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Lehigh Valley Phantoms

THE TK FILE

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Tom Kostopoulos appeared in the final regular season game of his American Hockey League career this past Saturday, when the Penguins faced off with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in Allentown.  

And while we are very hopeful that TK still has about two months worth of games ahead of him, we thought the end of the regular season would be a good time to take a look back at some of the names and numbers from his time in the AHL.

So sit back and enjoy these statistical oddities and fun facts that we put together about TK as we get ready for the postseason.

Tom Kostopoulos’ first AHL game on October 12, 1999, against the St. John’s Maple Leafs, and his final game on April 14, 2018 against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, were 6,760 days apart.

First Goal:  October 13, 1999 at St. John’s Maple Leafs, a 2-2 tie.  Assisted by Martin Sonnenberg.  Goaltender was Jimmy Waite.  Even strength.

First Assist:  October 15, 1999 at Saint John Flames, a 4-4 tie.  Goal scorer was Tyler Wright. Additional assist to Martin Sonnenberg.

Final AHL Goal:  April 6, 2018 vs. the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in a 4-3 loss.  Assists to Daniel Sprong and Kevin Czuczman.  Christopher Gibson in goal.  A power play goal.

Final AHL Assist:  April 8, 2018 at the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in a 5-2 win.  Goal scorer was Christian Thomas.  Additional assist to Jarrett Burton.

Kostopoulos played parts of 12 season in the AHL (1999-2005; 2012-18), appearing in 722 total games (658 with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton; 64 with the Manchester Monarchs).

Kostopoulos’ first stint with the Penguins ran from 1999-2004, and he appeared in 318 games during that time, recording 97 goals, 149 assists, 246 points and 527 penalty minutes.

His second stay in Wilkes-Barre (2012-18) saw him suit up in 341 games, while he netted 89 goals, 134 assists, 223 points and 364 penalty minutes.

Kostopoulos appeared in more games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton than the next two closest players on the team’s all-time list combined (Rob Scuderi – 305; Tim Wallace 304).

His 186 goals with the Penguins are also more than the next two players combined (Tomas Surovy – 89; Tim Wallace – 75).

Kostopoulos’ 469 points for the Pens are nearly 300 more than the two players tied for second place on the team’s all-time list (Toby Petersen and Tomas Surovy – 177 each).

TK’s 211 AHL goals came against 109 different net minders.  He recorded the most goals against his current teammate – Michael Leighton – putting seven behind his goal line (five while TK was with the Penguins, two while a member of the Manchester Monarchs).  Second on the list was Neil Little, who surrendered six goals to Kostopoulos.  Six others were tied at five goals against (Peter Budaj, Anthony Stolarz, Kristers Gudlevskis, Jason LaBarbera, Matt O’Connor and Mike Minard).

Kostopoulos recorded just one empty net goal in his AHL career, that one coming on February 26, 2003 against the Norfolk Admirals.  It was the third goal in his only AHL hat trick.

No Penguin teamed up with Kostopoulos more when it came to goal scoring than Martin Sonnenberg.  Sonny assisted on 23 of TK’s goals, and was the recipient of 18 helpers from Kostopoulos.

There were 107 different skaters who assisted on Kostopoulos goals, and the Penguins captain dished out helpers to 95 different players during his time with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Manchester.

PLAYER  ASSISTS ON TK GOALS  PLAYER  TK ASSISTED GOALS 
 Martin Sonnenberg  23 Martin Sonnenberg  18
 Shane Endicott 15  Tomas Surovy 17
 Carter Rowney 12  Toby Petersen 15
 Tomas Surovy 11  Carter Rowney 13
 Rob Scuderi 10  Yanick Lehoux 11
 John Slaney 9  Shane Endicott 11
 Nick Drazonevic 9  Noah Clarke 11
 Conor Sheary 9  Jake Guentzel 9
 Tyler Wright 8  Sven Butenschon 8
Toby Petersen 8 Nick Drazenovic 8
Andrew Ebbett 8 Conor Sheary 8
Yanick Lehoux 8
Mike Cammalleri 8

Eight of Kostopoulos’ 211 goals were unassisted.

Kostopoulos played against 43 different teams during his AHL career (including same franchise in a different city, and name change in same city).

Adirondack Phantoms Albany Devils Albany River Rats
Binghamton Devils Binghamton Senators Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Charlotte Checkers Chicago Wolves Cincinnati Mighty Ducks
Cleveland Barons Connecticut Whale Grand Rapids Griffins
Hamilton Bulldogs Hartford Wolf Pack Hershey Bears
Houston Aeros Kentucky Thoroughblades Laval Rocket
Lehigh Valley Phantoms Louisville Panthers Lowell Lock Monsters
Manchester Monarchs Milwaukee Admirals Norfolk Admirals
Philadelphia Phantoms Portland Pirates Providence Bruins
Quebec Citadelles Rochester Americans Rockford Ice Hogs
Saint John Flames San Antonio Rampage Springfield Falcons
Springfield Thunderbirds St. John’s Ice Caps St. John’s Maple Leafs
Syracuse Crunch Toronto Marlies Utah Grizzlies
Utica Comets Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Worcester Ice Cats
Worcester Sharks

Kostopoulos appeared in more games against the Hershey Bears, netted more goals against the intra-state rival, and posted more points versus the chocolate and white, than against any other team – unless you combine his stat line against the Philadelphia/Adirondack/Lehigh Valley Phantoms.  In that case, his goal total against the Phantoms is more than against any other team.

 TEAMS GAMES  VS. (WBS/MCH) TEAMS (COMBINED) GAMES COMBINED (WBS/MCH)
 Hershey Bears 92 (90/2) Hershey Bears  92 (90/2)
 Syracuse Crunch 66 (66/-) PHIL/ADK/LV Phantoms  84 (82/2) | 41-37-6
Norfolk Admirals 49 (47/2) Syracuse Crunch 66 (66/-)
Philadelphia Phantoms 43 (41/2) Norfolk Admirals 49 (47/2)
Binghamton Senators 38 (38/-) Binghamton Senators 38 (38/-)
Lehigh Valley Phantoms 37 (37/-) Hartford Wolf Pack/Connecticut Whale 36 (29/7) | 35-1
Hartford Wolf Pack 35 (28/7) Providence Bruins 35 (26/9)
Providence Bruins 35 (26/9) Bridgeport Sound Tigers 30 (26/4)
Bridgeport Sound Tigers 30 (26/4) Albany River Rats 25 (24/1)
Albany River Rats 25 (24/1) Rochester Americans 25 (25/0)
Rochester Americans 25 (25/0) Springfield Falcons 25 (16/9)
Springfield Falcons 25 (16/9) Portland Pirates 24 (16/8)

 

 TEAMS GOALS  VS. (WBS/MCH) TEAMS (COMBINED) GOALS COMBINED (WBS/MCH)
Hershey Bears 26 (23/3) PHIL/ADK/LV Phantoms  29 (29/0) | 13-13-3
Syracuse Crunch 18 (18/-) Hershey Bears 26 (23/3)
Norfolk Admirals 18 (15/3) Syracuse Crunch 18 (18-)
Philadelphia Phantoms 13 (13/0) Norfolk Admirals 18 (15/3)
Binghamton Senators 13 (13/-) Binghamton Senators 13 (13/-)
Lehigh Valley Phantoms 13 (13/-) Springfield Falcons 9 (5/4)

 

 TEAMS POINTS  VS. (WBS/MCH) TEAMS (COMBINED) POINTS COMBINED (WBS/MCH)
Hershey Bears 79 (76/3) Hershey Bears 79 (76/3)
Syracuse Crunch 39 (39/-) PHIL/ADK/LV Phantoms 65 (65/0) | 32-27-6
Norfolk Admirals 36 (33/3) Syracuse Crunch 39 (39/-)
Philadelphia Phantoms 32 (32/0) Norfolk Admirals 36 (33/3)
Binghamton Senators 30 (30/-) Binghamton Senators 30 (30/-)
Lehigh Valley Phantoms 27 (13/-) Hartford Wolf Pack/Connecticut Whale 22 (16/6) | 22-0
Hartford Wolf Pack 22 (16/6) Albany River Rats 22 (20/2)
Albany River Rats 22 (20/2) Springfield Falcons 22 (13/9)
Springfield Falcons 22 (13/9) Portland Pirates 21 (8/13)

There were two teams Kostopoulos faced in the regular season that he failed to record a point against:  the Connecticut Whale and the Milwaukee Admirals.  He appeared in one game against both of those teams.

Kostopoulos appeared in two games against the Penguins during the 2004-05 season as a member of the Manchester Monarchs.  He recorded a pair of assists in both games (October 16, 2004 – a 7-3 win in Manchester; December 19, 2004 – a 3-1 win in Wilkes-Barre).

2018 CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS INFO

PENGUINS LOSE CLOSE BATTLE WITH PHANTOMS IN SHOOTOUT, 2-1

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BOXSCORE

ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Both the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Lehigh Valley Phantoms traded goals in the last two minutes of regulation, but the Phantoms came out on top in a shootout, 2-1, on Saturday night at PPL Center.

With their point earned in the standings, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (44-22-6-3) was able to secure home ice in the first round of the 2018 Calder Cup Playoffs. The Penguins will play as the No. 2 seed for the Atlantic Division in the postseason, even though their first round opponent is still to be determined.

The first period featured a strong defensive effort by both teams, keeping the game scoreless and without grade-A scoring chances for either side.

In the middle frame, the Penguins nearly doubled the Phantoms in shots. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton earned a 11-6 shot advantage in the second period, but both goalies remained strong. Alex Lyon held down the fort for the Phantoms, while Michael Leighton came up with a series of solid stops for the Penguins.

The Phantoms nearly generated a breakaway opportunity midway through the second period, but defenseman Niclas Almari stepped in to neutralize the headman pass. Almari, making his AHL debut, was the last line of defense on the sequence for the Penguins, but calmly clogged up the passing lane that would have otherwise resulted in a clean chance for Lehigh Valley’s Cole Bardeau.

Leighton also helped power the Penguins to kill off a double minor penalty in the middle frame, too, making numerous key saves to keep the score even at 0-0.

The third period yielded the best scoring chances for both the Penguins and Phantoms, but time and time again, they were foiled by the opposing netminder. The game appeared poised for a scoreless regulation until Garrett Wilson cracked the goose egg for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton late in the contest. With 1:50 left in the third period, Wilson muscled a loose puck under Lyon’s pad for the game’s first goal.

However, the goal was not enough as Chris Conner came back a minute later, scoring for Lehigh Valley with the goalie pulled and extra attacker activated with 45.2 seconds remaining in regulation.

The tight defense continued through the overtime period, as each team only surrendered two shots and allowed no goals.

Nic Aubé-Kubel scored the only goal of the shootout in the fourth round, granting Lehigh Valley the victory in its last game of the season.

Leighton made 30 saves on the night and denied three Phantoms attempts in the shootout, while Lyon turned aside 26 shots in regulation and overtime and went four-for-four on saves in the shootout.

The Penguins have one more game left in the regular season. They’ll take on the Hershey Bears at Giant Center tomorrow, Sunday, Apr. 15, at 5:00 p.m. for both clubs’ regular season finale.

Ticket packages and individual game tickets for the 2018 Calder Cup Playoffs are now on sale. With the purchase of a postseason ticket package, fans will receive a $6 food/merchandise voucher for every game played in the playoffs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton fans can secure their seats for every game on the Cup run by contacting the Penguins directly at (570) 208-7367.

 

GAME PREVIEW: PENGUINS at PHANTOMS – APRIL 14, 2018

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The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins take on their divisional rival, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, at PPL Center Saturday at 7:05pm.

The Penguins (44-22-6-2, 96 pts, .649%) are still fighting to secure home ice advantage in the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs, as they rank second in the American Hockey League’s Atlantic Division. The Phantoms (46-19-5-5, 102 pts, .680%) have already locked up the division title.

Tonight’s game is the twelfth and final meetings between the clubs this season.

TIME: 7:05 p.m.
PLACE: PPL Center
WATCH: AHLLive.com
LISTEN: WILK News Radio

SEASON SERIES

DATE HOME ROAD TIME/RESULT
Friday, October 13 WBS Lehigh Valley 5-0 WIN
Saturday, October 14 Lehigh Valley WBS  3-2 Loss
Friday, November 3 Lehigh Valley WBS  6-5 WIN
Friday, November 22 WBS Lehigh Valley  4-2 WIN
Saturday, December 6 Lehigh Valley WBS  5-0 Loss
Saturday, December 23 WBS Lehigh Valley  3-2 Loss
Wednesday, December 27 WBS Lehigh Valley  4-5 Loss
Wednesday, January 17 Lehigh Valley WBS  4-1 WIN
Friday, January 26 Lehigh Valley WBS  5-2 Loss
Saturday, February 3 WBS Lehigh Valley  2-1 WIN
Sunday, February 18 Lehigh Valley WBS  2-1 WIN
Saturday, April 14 Lehigh Valley WBS  7:05pm

RECENT ACTION
The Penguins held on to secure two important points in the standings with a 3-2 triumph against the Springfield Thunderbirds on Friday night at MassMutual Center. Daniel Sprong opened the game’s scoring at 15:50 of the first period. Teddy Blueger and Zach Trotman also tallied, with Trotman scoring the game winner at 11:33 of the final frame. The win gave the Penguins a season sweep of Springfield. Tristan Jarry made 28 saves for the victory.

Danick Martel scored twice and Isaac Ratcliffe buried his first professional goal Friday evening, as the Lehigh Valley Phantoms downed the visiting Bridgeport Sound Tigers, 5-2, inside PPL Center. Reece Willcox and Mike Vecchione rounded out the scoring for the Phantoms in front of goaltender Dustin Tokarski, who turned aside 29 of Bridgeport’s 31 total shots.

PENGUINS NOTES
Daniel Sprong established a new franchise record for goals by a rookie with his 31st tally of the season last night.

Despite only playing in nine of the 11 matchups between the Penguins and Phantoms this season, Jean-Sébastien Dea is tied for the lead in points in the series with 10 (5+5).

The Penguins continue to be tough to beat with a third period lead, going 28-1-1-0 on the season when leading after two frames.
Chris Summers next game will be his 450th AHL game

A point in tonight’s game secures home ice advantage for the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs for the Penguins.

PHANTOMS NOTES
With Friday’s triumph, the Phantoms have posted their highest point total (102) since the Philadelphia Phantoms ended the 2004-05 campaign with 103 standings points before capturing the 2005 Calder Cup Championship.

Friday’s victory also continued Lehigh Valley’s recent stellar play on home ice, as the Phantoms earned their sixth straight home victory and the 16th win over the team’s last 19 games at PPL Center (16-1-2).

Friday’s game marked the ninth multi-point effort and fifth multi-goal game this season for Martel, who has now matched his career high for points in a single season (40).

CONNECTIONS
Phantoms left winger Chris Conner played 87 games with Wilkes-Bare/Scranton from 2009-2011 and 2013-14 registering 76 points (28+48) during his tenure.

Phantoms defender Will O’Neill also played for the Penguins for one season tallying 50 points (8+42) in 2015-16.

Phantoms right winger Colin McDonald played 68 games in a Wilkes-Barre/Scranton uniform in 2011-12 with 49 points (14+35) to his credit.

Penguins left winger Tom Sestito played 46 games for the Phantoms from 2010-2013 when the team was located in Adirondack. He accumulated 20 points (11+9)

Penguins goaltender Michael Leighton also played for the Adirondack Phantoms from 2010-2013 playing in 88 games and recording seven of his AHL career leading 50 shut outs there.

Compiled by Jonathan Kliment

2018 CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS INFO

PENGUINS DENIED WEEKEND-ENDING WIN BY PHANTOMS

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BOXSCORE

ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins dropped a 4-1 decision to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms at PPL Center on Sunday evening.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (30-15-4-1) was stunted by excellent goaltending from Lehigh Valley’s netminder, John Muse, who posted 22 saves throughout the game and held the Penguins at bay on seven power plays.

Lehigh Valley used a favorable bounce during a power play opportunity at 15:21 of the opening period to score the game’s first goal. Oskar Lindblom found the back of the net after a blocked shot bounced right into his wheelhouse, and Penguins goalie Casey DeSmith couldn’t react to the redirection in time.

Phil Varone extended the Phantoms’ lead to 2-0 in the first two minutes of the second stanza, and Mike Vecchione made it 3-0 with another man advantage marker at 11:54 of the middle frame.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton had several great chances to get back in the game with some power plays late in the second period, but Muse answered the bell. After Daniel Sprong hit the post on a one-timer, Muse scrambled to make a series of saves on Garrett Wilson and Sprong.

The Penguins finally solved Muse and made things interesting at 8:08 of the third period when Jean-Sébastien Dea tipped in a shot from Jarred Tinordi while Wilkes-Barre/Scranton was skating shorthanded.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton had a couple of more cracks at the man advantage late in the game, but Matt Read iced the victory for Lehigh Valley with a shorthanded empty net goal with 1:54 remaining in regulation.

DeSmith finished the game with 28 saves in what was his third start in three days.

The Penguins’ next game is Friday, Feb. 23, and its opponent will be the Rockford IceHogs as the two clubs face-off for the first time franchise history. Rockford’s first ever visit to Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza is also a WBRE/WYOU Eyewitness News Fan Friday with lower bowl seating available for $14 and select draught beers on sale for $2 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. Puck drop between the Penguins and IceHogs is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Individual tickets for all Penguins home games are available at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza box office, online at TicketMaster.com, or by calling 800-745-3000.

Season ticket packages for the 19th season of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins hockey, including 12-game and Flexbook plans, are available by contacting the Penguins directly at (570) 208-7367.

AWE-INSPIRING NIGHT BY JARRY HELPS PENGUINS BEAT PHANTOMS

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BOXSCORE

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – Tristan Jarry stole the show at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza on Saturday night, as he and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins came away with a 2-1 win against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (28-12-3-1) received stellar goaltending all night long as Jarry consistently stymied Lehigh Valley in a shining 34-save performance. The Penguins also used two early tallies to put some distance between them and their in-state rival, and that quick outburst proved to be the difference.

Jean-Sébastien Dea found the back of the net only 26 seconds into the game. Dea came streaking down the right wing wall and perfectly placed his shot over Dustin Tokarski’s shoulder, into the top corner and off the back bar. This marked the third time this season that the Penguins scored on the Phantoms in the first minute of regulation.

Not long after Dea’s opening goal, Jarry began to face an onslaught by the Phantoms. Lehigh Valley racked up 10 shots before the midway mark of the first period, but turned them aside every time. After Jarry came up big on multiple point blank opportunities, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton used a power play goal from Daniel Sprong to jump out to a 2-0 lead at 12:53 of the opening frame. The man advantage marker was the AHL All-Star’s 20th goal on the season.

The second period saw an abundance of power plays, but neither team able to score. Both netminders were sharp, and the score remained 2-0 in favor of the Penguins heading into the second intermission.

Lehigh Valley got another power play in the third period and finally cashed in as Chris Conner snuck the puck through Jarry’s legs from right in front of the net at the nine-minute to pull the Phantoms within one.

Penguins defenseman Chris Summers lent a big hand to his goaltender by making a brilliant defensive play to preserve Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s lead with just under five minutes to play. While a loose puck lingered dangerously around Jarry’s crease with the goalie unable to locate the puck while contending with an abundance of traffic, Summers stepped into Matt Read and held him at bay for several seconds until a teammate could swoop in and sweep it away from the net-mouth.

Despite the Phantoms pulling Tokarski for an extra attacker with roughly two minutes remaining in regulation, Lehigh Valley couldn’t muster an equalizer on Jarry, who remained dialed in until the sound of the final buzzer.

Tokarski finished the night having made 19 saves on 21 shots faced.

The Penguins’ next game is Wednesday, Feb. 7 when they visit the Springfield Thunderbirds. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s next home game is Saturday, Feb. 17, and they’ll take on the Utica Comets for the first time this season. Puck drop between the Penguins and Comets is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza. Individual tickets for all Penguins home games are available at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza box office, online at TicketMaster.com, or by calling 800-745-3000.

Season ticket packages for the 19th season of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins hockey, including 12-game and Flexbook plans, are available by contacting the Penguins directly at (570) 208-7367.

FAN FRIDAY INFO

Would you like more info on tickets for any of our upcoming FAN FRIDAY games? Simply fill in your contact info below, and a Penguins ticket representative will contact you within 48 hours.

PREVIEW: PENGUINS vs PHANTOMS – FEBRUARY 3, 2018

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The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins will be celebrating the fight against cancer during Pink in the Rink Night, as they host another battle with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza tonight at 7:05pm.

The Penguins (27-12-3-1, 58 pts, .674%) currently sit atop the American Hockey League’s Atlantic Division, while the Phantoms (27-13-3-3, 60 pts, .652%) rank one slot behind the Penguins in second place.

Tonight’s game is the tenth of twelve meetings between the clubs this season.

TIME: 7:05 p.m.
PLACE: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza
WATCH: AHLLive.com
LISTEN: WILK News Radio
TICKETS:  570-208-7367 or at the Mohegan Sun Arena Box Office
PROMOTIONS: Pink In The Rink night to support the American Cancer Society; Pink Stick Auction; McCarthy Tire All-Star Poster giveaway

SEASON SERIES

DATE  HOME  ROAD   TIME/RESULT 
Friday, October 13  WBS  Lehigh Valley   5-0 WIN
Saturday, October 14  Lehigh Valley  WBS   3-2 Loss
Friday, November 3  Lehigh Valley  WBS   6-5 WIN
Friday, November 22  WBS  Lehigh Valley    4-2 WIN
Saturday, December 6  Lehigh Valley  WBS    5-0 Loss
Saturday, December 23  WBS  Lehigh Valley    3-2 Loss
Wednesday, December 27  WBS  Lehigh Valley    4-5 Loss
Wednesday, January 17  Lehigh Valley  WBS    4-1 WIN
Friday, January 26  Lehigh Valley  WBS    5-2 Loss
Saturday, February 3  WBS  Lehigh Valley    7:05pm
Sunday, February 18  Lehigh Valley  WBS    5:05pm
Saturday, April 14  Lehigh Valley  WBS    7:05pm

RECENT ACTION

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins welcomed the Hershey Bears to Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza on Friday night, posting a 4-1 win over their foes from Chocolatetown – their seventh straight victory on home ice. The Penguins saw the Bears take an early lead as Riley Barber scored 6:22 into the game. But Andrey Pedan played the hero, as he tied it two minutes before the end of the first period and tallied the eventual game winner 5:34 into the third off of a Greg McKegg drop pass. Kevin Czuczman and Jarrett Burton each got insurance markers as Tristan Jarry stopped 25 of 26 Hershey shots.

Lehigh Valley hosted the Charlotte Checkers at PPL Center on Friday night, and saw recent call-up John Muse turn in a 38 save performance that helped them hang onto a 3-2 victory. With goals from T.J. Brennan, Chris Conner, and Cole Bardeau, the Phantoms were able to sneak a victory through a see-saw contest that saw each team get a lead and then relinquish it, before Bardeau nabbed his third of the season with three minutes remaining to seal the victory.

PENGUINS NOTES
Kevin Czuczman tallied a goal on Friday night, giving him goals in back-to-back games for the first time in his AHL career.

Since returning from Pittsburgh on January 24, Daniel Sprong has recorded six points (1+5) in four games.

Jean-Sebastien Dea has points in 10 of the past 12 games his has played in for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, dating back to December 22 (4+7)

Andrey Pedan tallied twice Friday night, his second multi goal game of 2018. Pedan now has seven goals on the season, tying his career high.

Since signing his second PTO with the Penguins this season, goalie Anthony Peters has a 1.69 goals against average and .935 save percentage in that time.

The Penguins’ 18-6-0-1 mark at the Mohegan Sun Arena is the best home record in the AHL.

PHANTOMS NOTES
Lehigh Valley has the best away record in the Atlantic Division, going 13-8-0-2 away from PPL Center

With his goal against Charlotte last night, defenseman T.J. Brennan became the first blueliner in AHL history to compile eight double-digit goal campaigns. Through his nine-year professional career, Brennan has now recorded 144 goals, 265 assists and 409 total points across 556 career AHL outings.

With Friday’s victory, the Phantoms improved to 19-0-2-1 when leading after two periods this season.

CONNECTIONS
Phantoms left winger Chris Conner played 87 games with Wilkes-Bare/Scranton from 2009-2011 and 2013-14, registering 76 points (28+48) during his tenure.

Phantoms defender Will O’Neill also played for the Penguins for one season, tallying 50 points (8+42) in 2015-16.

Phantoms right winger Colin McDonald played 68 games in a Wilkes-Barre/Scranton uniform in 2011-12, with 49 points (14+35) to his credit.

Penguins left winger Tom Sestito played 46 games for the Phantoms from 2010-2013 when the team was located in Adirondack. He accumulated 20 points (11+9) during that time.

Penguins goaltender Michael Leighton also played for the Adirondack Phantoms from 2010-2013, playing in 88 games and recording seven of his AHL career leading 50 shutouts there.

Compiled by Jonathan Kliment

FAN FRIDAY INFO

Would you like more info on tickets for any of our upcoming FAN FRIDAY games? Simply fill in your contact info below, and a Penguins ticket representative will contact you within 48 hours.

PINK STICK AUCTION INFO

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We’re excited to be holding our first ever PINK STICK AUCTION during Saturday night’s PINK IN THE RINK game between the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Lehigh Valley Phantoms, and wanted to fill our fans in on some of the auction rules in advance.

Penguins players will be using pink sticks during warm ups for the game, and signing them once they come off of the ice.

These sticks will then be transported to the concourse during the first period.

Sample Bid Sheet for Saturday night’s Pink Stick auction

In order to take part in the evening’s auction, fans will have to register and receive a bidding number.  Registration will take place during pregame and the first period at the auction table, and the auction will get underway at the start of the first intermission.

Fans will write their bids on a bid sheet (see sample photo), using their auction numbers as identification.  All sticks will start with minimum bids of $150, and the minimum bid increment for all auctions will be $5.

Bidding will end at the start of the third period, and winning bid numbers will be announced on the videoboard.

Winning bidders will be able to pay for and pick up their sticks at the Penguins Team Store located on the concourse during the third period.

Tickets for Saturday night’s PINK IN THE RINK game are available at the Mohegan Sun Arena box office, online at TicketMaster.com, or by calling the Penguins at 570-208-7367.

PENS HOME FOR A PAIR OF BIG GAMES THIS WEEKEND

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The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins come out of the All-Star break with a pair of big Atlantic Division contests on home ice this weekend.

The Hershey Bears are first up, when they visit for another EYEWITNESS NEWS FAN FRIDAY on February 2.  Lower bowl tickets for Friday night’s contest are just $14 (while supplies last), select draft beers will be available for just $2 (courtesy of PA Prostate Cancer Coalition) from 6-7:30pm, and we’ll have a pair of Penguins players signing autographs after the game on the concourse.

Fans are also encouraged to wear their favorite gridiron team’s jersey on Football Friday, as we get you ready for Sunday’s big game.

Saturday night is the Pens’ annual PINK IN THE RINK game, as we raise awareness in the fight against cancer.

The Penguins face off against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, and the American Cancer Society will be on hand raising awareness of the disease, as well as celebrating those who have fought and are fighting the disease, through several concourse activities:

•Fans are encouraged to stop by Section 101 on the concourse to receive a temporary pink hair streak for a $5 donation.

•A section of the concourse wall will also be painted pink, and fans will be able to leave messages of encouragement and remembrance for those affected by the disease.

•Fans can also pick up Hockey Fights Cancer cheer cards, which can be filled out with the name of a friend or loved one they are supporting.

Additionally, Penguins players will be using special pink sticks during the pregame warmup, which will be autographed and auctioned off on the concourse.

Fans can also support the ACS by purchasing a PINK IN THE RINK ticket package, which includes a $4 donation back to the organization.

For more information on the Penguins PINK IN THE RINK game, call the team at 570-208-7367.  Or to order online, and support the ACS, click here.

FAN FRIDAY INFO

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PENGUINS LOSE IN ALLENTOWN, 5-2

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BOXSCORE

ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins were out-dueled in a clash between the Atlantic Division’s top two teams, as the Lehigh Valley Phantoms skated to a 5-2 victory at PPL Center on Friday night.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (25-12-3-1) still hold first place in the Atlantic despite the loss and appeared to be in control of Friday’s contest until an early goaltending change turned the tide.

Daniel Sprong wasted little time to start the scoring, charging forth on a breakaway and rifling a shot through Dustin Tokarski’s five-hole 56 seconds into the game.

Lehigh Valley’s Greg Carey tied the game at 5:06 of the first period, but a redirect by Zach Aston-Reese put the Penguins back in the lead 1:20 later. At this point, Phantoms coach Scott Gordon decided to pull Tokarski and replace him with back-up Alex Lyon.

With time ticking down in the opening frame, Nic Aubé-Kubel got loose for a mini-break and hoisted a backhand shot over the pads of Anthony Peters. Aubé-Kubel’s goal tied the game, 2-2, three minutes before the second intermission.

The Phantoms took their first lead of the game when T.J. Brennan converted on a two-on-none rush at 11:48 of the second period.

Lehigh Valley tacked on two goals in the third period with tallies from Mike Vecchione and Aubé-Kubel separated by 1:21 of game time. Peters finished the game having made 25 saves. Tokarski only stopped two of the four shots he faced, but Lyon denied all 26 shots thrown his way in relief.

The Penguins’ next game is tomorrow, Saturday, Jan. 27 against the Binghamton Devils. Puck drop between the Penguins and Devils is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza. Individual tickets for all Penguins home games are available at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza box office, online at TicketMaster.com, or by calling 800-745-3000.

Season ticket packages for the 19th season of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins hockey, including 22-game, 12-game and Flexbook plans, are available by contacting the Penguins directly at (570) 208-7367.

PREVIEW: PENGUINS at PHANTOMS, JANUARY 26, 2018

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The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins finish a four-game road trip against their divisional rival the Lehigh Valley Phantoms at PPL Center Friday night at 7:05pm.

The Penguins (25-11-3-1, 54 pts, .675%) currently sit atop the American Hockey League’s Atlantic Division, while the Phantoms (25-13-2-3, 55 pts, .640%) rank one slot behind the Penguins in second place.

Friday’s game is the ninth of twelve meetings between the clubs this season.

TIME: 7:05 p.m.
PLACE: PPL Center
WATCH: AHLLive.com
LISTEN: WILK News Radio

SEASON SERIES

DATE HOME ROAD TIME/RESULT
Friday, October 13 WBS Lehigh Valley  5-0 WIN
Saturday, October 14 Lehigh Valley WBS  3-2 Loss
Friday, November 3 Lehigh Valley WBS  6-5 WIN
Friday, November 22 WBS Lehigh Valley  4-2 WIN
Saturday, December 6 Lehigh Valley WBS  5-0 Loss
Saturday, December 23 WBS Lehigh Valley  3-2 Loss
Wednesday, December 27 WBS Lehigh Valley  4-5 Loss
Wednesday, January 17 Lehigh Valley WBS  4-1 WIN
Friday, January 26 Lehigh Valley WBS  7:05pm
Saturday, February 3 WBS Lehigh Valley  7:05pm
Sunday, February 18 Lehigh Valley WBS  5:05pm
Saturday, April 14 Lehigh Valley WBS  7:05pm

RECENT ACTION

The Penguins traveled down I-81 to take on the Hershey Bears at Giant Center on Wednesday night, and left Chocolatetown with a 4-0 victory. Zach Aston-Reese tallied his seventh goal of the season for the game winner just 3:40 into the game. Jarrett Burton, Christian Thomas, and Zach Trotman also added goals for the Penguins, as Anthony Peters stopped all 18 Bears shots he faced for his first AHL shutout.

Lehigh Valley hosted the Providence Bruins at PPL Center on Wednesday night, taking a 3-2 win. The Phantoms saw tallies in the first period from Alex Krushelnyski and Greg Carey. Mike Vecchione added one more in the third, before Kenny Agostino ruined the shutout bid for Alex Lyon at 18:02 of the third. Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson added another tally at 19:31 of the third, but the Bruins couldn’t find the equalizer.

PENGUINS NOTES
– Daniel Sprong returned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton lineup on Wednesday night, appearing in his first game with the team since December 29.  He picked up a pair of assists in the victory over the Bears.
– Despite missing most of a month with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Sprong still ranks sixth among AHL rookies with 30 points, is third with seven power play goals, and tied for second with 18 goals.
– Frank Corrado tallied his first multi-point game since December 1st on Wednesday night, with a two-assist effort against the Bears
– Anthony Peters backstopped the Penguins to his first career AHL shutout on Wednesday night.
-Tristan Jarry returned to the Penguins this week. He has a 6-3-1-0 record with four shutouts, a save percentage of .942, and a goals against average of 1.79 in his career at the PPL Center.

PHANTOMS NOTES
– Forward Oskar Lindblom was added last week to the Atlantic Division roster for the 2018 AHL All-Star Classic. He’s currently tied for second among all Phantoms and tied for seventh among all AHL rookies in scoring with 28 total points (12 goals, 16 assists).
– Defenseman T.J. Brennan enters the week leading all Lehigh Valley defenders and third among all AHL blueliners in scoring with 28 points (8 goals, 20 assists).
– With Wednesday’s victory, the Phantoms improved to 14-3-1-1 when scoring first this season.
– Goaltender Alex Lyon was recalled by the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday afternoon.

CONNECTIONS
Phantoms left winger Chris Conner played 87 games with Wilkes-Bare/Scranton from 2009-2011 and 2013-14 registering 76 points (28+48) during his tenure.

Phantoms defender Will O’Neill also played for the Penguins for one season tallying 50 points (8+42) in 2015-16.

Phantoms right winger Colin McDonald played 68 games in a Wilkes-Barre/Scranton uniform in 2011-12 with 49 points (14+35) to his credit.

Penguins left winger Tom Sestito played 46 games for the Phantoms from 2010-2013 when the team was located in Adirondack. He accumulated 20 points (11+9)

Penguins goaltender Michael Leighton also played for the Adirondack Phantoms from 2010-2013, playing in 88 games and recording seven of his AHL career leading 50 shut outs there.

  • Compiled by Jonathan Kliment

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