PENGUINS WEEKLY – 1/8/19

Penguins set for showdown with league-leading Checkers

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (18-15-4-1) looks to start another winning streak against the AHL’s best

Weekly Rewind

Friday, January 4 – PENGUINS 3 vs. Grand Rapids 2
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton fought hard to win their first game of 2019, which ended in a shootout against the Grand Rapids Griffins. Ryan Haggerty tallied twice in regulation, while Joseph Cramarossa buried the game-winning goal in the third round of the shootout. Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry had 28 saves in regulation and overtime, then followed that up by going three-for-three on stops in the shootout.

Saturday, January 5 – PENGUINS 3 vs. Milwaukee 5
The Penguins fell to the Admirals despite nearly staging a comeback in the third period. Anthony Angello gave Wilkes-Barre/Scranton the lead with a first period power play goal, but Milwaukee got the edge by notching three goals in the second stanza. Jean-Sébastien Dea and Teddy Blueger quickly lit the lamp in the third, but the Penguins were unable to pull even with the Admirals.

The Week Ahead

Friday, Jan. 11 – PENGUINS at Charlotte
The Penguins embark on a two-game road trip against the Checkers, who currently hold the best record in the AHL (27-8-3-0). Wilkes-Barre/Scranton hosted Charlotte at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza twice earlier this season, but narrowly lost both games by thin, one-goal margins. Charlotte All-Star selection Trevor Carrick recorded five points, all assists, during the two previous games against the Penguins.

Saturday, Jan. 12 – PENGUINS at Charlotte
The Penguins continue their back-to-back set against the league’s top team, which also happens to be tied for the most goals in the AHL this season (133). Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is 5-1-0-0 all-time at Bojangles’ Coliseum in the regular season, with Charlotte snapping its five-game skid at home against the black and gold in the Penguins’ last visit on Mar. 14, 2018.

Ice Chips

– Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has won six-straight times in their first game of a New Year.

– Sam Lafferty is tied for the second-most assists amongst league rookies (19).

– Teddy Blueger has six goals and seven points in his last six games.

– Chad Ruhwedel recorded five points (1G-4A) during his five-game conditioning stint with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

– Anthony Angello is tied for the league’s best plus/minus rating amongst rookie forwards (+15).

– Kevin Czuczman played in his 300^th AHL game on Saturday, Jan. 5 vs. Milwaukee.

DIVISION STANDINGS

1. Charlotte Checkers (27-8-3-0, 57 PTS)

2. Bridgeport Sound Tigers (21-11-4-2, 48 PTS)

3. Lehigh Valley Phantoms (20-12-1-2, 43 PTS)

4. W-B/Scranton Penguins (18-15-4-1, 41 PTS)

5. Springfield Thunderbirds (16-12-5-3, 40 PTS)

6. Hartford Wolf Pack (17-16-2-2, 38 PTS)

7. Providence Bruins (16-16-5-0, 37 PTS)

8. Hershey Bears (15-19-0-2, 32 PTS)

TEAM LEADERS

Skaters
Teddy Blueger… 38 GP: 16 goals + 13 assists = 29 points

Sam Lafferty*…  38 GP: 5 goals + 19 assists = 24 points

Ethan Prow… 37 GP: 10 goals + 13 assists = 23 points

Adam Johnson… 38 GP: 9 goals + 10 assists = 19 points

three players tied… 18 points

Goalies
Tristan Jarry…  19 GP: 10-6-3  / 2.80 GAA  /  .910 sv%

Anthony Peters…  16 GP: 6-7-2  / 3.19 GAA  /  .892 sv%   /  1 shutout

* = rookie

UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE

DATE                 OPPONENT       LOCATION                       TIME      

Fri, Jan. 11          Charlotte            Bojangles’ Coliseum        7:00 p.m.

Sat, Jan. 12       Charlotte            Bojangles’ Coliseum          6:00 p.m.

RECENT TRANSACTIONS

Sun, Jan. 6         (D) Chad Ruhwedel                        Recalled by PIT