Nine-game road win streak snapped, but team stays atop East

LAST WEEK’S RESULTS

 

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25:  PENGUINS 3, Bruins 4 (OT)…

Craig Cunningham’s goal at 27 seconds of overtime nullified a third-period rally by the Penguins and gave the Bruins a 4-3 win at Mohegan Sun Arena. 

 

Trailing 3-1 in the third, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s Joey Mormina and Geoff Walker both tallied over a span of three minutes to pull their team even.

 

Colin McDonald recorded a goal and an assist in the contest.  Brad Thiessen suffered the loss in relief of Scott Munroe, turning aside 8-of-9 shots.

 

FRIDAY, JANUARY 27: Penguins 3, WHALE 2 (OT)…

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton used the man-advantage for all of its scoring, including Jason Williams’ marker in overtime, to skate to a 3-2 win over Connecticut at the XL Center. 

 

Skating 5-on-4, Ryan Craig allowed the Penguins to get the game’s first goal, while Robert Bortuzzo later tied the score, 2-2, in the third period.  Williams potted the game-winner with 44 seconds remaining in the extra session.

 

Brad Thiessen grabbed his 17^th win of the season with a 20-save effort against the Whale. 

 

SATURDAY, JANUARY 28: Penguins 4, SENATORS 7 …

Andre Petersson and David Dziurzynski each notched two goals and the Senators went 3-for-7 on the power play as they defeated the Penguins, 7-4, at Broom County Veterans Memorial Arena. 

 

Ben Street and Geoff Walker struck in the first seven minutes of the match to help Wilkes-Barre/Scranton establish a 2-0 cushion. Binghamton would go on to score four unanswered goals, three coming from the man-advantage unit. 

 

Bryan Lerg and Eric Tangradi knotted the contest late in the second with goals 2:38 apart, but Dziurzynski’s first of the night – coming on a penalty shot – would prove to be the game-winner. 

 

PENGUINS TEAM LEADERS as of 2/1/12…

 

 

ROAD WARRIORS…

The Penguins had their nine-game road winning streak come to an end on Saturday in Binghamton, but not before breaking their own league season high set earlier this season.  The Penguins began their 2011-12 road schedule with eight wins in a row from Oct. 13 – Nov. 11.  The Penguins are 18-4-0-2 on the road and have the highest win total (18) and the second-best road winning percentage (.792) in the league.  Their recent road streak began where it ended – in Binghamton on Dec. 7. 

 

ICE CHIPS…

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins finished the month of January with an 8-3-1-0 record.…Called up to Pittsburgh on Tuesday, Colin McDonald is on a six-game point streak that has seen him post three goals and four assists…Saturday’s loss to Binghamton was the Penguins’ first in regulation when leading after the first period (15-1-1-1)…Three of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s next five games are against the Hershey Bears.

 

EAST DIVISION STANDINGS as of 2/1/12…

 

 

PENGUINS RECENT TRANSACTIONS…

 

 

UPCOMING GAMES

 

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 7:05 PM: PENGUINS vs. Bears…

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2:00 PM: Penguins at Bears…

The Penguins host the Bears for first time in 2012 as Hershey comes to Mohegan Sun Arena on Friday.  Wilkes-Barre/Scranton will then make the trip down Route 81 on Sunday.  The Penguins hold a 5-2-0-1 lead in the 12-game season series.

 

The Bears ended a four-game losing streak with a 3-2 win over Norfolk on Saturday night.  Hershey (25-14-2-3) sits in second place in the East Division, just one point behind the Penguins.  Keith Aucoin (11g-59a) and Chris Bourque (21g-43a) are the top two point-producers in the AHL and lead an offense and power play that both rank tops in the league.   

 

The Penguins have an all-time record of 64-54-4-6-4 against the Bears.  Hershey goalie Braden Holtby has a 1.71 goals against average and a .934 save percentage against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season, but owns a 2-2-0 record. 

PLAYER                               GP          G             A             PTS

Keith Aucoin                      43           11           59           70

Chris Bourque                    32           12           43           64

Jacob Micflikier                  44           19           29           48

Ryan Potulny                     30           15           18           33

Graham Mink                    30           14           19           33

                               

                                                GP          REC       SO          GAA      SV%

Braden Holtby                    28           15-11-1  2              2.61        .906

Dany Sabourin                   18           10-5-2    2              3.02        .904

 

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 7:05 PM:  PENGUINS vs. Devils

The Devils visit Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for the second and final time this season and come in as the third place team (19-16-5-3) in the Northeast Division.  Albany broke an eight-game losing streak versus the Penguins with a 2-1 victory on Dec. 19.  Mike Hoeffel registered his first two goals of the season in the win.

 

The Devils have the league’s lowest winning percentage when scoring first at .568 (12-9-0-1).  Albany’s leading scorer Joe Whitney recorded the first hat trick of his pro career on Jan. 21 at Springfield.  Goaltender Keith Kincaid is 3-1-1 in his last five starts. 

 

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton will complete the season series with games in Albany on Feb. 18 and mar. 31.    The Penguins lead the Devils 50-20-3-2-2 all-time. 

 

DEVILS TEAM LEADERS as of 2/1/12…

 

 

CHILLIN’ WITH THE PENGUINS…

Fans will get an up close and personal look at the Penguins on TV, as CHILLIN’ WITH THE PENGUINS hits the airwaves this season.  The half hour show will feature Penguins broadcasters Tom Grace and Mike O’Brien chatting with Pens players, and will allow fans to ask questions directly to their favorite Penguins with an interactive Q&A session in each episode. 

 

The show will feature two Penguins players or coaches each week, and will be taped in front of a live audience inside the Ice Rink at Coal Street Park (40 Coal Street in Wilkes-Barre). Ten shows will be taped this season, and aired at 6:30pm as a lead in to Penguins home games being broadcast on MyNetwork TV.

 

The next taping will be held at 6:00pm on Thursday, February 3.  This week’s guests will be Alex Grant and Cody Wild.  Admission to each taping is free and open to any Penguins fans in the area.

 

FAITH AND FAMILY NIGHT....

The Penguins will also be hosting a Faith and Family Night when they do battle with the Albany Devils on Saturday, February 4 at 7:05 PM.  National recording artists, WatersEdge, will be performing before the game and during both intermissions.  Fans who purchase a ticket to the game will also receive a Penguins hat and food voucher for a hot dog, soda and popcorn.  A portion of each ticket sold will be donated to Making a Difference Ministries. 
 

UPCOMING EVENTS/PROMOTIONS…

Friday’s contest against the Hershey Bears on February 3, and all Friday home games, is a Dollar Dog and Draft Night.  Fans can purchase dollar dogs while supplies last, and fans 21 years of age and older may purchase select draft beers also for just $1 from 6:00-7:30pm.  Fans in attendance will receive as Penguins All-Star Poster, courtesy of McCarthy Tire. 

 

It’s also Football Friday when the Penguins take on the Bears.  Wear your favorite football jersey in anticipation of the big game on Sunday. 

 

Tickets for all upcoming Penguins home games are available at the PennStar Box Office at Mohegan Sun Arena, through any Ticketmaster outlet, or online at ticketmaster.com.  Tickets can be purchased via phone by calling 1-800-745-3000.  Additionally, full and partial season ticket plans for the 2011-12 season of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Hockey are on sale, and available by calling 570-208-PENS (7367).

 

All 80 regular-season Penguins games can be heard live on the home for Penguins hockey, 102.3 The Mountain, and on-line at www.wbspenguins.com.  Games may also be viewed on-line at www.ahllive.com.  AHL Live, powered by NeuLion, is the official video provider of the American Hockey League.

 

-penguins-