Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (0-0-1-0) looks for first win against Hershey, Syracuse
Weekly Rewind
Monday, Feb. 8 – PENGUINS 3 vs. Binghamton 4 (OT)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton kicked off its first game of the new season with an exciting, back-and-forth contest, but one in which the team ultimately fell short in overtime. Jordy Bellerive scored the Penguins’ first goal of the season late in the first period. Later, new captain Josh Currie and Justin Almeida tallied a pair of power-play goals in the middle frame, the latter of which was a rare empty-net own goal by the Devils. Binghamton rallied to erase a two-goal deficit in the third period and then won the game at 1:49 of OT. Despite the overtime loss, goaltender Emil Larmi turned in a shining performance, tying his AHL career high with 30 saves.
The Week Ahead
Thursday, Feb. 11 – PENGUINS vs. Hershey
The Penguins hope to earn their first win of the season by knocking off their bitter rival, the Hershey Bears. Hershey also lost its first game of the season in OT, falling 2-1 at the hands of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. The Bears have brought back a number of stars from last year, including Matt Moulson, who scored five power-play goals against the Penguins in 2019-20. The Penguins are an impressive 27-11-0-3 at home against the Bears over the past seven seasons.
Saturday, Feb. 13 – PENGUINS at Syracuse
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s first road game of the season takes place in upstate New York, when they challenge the Syracuse Crunch at Upstate Medical University Arena. The Crunch are off to a hot start this season, putting six goals on the board in their season debut: a 6-1 triumph over the Utica Comets. First-year pro Gabriel Fortier scored twice in Syracuse’s season opener, already tying him for the league lead among rookies despite playing in only one game. The Penguins and Crunch split their season series last year at one win apiece.
Ice Chips
– Cam Lee recorded two assists in the Penguins’ first game. The last Penguins rookie defenseman to record multiple points in his AHL debut was Ben Blais (2A, Jan. 10, 2004).
– Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s successfully killed all three of its opponent’s power plays on Monday, this after going a perfect nine-for-nine on the P.K. during the preseason.
– Dating back to last season, Jordy Bellerive has 10 goals in his last 19 games.
– Both of Justin Almeida’s AHL goals have come against the Binghamton Devils.
– Tim Schaller is the first player to wear number 59 for the Penguins since Róbert Döme in the team’s inaugural season (1999-2000).
DIVISION STANDINGS
TEAM GP W L OTL SOL PTS Pts%
1. Syracuse 1 1 0 0 0 2 1.00
2. Binghamton 1 1 0 0 0 2 1.00
3. Lehigh Valley 1 1 0 0 0 2 1.00
4. Utica 2 1 1 0 0 2 .500
5. PENGUINS 1 0 0 1 0 1 .500
6. Hershey 1 0 0 1 0 1 .500
7. Rochester 1 0 1 0 0 0 .000
TEAM LEADERS
SKATERS GP G A PTS
Cam Lee* 1 0 2 2
Justin Almeida* 1 1 0 1
Jordy Bellerive 1 1 0 1
Josh Currie 1 1 0 1
Jordan Nolan 1 0 1 1
Nick Schilkey 1 0 1 1
GOALIES GP W-L-OT GAA SV% Shutouts
Emil Larmi 1 0-0-1 3.88 .882 0
* = rookie
UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME
Thu, Feb. 11 Hershey Mohegan Sun Arena 7:05 p.m.
Say, Feb. 13 Syracuse Upstate Medical Arena 7:05 p.m.
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