PENGUINS WEEKLY – 3/17/26

Penguins can clinch playoff berth in Canada this week

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (37-15-6-2) snapped its losing skid, magic number cut to one

Weekly Rewind

Friday, Mar. 13 – PENGUINS 2 vs. Hershey 4
A five-minute lapse in the second period allowed the Bears to seize a 3-0 lead. The Penguins turned up the heat in the third, nearly staging an electrifying comeback. However, a tying tally never arrived after goals by Aidan McDonough and Rafaël Harvey-Pinard inspired hope.

Saturday, Mar. 14 – PENGUINS 3 vs. Lehigh Valley 4 (OT)
Lehigh Valley pulled off a stunning rally, erasing the Penguins’ 3-1 lead in the last 5:13 of regulation, then winning the game on a power-play in overtime. Both Joona Koppanen and Tanner Howe had two-point games relegated from the headlines as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton dropped its fifth game in a row.

Sunday, Mar. 15 – PENGUINS 3 at Lehigh Valley 1
The Penguins found redemption by clapping back against the Phantoms fewer than 24 hours later. Rutger McGroarty, Gabe Klassen and Owen Pickering all found the net for the Black and Gold to improve to 7-0-1-1 in its season series with Lehigh Valley.

The Week Ahead

Wednesday, Mar. 18 – PENGUINS at Laval
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton kicks off its week-long road trip to Canada by taking on the top dogs in the North Division. The Rocket have held first place in the North for 11-straight weeks, and the Penguins have not won at Place Bell since Jan. 13, 2018.

Friday, Mar. 20 – PENGUINS at Belleville
The Sens defeated the Pens in OT on Jan. 21 but have only won six of their 18 games since then (6-10-2-0). Senators rookie D-man Carter Yakemchuk was just named AHL Player of the Week.

Sunday, Mar. 22 – PENGUINS at Toronto
The Penguins wrap their visit to the Great White North with a Sunday matinée in The Six. The Marlies also defeated the Pens in OT earlier this season on Nov. 5, coming back from down 3-0.

Ice Chips

– Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s magic number to clinch a playoff berth is one.

– The Penguins have a 12-game point streak on the road, going 10-0-2-0 (.917) since Jan. 14.

– Since the start of February, the Penguins are 13-for-55 on the power play, good for a 23.6% conversion rate.

– Sergei Murashov ranks fourth overall in goals against average (2.14) and save percentage (.921). He leads all rookie goalies in both categories, as well.

– Of Rutger McGroarty’s 24 points on the season, 17 (4G-13A) have come on the road.

DIVISION STANDINGS

TEAM LEADERS

UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE

DATE                  OPPONENT         LOCATION                                    TIME        

Wed, Mar. 18    Laval                     Place Bell                                    7:00 p.m.

Fri, Mar. 13        Belleville              CAA Arena                                   7:00 p.m.

Sun, Mar. 15     Toronto                 Coca-Cola Coliseum                  4:00 p.m.

RECENT TRANSACTIONS

DATE                   PLAYER                                                       TRANSACTION

Thu, Mar. 12      (D) Ryan Graves                        Conditioning loan from PIT

Thu, Mar. 12      (D) Alex Alexeyev                                           Recalled to PIT

Fri, Mar. 13        (LW) Blake Bennett                     Traded to WBS from CGY

Fri, Mar. 13        (D) Alex Alexeyev                                     Reassigned by PIT

Sun, Mar. 15      (D) Alex Alexeyev                                           Recalled to PIT

Sun, Mar. 15      (LW) Blake Bennett                               Reassigned to WHL

Mon, Mar. 16    (D) Jack St. Ivany                                           Recalled to PIT

Mon, Mar. 16    (D) Alex Alexeyev                                     Reassigned by PIT

Mon, Mar. 16    (D) Emil Pieniniemi              Reassigned by PIT from WHL