PENGUINS WEEKLY – 1/4/22

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to start 2022 with three-in-three on the road

PENGUINS WEEKLY – Penguins (9-12-1-2) kick off the New Year with first showdown against the Comets

Penguins Weekly Rewind

Wednesday, Dec. 29 – PENGUINS 1 at Hershey 6
Jan Drozg unleashed a laser beam for his first goal of the year to put Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on the board in the final minute of the second period. However, it was the only time the Penguins lit the lamp, as Hershey rattled off four-straight goals in the middle frame and two insurance markers in the third.

The Weekly Ahead

Friday, Jan. 7 – PENGUINS at Utica
The Penguins will do battle against the Utica Comets for the first time this season. Utica currently owns the league’s best record, 18-1-3-0, but three of its losses on the season have come in its last five games. Since the Comets returned to the AHL’s Eastern Conference in 2015-16, 10 of the last 12 games between Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Utica have been decided by one goal, with six of those contests requiring overtime.

Saturday, Jan. 8 – PENGUINS at Hershey
The Penguins and Bears continue their rivalry series from December early in the New Year. Ryan Dmowski finally had his five-game goal streak snapped on Sunday, but the PTO forward still has amassed nine points (6G-3A) in his last six games.

Sunday, Jan. 9 – PENGUINS at Hershey
Once again, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Hershey go head-to-head. Sunday’s 5:00 p.m. puck drop will mark the seventh clash of the season between these two rivals. It will also be the seventh time in 10 games that the Bears will serve as the Penguins’ opponent.

Ice Chips

– Jan Drozg has four points (1G-3A) in his last five games.

– By assisting on Jan Drozg’s goal on Wednesday, Matt Alfaro notched his first career AHL point.

– Sam Poulin recorded a career-high 5 shots on goal Wednesday.

– Chris Bigras’ next game will be his 300^th pro game.

– On Sunday, Kasper Björkqvist made his NHL debut, becoming the 166^th player to suit up for both Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Pittsburgh. Björkqvist also scored his first NHL goal in Pittsburgh’s 8-5 win over the San Jose Sharks.

DIVISION STANDINGS

TEAM                      GP       W         L       OTL     SOL     PTS     Pts%

1. Springfield          28        17         8         2           1          37       .661

2. Hartford              26        14        8          2          2          32       .615

3. Hershey              27        15         9          2          1          33        .611

4. Providence         25        13         8         3          1          30       .600

5. Charlotte            27        14         11          2         0         30       .556

6. Lehigh Valley     26         9         11          4         2          24        .462

7. PENGUINS        24         9         12          1          2          21        .438

8. Bridgeport         32        10        16          3          3         26       .406

TEAM LEADERS

SKATERS                       GP        G         A       PTS

Valtteri Puustinen        24         7         9          16

Jordy Bellerive               22        3          9          12

Félix Robert                   20        6          5          11

Pierre-Olivier Joseph    16         3          8         11

Radim Zohorna             21          4          5          9

GOALIES                       GP     W-L-OT     GAA       SV%    Shutouts

Matt Jurusik*^x                 2          1-1-0        2.00      .926            1

Louis Domingue^          9         3-3-2       2.54       .922            0

Filip Lindberg*                7        4-2-0        2.76       .915            0

* = rookie
^ = currently with Pittsburgh
^X = currently in ECHL

UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE

DATE                OPPONENT      LOCATION                                   TIME      

Fri, Jan. 7           Utica                   Adirondack Bank Center            7:00 p.m.

Sat, Jan. 8         Hershey             Giant Center                                 7:00 p.m.

Sun, Jan. 9        Hershey             Giant Center                                 7:00 p.m.

RECENT TRANSACTIONS

Thu, Dec. 30   (G) Tommy Nappier                       Reassigned to WHL

Thu, Dec. 30   (D) Josh Maniscalco          Reassigned by PIT to WHL

Thu, Dec. 30   (LW) Justin Almeida         Reassigned by PIT to WHL

Thu, Dec. 30   (C) Patrick Watling                         Released from PTO

Thu, Dec. 30   (C) Matt Alfaro                                Released from PTO

Thu, Dec. 30   (D) Adam Smith                              Released from PTO

Thu, Dec. 30    (D) Matt Foley                                Released from PTO

Fri, Dec. 31      (C) Radim Zohorna                                 Recalled by PIT

Fri, Dec. 31      (RW) Anthony Angello                          Recalled by PIT

Mon, Jan. 3     (D) P.O Joseph                                    Reassigned by PIT

Tue, Jan. 4       (G) Tommy Nappier                        Recalled from WHL

Tue, Jan. 4       (RW) Anthony Angello                      Reassigned by PIT

PENGUINS WEEKLY RECAP – Individual game tickets and season-ticket packages for the 2021-22 season are on sale now. Full-Season, 22-game, 12-game, Flexbook and Premium Seating plans are available by reaching out to the Penguins directly at (570) 208-7367.