens put up 55 shots on Springfield goaltender Jean-Philippe Levasseur.

1. February 17 (Albany): The Penguins set a record for goals in a game as they defeated the Albany River Rats by a score of 9-2. Chris Conner became the first player in Penguins history to tally six points in a game with a hat trick and three assists. Luca Caputi (2+2) and Wyatt Smith (1+3) both had four point nights while Mark Letestu and Dustin Jeffrey (1+2 each) had three point nights. Brad Thiessen stopped 30 of 32 Albany shots.

Bottom Five: The Not-So-Great Moments



5. February 5 (Syracuse): After getting out of the first period with a 1-1 tie with the Crunch on a power play goal by Nick Johnson, the Pens collapsed in the second period. They allowed three straight Syracuse goals to give the Crunch a 4-1 lead. The crowd at the Mohegan Sun Arena, rightfully disgusted with the way their team was playing, booed the team off the ice at the end of the second period. However the team did not respond; losing the game by the same score.

4. February 10 (at Norfolk): Despite two goals from Nate Guenin, who would play his last game in a Penguins uniform, the Pens fell 5-3 to the Admirals and found themselves dangerously close to last place. The Penguins held a 2-1 lead and even managed to tie the game 3-3 early in the third period, but the completion of a Justin Keller hat trick and a Juraj Simek power play goal gave Norfolk the win. The Penguins dropped their third straight game in the loss.

3 (two games tied for number 3 spot): In two games this year, the Penguins allowed last second goals that prevented them from getting out of the game with at least one point. On December 13 against the Adirondack Phantoms, the Pens were swept in a two game set when they gave up a Danny Syvret goal with 0.01 seconds remaining to lose 3-2. On March 28 against the Worcester Sharks, the two teams were deadlocked at 1-1 when Ryan Vesce scored with nine seconds to go.

2. January 17 (at Springfield): Two power play goals from Chris Conner gave the Penguins a 2-1 lead at the end of the first period. Unfortunately, the Pens allowed three goals from Chad Wiseman; in addition to Wiseman’s goal which opened the scoring, to give Springfield a 5-2 lead. Dustin Jeffrey scored a shorthanded goal at 12:43 of the third period but the Penguins could not muster anymore offense. The loss meant the Pens had failed to pick up any points in a three in three for the second weekend in the regular season.

1 February 7 (at Hershey): The Penguins came into a snowy Hershey, Pennsylvania and skated out to a 3-0 lead by early in the second period. Suddenly, their confidence was shattered as Hershey scored three goals in under three and a half minutes for a 3-3 tie after two periods. In the third, the Bears continued attacking as Mathieu Perreault completed a hat trick to take over the game with a 4-3 lead. Chris Conner tied the game 26 seconds after Perreault’s third goal, but Bryan Helmer sealed the deal for Hershey at 18:56 for a 5-3 win.

Other Great Moments:

The Penguins’ great moments were not just limited to the five games listed above. What else can we not forget about our 2009-2010 season?

October 3: The Pens open the season with a 4-2 victory over Syracuse. Wyatt Smith led the Penguins with two goals while Keven Veilleux scored his first professional goal in his first professional game. Four other Penguins (Brian Strait, Zach Sill, Eric Tangradi, and Robert Bortuzzo) also got their first AHL points with assists on various goals.

December 26-30: The Penguins put together their first four game winning streak of the season. All of their wins came against division rivals; including two against Albany and victories against Adirondack and Binghamton.

February 11: Defenseman Steve Wagner joins the Penguins in a trade that sent Nate Guenin to the St. Louis Blues organization. With the new addition, the Penguins went 6-0 from February 12-February 21; getting key wins over Binghamton, Hershey, and Albany.

February 27: Chris Conner scored his second consecutive home hat trick as the Penguins defeated the Providence Bruins by a score of 5-1. Former Penguins goaltender Dany Sabourin was pulled in the second period in a rude welcome back to Wilkes-Barre.

February 28: Former WBS Penguins players Marc-Andre Fleury, Ryan Malone, Brooks Orpik, Ryan Whitney competed in the gold medal game in the Winter Olympics. Other former Penguin Olympians included Konstantin Koltsov and Miroslav Satan.

The Envelope Please…

I would like to conclude part one of my season wrap up by presenting the first of the many awards I will be giving out.

The “Thanks for the Memories Award” for my personal favorite highlight: I had liked this particular player almost as soon as I saw him in action during the 2009-2010 season. My approval of him only grew as he made an impact on the Pittsburgh Penguins and as he had big nights in two consecutive home games. It is my pleasure to present the “Thanks for the Memories” award to CHRIS CONNER and his two consecutive home hat tricks on February 17 and February 27.

In order to recognize Chris for his accomplishments, I will be presenting him a bag containing the hats that were thrown on to the ice to celebrate his hat tricks. Some of these fine hats can be seen here:


Thank you for joining me in recognition of the highlights of the WBS Penguins 2009-2010 regular season. I hope you will stay around after the Baby Penguins postseason run as we grade the team and look ahead to the 2010-2011 season.

Read more »

WBS Penguins Preview: Penguins vs. Senators

Last Game Recap:
The Penguins clinched their eighth straight playoff spot, and ninth in 11 seasons, by defeating Albany by a score of 4-3 on Friday.

Tim Wallace opened the scoring at 15:11 of the first period with his 27th goal of the season from Wyatt Smith and Eric Tangradi. Former Hershey winger Oskar Osala got his first goal of the game 2:15 later on a power play goal.

Tangradi gave the Penguins a 2-1 lead just 1:25 into the second period with a power play goal, but Osala got his second of the game at 5:44. He completed his hat trick at 13:13 with another power play tally to give the River Rats the lead for the first time in the game. Tangradi responded again at 15:18 with his second of the game.

In the third period, River Rats defenseman Tim Conboy accidentally poked the puck into his own net to give the Penguins a 4-3 lead. Captain Wyatt Smith was credited with the goal. The Pens took the reins from there and held off Albany the rest of the way. Brad Thiessen was again the winning goaltender with 20 saves on 23 shots.

Three Stars of the Game:
3. Oskar Osala (Albany): hat trick
2. Wyatt Smith (WBS): three points (1+2), +3 rating
1. Eric Tangradi (WBS): three points (2+1), +1 rating

Scratches:
Alex Grant
Casey Pierro-Zabotel
Ryan Bayda
Joey Haddad
Keven Veilleux

WBS Current Record: 40-33-2-3 (85 points; third in East Division)

Scoreboard Watch: The Penguins are in the playoffs but it is still undetermined who they will play in round one. They are three points ahead of Norfolk for the third seed and final guaranteed spot in the division. They also sit one point ahead of both Bridgeport and Lowell who are competing for the crossover position. If the playoffs were starting today, the Penguins would be playing Albany. Regardless of who the opponent is, the Penguins will start the first round on the road.

Key Matchups: Manchester vs. Bridgeport (7 p.m.), Lowell vs. Portland (7 p.m.), and Norfolk vs. Hershey (7:15 p.m.)

News and Notes:
The Penguins concluded their season series with Albany on Friday. The Penguins won the series six games to two. It was also the last time the two teams would meet in the River Rats’ franchise history.

Next Matchups:
Who: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs. Binghamton Senators
When: Saturday April 10, 2010 at 7:05 p.m. and Sunday, April 11, 2010 at 3:05 p.m.
Where: Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton, NY (Saturday) and Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza (Sunday)

Last Meeting:
The Senators got shorthanded goals from Zack Smith and Josh Hennessy on their way to a 6-2 win on April 2. Kaspars Daugavins (two goals) and Jim O'Brien also scored for the Senators. Dustin Jeffrey and Deryk Engelland had the Penguins goals; while Brad Thiessen was pulled for the third period after allowing four goals on 20 shots. John Curry stopped four out of six shots in the losing effort.

About the Senators:

NHL Affiliate: Ottawa Senators

Key Statistics/Rank in AHL:
Record: 35-34-6-3 (fifth place; East Division)
Goals For/Against: 248/256
Power Play Home: 22.4% (4th)
Power Play Away: 16.8% (14th)
Power Play Overall: 19.5% (7th)
Penalty Kill Home: 82.5% (21st)
Penalty Kill Away: 85.2% (4th)
Penalty Kill Overall: 83.9% (9th)

Last Game:
The Senators took a 6-5 victory from the Adirondack Phantoms last night. Erik Condra and Connor Shields each had two goals for Binghamton. Zack Smith also chipped in with two assists while Robin Lehner was the winning goaltender with 22 saves on 27 shots in a high scoring game.

Ali’s Analysis:
Although the Penguins are officially in the playoffs, there is still work to be done as they close out the regular season. In order to retain their third seed and avoid a first round matchup with the dominant Hershey squad, the Pens must win both games against Binghamton. The power play, which went 2/4 last night, should keep working at a productive pace. The penalty kill also has to be better against the Senators to avoid giving up shorthanded goals and putting them behind in the game. Finally, the team definitely needs a 60 minute effort and cannot panic if things stop going their way at any point in the game.

Read more »

WBS Penguins Gameday: Penguins vs. River Rats

Last Game Recap:
The Penguins failed to clinch a playoff spot on Wednesday night; falling 1-0 to the Norfolk Admirals.

The only goal of the game was a power play goal scored by Mark Parrish at 13:47 of the first period. The Penguins put 29 shots on rookie netminder Dustin Tokarski, but nothing got past; even with five power play opportunities.

Tokarski got his fourth shutout of the season in the win; while Brad Thiessen was the losing goaltender with 24 saves on 25 shots.

Three Stars of the Game:
3. Brad Thiessen (WBS): 24 saves
2. Mark Parrish (Norfolk): power play goal
1. Dustin Tokarski (Norfolk): 29 save shutout

Scratches:
Alex Grant
Casey Pierro-Zabotel
Ryan Bayda
Joey Haddad
Keven Veilleux

WBS Current Record: 39-33-2-3 (83 points; third place in East Division)

Scoreboard Watch: The Penguins are one point ahead of Norfolk for the final guaranteed playoff spot in the East Division. They are also one point behind Lowell and two points ahead of Bridgeport for the final playoff spot in the division playoffs. If the playoffs were starting today, Norfolk would take the fourth playoff spot with no division cross over (Norfolk and Bridgeport both have 82 points, but Norfolk has 38 wins to Bridgeport’s 36). The Penguins would be playing Albany if the first playoff game were today.

The Pens will have another chance to clinch the playoffs tonight. According to the AHL website, the Pens can clinch a spot under two scenarios:
-A win over Albany and a Norfolk loss to Hershey
-An overtime or shootout loss to Albany and a Norfolk regulation loss to Hershey

Key Matchups:
Norfolk vs. Hershey (7:15 p.m.)
Bridgeport vs. Lowell (7:00 p.m.)

News and Notes:
The Penguins concluded their regular season series with Norfolk on Wednesday. The Admirals won the series six games to four.

Next Game:
Who: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs. Albany River Rats
When: Friday, April 9, 2010 at 7:05 p.m.
Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

Last Meeting Recap:
Albany claimed a 5-4 shootout victory from the Pens back on March 13. In regulation, Jacob Micflikier led Albany with two goals. Konstantin Pushkarev, Dustin Jeffrey, Nick Johnson, and Tim Wallace scored for the Penguins. Jeffrey also got an assist on Wallace’s goal while Chris Lee led the Pens with a +3 rating. However, the Penguins were largely unsuccessful against Mike Morrison in the shootout with only Jeffrey converting a chance; while Drayson Bowman and Bryan Rodney scored for the River Rats to get the win.

About the River Rats:


NHL Affiliate: Carolina Hurricanes
ECHL Affiliate: Florida Everblades

Key Statistics/Rank in AHL:
Record: 42-28-3-5 (92 points; second in East Division)
Goals For/Against: 238/225
Power Play Away: 14.4% (21st)
Power Play Overall: 16.6% (18th)
Penalty Kill Away: 81.1% (17th)
Penalty Kill Overall: 82.6% (15th)

Last Game:
Albany's last game was just under a week ago, when they defeated Adirondack by a score of 4-2 last Saturday. Jacob Micflikier scored on a penalty shot. Brad Herauf, Zac Dalpe, and Steven Goertzen also scored for the River Rats; who are already in the playoffs as the second seed in the East Division.

Ali’s Analysis:
The Penguins may have only lost 1-0 on Wednesday but they will have to play better if they want to clinch a playoff spot in tonight’s game. Failing to convert on numerous power play chances and tallying only three shots on goal in a period is no way to win a hockey game, but it is even more unacceptable to play like that under pressure. The Penguins will have to attack the net harder and get their power play unit working again. There is still a very real possibility of losing out on the playoffs; so the mistakes must be kept to the minimum.

Read more »

WBS Penguins Gameday: Penguins vs. Admirals

Last Game Recap:
The Penguins struggled against a Binghamton team likely to miss the playoffs as they fell 6-2 to the Senators last Friday night.

Two minutes after Deryk Engelland put the Penguins on top in the first period, Kaspars Daugavins scored his first goal of the night at 4:26 on a power play. Daugavins tallied again less than six minutes later to give the Senators a 2-1 lead. Dustin Jeffrey answered back to tie the game at 14:10 with an unassisted goal.

Once the second period started, the game belonged to Binghamton. After Jim O’Brien and Zack Smith (shorthanded) gave the Senators a 4-2 lead after the second, Brad Thiessen was pulled in favor of John Curry for the start of the third. Curry stopped four out of six shots in the third, but gave up goals to Jonathan Cheechoo and a second shorthanded goal to Josh Hennessy. Binghamton goalie Mike Brodeur earned the win with 35 saves on 37 shots.

Three Stars of the Game:
3. Mike Brodeur (Binghamton): 35 saves
2. Kaspars Daugavins (Binghamton): two goals; +2 rating
1. Josh Hennessy (Binghamton): two points (1+1); +2

Scratches:
Alex Grant
Wade Brookbank
Casey Pierro-Zabotel
Ryan Bayda
Keven Veilleux

WBS Current Record: 39-32-2-3 (83 points; third in East Division)

Scoreboard Watch: The Penguins sit three points ahead of Norfolk for third in the division and the final guaranteed playoff spot. They are one point behind Lowell and two points ahead of Bridgeport for the final playoff spot in the divisional playoffs.

The Penguins can clinch a playoff spot tonight with a win over the Admirals. If the playoffs were starting today, the Penguins would be playing Albany in the first round.

News and Notes:
With the Nailers season ending, five players are practicing with WBS: Jon D’Aversa, Lane Caffaro, Ryan Schnell, Blair Yaworski, and Adam Berkhoel. It is unknown if any will get playing time.

Next Matchup:
Who: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs. Norfolk Admirals
When: Wednesday April 7, 2010 at 7:15 p.m.
Where: Norfolk Scope (Norfolk, VA)

Last Meeting Recap:
The Penguins finished a sweep of a two game set at the Scope with a 3-1 win back on March 26. Tim Wallace (two goals; power play and empty net) and Eric Tangradi (power play) scored for the Pens who won their fifth straight game. Matt Lashoff tallied the lone Admirals goal on the power play. Brad Thiessen stopped 26 of 27 shots in the win.

About the Admirals:

NHL Affiliate: Tampa Bay Lightning

Key Statistics/Rank in AHL:
Record: 37-34-3-3 (80 points; fourth in East Division)
Goals For/Against: 201/206
Power Play Home: 12.3% (28th)
Power Play Overall: 12.4% (29th)
Penalty Kill Home: 86.2% (6th)
Penalty Kill Overall: 86.5% (3rd)

Last Game:
The Admirals dropped their second straight game with a 3-2 loss to Hershey on Easter Sunday. Norfolk could not get on the board until the third period when Hershey already held a 3-0 lead. Ryan Craig and Mitch Fadden prevented Bears goaltender Braden Holtby from earning a shutout but the two third period goals were not enough to tie the game.

Ali’s Analysis:
Tonight is the night that the Penguins can secure their eighth straight trip to the playoffs. However, they must come out with a sense of urgency and realize what is at stake. They do not want a repeat of last year where they dropped two of their final games against Norfolk to a lose higher seeding in the playoffs. The penalty kill must also get back on track; as the unit has given up three shorthanded goals in the last two games.

I must also say I do not agree with Brad Thiessen getting the start tonight. After a bad game, and especially with the stretch run coming up; Todd Reirden should let John Curry take the reins. Reirden’s eagerness to once again give Thiessen a chance to rebound is disappointing (considering Thiessen has gotten plenty of those this season) and leads me to believe he is playing favorites. One can only hope Thiessen does not burn out from all the playing time he is getting.

Read more »

WBS Penguins Gameday: Penguins vs. Senators

Last Game Recap:
The Penguins bounced back from a two game losing streak to defeat the Adirondack Phantoms by a 3-2 score on Wednesday.

After battling through nineteen minutes of scoreless hockey, Dustin Jeffrey netted a power play goal with one minute to go in the opening frame. Seven seconds later, defenseman Steve Wagner netted his fourth goal of the season to give the Penguins a 2-0 lead at the end of the period.

In the second period, Phantoms’ leading scorer Jon Matsumoto scored a power play goal at the 1:56 mark. However, Mark Letestu put the Pens up by two with his 21st goal of the season at 5:15. Phantoms’ captain Jared Ross put a shorthanded goal behind Brad Thiessen at 16:02, but Adirondack never found the game tying goal. The Penguins also did not need anymore offense to pick up a win against the Phantoms; who are eliminated from postseason contention.

Three Stars of the Game:
3. Jared Ross (Adirondack): shorthanded goal
2. Chris Conner (WBS): two assists
1. Mark Letestu (WBS): two points (1+1); +2 rating

Scratches:
Alex Grant
Casey Pierro-Zabotel
Ryan Bayda
Joey Haddad
Keven Veilleux

WBS Current Record: 39-31-2-3 (83 points; third in East Division)

Scoreboard Watch: The Penguins are five points up on Norfolk for the final guaranteed playoff spot in the East Division. They are also one point ahead of the Lowell Devils; who are now in fifth place in the Atlantic Division. Bridgeport is in fourth in the Atlantic after taking the season-series points tiebreaker from Lowell (7 points to 6). If the playoffs were to start today, the Penguins would have a first round match-up with the Albany River Rats.

Any combination of eight points gained by the Penguins and eight points lost by the Admirals would clinch a playoff spot for the Pens.

Key Matchups: Norfolk at Albany (7 p.m.); Lowell at Hartford (7 p.m.), and Bridgeport at Manchester (7:30 p.m.)

News and Notes:
Zach Sill returned to the lineup on Wednesday after missing two games with a charley horse.

Next Game:
Who: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs. Binghamton Senators
When: Friday, April 2, 2010 at 7:05 p.m.
Where: Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena

Last Meeting:
The Penguins took a 3-2 shootout win from the Senators in Wilkes-Barre back on February 12. Chris Conner (power play) and Tim Wallace scored in regulation for the Pens with Jim O’Brien and Kaspars Daugavins scoring for Binghamton to send the game to extra frames. Wyatt Smith, Konstantin Pushakrev, Nick Johnson, and Dustin Jeffrey scored in the shootout to win the game. Brad Thiessen stopped 25 of 27 shots in regulation and overtime; then stopped two out of four Senators shooters in the shootout.

About the Senators:

NHL Affiliate: Ottawa Senators

Key Statistics/Rank in AHL:
Record: 32-34-5-3 (72 points; fifth in East Division)
Power Play Home: 22.3% (4th)
Power Play Overall: 19.3% (7th)
Penalty Kill Home: 82.2% (22nd)
Penalty Kill Overall: 83.7% (10th)
Goals For/Against: 229/243

Last Game: Binghamton dropped a close game to the Hershey Bears on Sunday; losing by a score of 3-2. Yannick Tifu had two assists for the Senators; who surrendered three straight goals after taking a 1-0 lead early in the first period. Paul Baier (power play) and Jim O’Brien scored for the Senators.

Ali’s Analysis:
Even if Norfolk were to win tonight, they cannot catch the Penguins for third place. However, this means little to the Penguins; who have sometimes struggled with teams who do not have postseason hopes. Third place is far from safe; so the Penguins should keep their game in place from Wednesday’s win (just without giving up the shorthanded goal). The Penguins should also establish further momentum in this game because after tonight, they will not play again until this coming Wednesday and will need to keep their bodies and energy fresh.

Read more »

WBS Penguins Gameday: Penguins vs. Phantoms

Weekend Recap:

Friday:
Penguins defeat Norfolk 3-1.
WBS Goals: Tim Wallace (two goals; power play and empty net) and Eric Tangradi (power play)
Norfolk Goal: Matt Lashoff (power play)
Winning Goaltender: Brad Thiessen (26 saves on 27 shots)

Three Stars of the Game:
3. Matt Lashoff (Norfolk): third period power play goal
2. Brad Thiessen (WBS): 26 saves
1. Tim Wallace (WBS): two goals, +1

Scratches:
Alex Grant
Ryan Bayda
Keven Veilleux
Joey Haddad

Saturday:
Penguins fall to Hershey by a score of 4-2
WBS Goals: Tim Wallace (shorthanded) and Eric Tangradi
Hershey Goals: Zach Miskovic, Karl Alzner, Alexandre Giroux, Andrew Joudrey
Winning Goaltender: Jason Bacashihua (23 saves on 25 shots)

Three Stars of the Game:
3. Alexandre Giroux (Hershey): one goal
2. Jason Bacashihua (Hershey): 23 saves
1. Keith Aucoin (Hershey): three assists; +1

Scratches:
Zach Sill
Alex Grant
Ryan Bayda
Keven Veilleux

Sunday:
Penguins lose to Worcestser 2-1
WBS Goal: Joey Haddad (first professional goal)
Worcester Goals: Dan DaSilva, Ryan Vesce
Winning Goaltender: Frank Doyle (27 saves on 28 shots)

Three Stars of the Game:
3. Joey Haddad (WBS): goal; +1
2. Brad Thiessen (WBS): 37 saves on 39 shots
1. Frank Doyle (Worcester): winning goaltender

Scratches:
Zach Sill
Alex Grant
Ryan Bayda
Keven Veilleux

WBS Current Record: 38-31-2-3 (81 points; third in East Division)

Scoreboard Watch: The Penguins currently sit in third place in the East Division; three points ahead of Norfolk. However, they are one point behind Bridgeport; who has 82 points and are in fifth place in the Atlantic. If the playoffs started today, the Penguins would be playing Hershey in the division semifinals. Neither Bridgeport or Norfolk are playing tonight.

News and Notes:
Zach Sill missed Saturday’s and Sunday’s games with a charley horse sustained in Friday night's game. He has a 50-50 chance of playing tonight.

Brad Thiessen was named AHL Player of the Week for his play from the week of March 22-28.
In three games, he stopped 94 of 97 shots and earned his third shutout of the season against Norfolk.

With the Nailers eliminated from playoff contention, Casey Pierro-Zabotel was recalled on Monday.

The Penguins concluded their regular season series with Hershey on Saturday night. The Bears won the series ten games to two.

Next Game:
Who: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs. Adirondack Phantoms
When: Wednesday, March 31, 2010 at 7:05 p.m.
Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

Last Meeting Recap:
The Phantoms took a 2-1 overtime win back on March 14 thanks to a goal by former Penguin defenseman Joey Mormina. Mark Letestu had a 5 on 3 power play goal for the Penguins in the second period. Brad Thiessen was the losing goaltender with 22 saves on 24 shots.

About the Phantoms:

NHL Affiliate: Philadelphia Flyers
ECHL Affiliate: Kalamazoo Wings

Key Statistics/Rank in AHL:
Record: 31-36-3-4 (sixth place; East Division)
Goals For/Against: 183/230
Power Play Away: 12.6% (28th)
Power Play Overall: 14% (27th)
Penalty Kill Away: 81.1% (15th)
Penalty Kill Overall: 82.9% (13th)

Last Game:
The Phantoms dropped their third straight game on Saturday with a 4-3 loss to Manchester. David Laliberte scored two goals; while Phantoms leading scorer Jonathan Matsumoto had three points (1+2).

Ali’s Analysis:
With Norfolk idle, the Penguins have a chance to strengthen their hold on third place by earning a win over the Phantoms. However, after losing Sunday’s game with eight seconds left, the team cannot let up their focus until the final buzzer. There are only six games left to prove they are a solid playoff contender, and a convincing win over Adirondack would help their case.

Read more »

WBS Penguins Preview: Penguins vs. Admirals

Last Game Recap:

The Penguins scored four goals in the first period and held off a Rochester comeback led by former Penguin Jeff Taffe to win 5-4.

Three of four of the Penguins’ first period goals came on power plays and they went three for five on opportunities awarded by Nygel Pelletier. Rochester pulled within two on a Jordan Henry goal at 15:15, but Eric Tangradi put the Americans away for good just 1:21 later.

Konstantin Pushkarev scored an even strength goal at 7:00 of the second period, and the Americans challenged the Penguins with Taffe’s 24th and 25th goals of the season. The only goal of the third period came from Rochester’s Chris Taylor at 17:58 but the Americans never found the tying goal. The Penguins won their third straight game, and John Curry stopped 28 of 32 shots in the win.

Three Stars of the Game:
3. Jeff Taffe (Rochester): two goals
2. Chris Lee (WBS): three points (1+2), +1 rating
1. Chris Conner (WBS): three points (1+2)

Scratches:
Alex Grant
Ryan Bayda
Joey Haddad
Keven Veilleux

WBS Current Record: 36-29-2-3 (77 points; fourth in East Division)

Scoreboard Watch: The Penguins are one point behind Norfolk for the final guaranteed playoff spot in the East Division. They are also one point behind Bridgeport for the final playoff spot in the divisional playoffs.

Key Matchups: The Penguins’ next two games are against Norfolk (tonight and Friday). Bridgeport hosts Syracuse tonight and visits Manchester on Friday night.

News and Notes:
Prior to the game, Chris Conner was awarded the AHL Player of the Month award for February.

Eric Tangradi returned to the lineup after missing six games with concussion symptoms.

Casey Pierro-Zabotel was re-assigned to Wheeling on Saturday.

The Penguins concluded their season series with Rochester; going 2-2 in four games. The home team won each game in the series.

Next Matchups:
Who: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs. Norfolk Admirals
When: Wednesday, March 24 and Friday, March 26 at 7:15 p.m.
Where: Norfolk Scope (Norfolk, VA)

Note:
Due to the Penguins’ next two games being against Norfolk, only one pregame will be written for this next set of games.

Last Meeting Recap:
Two first period goals from Jesse Boulerice and Nick Johnson were all the Penguins needed to defeat the Admirals by a 2-1 score back on St. Patrick’s Day. Matt Fornataro scored for Norfolk and Brad Thiessen took the win with 29 saves.

About the Admirals:

NHL Affiliate: Tampa Bay Lightning

Key Statistics/Rank in AHL:
Record: 36-29-3-3 (79 points; third in East Division)
Goals For/Against: 193/189
Power Play Home: 12.8% (28th)
Power Play Overall: 12.8% (27th)
Penalty Kill Home: 87.4% (4th)
Penalty Kill Overall: 86.8% (2nd)

Last Game: Norfolk swept a two game set from the Adirondack Phantoms with a 3-1 win on Saturday following a decisive 8-4 win on Friday. Dana Tyrell led the Admirals with three points (1+2) while Dustin Tokarski made 38 saves.

Ali’s Analysis:
These next two games are crucial to the Penguins’ playoff positioning. If they take four points in two regulation wins, they will make it difficult for the Admirals to catch them for third place. However, if they do not collect any points, and Bridgeport also picks up points in addition to Admirals’ wins, it could be more difficult for the Pens to earn a postseason position. The Pens will also have plenty of rest since they are not traveling between the two games, so there is no reason for them to not have a response to the Admirals’ game and not do their very best.

Read more »

WBS Penguins Gameday: Penguins vs. Americans

Last Game Recap:
The Penguins charged back from a 4-1 second period deficit to defeat Springfield 5-4 in overtime.

After that period, where the lone Penguins’ goal had been scored by Nick Johnson and Brad Thiessen had allowed 4 goals on 13 shots, the third period belonged to the black and gold. Konstantin Pushkarev scored at the 3:12 mark, with Johnson and Chris Conner adding goals 31 seconds apart at 9:09 and 9:40 respectively. The Pens also outshot the Falcons in the third by an overwhelming margin of 24-5.

In overtime, Deryk Engelland was the hero; scoring his third goal of the season on the sixth Penguins shot. Mark Letestu picked up his second point of the night with the primary assist; while Joe Vitale was credited with the secondary assistance. Thiessen ended up taking the win with 22 saves on 26 shots. Springfield goalie Jean-Philippe Levasseur made 50 saves on 55 shots in the losing effort after stopping 24 shots through the second period.

Three Stars of the Game:
3. Jean-Philippe Levasseur (Springfield): 50 saves
2. Nick Johnson (WBS): two goals
1. Deryk Engelland (WBS): game winning goal; +1 rating

Scratches:
Alex Grant
Casey Pierro-Zabotel
Eric Tangradi
Ryan Bayda
Keven Veilleux

WBS Current Record: 35-29-2-3 (75 points; fourth in East Division)

Scoreboard Watch: The Penguins are one point behind Norfolk for the third and final guaranteed playoff spot in the East Division. They are tied with Bridgeport, who also has 75 points, for the fourth playoff spot. However, WBS wins the first tiebreaker with the Sound Tigers. They have 35 wins; while the Sound Tigers have 33.

Friday’s Key Matchup Scores: Norfolk 8-Adirondack 4; Bridgeport 3-Syracuse 2

Saturday’s Matchups to Watch: Norfolk vs. Adirondack (7:15 p.m.) and Bridgeport vs. Manchester (7:00 p.m.)

News and Notes:
Saturday’s matchup with Rochester is sold out. It is the Penguins’ first sell out this season.

Last night’s game concluded the season series between the Penguins and the Falcons. Each team earned a win; with the home team taking each game.

Next Matchup:
Who: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs. Rochester Americans
When: Saturday, March 20, 2010 at 7:05 p.m.
Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

Last Meeting Recap:
Rochester took a 5-3 win from the visiting Penguins back on January 23. Joe Vitale put the Penguins on the board 4:46 into the first period, but Rochester got two goals from former Penguin Jeff Taffe; as well as markers from Daniel Steiner and Michal Repik to secure the win. Luca Caputi and Chris Conner also scored for the Penguins. Brad Theissen stopped 20 shots to take the loss.

About the Americans: NHL Affiliate: Florida Panthers
ECHL Affiliate: Florida Everblades

Key Statistics/Rank in AHL:
Record: 38-29-2-0 (78 points; second in North Division)
Power Play Away: 14.5% (23rd)
Power Play Overall: 18.3% (13th)
Penalty Kill Away: 77.3% (26th)
Penalty Kill Overall: 80.7% (20th)

Goals For/Against: 214/212

Last Game: Binghamton handed Rochester their third loss in five games by defeating the Americans 4-2. Graham Mink and John de Gray scored for the Americans, but it was Binghamton goalie Chris Holt who put the nail in the coffin by scoring an empty net, power play goal at 19:36 of the third period. Holt became just the 10th goalie in AHL history to be credited with a goal.

Ali’s Analysis:
In order to earn a split in the season series with Rochester, the Penguins should show the kind of resilience that got them the win against a much weaker Springfield team. John Curry should also get the start tonight since it is a back to back set and Thiessen had a weak performance last night. However, tonight a strong start is important because Rochester has shown the ability to take over games even when the Penguins are doing things right.

Read more »

WBS Penguins Gameday: Penguins vs. Falcons

Last Game Recap:
The Penguins got first period goals from Jesse Boulerice and Nick Johnson and held on for a 2-1 win against Norfolk on Wednesday night.

The Admirals’ only goal came in the third period from Matt Fornataro at the 15:22 mark. The game was also fairly physical with Boulerice and Chris Conner fighting Jaraj Simek and Matt Lashoff respectively. In all, 31 penalties were called by referee Nygel Pelletier (15 for Norfolk and 16 for WBS) with fourteen power play opportunities arising from that total. The Penguins’ power play went 1-for-6 with Johnson’s goal while Norfolk’s power play failed to convert on eight opportunities.

Brad Thiessen earned the win with 29 saves on 30 shots.

Three Stars of the Game:
3. Jesse Boulerice (WBS): power play goal
2. Brad Thiessen (WBS): 29 saves
1. Nick Johnson (WBS): game winning goal

Scratches:
Alex Grant
Casey Pierro-Zabotel
Eric Tangradi
Ryan Bayda
Keven Veilleux

WBS Current Record: 34-29-2-3 (73 points; fourth in East Division)

Scoreboard Watch: WBS is one point behind Norfolk for the third and final guaranteed playoff spot in the East Division. They are tied with Bridgeport for the fourth playoff spot in the divisional playoffs, but have two more wins (34 for WBS vs. 32 for Bridgeport). With that in mind, the Penguins would clinch the final spot if the playoffs were to start tomorrow.

Matchups to Watch: Norfolk vs. Adirondack (7:15 p.m. on Friday) and Bridgeport at Syracuse (7:30 p.m. on Friday)

News and Notes:
Chris Conner was presented with the Booster Club Player of the Month award for February prior to the game.

Norfolk forward and tough guy Mitch Fritz received a two game suspension for his actions during last night’s game. Fritz received a game misconduct at the end of the second period and made obscene gestures to the crowd while being escorted off the ice. According to AHL rules, that is an automatic two game suspension.

Next Matchup:
Who: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs. Springfield Falcons
When: Friday, March 19 at 7:05 p.m.
Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

Last Meeting:
Chris Conner scored two power play goals in the first period, but Chad Wiseman has a four goal game to lead the Falcons to a 6-3 win back on January 17. Dustin Jeffrey had a shorthanded goal at 12:43 of the third period. Adam Berkhoel took a disappointing loss with 33 saves on 38 shots.

About the Falcons:


NHL Affiliate: Edmonton Oilers
ECHL Affiliate: Stockton Thunder

Key Statistics/Rank in AHL:
Record: 23-34-9-3 (58 points; eighth in Atlantic Division)
Power Play Away: 15% (18th)
Power Play Overall: 18% (15th)
Penalty Kill Away: 81% (16th)
Penalty Kill Overall: 79.7% (27th)

Goals For/Against: 175/250

Last Game: 5-4 shootout win against Portland last Sunday. The Falcons won their second straight shootout after defeating Hershey by the same score the night before. Rob Hisey led Springfield with three points (2+1) and a +2 rating. A goal from Chad Wiseman in the shootout was all the Falcons needed to take the game; as all five Pirates failed to score on Jean-Philippe Levasseur.

Ali’s Analysis:
The Penguins may have a playoff spot now, but there is still a lot of work to be done; as their grasp on the fourth spot can easily be lost. The Falcons may be one of the AHL’s weakest teams, but the Penguins should remember what happened in the last game and come out ready to prove they are stronger both on the ice and on paper. The power play should be treated as a necessity to win this game; and another strong goaltending performance from either Brad Thiessen or John Curry should secure two more points.

Read more »

WBS Penguins Gameday: Penguins vs. Admirals

Last Game Recap:
The Penguins dropped their second straight game with a 2-1 overtime loss to the Adirondack Phantoms on Sunday.

After a scoreless first period, Mika Pyorala scored just 56 seconds into the second period. Mark Letestu evened the score at 8:28 on a 5-on-3 power play, and the score remained tied at 1 at the end of regulation.

In overtime, the Penguins failed to convert on a 4 on 3 power play chance. 37 seconds after the Phantoms penalty expired, Konstantin Pushkarev was called for holding at 2:57 of overtime. During that power play, former Penguin defenseman Joey Mormina scored the game winning goal at 3:37 of overtime. Johan Backlund stopped 35 of 36 Penguins shots; while Brad Thiessen took the loss with 22 saves on 24 shots.

Three Stars of the Game:
3. Brad Thiessen (WBS): 22 saves
2. Joey Mormina (Adirondack): game winning goal
1. Johan Backlund (Adirondack): 35 saves

Scratches:
Alex Grant
Jesse Boulerice
Eric Tangradi
Ryan Bayda
Keven Veilleux

WBS Current Record: 33-29-2-3 (71 points; fourth in East Division)

Scoreboard Watch: The Penguins are three points behind Norfolk in the race for the third and final guaranteed playoff spot in the East Division. They are two points behind Bridgeport for the fourth playoff spot. If Bridgeport, who is fifth in the Atlantic Division, finishes with more points than the Penguins, they will cross over and play in the East Division playoffs.

Tonight’s Scenarios: A win will tie the Penguins with the Sound Tigers for the final playoff spot. A win will also put the Penguins one point behind the Admirals for third place. The Sound Tigers do not play tonight.

News and Notes:
Steve Wagner returned to the lineup on Sunday after missing nine games with a broken jaw.

Eric Tangradi had no problems after participating in a full practice yesterday, but will sit out tonight’s game. He should be ready to play this weekend.

The Stanley Cup will make its second trip to Wilkes-Barre for tonight’s matchup. It was first in Wilkes-Barre for the Black and Gold game back in September.

Next Matchup:
Who: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs. Norfolk Admirals
When: Wednesday, March 17, 2010 at 7:05 p.m.
Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

Last Meeting Recap:
The Penguins took a 4-2 victory from the Admirals on March 3rd in Wilkes-Barre. Alex Grant, Tim Wallace (power play), Konstantin Pushkarev, and Dustin Jeffrey (empty net goal) scored for the Penguins. Wallace had a two point night (1+1) and Eric Tangradi finished with a +2 rating. John Curry stopped 27 shots for the win.

About the Admirals:

NHL Affiliate: Tampa Bay Lightning

Key Statistics/Rank in AHL:
Record: 34-28-3-3 (74 points; third in East Division)
Power Play Away: 13.6% (25th)
Power Play Overall: 12.8% (29th)
Penalty Kill Away: 86.3% (1st)
Penalty Kill Overall: 86.8% (2nd)

Goals For/Against: 181/182

Last Game: Norfolk lost their third straight game on Saturday with their second 3-2 shootout loss to the Sound Tigers. Ty Wishart led the Admirals in regulation with two assists, but the Admirals could not generate any shootout goals against Bridgeport goalie Nathan Lawson.

Ali’s Analysis:
Both teams will come into tonight’s game looking to bounce back after disappointing play over the weekend. The Penguins’ power play, which went 1-for-10 over the weekend, will need to work hard and get plenty of chances against a top Admirals penalty kill. The Penguins will also have to go the extra mile to secure the win because although getting one point is better than getting zero, it is not good enough at this stage in the season.

Read more »

WBS Penguins Gameday: Penguins vs. Phantoms

Last Game Recap:
The Penguins and the River Rats once again went to a shootout to decide the game, but this time; it was Albany who came out on top by a score of 5-4.

Konstantin Pushkarev scored at 9:50 to put the Penguins on top, but Jacob Micflikier scored a pair of goals 3:34 apart to give the Rats a 2-1 lead. It looked like that lead would last into the locker room, but Dustin Jeffrey tied the game at two with a goal at 19:34.

In the second, Albany took a 3-2 lead at 4:22 with a Steven Goertzen goal. This time, Albany’s lead held up for the remainder of the period, but Nick Johnson tied the game at 6:57. However, Albany answered back once again with a Nick Dodge goal at 7:22 to regain the lead. Just as it looked like the Pens would leave Times Union Center with zero points, Tim Wallace played hero for the second consecutive game and scored with 55 seconds left in regulation.

However, the Cardiac Penguins weren’t able to work their magic from Friday night’s game. Jeffrey was the only player successful in the shootout; while Drayson Bowman and Bryan Rodney converted for the River Rats to win the shootout 2-1.

Three Stars of the Game:
3. Nick Dodge (Albany): two points (1+1)
2. Tim Wallace (WBS): game tying goal
1. Jacob Micflikier (Albany): two goals

Scratches:
Casey Pierro-Zabotel
Steve Wagner
Eric Tangradi
Ryan Bayda
Keven Veilleux

WBS Record: 33-29-1-3 (70 points; fourth in East Division)

Scoreboard Watch: WBS is four points behind third place Norfolk for the final guaranteed playoff spot in the East Division. They are three points behind Bridgeport for the fourth and final playoff spot in the divisional playoffs. If Bridgeport, who is fifth place in the Atlantic, finishes with more points than the Penguins, Bridgeport will cross over and play in the East Division playoffs.

News and Notes:
The game marked the last trip to the Times Union Center for the Penguins during the River Rats’ franchise history. Albany will relocate next year to Charlotte, North Carolina; and the future of professional hockey in the city is unknown at this time.

Next Matchup:
Who: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs. Adirondack Phantoms
When: Sunday, March 14, 2010 at 3:00 p.m.
Where: Glens Falls Civic Center (Glens Falls, NY)

Last Meeting Recap:
On Valentine's Day, Jesse Boulerice scored his third goal in two games and Zach Sill scored his second of the season to lead the Penguins to a 4-3 victory over the Phantoms. Phantoms captain Jared Ross attempted to generate some offense to send the game to overtime with a goal at 19:29, but Adirondack could not make up the extra goal. It was the Penguins' third consecutive win.

About the Phantoms:

NHL Affiliate: Philadelphia Flyers
ECHL Affiliate: Kalamazoo Wings

Key Statistics/Rank in AHL:
Record: 29-32-3-2 (63 points; sixth in East Division)
Power Play Home: 14.4% (25th)
Power Play Overall: 12.8% (29th)
Penalty Kill Home: 83.9% (14th)
Penalty Kill Overall: 82.8% (13th)

Goals For/Against: 160/196

Last Game: 4-0 win over Providence on Saturday night. Logan Stephenson and Mika Pyorala each had a two point game in the victory. Goaltender Jeremy Duchesne, currently on recall from the Kalamazoo Wings, made 28 saves to earn the shutout.

Ali's Analysis:
Although the Phantoms are weaker than the Penguins on paper, they have given the Pens many close games this year, and today probably won't be any exception. The Penguins did many things right against Albany yesterday, but must minimize their mistakes and provide support to their goaltending staff to ensure a better chance at victory. Their resilience these last two games has also been impressive, but today it is important to score the first goal and not let up from that point forward.

Read more »

WBS Penguins Gameday: Penguins vs. River Rats

Last Game Recap:
Providence built up a 3-1 lead in the second period, but the “Cardiac Penguins” came back and defeated the Bruins by a score of 5-3 on Friday night.

Twelve seconds after Jordan Knackstedt made the score 3-1 on a second period power play goal, Zach Sill responded with his fourth goal of the season off a pass from Chris Lee. Then, at 7:07 Brian Strait put home his second professional goal with help from Dustin Jeffrey and Nick Johnson.

In the third period, the Penguins took over the game and outshot the Bruins 11-9. Tim Wallace was the hero scoring his 20th and 21st goals of the season ten minutes apart. His second goal was on a shorthanded chance with Chris Lee off for holding. The established 5-3 lead held up through the end of the game as the team won their second game in a row. Brad Thiessen was the winning goaltender with 26 saves on 29 shots.

Three Stars of the Game:
3. Brian Strait (WBS): two points; +2
2. Trent Whitfield (Providence): two points (1+1)
1. Tim Wallace (WBS): two goals, +1

Scratches:
Konstantin Pushkarev
Steve Wagner
Eric Tangradi
Ryan Bayda
Keven Veilleux

WBS Current Record: 33-29-1-2 (69 points; fourth in East Division)

Next Matchup:
Who: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs. Albany River Rats
When: Saturday, March 13, 2010 at 3:00 p.m.
Where: Times Union Center (Albany, NY)

Last Meeting:
The Penguins took a 4-3 shootout win from the River Rats on Wednesday night in Wilkes-Barre. Nick Johnson led the way for the Penguins with a second period goal to erase a 2-1 Albany lead and the winning goal in the shootout. John Curry stopped 31 shots for his 22nd win of the season and became 10-5 in shootouts in his career.

About the River Rats:

NHL Affiliation: Carolina Hurricanes
ECHL Affiliation: Florida Everblades

Key Statistics/Rank in AHL:
Record: 35-24-3-5 (78 points; second in East Division)
Power Play Home: 18.7% (18th)
Power Play Overall: 16.7% (19th)
Penalty Kill Home: 83.3% (17th)
Penalty Kill Overall: 81.5% (18th)
Goals For/Against: 199/195

Last Game: 4-3 win over Rochester on Friday night. Oskar Osala had two goals for the River Rats, while Jamie McBain chipped in two assists. Bryan Rodney (1+1) also had a two point night.

River Rats to Watch:
Jamie McBain has six points (1+5) in Albany’s last four games. He is third on Albany with 38 points (6+32) and has a +10 rating.

Bryan Rodney has five points in his last four games and has a +6 rating. He has 34 points this season (7+27) with four of his goals coming on the power play.

Ali’s Analysis:
While it is nice to see the Cardiac Penguins come back from behind and earn two points that cannot always be the case. Today, the Penguins will have to be the ones to get the lead and make sure the River Rats don’t turn their comeback on them. The unlikely scorers such as Tim Wallace and Zach Sill will have to contribute once again to ensure a win against a team that is significantly ahead of them in the standings.

Read more »

WBS Penguins Gameday: Penguins vs. Bruins

Last Game Recap:
Although Albany scored with 10.6 seconds remaining in regulation, the Penguins were still able to take them to the shootout and skate away with a 4-3 victory.

After reigning AHL Player of the Week Jerome Samson gave Albany a 1-0 lead in the first period, Tim Wallace answered back at 17:40 to tie the game heading into the locker room. In the second period, Albany again took a lead on a Chris Terry goal at 8:35. However a pair of Penguins goals by Nick Johnson and Dustin Jeffrey gave the Penguins a 3-2 lead.

The Penguins held on to their lead until the final seconds of the third period when Ben Lovejoy was off for a hooking penalty. Samson scored his second of the game in the final seconds of the game, forcing overtime; and eventually, the shootout.

In the shootout, both Mark Letestu and Drayson Bowman scored in the first round; while Wyatt Smith and Jacob Micflikier were held off in round two. The score was tied up again in round three with Jamie McBain and Chris Conner tallying goals. After a scoreless fourth round, Nick Johnson was able to convert on his chance. Once Curry held off Bryan Rodney, the Pens went to celebrate another shootout victory.

Three Stars of the Game:
3. John Curry (WBS): 31 saves on 34 shots; 2/5 saves in the shootout
2. Dustin Jeffrey (WBS): second period goal
1. Nick Johnson (WBS): two points; game winning shootout goal

Scratches:
Casey Pierro-Zabotel
Steve Wagner
Eric Tangradi
Ryan Bayda
Keven Veilleux

News and Notes:
Wednesday’s win marked the Pens’ 40th win over Albany in the all time season series.

Eric Tangradi is still dealing with concussion symptoms and has been ruled out for this weekend’s games.

WBS Current Record: 32-29-1-2 (67 points; fourth in East Division)

Next Matchup:
Who: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs. Providence Bruins
When: Friday, March 12, 2010 at 7:05 p.m.
Where: Dunkin Donuts Center (Providence, RI)

Last Meeting Recap:
Chris Conner put up his second consecutive home hat trick as the Penguins took a 5-1 victory from the Bruins on February 27. Conner also had one assist for a four point night altogether. Ben Lovejoy had two assists, while John Curry earned the win with 26 saves.

About the Bruins:


NHL Affiliation: Boston Bruins
ECHL Affiliation: Reading Royals

Key Statistics/Rank in AHL:
Record: 31-30-3-1 (66 points; sixth in the Atlantic Division)
Power Play Home: 14.3% (24th)
Power Play Overall: 15.2% (24th)
Penalty Kill Home: 79.9% (26th)
Penalty Kill Overall: 80.1% (25th)
Goals For/Against: 174/180

Last Game: 3-2 shootout loss to Lowell on Sunday. Sunday’s loss was the Bruins’ third straight defeat as they came out of last weekend’s games with no points.

Bruins to Watch:
Jordan Knackstedt has four goals in Providence’s last four games. He also has a +3 rating in that time. Currently he has 31 points this season (11+20) and is a +8 rating.

Zach Hamill and John Lammers both have put up a point per game in each of Providence’s last three games. Hamill is second on Providence with 40 points (13+27) while Lammers has 13 points (6+7).

Ali’s Analysis:
For the second straight game, the Penguins will be playing an opponent seeking revenge after a blow out loss in a prior matchup. Since slow starts have again hindered the Penguins’ last three games, they will need to come out and show Providence that they can hand them another one sided victory. The Pens should also once again take advantage of the Bruins’ weaknesses on special teams to ensure their second consecutive win.

Read more »

WBS Penguins Gameday: Penguins vs. River Rats

Last Game Recap:
The Penguins couldn't generate any offense against a high powered Hershey team and fell 4-0 to the Bears on Saturday night.

After a scoreless first period in which the Penguins held the Bears to four shots on goal, AHL points leader Keith Aucoin put a puck behind Brad Thiessen at 1:10 of the second period. At 10:09, Penguins defenseman Alex Grant received 17 minutes worth of controversial penalties after sticking up for teammate Konstantin Pushkarev, who had been elbowed by Hershey defenseman Greg Amadio. On the ensuing power play, Aucoin picked up his second point of the night with an assist on Andrew Gordon’s goal.

In the third, Hershey once again got on the board early, this time with an Alexandre Giroux goal at 1:51 where Aucoin picked up his third point of the game with the primary assist. Francois Bouchard rounded out the scoring at 14:11 with assists from Kyle Wilson and Boyd Kane. Braden Holtby earned the shutout with 25 saves while Thiessen took the loss with 24 saves on 28 shots. It marked the third time the Pens have been shutout by the Bears this season, and it was also Hershey’s 22nd consecutive home win.

Three Stars of the Game:
3. Greg Amadio (Hershey): hit, fight
2. Keith Aucoin (Hershey): goal, two assists
1. Braden Hotlby (Hershey): shutout

WBS Scratches:
Steve Wagner
Joey Haddad
Ryan Bayda
Keven Veilleux

WBS Current Record: 31-29-1-2 (65 points; fourth in East Division)

News and Notes:
Eric Tangradi suffered a cut on his face in Saturday’s game after crashing into the net. He will not play in tonight’s game as he is being monitored for concussion symptoms.

Casey Pierro-Zabotel was recalled from the Wheeling Nailers on Tuesday. He has 39 points (12+27) and a -10 rating in 45 games with the Nailers.

Next Matchup:
Who: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs. Albany River Rats
When: Wednesday, March 10 at 7:05 p.m.
Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

Last Meeting Recap:
The Baby Pens set a new record for goals in a game when they defeated the River Rats 9-2 on February 17. Chris Conner netted a hat trick for the Penguins; which would be his first of two in consecutive home games. Conner also had three assists for a six point night. Wyatt Smith and Luca Caputi each had four point games for the Penguins, who got their fourth straight win in the victory.

About the River Rats:

NHL Affiliate: Carolina Hurricanes
ECHL Affiliate: Florida Everblades

Key Statistics/Rank in AHL:
Record: 34-24-3-4 (75 points; second in East)
Power Play Away: 12.9% (26th)
Power Play Overall: 15.9% (21st)
Penalty Kill Away: 79.7% (23rd)
Penalty Kill Overall: 81.6% (19th)
Goals For/Against: 192/188

Last Game: After losing in a shootout against the Norfolk Admirals last Friday, the River Rats got revenge on Saturday by defeating the Admirals 4-2. Jerome Samson led the way with two goals and an assist for Albany while new addition Oskar Osala got his first two points on the River Rats with two assists.

The Penguin Connection:
Four members of the Penguins have played for the River Rats during their careers.

Ryan Bayda played the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 seasons with the River Rats. In 76 combined games, he had 36 goals and 35 assists for 71 points.

Wade Brookbank was also on the 2007-2008 Albany squad and had two assists and a -3 rating in 25 games.

Chris Lee played with Bayda on the 2006-2007 Albany roster and had one assist and a -3 rating in three games.

Jesse Boulerice had seven points (4+3) in 16 games during the 2006-2007 season.

River Rats to Watch:
Jerome Samson was named the AHL Player of the Week for his play during the week of March 1-7. He had seven points (3+4) in three games last week. He is Albany’s leading scorer with 59 points (30+29) in 63 games.

Oskar Osala is a player the Penguins are familiar with since he spent the majority of the season with the Hershey Bears. He comes to Albany with 31 points (15+16) in 55 games.

Ali’s Analysis:
The Pens appeared to take the weekend off last weekend; only scoring two goals in two games and coming out flat on Friday night. With the time off, they are hopefully nice and refreshed to take on an Albany team that will be looking for revenge after losing by seven goals in their last visit to Wilkes-Barre. If the Penguins win tonight, they will once again be two points behind Bridgeport for the final division playoff spot.

Read more »

WBS Penguins Gameday: Penguins vs. Bears

Last Game Recap:
Syracuse’s Brent Regner scored only 1:48 into the game on a power play, and the Crunch never looked back as they skated to a 5-2 victory over the Penguins on Friday night. Nick Holden added a goal at 12:01 to give the Crunch a 2-0 lead at the end of the period.

The Penguins were able to get on the board during the second period thanks to a Mark Letestu goal at 14:58, but Syracuse once again came out flying for the closing period. Chad Kolarik (power play) and Dan Fritsche (shorthanded) tallied special teams goals for Syracuse. Zach Sill added a goal at 19:52 but the game was already out of reach. Brendan Bell tallied the other goal for Syracuse; who won their third straight game. John Curry took the loss with 22 saves on 27 shots.

Three Stars of the Game:
3. Brent Regner (Syracuse): two points (1+1)
2. Kevin Lalande (Syracuse): 35 saves on 37 shots
1. Derek Mackenzie (Syracuse): four assists, +1

Scratches:
Steve Wagner
Joey Haddad
Ryan Bayda
Keven Veilleux

WBS Current Record: 31-28-1-2 (65 points; fourth in East Division)

News and Notes:
Last night’s game concluded the regular season series between the Penguins and the Crunch. The Penguins won the series five games to three.

Next Matchup:
Who: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs. Hershey Bears
When: Saturday March 6, 2010 at 7:05 p.m.
Where: Giant Center (Hershey, PA)

Last Meeting Recap:
Hershey took a 2-1 shootout victory from the Penguins on February 28th. Ben Lovejoy and Kyle Wilson scored in regulation; with Mathieu Perreault, Keith Aucoin, and Alex Giroux scoring in the shootout to give the Bears the win. Mark Letestu and Wyatt Smith scored in the shootout for the Penguins.

About the Bears:


NHL Affiliate: Washington Capitals
ECHL Affiliate: South Carolina Stingrays

Key Statistics/Rank in AHL:
Record: 47-12-0-2 (96 points; first in East Division)
Power Play Home: 24.7% (1st)
Power Play Overall: 21.6% (1st)
Penalty Kill at Home: 91.2% (1st)
Penalty Kill Overall: 88.5% (1st)
Goals For/Against: 263/147

Last Game: 6-3 win over Bridgeport on Tuesday. Alexandre Giroux and Chris Bourque led the Bears with three point games. Rookie defenseman John Carlson had two assists and a +2 rating.

Fast Fact: Hershey has not lost at home since November 28th in a shootout. Their last regulation loss at the Giant Center came back on November 25th.

The Penguin Connection:
Deryk Engelland played 81 games with Hershey from 2005-2007 and was a member of the 2006 Calder Cup championship team. He recorded 14 points (4+10) in those two seasons.

Chris Bourque played 20 games with Pittsburgh this season after being claimed off waivers by the Penguins. He had three assists and 10 penalty minutes before being picked up by Washington again.

Bears to Watch:
Bryan Helmer has a +5 rating over Hershey’s last four games and is a +27 this season.

Keith Aucoin is the AHL’s top scorer with 80 points (21+59) this season. He is also tied for the league lead in assists.

Ali’s Analysis:
There is not much to say about Hershey that hasn’t already been said this season. However, last night’s game showed that when it comes to the Penguins, old habits are very hard to break. A slow start against a team who is extremely dominant at home will dig the Pens more than the 2-0 hole they dug for themselves against Syracuse. Hopefully the Penguins had been saving their energy for tonight’s game and will come out flying.

Read more »

WBS Penguins Gameday: Penguins vs. Crunch

Last Game Recap:
On Wednesday night, the Penguins got their turn to sink the Admirals by picking up a 4-2 victory at Mohegan Sun Arena. Alex Grant scored his second AHL goal in the first period at 5:50, but former Pittsburgh Penguin Adam Hall answered back about three and a half minutes later to tie the game at 1.

In the second, Tim Wallace put up a power play goal at 8:22 to allow the Baby Penguins to reclaim the lead. Again, Norfolk would have an answer; this time only 1:35 later with a goal by Blair Jones. That was all the offense Norfolk would generate as Konstantin Pushkarev and Dustin Jeffrey picked up third period goals to secure the win. John Curry stopped 27 shots for his third win in as many starts.

Three Stars of the Game:
3. Eric Tangradi (WBS): two assists, +2
2. Alex Grant (WBS): goal, +1
1. Konstantin Pushkarev (WBS): one goal, +1

WBS Scratches:
Joey Haddad
Steve Wagner
Ryan Bayda
Keven Veilleux

WBS Record: 31-27-1-2 (65 points; fourth in East Division)

News and Notes:
Joey Haddad was recalled from Wheeling on Wednesday. He has 20 points (7+13) in 34 games with the Nailers this season.

Robert Bortuzzo received a game misconduct in the last game for removing his elbow pad during a fight with the Admirals’ Scott Jackson.

Next Matchup:
Who: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton vs. Syracuse Crunch
When: Friday, March 5, 2010 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Onondaga War Memorial at Oncenter (Syracuse, NY)

Last Penguins/Crunch Meeting:
Syracuse picked up a 4-1 victory on February 5th in Wilkes-Barre. Nick Johnson scored a first period goal for the Penguins, but Syracuse picked up a pair of power play goals in the first and second periods to take over the game. Derek Mackenzie (1+1) and Dan Fritsche (0+2) each had multiple point nights. John Curry took the loss with 17 saves on 21 shots.

About Syracuse:


NHL Affiliate: Columbus Blue Jackets
ECHL Affiliate: Gwinnett Gladiators

Key Statistics/Rank in AHL:
Record: 26-29-3-3 (58 points; sixth in East Division)
Power Play at Home: 14.5% (23rd)
Power Play Overall: 17.3% (17th)
Penalty Kill at Home: 84.5% (13th)
Penalty Kill Overall: 82.2% (16th)

Goals For/Against: 176/210

Fast Fact:
Syracuse played in the AHL’s first outdoor game on February 20th at the New York State Fairgrounds. The Crunch defeated the Binghamton Senators by a score of 2-1 and the game set a new AHL attendance record with 21,508 fans braving the winter temperatures.

Crunch Players to Watch:
Derek Mackenzie has six points in Syracuse’s last four games. He also leads the AHL with five shorthanded goals this season and is Syracuse’s leading scorer with 42 points (17+25).

Brendan Bell is seventh in the AHL in defenseman scoring with 39 points (10+29). He also has nine power play goals this season.

Ali’s Analysis:
After Wednesday’s win, the Penguins are now two points ahead of Bridgeport for the final playoff spot in the East Division. However, that does not mean it is time to relax. Syracuse took the last meeting between the two teams despite not even being in playoff contention. The Penguins should come in looking to further increase the gap between them and the Sound Tigers; who are taking on Portland tonight.

Read more »

WBS Penguins Gameday: Penguins vs. Admirals

Last Game Recap:
Ben Lovejoy put the Penguins on top in the first period, but it was not enough to survive the extra frames as the Hershey Bears put up a 2-1 shootout victory on Sunday.

After Lovejoy scored with 1:33 left in the first period, Kyle Wilson put the Bears on the board halfway through the second period with his 20th goal of the season. The teams then played a scoreless third period and overtime to reach the shootout.

The Penguins decided to shoot first, with Mark Letestu and Wyatt Smith both getting on the board in the first two rounds. Brad Thiessen denied Kyle Wilson in the first round, but allowed goals from Keith Aucoin, Alexandre Giroux, and Mathieu Perreault. Chris Conner, Konstantin Pushkarev, and Dustin Jeffrey were denied by Bears goaltender Semyon Varlamov to allow Hershey to win the game.

Three Stars of the Game:
3. Ben Lovejoy (WBS): regulation goal, +1
2. Brad Thiessen (WBS): 32 saves/33 shots
1. Semyon Varlamov (Hershey): 30 saves on 31 shots; shootout win

Scratches:
Wade Brookbank
Ryan Bayda
Keven Veilleux

Pens Record: 30-27-1-2 (63 points; 4th in East)

News and Notes:
Chris Conner was named the AHL Player of the Month for February. Conner had hat tricks in two consecutive WBS home games and tallied. He had 19 points (10+9) in 12 games in February.

Luca Caputi was traded to the Maple Leafs for Alexei Ponikarovsky on Tuesday (analysis to follow).

Next Game:
Who: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs. Norfolk Admirals
When: Wednesday March 3, 2010 at 7:05 p.m.
Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

About Norfolk:

NHL Affiliate: Tampa Bay Lightning

Key Statistics/Rank in AHL:
Record: 33-26-3-1 (70 points; third place in East)
PP away: 14% (23rd)
PP overall: 13.4% (26th)
PK away: 86.8% (1st)
PK overall: 86.3% (3rd)
Goals for/against: 170/166

Last Game: 3-2 win over Syracuse on Sunday. Norfolk won their second straight game after defeating Binghamton 3-2 in a shootout on Saturday.

Last WBS/Admirals Meeting:
Nate Guenin scored two goals and Joe Vitale put up two assists, but the Penguins were sunk by the Admirals by a score of 5-3 back on February 10. Justin Keller had a hat trick to lead the way, while Matt Fornataro scored the game’s opening goal at 1:57. It was Guenin’s last game as a Penguin, as he was traded to St. Louis for Steve Wagner the next day.

The Penguin Connection:
Adam Hall played 46 games for Pittsburgh in the 2007-2008 season. He had six points that year.

Admirals to Watch:
Juraj Simek has four points in his last two games (2+2) and a +3 rating.

Vladimir Mihalik has a +6 rating in Norfolk’s last four games and leads the Admirals with a +10 rating this season.

Ali’s Analysis:
The Caputi Trade: First of all, as a disclaimer, this is about how this trade affects WBS. After all, I am a WBS blogger. With that said…

Trading away Caputi was a mistake considering he is one of the reasons WBS has been able to bounce back after some early and midseason struggles. He was a big part of the power play, scoring roughly half of his goals on the PP unit. He was also on a steady point streak prior to his trade. He came to WBS for the 2008 playoffs and seemed to fit right in and earned two call ups to Pittsburgh; both of which were successes in my opinion. He will be missed by the Baby Pens and it will be tough to fill his spot on the power play.

Tonight’s Game: With Norfolk making an amazing jump from seventh to third place, and WBS finally starting to be competitive, these two teams are a little more evenly matched. The Pens played a tight game against Hershey on Sunday, but as evidenced by their last game with Norfolk, playing well but not well enough to win will not be good enough.

Read more »