PENGUINS WEEKLY RELEASE

WILKES-BARRE, PA – The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (2-1-0-1, five points, fourth place in East Division) continue their longest road trip of the season this week, heading to New England for three out-of-division contests.

The Penguins are coming off of a 5-4 win against the previously undefeated Hershey Bears, and have picked up five points in their past three contests.

RECENT GAMES
October 17 vs. Bridgeport – The Penguins overcame deficits of 2-0 and 3-1 against the Sound Tigers to force overtime, before dropping a 4-3 shootout decision.  Janne Pesonen assisted on the first two Penguins goals (scored by Chris Minard and Jeff Taffe), then tallied his first North American goal with a breakaway against Yann Danis midway through the third period to help the Penguins pick up a point.  Pesonen also went one-for-two in the shootout, which saw former Penguin Kurtis McLean score twice to give Bridgeport the extra point.  Adam Berkhoel made 27 saves in regulation and overtime, then stopped four of six in the shootout.

October 19 @ Hershey – Chris Minard netted two goals, Connor James and Ryan Stone each had two points (1+1) and the Penguins handed the Hershey Bears their first defeat of the 2008-09 campaign, 5-4.  Wilkes-Barre/Scranton jumped out to a 2-0 lead 1:31 into the game on goals by Jean-Phillipe Cote and James, before the Bears tied the score with two first period tallies.  Hershey took the lead midway through the game on a Keith Aucoin goal.  Three minutes later, John Curry was forced to vacate the goal due to injury, and Adam Berkhoel stepped in to relieve.  Minard and Stone scored before the second was over to put the Penguins back in the lead, and Minard added his second of the night late in the third for what proved to be the game-winning tally.  Berkhoel stopped 13 of 14 shots in relief to pick up the win.

UPCOMING GAMES
October 22 @ Lowell Devils (2-1-0-1, five points, second in Atlantic Division)
October 24 @ Manchester Monarchs (1-3-0-0, two points, seventh in Atlantic Division)
October 25 @ Portland Pirates (2-1-0-0, four points, fourth in Atlantic Division)

PENGUINS TEAM LEADERS
Goals:               Chris Minard – 5
Assists:               Janne Pesonen & Jon D’Aversa – 5
Points:              Chris Minard – 8
PIM:                 Ryan Stone & Jean-Phillipe Cote – 13
+/-:                   Chris Minard – plus-6
PPG:                Chris Minard – 3
GWG:               Chris Minard – 2
SHG:                Dustin Jeffrey – 1
Wins:                Adam Berkhoel – 2
GAA:                Adam Berkhoel – 3.41
SV%:                Adam Berkhoel - .880

RECENT TRANSACTIONS
10/17/08            David Brown                  Reassigned by Pittsburgh to Wheeling from Wilkes-Barre
10/17/08            Nick Johnson                 Reassigned by Pittsburgh to Wheeling from Wilkes-Barre
10/11/08            David Brown                  Reassigned by Pittsburgh to Wilkes-Barre from Wheeling

PESONEN PLAYING WELL:  Forward Janne Pesonen has got off to a good start to his North American career, posting six points (1+5) in his first four games with the Penguins.  Pesonen recorded his first goal and first multi-point game (1+2) on October 17 against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.  He led the Finnish League with 34 goals and 78 points with Karpat last season

STONE STARTS STRONG:  Ryan Stone recorded two goals and three points on October 8 vs. Hershey, matching his career bests for goals and points in a game.

            Ryan Stone Two Goal Games                             Ryan Stone Three Point Games
April 11, 2007 vs. Bridgeport                               November 20, 2005 @ Bridgeport (0+3)
December 8, 2007 @ Norfolk                              April 11, 2007 vs. Bridgeport (2+1)
October 8, 2008 vs. Hershey                               January 2, 2008 vs. Syracuse (1+2=3)
October 8, 2008 vs. Hershey (2+1=3)

MINARD FOLLOWS STONE’S LEAD:  Chris Minard followed Stone’s opening night two-goal, three point performance with tow of his own.  Minard now has 12 multi-goal games during his AHL career, six with the Penguins. His three points against the Phantoms and Bears also tied his career high for points in a game

            Chris Minard Two Goal Games                            Chris Minard Three Point Games
January 11, 2006 vs. Providence              February 26, 2006 vs. Syracuse (0+3)
January 20, 2006 vs. Portland                             December 17, 2006 vs. Providence (2+1)
November 11, 2006 vs. Norfolk                            October 3, 2007 vs. Hershey (3+0)
December 6, 2006 @ Springfield             January 2, 2008 vs. Syracuse (3+0)
December 17, 2006 vs. Providence                      October 11, 2008 vs. Philadelphia (2+1)
December 30, 2006 @ Philadelphia                     October 19, 2008 @ Hershey (2+1)
October 3, 2007 vs. Hershey (3)
December 16, 2007 @ Albany
December 31, 2007 vs. Norfolk
January 2, 2008 vs. Syracuse (3)
October 11, 2008 vs. Philadelphia
October 19, 2008 @ Hershey

Minard is currently tied for the AHL lead with three power play goals and two game-winning goals.

D’AVERSA DROPS THREE:  Jon D’Aversa picked up three assists on opening night, setting new career highs for points and assists in an AHL game.  It was D’aversa’s second career multi-point game in the AHL, following a two-point (1+1) outing on November 14, 2007 @ Philadelphia

TAFFE RETURNS:  Jeff Taffe was assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton from Pittsburgh on October 10.  Taffe began the 2007-08 season with the AHL Penguins, recording 21 points (11+10) in 27 games.  He was recalled by Pittsburgh on December 19 and spent the remainder of the season with the NHL club, posting 12 points (5+7) in 45 games.

Taffe appeared in the Penguins season opening game against the Ottawa Senators in Sweden before being returned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.  That game with Pittsburgh was the 400th of Taffe’s professional career (254 AHL, 146 NHL).

Taffe recorded two assists in his Wilkes-Barre/Scranton return on October 11 vs. Philadelphia.

PLAYER NOTES

4 – Jon D’Aversa (D):  Recorded three assists and was plus-1 on October 8 vs. Hershey

6 – Ben Lovejoy (D):  Picked up his first goal of the season on October 11 vs. Philadelphia, his second game of the season…Lovejoy did not record his first goal of the year last season until his 56th game.

14 – Chris Minard (LW):  Recorded three points (2+1), including the game-winning goal, on October 11 vs. Philadelphia…Was his fifth multi-goal game as a member of the Penguins and his 11th in the AHL…His three points against the Phantoms tied his career high for points in a game (fifth time)…Also recorded two goals and three points on October 19 @ Hershey, once again tying his career-high for points in a game.

21 – Dustin Jeffrey (LW):  Scored his first regular season AHL goal in his second game, October 11 vs. Philadelphia…That goal was a shorthanded tally.

22 – Jeff Taffe (C):  Recorded two assists on October 11 vs. Philadelphia…That was his first game with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton since Dec. 15, 2007…Recorded his first goal of the season on October 17 vs. Bridgeport.  It was his first goal with the team since December 1, 2007 vs. Hershey

23 – Ryan Stone (F):  Recorded three points (2+1) on October 8 vs. Hershey

25 – Janne Pesonen (LW):  Recorded his first AHL goal and his first multi-point game (1+2) on October 17 vs. Bridgeport…Stretched his point and assist streaks to four games (1+5, Oct. 8-19) with an assist on October 19 @ Hershey