PENGUINS WEEKLY – 10/25/16

Defense on display as Penguins win two of three over weekend

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (3-1-0-0) allows just three goals in last three games

Weekly Rewind

Friday, Oct. 21 – PENGUINS 0 vs. Springfield 1

The Penguins were handed their first loss of the season when they ran into the performance of Thunderbirds goalie Reto Berra. Berra stopped all 23 shots faced, including one as time expired.

Saturday, Oct. 22 – PENGUINS 3 vs. Syracuse 1

Kevin Porter scored two shorthanded goals 2:19 apart and later added an assist on the insurance marker, catapulting the Penguins to a victory over Syracuse. Casey DeSmith made 26 saves in his season debut.

Sunday, Oct. 23 – PENGUINS 2 at Hershey 1 (OT)

With the fate of the game on his stick, Dominik Simon converted on a penalty shot in sudden death overtime and gave the Penguins a 2-1 win over the Bears at Giant Center. The win snapped the 24-game streak in the Pens/Bears rivalry of the team that scores first going on to win the game.

The Week Ahead

Wednesday, Oct. 26 – PENGUINS vs. Albany

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton welcomes the undefeated Albany Devils to Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza for the first and only time in 2016-17. Last year, the Penguins downed the Devils in both of their two meetings.

Saturday, Oct. 29 – PENGUINS at Springfield

The Penguins look to avenge their shutout loss to the Thunderbirds when they travel to New England for the first time this season. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is 4-1-0-0 in its last five games at MassMutual Center.

Sunday, Oct. 30 – PENGUINS vs. Syracuse

A Sunday matinée between the Pens and Crunch serves as a second head-to-head in eight days. Game time is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. on Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s home ice.

Ice Chips

– Dominik Simon’s overtime penalty shot game-winner on Sunday was the first in team history.

– Kevin Porter was the first Penguin to score two shorthanded goals in the same game since Jonathan Filewich on Dec. 23, 2006.

– Casey DeSmith’s .963 save percentage ranks second among AHL rookie goaltenders.

– Wilkes-Barre/Scranton owns the Eastern Conference’s best goals against (5) and combined team save percentage (.953).

– Tim Erixon played in his 200^th AHL game on Saturday vs. Syracuse.

– Tom Kostopoulos is three points shy of reaching his 400^th point with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

DIVISION STANDINGS

TEAM                          GP       W         L        OTL     SOL      PTS         Pt%

1. Springfield               4          3          1          0           0          6            .750

2. PENGUINS            4          3          1          0          0           6            .750

3. Bridgeport              4           1          2          0          0          4           .500

4. Hartford                 4           1          2          0          0          4           .500

5. Lehigh Valley         3          1          1           1          0           3            .500

6. Hershey                 4           1          2           1          0          3            .333

7. Providence            5           1          3           1          0          3            .000

TEAM LEADERS

SKATERS                              GP        G        A         PTS

Jake Guentzel*                       4          2         3          5

Kevin Porter                           4          2         1           3

Carter Rowney                       4          1         2          3

four players tied                                                        2

GOALIES                  GP     W-L-OT-SO     GAA       Sv%       Shutouts

Casey DeSmith*        1          1-0-0-0         1.00       0.963           0

Tristan Jarry                 1          2-1-0-0          1.33        0.950           0

* = rookie

^ = currently with Pittsburgh

UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE

DATE                 OPPONENT      LOCATION                             TIME      

Fri, Oct. 26        Albany                  Mohegan Sun Arena          7:05 p.m.

Sat, Oct. 29       Springfield          MassMutual Center            7:05 p.m.

Sun, Oct. 30     Syracuse              Mohegan Sun Arena           3:05 p.m.

RECENT TRANSACTIONS

Sat, Oct. 22       ADD     (D) Ethan Prow           Reassigned from WHL

Fri, Oct. 21          DEL     (D) David Warsofsky               Recalled by PIT

Wed, Oct. 19     DEL      (D) Ethan Prow                Reassigned to WHL