Penguins trek to the Midwest for the first time in 10 years
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (32-16-4-1) hasn’t been to Grand Rapids since 2008, Milwaukee since 2004
Weekly Rewind
Friday, Feb. 23 – PENGUINS 6 vs. Rockford 3
The Penguins were victorious in their first meeting with the IceHogs in franchise history. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton erupted for three tallies in the first period, and six different players recorded goals throughout the game.
Saturday, Feb. 24 – PENGUINS 1 at Syracuse 3
Special teams did not go the Penguins’ way as they dropped their fourth and final contest against the Crunch this season. Freddie Tiffels scored five minutes into the game, but Syracuse used shorthanded and power play goals to earn the win.
Sunday, Feb. 25 – PENGUINS 3 vs. Hershey 2
Rookie Adam Johnson shined bright, notching two of the Pens’ three goals. The home team scored once in every period to knock off Hershey and improve to 7-0-1-1 against its I-81 rival this season.
The Week Ahead
Friday, Mar. 2 – PENGUINS at Grand Rapids
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton will take on Grand Rapids for the first time this season in the Penguins first visit to Van Andel Arena in a decade. Both teams own second place in their divisions.
Saturday, Mar. 3 – PENGUINS at Rockford
The Penguins face the IceHogs for their second meeting in eight days. Rockford owns the worst penalty kill in the league (75.8%), which Wilkes-Barre/Scranton victimized once on its only power play in their last clash.
Sunday, Mar. 4 – PENGUINS at Milwaukee
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton will close out their road trip by taking on the Admirals for the second and final time this season. In their previous contest, Garrett Wilson led the Penguins with a hat trick, but Jean-Sébastien Dea closed out the 5-4 overtime victory.
Ice Chips
– Friday’s contest marked Tom Kostopoulos’ 700th AHL game.
– The Penguins are undefeated against Central Division teams so far this season (2-0-0-0). They have defeated Rockford and Milwaukee, two of the three teams they will take on in their upcoming road trip.
– With two assists on Sunday, Daniel Sprong recorded his team-leading 12th multi-point game this season.
– At Monday’s NHL trade deadline, Pittsburgh dealt Greg McKegg in exchange for Josh Jooris, who was then assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Jooris has skated in 31 NHL games this season and has also accumulated three points in five AHL games.
DIVISION STANDINGS
TEAM
GP
W
L
OTL
SOL
PTS
Pt%
1. Lehigh Valley
57
35
15
3
4
77
.675
2. PENGUINS
53
32
16
4
1
69
.651
3. Providence
55
32
18
3
2
69
.627
4. Charlotte
57
31
23
0
3
65
.570
5. Bridgeport
55
25
22
5
3
58
.527
6. Hartford
58
26
25
4
3
59
.509
7. Hershey
57
23
26
4
4
54
.474
8. Springfield
56
25
28
2
1
53
.473
TEAM LEADERS
SKATERS
GP
G
A
PTS
Daniel Sprong*
43
21
23
44
Jean-Sébastien Dea
48
12
20
32
Ryan Haggerty
33
16
15
31
Zach Aston-Reese*^
41
9
20
29
Teddy Blueger
48
12
16
28
GOALIES
GP
W-L-OT
GAA
SV%
Shutouts
Casey DeSmith^
27
16-8-3
2.73
.910
2
Anthony Peters
15
7-4-2
2.85
.901
1
* = rookie
^ = currently with Pittsburgh
UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME
Fri, Mar. 2 Grand Rapids Van Andel Arena 7:00 p.m.
Sat, Mar. 3 Rockford BMO Harris Bank Center 7:00 p.m.
Sun, Mar. 4 Milwaukee UW-Milwaukee Panther 6:00 p.m.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
Mon, Feb. 26 (RW) Josh Jooris Traded by CAR to PIT; Assigned to WBS
Mon, Feb. 26 (LW) Greg McKegg Traded by PIT to CAR
Mon, Feb. 26 (C) Dominik Simon Reassigned from PIT
Mon, Feb. 26 (G) Tristan Jarry Reassigned from PIT
Mon, Feb. 26 (RW) Zach Aston-Reese Recalled by PIT
Mon, Feb. 26 (RW) Zach Aston-Reese Reassigned from PIT
