PENGUINS WEEKLY – 12/13/16

Sundqvist, Guentzel headline first-place Penguins through weekend

Big performances put Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (16-5-3-0) atop the entire AHL

Weekly Rewind

Friday, Dec. 9 – PENGUINS 2 vs. Hershey 5
In his return to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Jake Guentzel recorded a goal and an assist in the Penguins’ 5-2 loss to Hershey. Vítek Vaněček made 26 saves for the Bears.

Saturday, Dec. 10 – PENGUINS 6 vs. Hershey 2
The Pens bounced back to dominate the Bears, 6-2, led by the four-goal performance by Oskar Sundqvist. Sundqvist’s four tallies tied Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s franchise record for goals in a game. Guentzel posted a goal and an assist, as well.

Sunday, Dec. 11 – PENGUINS 4 at Bridgeport 1
For the second-straight game, the Penguins came back from an early deficit to go on an offensive tear as they defeated the Sound Tigers for the fourth time this season. Teddy Blueger scored his first career goal, Stuart Percy potted his first goal as a Penguin, and Guentzel put forth another one-goal, one-assist game.

The Week Ahead

Wednesday, Dec. 14 – PENGUINS at Hartford
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton takes on the division’s last-place team, the Hartford Wolf Pack. The Pens have beaten the Pack twice this season, outscoring Hartford 9-2 in those two contests.

Friday, Dec. 16 – PENGUINS vs. Rochester
The Rochester Americans make their only trip to Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza this season, and they come in riding a 2-9-0-1 skid in their last 12 games.

Saturday, Dec. 17 – PENGUINS vs. Springfield
If any team has had the Penguins’ number this season, it’s been the Thunderbirds. Springfield is 2-0-0-0 against the Pens this season, but has only two regulation wins against teams over .500 since the end of October.

Ice Chips

– This is the second-consecutive season that the Penguins occupy the No. 1 spot in the AHL during the second week in December.

– Oskar Sundqvist became the third Wilkes-Barre/Scranton player in team history to record a four-goal game, joining Erik Christensen (Oct. 5, 2005 vs. Bridgeport) and Jean-François Jacques (Feb. 16, 2007 vs. Binghamton).

– Jake Guentzel has 10 points (4G-6A) in his last five AHL games and leads all league rookies with 23 points overall (10G-13A).

– David Warsofsky is currently riding a five-game point streak, tying a career-best.

– Warsofsky’s three-point game on Sunday (1G-2A) tied a career high set on Dec. 6, 2013 vs. Manchester.

– All three of Warsofsky’s goals this season are power play goals.

– Tom Sestito’s next game will be his 300^th in the AHL.

DIVISION STANDINGS

TEAM                        GP       W         L        OTL     SOL     PTS         Pt%

1. PENGUINS           24       16         5          3          0         35          .729

2. Lehigh Valley       25         17         7          1          0         35          .700

3. Hershey                25         15         5          4          1         35          .700

4. Bridgeport            24        16         8          0          0        32         .667

5. Providence           25         12         6          4          3        31          .620

6. Springfield           24         10         9          3          2        25          .521

7. Hartford               24          7         13          3           1         18          .375

TEAM LEADERS

SKATERS                     GP        G         A        PTS

Jake Guentzel*             19        10        13        23

Oskar Sundqvist          22        11        10        21

Tom Kostopoulos        24         7        10        17

Kevin Porter                 22         5          9         14

Garrett Wilson             24         3         11         14

GOALIES                  GP     W-L-OT      GAA        Sv%      Shutouts

Casey DeSmith*      8         6-0-2        1.84        0.929            0

Tristan Jarry              16        10-5-1        2.12         0.921             1

* = rookie

UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE

DATE                  OPPONENT     LOCATION                         TIME      

Wed, Dec. 14     Hartford             XL Center                           7:00 p.m.

Fri, Dec. 16         Rochester           Mohegan Sun Arena        7:05 p.m.

Sat, Dec. 17        Springfield         Mohegan Sun Arena        7:05 p.m.

RECENT TRANSACTIONS

Wed, Dec. 7  (LW)  Jake Guentzel          Reassigned on loan by PIT

Wed, Dec. 7  (D)     Derrick Pouliot        Reassigned on loan by PIT

Wed, Dec. 7  (C)     Teddy Blueger             Assigned on loan by PIT