PENGUINS WEEKLY – 11/22/16
Big wins against Bridgeport, Hershey keep Penguins atop Atlantic Division
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (12-3-1-0) set to face-off with Bears and Sound Tigers again
Weekly Rewind
Wednesday, Nov. 16 – PENGUINS 1 at Lehigh Valley 4
The Penguins fell to their Keystone rivals in their first meeting this season. It was just Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s third regulation loss of the season. Thomas Di Pauli scored the lone goal for the Pens, the first of his professional career.
Friday, Nov.18 – PENGUINS 4 vs. Bridgeport 3
The Penguins bounced back from their previous loss with a hard-earned victory over the Sound Tigers in which they scored three of their four goals in the second period. Casey DeSmith made 25 saves in net, improving his record to 5-0-0.
Saturday, Nov. 19 – PENGUINS 4 at Hershey 3
In their second game at the Giant Center, the Penguins came back from a 3-1 deficit in the third period and ended up with a win in overtime. Tom Kostopoulos tied the game, 3-3, with 1:04 left in regulation, and Carter Rowney sealed the win 2:01 into OT. Jake Guentzel had three points (1G-2A), and both Oskar Sundqvist and Cameron Gaunce had two assists.
The Week Ahead
Wednesday, Nov. 23 – PENGUINS at Hershey
The Penguins take on the Bears for the third time this season and second time in five days. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton was the overtime victor in the two squads’ previous two match-ups.
Friday, Nov. 25 – PENGUINS at Bridgeport
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton plays the Sound Tigers for the third time in two weeks. The Penguins were dominant in their last meeting in Bridgeport, winning 7-1.
Saturday, Nov. 26 – PENGUINS vs. Bridgeport
The Pens take on Bridgeport in the second game of a home-and-home. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton defeated Bridgeport, 4-3, the last time the Sound Tigers visited Mohegan Sun Arena.
Ice Chips
– On Saturday, the Pittsburgh Penguins acquired right wing Danny Kristo from St. Louis in exchange for defenseman Reid McNeill. The three-time 20-goal scorer has reported directly to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
– The Penguins have the best goal differential in the AHL (+23) and allow the fewest goals per game (1.88).
– Cameron Gaunce leads all AHL defensemen with a +13 rating.
– Rookie Casey DeSmith’s .949 save percentage and 1.40 goals against average rank first among all AHL goaltenders.
– Carter Rowney has scored four of the Penguins’ past seven regular season overtime game-winning goals. Including playoffs, Rowney has the game-winner in five of the Pens’ past 10 overtime victories.
DIVISION STANDINGS
TEAM GP W L OTL SOL PTS Pt%
1. PENGUINS 16 12 3 1 0 25 .781
2. Lehigh Valley 15 10 4 1 0 21 .700
3. Bridgeport 15 10 5 0 0 20 .667
4. Hersey 16 8 4 3 1 20 .625
5. Springfield 16 7 5 2 2 18 .563
6. Providence 16 5 6 3 2 15 .469
7. Hartford 16 5 9 2 0 12 .375
TEAM LEADERS
SKATERS GP G A PTS
Jake Guentzel*^ 16 7 10 17
Oskar Sundqvist 15 6 8 14
Carter Rowney 16 5 8 13
Tom Kostopoulos 16 6 5 11
Garrett Wilson 16 3 7 10
GOALIES GP W-L-OT GAA Sv% Shutouts
Casey DeSmith* 5 5-0-0 1.40 0.949 0
Tristan Jarry 11 7-3-1 1.98 0.929 0
* = rookie
^ = currently with Pittsburgh
UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME
Wed, Nov. 23 Hershey Giant Center 7:00 p.m.
Fri, Nov. 25 Bridgeport Webster Bank Arena 7:00 p.m.
Sat, Nov. 26 Bridgeport Mohegan Sun Arena 7:05 p.m.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
Mon, Nov. 21 DEL (C) Jake Guentzel Recalled by PIT
Sat, Nov. 19 ADD (RW) Danny Kristo Loaned from PIT
Sat, Nov. 19 DEL (D) Reid McNeill Recalled by PIT
