Articles

PENGUINS ADVANCE WITH SHUTOUT OVER BRUINS IN GAME 7

2013-05-23T02:31:26+00:00

W-B/S becomes AHL first team to rally from 0-3 deficit and win Game 7 on road.

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins made history Wednesday night in Providence as they came back from a 0-3 series deficit and claimed Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinal with a 5-0 shutout win over the Bruins at Dunkin’ Donuts Center. The Penguins become the first team in American Hockey League history to rally from three down in a playoff series and win the seventh game on the road.

Neither team was able to find the back of the net in the second period, but the Penguins more than made up for it in the middle frame, beating Bruins goalie Niklas Svedberg four times.

With its first power play of the game, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton went up, 1-0, at 4:44 of the second when Chad Kolarik followed his own rebound behind the net and banked the puck off of Svedberg and across the goal line.

The Penguins then rattled off three goals in just over four minutes late in the period to build a commanding 4-0 lead going into the second intermission. Peter Merth started Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s second tally by holding a puck in at the right blueline and quickly sliding a pass to the opposite point for Joey Mormina. Mormina sent a wrist shot toward the crease that was redirected to the top corner by Warren Peters at 13:04 for his fourth goal of the playoffs.

Chris Collins helped push the margin to three goals two minutes later, stealing a Bruins outlet attempt and dropping a pass at the far circle that Adam Payerl rifled by the blocker of Svedberg.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton made it a four-spot with 2:45 remaining until the break as Dominik Uher chased down his own dump in to the Providence zone and left it along the back boards for Collins. The Penguins forward notched his second assist of the night, setting up Zach Sill alone in front for a roof shot over a sprawled-out Svedberg.

Trevor Smith completed the scoring with 4:35 left in regulation, notching his fourth of the postseason.

Brad Thiessen made 34 saves for his second shutout of the playoffs and fourth of his Penguins career. He is now tied for first all-time on Wilkes-Barre/Scranton with Andy Chiodo.

The Penguins move on to face the Syracuse Crunch in the Eastern Conference Final, beginning Saturday, May 25 at 7:00PM. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton will host Games 3 and 4 on Wednesday, May 29 and Friday, May 31.

The Full Eastern Conference Finals schedule is:

Game 1 – Sat., May 25 – W-B/Scranton at Syracuse, 7 ET
Game 2 – Sun., May 26 – W-B/Scranton at Syracuse, 7 ET
Game 3 – Wed., May 29 – Syracuse at W-B/Scranton, 7:05 ET
Game 4 – Fri., May 31 – Syracuse at W-B/Scranton, 7:05 ET
*Game 5 – Sat., June 1 – W-B/Scranton at Syracuse, 7 ET
*Game 6 – Mon., June 3 – Syracuse at W-B/Scranton, 7:05 ET
*Game 7 – Wed., June 5 – W-B/Scranton at Syracuse, 7 ET
*if necessary

Tickets for the Eastern Conference Finals are available starting at just $15, and can be purchased at the Mohegan Sun Arena box office starting at 10am on Thursday, through TicketMaster.com, or by calling the Penguins at 208-7367.

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS SCHEDULE SET

2013-05-23T01:36:52+00:00

The Pens and Syracuse Crunch meet to decide who will play for the Calder Cup

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins advanced to the American Hockey League Eastern Conference Finals with a 5-0 win over the Providence Bruins on Wednesday night at the Dunkin Donut Center. The Full Eastern Conference Finals schedule is:

PENGUINS PLAYOFF PODCAST - 5/21/13

2013-05-21T20:21:58+00:00

Hynes and Smith talk OT and Game 7

Penguins Color Commentator Mike O'Brien sat down with Penguins Head Coach John Hynes to talk about the team's stunning overtime win over the Bruins on Monday night and Game 7 on Wednesday.

If you can not see this chirbit, listen to it here http://chirb.it/43b4bN
Check this out on Chirbit

And Game 6 OT hero Trevor Smith joined Mark Madden on 105.9 the X in Pittsburgh Tuesday afternoon to talk about the team's performance in the second round.

The Penguins and Bruins face off in the winner-take-all Game 7 on Wednesday, May 22 at 7:05PM. Tune in on 102.3 the Mountain or AHLLive.com.

PENGUINS WEEKLY RELEASE - 5/21/13

2013-05-21T19:20:07+00:00

Down 3-0 in Semifinal series, Penguins force Game 7 on Wednesday

PENGUINS WEEKLY RELEASE #32

W-B/Scranton Comes Back to Even Series with Providence

Down 3-0 in Semifinal series, Penguins force Game 7 on Wednesday

LAST WEEK’S RESULTS

Game 3 - Wednesday, May 15 – PENGUINS 1 vs. Bruins 2 (OT)

The Bruins took a commanding 3-0 series lead after Carter Camper scored in overtime to lift Providence to a 2-1 win over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.

Jordan Knight would break the scoreless tie 3:04 into the second period, putting Providence ahead, 1-0. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton evened the match midway through the same period on Trevor Smith’s first marker of the postseason.

Camper netted the deciding goal for the Bruins just 31 seconds into the extra session. Providence goalie Niklas Svedberg turned aside 32-of-33 shots for Providence.

Game 4 - Friday, May 17 – PENGUINS 3 vs. Bruins 1

A three-goal outburst in the second period helped the Penguins skate to a 3-1 victory over Providence and stay alive in the Eastern Conference Semifinal series.

With his team trailing 1-0 going into the second, Warren Peters potted his third goal this postseason to pull Wilkes-Barre/Scranton even at 6:25. Late in the same period, the Penguins built a 3-1 cushion on goals scored 1:47 apart. Riley Holzapfel put Wilkes-Barre/Scranton ahead for good with 3:50 left until the intermission and Chad Kolarik quickly followed with a 5-on-4 tally.

Joey Mormina assisted on all three Penguins goals. Brad Thiessen won his third in a row with 31 saves.

Game 5 - Saturday, May 18 – PENGUINS 4 vs. Bruins 0

Brad Thiessen stopped all 30 shots he faced and Brian Dumoulin recorded a three-point night as the Penguins forced the series back to Providence with a 4-0 win.

Dumoulin would provide the only goal necessary for the Penguins, converting on the power play at 10:22 of the first. Less than six minutes later, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton struck again during a two-man advantage as Trevor Smith made the score 2-0 in favor of the home team.

In a penalty-filled third period that featured 76 minutes worth of infractions, the Penguins doubled their lead on Adam Payerl’s first professional playoff goal and a 5-on-3 tally by Paul Thompson.

Game 6 - Monday, May 20 – Penguins 2 vs. BRUINS 1 (OT)

Brad Thiessen made 46 saves and Trevor Smith scored the overtime game-winner as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton triumphed, 2-1, to force a decisive Game 7.

After a scoreless first, Craig Cunningham gave Providence a 1-0 lead 1:07 into the second. The Penguins were able to counter at 6:03, seconds after a two-man advantage expired, as Brian Dumoulin tallied his second goal of the postseason.

The Bruins would outshoot the Penguins, 33-5, over the final two periods of regulation – including a 20-2 advantage in the third. Smith’s marker in OT was his third of the Calder Cup playoffs.

UPCOMING GAMES

Game 7 – Wednesday, May 22, 7:05PM – Penguins at BRUINS – 102.3 the Mountain

This series marks the first meeting between the Penguins and Bruins in Calder Cup playoff history. This is Providence’s first postseason appearance since 2009 when they lost to the Hershey Bears in five games in the Eastern Conference Semifinal. The Bruins took home the Calder Cup in 1999 and have an all-time playoff record of 86-78. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is 81-75 in the postseason. The Penguins are 4-2 in Game 7s, while Providence is 3-1.

PENGUINS PLAYOFF LEADERS as of 5/21/13…

PLAYER	GP	G	A	PTS
Trevor Smith	9	3	6	9
Chad Kolarik	9	4	3	7
Brian Gibbons	9	3	4	7
Riley Holzapfel	9	3	4	7
Three players tied with 6 points

GOALIE	GP	REC	SO	GAA	SV%
Brad Thiessen	6	4-1	1	1.05	.964
Jeff Zatkoff	4	2-2	0	4.62	.858

ICE CHIPS…

- Brad Thiessen’s Game 5 shutout was the third of his postseason career. He is one short of the all-time record held by Andy Chiodo.

- Thiessen’s 46 saves on Monday were the most by a Penguins goaltender in the playoffs since Nolan Schaefer made 50 in an overtime loss to Hershey on May 4, 2007.

- Thiessen leads all AHL goaltenders in the playoffs with a 1.05 goals against average and a .964 save percentage.

- Brian Dumoulin (2g-4a) and Joey Mormina (0g-6a) are tied for first among defenseman this postseason with six points each. Dumoulin leads all blueliners with four power play points (2g-2a), while Mormina ranks first in assists (6).

- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton owns the top power play unit in the Calder Cup Playoffs at 25.5% (12-for-47).

- The Penguins are a perfect 14-for-14 on the penalty kill over the last four contests.

-penguins-

RED JERSEY AUCTION TO SUPPORT THE RED CROSS

2013-05-21T15:20:55+00:00

Proceeds to aid Oklahoma tornado victims fund.

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins will be running a special online auction to benefit the American Red Cross starting on Tuesday at noon.

A game-worn, red third jersey from the 2012-13 season worn by former defenseman Joe Morrow will be up for auction, with all proceeds from the auction benefitting the Red Cross' tornado relief efforts in Oklahoma.

Fans can place their bids via the Penguins ebay page between noon on Tuesday, May 21 and noon on Tuesday, May 28.

For more information on how you can donate to relief efforts in Oklahoma, please visit http://www.redcross.org/charitable-donations

PENGUINS SHOCK BRUINS IN OT TO FORCE GAME 7

2013-05-21T02:52:44+00:00

Thiessen makes 46 saves as W-B/Scranton rallies to even series

Game Sheet

Penguins Shock Bruins in OT to Force Game 7

Thiessen makes 46 saves as W-B/Scranton rallies to even series

P-Bruins fall to Penguins in overtime, 2-1
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at Providence

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Penguins goaltender Brad Thiessen made 46 saves – including 20 in the third period – as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton stunned the Providence Bruins with a 2-1 overtime win at Dunkin’ Donuts Center. The Penguins become the fourth team in AHL history to force a Game 7 after losing the first three games of a series.

The game’s first goal did not come until the 1:03 mark of the second period when the Bruins caught the Penguins in a line change and Craig Cunningham broke in alone for a flick shot past the blocker of Thiessen.

Five minutes later, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton was able to knot the score, 1-1, with two Bruins in the penalty box. Brian Dumoulin picked the top right corner of the net with a wrister from the high slot for his second power play goal in as many games.

For the remainder of regulation, the Bruins controlled the play in all three zones, outshooting the Penguins by a combined 33-5 margin over the second and third periods. Thiessen was miraculous in net for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in sending the game to overtime.

In the fourth period, the Penguins had the early jump and soon netted the game-winner at 3:26. Defenseman Alex Grant kept the puck in Bruins zone at the far side point and threw a shot that went wide of goalie Niklas Svedberg before coming to a stop behind the net. Trevor Smith swooped in to snag the loose puck and wrapped it inside the left post to send the series to a seventh game.

Thiessen’s 46 saves were the most for a Wilkes-Barre/Scranton goalie in the postseason since Nolan Schaefer made 50 saves on May 4, 2007. Svedberg stopped 16-of-18 for Providence.

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins will battle the Providence Bruins in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinal on Wednesday, May 22 at 7:05PM. Tune in on 102.3 The Mountain or AHLLive.com.

– penguins –

PENS SHUTOUT BRUINS TO SEND SERIES BACK TO PROVIDENCE

2013-05-19T02:58:42+00:00

Thiessen makes 30 saves for third playoff shutout

Game Sheet

Pens Shutout Bruins to Send Series Back to Providence

Thiessen makes 30 saves for third playoff shutout

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – Penguins goaltender Brad Thiessen made 30 saves as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton blanked the Providence Bruins, 4-0, at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza to force a Game 6 in the Eastern Conference Semifinal. The Bruins still lead the best-of-seven series, 3-2.

The Penguins enjoyed four man-advantages in the opening period and were able convert on half to take a 2-0 lead into the first intermission. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton edged ahead, 1-0, at 10:55 when Brian Gibbons sent a pass into the slot that Chad Kolarik redirected toward the Providence net. Goalie Niklas Svedberg kicked the puck away with his leg pad, but Brian Dumoulin raced to the rebound and put it top corner for his first professional playoff goal.

Six minutes later during a 5-on-3 power play, Trevor Smith accepted a feed from Riley Holzapfel and whizzed a wrist shot from the hash marks over the blocker of Svedberg that doubled the Penguins’ lead.

The two teams would skate through a scoreless second period before Adam Payerl notched a big insurance goal for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, rifling a slapshot home from the right circle at 3:39 of the third to make the score, 3-0. The tally was also Payerl’s first of the playoffs.

The remainder of the third period became a penalty-filled affair with both teams combining for 76 penalty minutes. The end result saw the Penguins awarded extended power play time and Paul Thompson completing the scoring during a two-man advantage with 3:16 left in regulation.

Dumoulin finished the night with three points on a goal and two assists. Thiessen’s shutout was the third of his postseason career. Svedberg made 25 saves on 29 shots for Providence.

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins look to force a seventh game as they take on the Providence Bruins in Game 6 on Monday, May 20 at 7:05pm. Tune in on 102.3 The Mountain or AHLLive.com

– penguins –

PENGUINS EXTEND SERIES WITH WIN OVER BRUINS

2013-05-18T02:12:21+00:00

Mormina assists on all three W-B/Scranton goals

Game Sheet

Penguins Extend Series with Win Over Bruins

Mormina assists on all three W-B/Scranton goals

Pens Force Game 5 with 3-1 Win
Providence at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins staved off elimination with a 3-1 win against the Providence Bruins in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinal. The Penguins will look to send the series back to Providence with Game 5 at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza on Saturday night.

Trailing 1-0 after the first, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton put forth its best of hockey in this series against Providence. The Penguins evened the score at 6:25 when Adam Payerl pushed down the right side of the Bruins’ zone and left a pass to Warren Peters. The veteran forward used a Providence defenseman as a screen to sneak a wrist shot inside the far post.

The Penguins went ahead for the first time in the game with 3:10 left until the second intermission as Joey Mormina’s shot from the far blue line deflected to right circle for Riley Holzapfel to snap over goalie Niklas Svedberg and to the top of the net.

A late power play helped Wilkes-Barre/Scranton take its first two-goal lead of the series 1:07 after Holzapfel’s goal. Stationed at the center point, Mormina waited for a screen to set up in front of the Bruins crease before firing a waist-high shot that was tipped in by Chad Kolarik.

Carter Camper started Game 4 much the same way he ended Game 3, capitalizing on a steal and finding the back of the net. Jordan Caron knocked down a Penguins pass by the near post and had his shot stopped by Brad Thiessen before Camper skated to the rebound behind the net and banked it across the goal line for a 1-0 Providence lead at 7:37 of the first.

Thiessen registered his second win of the postseason with 31 saves on 32 shots. Svedberg’s six-game winning streak came to an end as he stopped 19-of-22.

The Penguins host the Providence Bruins for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinal on Saturday, May 18 and are offering kids tickets (ages 14 and under) for just $7. Kids tickets are based on availability and must be accompanied by the purchase of an adult ticket (maximum of two kids tickets purchased with each adult ticket).

Tickets are available at the Box Office at Mohegan Sun Arena, through any Ticketmaster outlet, or online at ticketmaster.com. Tickets also can be purchased via phone by calling 1-800-745-3000.

– penguins –

PENGUINS FALL ON BRUINS’ QUICK STRIKE IN OT

2013-05-16T02:32:13+00:00

W-B/Scranton looks to extend series in Game 4 on Friday

Game Sheet

Penguins Fall on Bruins’ Quick Strike in OT

W-B/Scranton looks to extend series in Game 4 on Friday

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – Carter Camper found the back of the net just 31 seconds into overtime to lift the Providence Bruins to a 2-1 win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza and a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

The game-winning goal for Providence started with a keep-in along the near side wall by Jordan Caron. The puck was worked through the slot and to the bottom of the face circle, where Camper pounded home his seventh of the playoffs to give the Bruins the win.

After a scoreless first period of play, Providence went up, 1-0, 3:04 into the second. Battling for a puck behind the Penguins net, Kyle MacKinnon wrestled the puck free and centered in front for a Jared Knight wrist shot that beat goalie Brad Thiessen down low.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton would pick up its pace and tie the score at 10:42 on Trevor Smith’s first goal of this year’s playoffs. After a clean faceoff win by the Penguins, Cody Wild had his point shot stopped by Niklas Svedberg, but the puck bounced over to Smith to smack inside the far post.

Getting his second start of the playoffs, Thiessen stopped 20-of-22 shots for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Svedberg won his sixth in a row with a 32-save effort for the Bruins.

The Penguins host the Providence Bruins for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinal on Friday, May 17 and are offering kids tickets (ages 14 and under) for just $7. Kids tickets are based on availability and must be accompanied by the purchase of an adult ticket (maximum of two kids tickets purchased with each adult ticket).

Tickets are available at the Box Office at Mohegan Sun Arena, through any Ticketmaster outlet, or online at ticketmaster.com. Tickets also can be purchased via phone by calling 1-800-745-3000.

– penguins –

PENGUINS WEEKLY RELEASE - 5/14/13

2013-05-14T21:29:34+00:00

Penguins host game Game 3 on Wed; Game 4 on Fri

PENGUINS WEEKLY RELEASE #31

W-B/Scranton Returns Home in Second Round Series versus Bruins

Penguins host game Game 3 on Wed; Game 4 on Fri

LAST WEEK’S RESULTS

Game 1 - Friday, May 10 – Penguins 5 vs. BRUINS 8

The two-best defensive teams in the AHL this season put on an impressive display of offense as the Providence Bruins claimed Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinal with a 8-5 win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center.

Chad Kolarik opened the scoring at 9:31 of the first period with the second successful penalty shot conversion in Penguins playoff history, but Ryan Spooner would even the match with 1:06 left in the frame.

The game was tied, 2-2, early in the second stanza before the Bruins ripped off three goals in a span of 3:15 to take a commanding lead. Down by a score of 6-3 with less than four minutes remaining in regulation, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton pulled within one on goals tallied 48 seconds apart by Chris Collins and Paul Thompson. Already with three assists on the night, Chris Bourque put Providence back ahead by two with an insurance marker with 1:05 remaining in the contest.

Thompson led all Penguins scorers with a goal and two assists. Brian Gibbons and Collins each tallied a goal and assist.

Game 2 - Friday, May 11 – Penguins 2 vs. BRUINS 4

Providence’s four-goal outburst in the first period was the difference as the Bruins held serve on home ice with a 5-2 victory against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

It was the Penguins breaking the scoreless tie once again when Warren Peters found the back of the net with a shorthanded tally at 4:40 mark of the first period. The Bruins responded with aplomb as Jamie Tardif led the charge with two power play goals and two assists before the period came to a close.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton was able to cut the Bruins’ lead down to two at 14:47 of the second when Brian Gibbons potted his second man-advantage goal of the playoffs. The Penguins outshot Providence by a 19-5 margin in the final period of regulation, but would be unable to get another puck past goaltender Niklas Svedberg.

Brad Thiessen stopped all 16 shots he faced for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton over two periods of relief.

UPCOMING GAMES

Game 3 (Home Game B) - Wednesday, May 15, 7:05PM – PENGUINS vs. Bruins – 102.3 the Mountain

Game 4 (Home Game C) - Friday, May 17 7:05PM – PENGUINS vs. Bruins – 102.3 the Mountain

*Game 5 (Home Game D) - Saturday, May 18, 7:05PM – PENGUINS vs. Bruins – 102.3 the Mountain

*Game 6 – Monday, May 20, 7:05PM – Penguins at BRUINS – 102.3 the Mountain

* - if necessary

This series marks the first meeting between the Penguins and Bruins in Calder Cup playoff history. This is Providence’s first postseason appearance since 2009 when they lost to the Hershey Bears in five games in the Eastern Conference Semifinal. The Bruins took home the Calder Cup in 1999 and have an all-time playoff record of 75-75. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is 78-74 in the postseason.

PENGUINS PLAYOFF LEADERS as of 5/14/13…

PLAYER	GP	G	A	PTS
Paul Thompson	5	3	2	5
Brian Gibbons	5	2	3	5
Three players tied with 4 points	3	1	2	3

GOALIE	GP	REC	SO	GAA	SV%
Brad Thiessen	2	1-0	0	1.22	.946
Jeff Zatkoff	4	2-2	0	4.62	.858

ICE CHIPS…

- After converting at 15.1% on the man-advantage during the regular season, the Penguins’ power play is clicking at 26.9% in the postseason (7-for-26).

- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s combined all-time record in Games 1 and 2 is 23-33. The team is 55-39 in Games 3 through 7.

- By virtue of his 19-save win over Binghamton on May 2 in Game 3 and a perfect two periods of relief on Saturday in Providence, goalie Brad Thiessen has the lowest goals against average this postseason at 1.52.

- The Penguins are the only team in the AHL to have reached at least the second round of the playoffs in each of the last three seasons.

KIDS TIX JUST $7 FOR GAMES 4 & 5…

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins have joined forces with our friends at Eyewitness News (WBRE/WYOU) and the Citizens’ Voice for a fantastic playoff offer for next weekend’s games.

The Penguins host the Providence Bruins on Friday, May 17 and Saturday, May 18 (if necessary), and are offering kids tickets (ages 14 and under) for just $7. Kids tickets are based on availability in the Club Seat and Blue Zone sections, and must be accompanied by the purchase of an adult ticket (maximum of two kids tickets purchased with each adult ticket). Adult tickets in these sections are priced at $27 and $15 respectively.

Tickets are available at the Mohegan Sun Arena Box Office, online at TicketMaster.com or by calling 570-208-PENS (7367).

-penguins-