PENGUINS WEEKLY – 11/28/23

Blomqvist heating up as Pens return home from five-game road trip

WEEKLY – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (9-7-2-0) sits 5th in Atlantic Division at the season’s quarter mark

Penguins Weekly Rewind

Wednesday, Nov. 22 – PENGUINS 1 at Hershey 2
Joel Blomqvist turned in a dazzling, 30-save effort, but the Bears pulled out the win in a nailbiter. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s only goal came from Rem Pitlick midway through the first period.

Friday, Nov. 24 – PENGUINS 3 at Charlotte 6
A third-period charge gave the Penguins life, but the comeback bid proved to be too little, too late. Down 3-0 entering the final frame, Jonathan Gruden and Cédric Desruisseaux scored quickly to pull the Black & Gold within one. Charlotte rebuilt a multi-goal lead before Ty Smith tallied again for the Pens.

Saturday, Nov. 25 – PENGUINS 4 at Charlotte 1
The Penguins corrected course by scoring early and often in their rematch with the Checkers. Valtteri Puustinen, Joona Koppanen and Raivis Ansons all scored in the first period, followed by Gruden notching a power-play goal in the second. Blomqvist clamped down with a career-best 44 saves.

The Week Ahead

Wednesday, Nov. 29 – PENGUINS vs. Hershey
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Hershey go head-to-head for the sixth time this season and for the fourth time this month. The Bears lead the season series three wins to two, but the Penguins are 2-0-1-0 at home. Children ages 14 and under will receive a free $5 ride book from Knoebels Amusement Park for the upcoming 2024 season.

Friday, Dec. 1 – PENGUINS at Springfield
The first game of a home-and-home puts the Penguins in the Thunderdome for the first time this season. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton defeated Springfield, 3-1, back on Oct. 21.

Saturday, Dec. 2 – PENGUINS vs. Springfield
Quick turnaround as both teams trek from New England to NEPA for their rematch. The T-Birds have a lethal offense, one that boasts Adam Gaudette’s league-leading 13 goals.

Ice Chips

• Joel Blomqvist ranks third among rookie goalies in goals against average (2.04) and fourth in save percentage (.926). He’s one of two rookie netminders to have six wins on the year.
• Blomqvist became the 11^th goalie in Penguins history to achieve 44+ saves in a game, the first since Casey DeSmith posted 45 stops on Mar. 26, 2017.
• Jonathan Gruden’s goal 18 seconds into the third period on Saturday was the fastest goal to start a period by the Penguins this season.
• Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has had a different game-winning goal-scorer in each of its nine victories this season.

DIVISION STANDINGS

TEAM LEADERS

* = rookie
X = not on current roster

UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE