PENGUINS WEEKLY – Mohegan Sun Arena is back to full capacity for a young, talented and deep Penguins squad
Weekly Preseason Rewind
The results of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins three preseason games were split right down the middle, as the Penguins amassed a 1-1-1-0 record during their exhibition slate. Though the results will not impact the league standings, the games were never short on excitement. All three preseason contests were decided by one goal. Third-year pro Jan Drozg paced the Penguins with three goals, but the real standout of the preseason was rookie Sam Houde. The 21-year-old racked up five assists in three exhibition games, all of which were primary assists. Houde’s performance kept him in the conversation to make the team amidst a crowded competition for roster spots. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s current opening-night roster projects to have nine rookies, including highly touted draft picks Sam Poulin, Nathan Légaré and Filip Hållander as well as 2021 NCAA National Champion Filip Lindberg.
Weekly Schedule Ahead
Saturday, Oct. 16 – PENGUINS vs. Lehigh Valley
The Penguins officially begin their 2021-22 regular season at home against their PA Turnpike Rival, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. This marks the third time that Wilkes-Barre/Scranton will play its home opener against Lehigh Valley, the last of which was a 6-4 win for the Penguins in 2015. Saturday’s game will feature a 6:05 p.m. puck drop.
Sunday, Oct. 17 – PENGUINS vs. Charlotte
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton quickly goes back to work after its season opener with another home game, a Sunday matinée against the returning Charlotte Checkers. Charlotte, now affiliated with the Florida Panthers and Seattle Kraken, opted out of the 2020-21 AHL season. The Checkers are also still technically the reigning Calder Cup Champions, having hoisted the AHL’s ultimate prize in 2019. Sunday’s meeting is the first Kids Free Sunday of the season, for which children ages 14 and under get can attend the game for free with the purchase of an adult ticket.
Ice Chips
– During Saturday’s season opener, AHL official Katie Guay will become the first woman to serve as a referee for an AHL game.
– Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is 11-10-1-0 all-time in its season openers and 11-9-2-0 in home openers.
– Penguins coaches J.D. Forrest and Kevin Porter were both given two-year contract extensions that run through 2023-24.
– Rookie Sam Poulin was drafted in the first round of the 2019 Draft by Pittsburgh. The last player taken in the first round by Pittsburgh to suit up for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton was Derrick Pouliot in April of 2017.
DIVISION ALIGNMENT 2020-21 RECORD Pts%
Bridgeport Islanders 8 – 14 – 2 – 0 .375
Charlotte Checkers did not play
Hartford Wolf Pack 14 – 9 – 1 – 0 .604
Hershey Bears 24 – 7 – 2 – 0 .758
Lehigh Valley Phantoms 18 – 7 – 4 – 2 .672
Providence Bruins 15 – 6 – 2 – 2 .680
Springfield Thunderbirds did not play
W-B/SCRANTON PENGUINS 13 – 13 – 4 – 2 .500
ROOKIES Pos Age Drafted
Filip Hållander LW 21 2nd round (58), 2018
Sam Houde C 21 5th round (133), 2018
Nathan Légaré RW 20 3rd round (74), 2019
Filip Lindberg G 22 7th round (197), 2019
Tommy Nappier G 23 n/a
Kyle Olson RW 22 4th round (122), 2017
Chris Ortiz D 20 n/a
Sam Poulin LW 20 1st round (21), 2019
Valtteri Puustinen RW 22 7th round (203), 2019
GOALIES Pro Stats: GP W-L-OT GAA SV% Shutouts
Alex D’Orio 54 20-25-4 3.10 .895 1
Louis Domingue 286 126-112-20 2.92 .905 12
Filip Lindberg 0 – – – –
Tommy Nappier 10 3-7-0 2.94 .896 0
UPCOMING WEEKLY GAME SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME
Sat, Oct. 16 Lehigh Valley Mohegan Sun Arena 6:05 p.m.
Sun, Oct. 17 Charlotte Mohegan Sun Arena 3:05 p.m.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
Mon, Oct. 11 (C) Radim Zohorna Reassigned from PIT
Tue, Oct. 12 (RW) Anthony Angello Recalled by PIT
Tue, Oct. 12 (LW) Drew O’Connor Recalled by PIT
Wed, Oct. 13 (D) Pierre-Olivier Joseph Recalled by PIT
Wed, Oct. 13 (RW) Anthony Angello Reassigned from PIT
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