PENGUINS WEEKLY – 1/23/24

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton continues to engage in down-to-the-wire games

WEEKLY – Divisional matchups, state rivalries await the Penguins (21-14-5-0) this week

Penguins Weekly Rewind

Wednesday, Jan. 17 – PENGUINS 2 vs. Providence 3
A 32-shot effort from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton went by the wayside as the Bruins converted on three of their 18 bids. Jesse Puljujärvi scored for the second-straight game, and Ty Smith tacked on a goal for his team-leading 26^th point of the season.

Saturday, Jan. 20 – PENGUINS 0 at Hershey 1
A five-on-three, power-play goal by Ethen Frank was the difference in a duel between the Atlantic’s two All-Star goalies. Joel Blomqvist made 19 saves for the Penguins, while Clay Stevenson turned away 28 shots for his AHL-leading sixth shutout.

Sunday, Jan. 21 – PENGUINS 2 vs. Springfield 1
The Penguins saw Owen Headrick’s first career AHL goal and multi-point performances from Vinnie Hinostroza (1G-1A) and Alex Nylander (2A) catapult them to a narrow win over the Thunderbirds. WBS wraps its six-game season series against Springfield with a commanding 5-0-1-0 record.

The Weekly Ahead

Wednesday, Jan. 24 – PENGUINS vs. Hartford
The Wolf Pack are nipping at the heels of the Penguins in the Atlantic Division standings, trailing the Black and Gold by two points with five games at hand. The home team has won every game in the season series thus far, outscoring the visitors 11-3.

Friday, Jan. 26 – PENGUINS at Lehigh Valley
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton will make its first of six visits to Allentown this season to try and avenge an overtime loss to the Phantoms on Jan. 6.

Saturday, Jan. 27 – PENGUINS vs. Hershey
The Penguins and Bears will do battle for the ninth time this season. Saturday is also the Penguins’ Crosscheck Cancer Night presented by Geisinger. Fans in attendance will also receive a Joel Blomqvist 2024 All-Star Poster courtesy of the Times Leader.

Ice Chips

– All nine of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s games in the New Year have been decided by one goal (5-2-2-0), a franchise record for consecutive one-goal games.

– Joel Blomqvist ranks second in the league in goals against average (2.14) and fifth in save percentage (.921).

– The Penguins’ penalty kill has killed all but two of 27 opposing power plays (92.6%) in the New Year.

– The Penguins’ penalty kill ranks second overall in the AHL at 85.5%.

– With a pair of assists on Sunday, Alex Nylander reached 200 career AHL points.

DIVISION STANDINGS

TEAM LEADERS

* = rookie
X = not on current roster

UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE

DATE                  OPPONENT       LOCATION                             TIME      

Wed, Jan. 24      Hartford             Mohegan Sun Arena            7:05 p.m.

Fri, Jan. 26          Lehigh Valley     PPL Center                            7:05 p.m.

Sat, Jan. 27         Hershey              Mohegan Sun Arena           6:05 p.m.

RECENT TRANSACTIONS

Wed, Jan. 17   (LW) Jordan Frasca                    Reassigned by PIT to WHL

Thu, Jan. 18    (LW) Jordan Frasca                Reassigned by PIT from WHL

Fri, Jan. 19      (LW) Dillon Hamaliuk            Reassigned by PIT from WHL

Mon, Jan. 22   (LW) Jordan Frasca                     Reassigned by PIT to WHL