PENGUINS WEEKLY – 12/13/16
Sundqvist, Guentzel headline first-place Penguins through weekend
Big performances put Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (16-5-3-0) atop the entire AHL
Weekly Rewind
Friday, Dec. 9 – PENGUINS 2 vs. Hershey 5
In his return to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Jake Guentzel recorded a goal and an assist in the Penguins’ 5-2 loss to Hershey. Vítek Vaněček made 26 saves for the Bears.
Saturday, Dec. 10 – PENGUINS 6 vs. Hershey 2
The Pens bounced back to dominate the Bears, 6-2, led by the four-goal performance by Oskar Sundqvist. Sundqvist’s four tallies tied Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s franchise record for goals in a game. Guentzel posted a goal and an assist, as well.
Sunday, Dec. 11 – PENGUINS 4 at Bridgeport 1
For the second-straight game, the Penguins came back from an early deficit to go on an offensive tear as they defeated the Sound Tigers for the fourth time this season. Teddy Blueger scored his first career goal, Stuart Percy potted his first goal as a Penguin, and Guentzel put forth another one-goal, one-assist game.
The Week Ahead
Wednesday, Dec. 14 – PENGUINS at Hartford
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton takes on the division’s last-place team, the Hartford Wolf Pack. The Pens have beaten the Pack twice this season, outscoring Hartford 9-2 in those two contests.
Friday, Dec. 16 – PENGUINS vs. Rochester
The Rochester Americans make their only trip to Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza this season, and they come in riding a 2-9-0-1 skid in their last 12 games.
Saturday, Dec. 17 – PENGUINS vs. Springfield
If any team has had the Penguins’ number this season, it’s been the Thunderbirds. Springfield is 2-0-0-0 against the Pens this season, but has only two regulation wins against teams over .500 since the end of October.
Ice Chips
– This is the second-consecutive season that the Penguins occupy the No. 1 spot in the AHL during the second week in December.
– Oskar Sundqvist became the third Wilkes-Barre/Scranton player in team history to record a four-goal game, joining Erik Christensen (Oct. 5, 2005 vs. Bridgeport) and Jean-François Jacques (Feb. 16, 2007 vs. Binghamton).
– Jake Guentzel has 10 points (4G-6A) in his last five AHL games and leads all league rookies with 23 points overall (10G-13A).
– David Warsofsky is currently riding a five-game point streak, tying a career-best.
– Warsofsky’s three-point game on Sunday (1G-2A) tied a career high set on Dec. 6, 2013 vs. Manchester.
– All three of Warsofsky’s goals this season are power play goals.
– Tom Sestito’s next game will be his 300th in the AHL.
DIVISION STANDINGS
TEAM GP W L OTL SOL PTS Pt%
1. PENGUINS 24 16 5 3 0 35 .729
2. Lehigh Valley 25 17 7 1 0 35 .700
3. Hershey 25 15 5 4 1 35 .700
4. Bridgeport 24 16 8 0 0 32 .667
5. Providence 25 12 6 4 3 31 .620
6. Springfield 24 10 9 3 2 25 .521
7. Hartford 24 7 13 3 1 18 .375
TEAM LEADERS
SKATERS GP G A PTS
Jake Guentzel* 19 10 13 23
Oskar Sundqvist 22 11 10 21
Tom Kostopoulos 24 7 10 17
Kevin Porter 22 5 9 14
Garrett Wilson 24 3 11 14
GOALIES GP W-L-OT GAA Sv% Shutouts
Casey DeSmith* 8 6-0-2 1.84 0.929 0
Tristan Jarry 16 10-5-1 2.12 0.921 1
* = rookie
UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME
Wed, Dec. 14 Hartford XL Center 7:00 p.m.
Fri, Dec. 16 Rochester Mohegan Sun Arena 7:05 p.m.
Sat, Dec. 17 Springfield Mohegan Sun Arena 7:05 p.m.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
Wed, Dec. 7 (LW) Jake Guentzel Reassigned on loan by PIT
Wed, Dec. 7 (D) Derrick Pouliot Reassigned on loan by PIT
Wed, Dec. 7 (C) Teddy Blueger Assigned on loan by PIT
