PENGUINS WEEKLY – 10/8/24

Penguins prepare for “Pentoberfest” season opener on Saturday

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton takes on Charlotte at home, then rides the bus to Springfield for Sunday matinée

Preseason Rewind

Oct. 1–Oct. 6  (3-0-1-0)
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins opened their preseason with a decisive, 6-1 win over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms at PPL Center. Two days later, the Penguins climbed out of a two-goal hole and survived the Hershey Bears in a shootout, 4-3. That victory improved the team to 3-0-0-0 all-time in its ‘Learn With Hockey’ School & STEM day game. However, Hershey got payback by beating Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at Giant Center in overtime, 4-3. The Penguins closed out their exhibition slate with another dominant showing against the Phantoms, winning 5-1 on Sunday at home. Rookie Sergei Murashov started the first three preseason games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, going 2-0-1 and stopping 53 of the 61 shots he faced. Logan Pietila led the team with five points (1G-4A) in three games, and he scored the shootout winner in Thursday morning’s win.

The Week Ahead

Saturday, Oct. 12 – PENGUINS vs. Charlotte
The Penguins open their 2024-25 campaign on home ice, hosting the Charlotte Checkers. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton finished last season two points better than Charlotte, but the teams split their eight-game season series at four wins apiece. The Penguins are 13-9-3-0 (.580) all-time in home openers. Saturday will also feature a pregame “Pentoberfest” celebration. Starting at 3:00 p.m., there will be DJs, concessions and family activities outside of Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza.

Sunday, Oct. 13 – PENGUINS at Springfield
It’s a quick turnaround from the opener to the Penguins’ first road game, as they take on the Thunderbirds at 3:05 p.m. Springfield brings back its captain, Matthew Peca, for a fourth season. Peca missed the last two months of last season with an injury, but he has amassed 17 points (7G-10A) in 15 regular-season and playoff games against the Pens since joining the T-Birds in 2021.

Ice Chips

– Saturday will mark Kirk MacDonald’s first regular-season game as head coach of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

– Logan Pietila’s five points were the most points by a Penguin in a single preseason since defenseman Tim Erixon had five points (1G-4A) in 2017.

– Defenseman Filip Král will be the first player in Penguins history to wear No. 82 in the regular season.

2023-24 DIVISION STANDINGS

UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE

DATE                    OPPONENT          LOCATION                         TIME        

Sat, Oct. 12          Charlotte              Mohegan Arena               6:05 p.m.

Sun, Oct. 13         Springfield           MassMutual Center        3:05 p.m.

RECENT TRANSACTIONS

DATE                 PLAYER                                                       TRANSACTION

Mon, Oct. 7      (D) Sebastian Aho                                           Assigned by PIT

Mon, Oct. 7      (LW) Boko Imama                                          Assigned by PIT

Sun, Oct. 6       (LW) Jack Beck                                            Assigned to WHL

Sun, Oct. 6       (C) Atley Calvert                                           Assigned to WHL

Sun, Oct. 6       (RW) Mathieu De St. Phalle                      Assigned to WHL

Sun, Oct. 6       (C) Kyle Jackson                                           Assigned to WHL

Sun, Oct. 6       (C) Gabe Klassen                                          Assigned to WHL

Sun, Oct. 6       (D) Mats Lindgren                                       Assigned to WHL

Sun, Oct. 6       (LW) Bennett MacArthur          Reassigned by PIT to WHL