PENGUINS WEEKLY – 10/18/2016
Penguins open season with convincing 6-2 victory
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (1-0-0-0) prepares for three games in three days
Weekly Rewind
Friday, Oct. 15 – PENGUINS 6 vs. Hartford 2
The Penguins received contributions from six different goal scorers, but perhaps none bigger than Jake Guentzel’s four points (1G-3A). Josh Archibald scored the Pens’ first goal of the season just 1:48 into the game. After Hartford tied the game late in the first period, the Penguins pulled back ahead with a power play goal from Carter Rowney at 5:51 of the second. Oskar Sundqvist and Guentzel combined for goals 2:09 apart, giving Wilkes-Barre/Scranton a 4-1 lead. Jean-Sébastien Dea and David Warsofsky both got in on the scoring, making it 6-1 before Hartford’s Matt Carey tucked in a final tally with 1:25 remaining in the game. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton was perfect on the special teams front, going two-for-two on the power play and successfully killing off all six of Hartford’s man advantage opportunities.
The Week Ahead
Friday, Oct. 21 – PENGUINS vs. Springfield
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton takes on Springfield for the first time under the “Thunderbirds” name. Last year, the Florida Panthers’ affiliate went 4-1-0-1 against the Penguins, but four of the six games were decided by one goal.
Saturday, Oct. 22 – PENGUINS vs. Syracuse
The Penguins and Crunch split their 2015-16 season series right down the middle, 2-2-0-0, and their head-to-head records over the past six seasons have been a dead heat, too (20-18-1-1). Syracuse is tied for the most goals for in the league through two games (10).
Sunday, Oct. 23 – PENGUINS at Hershey
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton heads to the road for the first time this season, but the trip isn’t a long one. In their first meeting of 2015-16, the Penguins downed the Bears, 7-0. Game time is scheduled for an early 5:00 p.m. start.
Ice Chips
– The Penguins’ 6-2 win on Saturday was the club’s greatest margin of victory in a season opener since 2005 when it defeated Bridgeport, 8-1.
– Jake Guentzel is the third player in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton history to earn four points in the team’s season opener (Erik Christensen, 4G, 2005; Ryan Whitney, 4A, 2005).
– Josh Archibald’s goal 1:48 into Saturday’s contest was the Penguins’ fastest goal in a season opener.
– With an assist on Saturday, Tom Kostopoulos is three points shy of reaching his 400th point with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
– Oskar Sundqvist has recorded at least one point in both of his AHL season opening games.
DIVISION STANDINGS
TEAM GP W L OTL SOL PTS Pt%
1. PENGUINS 1 1 0 0 0 2 1.00
2. Lehigh Valley 1 1 0 0 0 2 1.00
3. Springfield 2 1 1 0 0 2 .500
4. Bridgeport 2 1 1 0 0 2 .500
5. Hartford 2 1 1 0 0 2 .500
6. Providence 3 1 2 0 0 2 .333
7. Hershey 2 0 2 0 0 0 .000
TEAM LEADERS
SKATERS GP G A PTS
Jake Guentzel* 1 1 3 4
Carter Rowney 1 1 1 2
Oskar Sundqvist 1 1 1 2
David Warsofsky 1 1 1 2
six players tied 1 1
GOALIES GP W-L-OT-SO GAA Sv% Shutouts
Tristan Jarry 1 1-0-0-0 2.01 0.923 0
Casey DeSmith* 0 0-0-0-0 0.00 0.00 0
* = rookie
^ = currently with Pittsburgh
UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME
Fri, Oct. 21 Springfield Mohegan Sun Arena 7:05 p.m.
Sat, Oct. 22 Providence Mohegan Sun Arena 7:05 p.m.
Sun, Oct. 23 Hershey Giant Center 5:00 p.m.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
Sun, Oct. 13 ADD (RW) Reid Gardiner Signed to SPC