WILKES-BARRE, PA - Bear season might still be a few weeks away in Pennsylvania, but the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins got a little early jump on the hunt with a 6-4 win against Hershey on Friday night at the Wachovia Arena.Luca Caputi led the Penguins attack with a two goal, one assist night, while Wyatt Smith chipped in with three assists in the contest. Ben Lovejoy, making his first appearance of the season, picked up the game-winning goal with his third period tally.
Ryan Bayda extended his goal streak to three games with a score in the win against Hershey. View Game Photos Here.
The Pens finished off their season series with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers the following evening, dropping a 2-1 overtime decision at the Arena at Harbor Yard.
Mark Letestu notched the only Penguins goal, while netminder Brad Thiessen turned aside 27 of 29 shots he faced in his professional debut.
The Penguins hit the road this week with a swing through Canada. They'll take on the Manitoba Moose on Thursday and Friday at 8:30pm both nights, and will face off with the Toronto Marlies at 4:00pm on Sunday.
The Pens' next home game will be
November 8, when the Norfolk Admirals sail into town.
THURSDAY & FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29 & 30, 8:30 PM: PENGUINS at Moose
Injuries on the Vancouver Canucks squad have prompted many recent recalls from Manitoba. But the Penguins will still have a tough battle to face as they visit Winnipeg for a pair of contests for the first time in nearly three years. Former Houston Aeros center Marco Rosa paces the Moose with eight points (3+5), and veteran captain, 42-year-old Mike Keane is showing he still has the touch, tallying four goals on the season.
The Moose have already played a league-high 12 games, while the Penguins have just seven in the books, a league low.
The Penguins hit the road with the league's best power play percentage (42.9%), converting three times on seven chances.
The last time the two teams met, former Penguin Marc-Antoine Pouliot posted three assists, and Jonathan Filewich netted the game winner, as the Penguins defeated the Moose 4-2 on January 24, 2007 at Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 4:00 PM: PENGUINS at Marlies
The Penguins will conclude their Canada trip in Toronto with their first of two matchups against the Marlies on November 1st. Since the Marlies became the AHL affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Penguins have only defeated them once at Ricoh Coliseum. Former Penguin Stephen Dixon scored the game-winner in a 3-2 Penguins victory on October 28, 2006.
Last season, defenseman Ben Lovejoy tallied shorthanded against the Marlies' Justin Pogge, but the Penguins couldn't get the equalizer as the Marlies went on to a 3-2 win.
The teams will meet at Wachovia Arena on December 19th.
CURRY REACHES MILESTONE.
After backstopping the Penguins to a 4-3 shootout win over Syracuse on October 17th, goaltender John Curry earned his 60th franchise win as a member of the Penguins. The Shorewood, MN native's overall record now stands at 61-29-4 through 96 regular-season games.
ONE-ON-ONE WITH CURRY.
John Curry's shootout win on October 17th also improved his record to 9-4 overall, including a 6-1 record dating back to the start of last season.
ON THE MARK.
After missing the first three games of the season, C Mark Letestu has come on to tally five points (2+3), with at least one point in each of the four games in which he has appeared. He is tied for second on the team with a plus-4 rating.
LEADING THE PACK.
RW Chris Conner continues to pace the Penguins with eight points (2+6). He also leads the team in shots on goal (27) and in power-play assists (4).
HE'S YOUR BOOGIE MAN.
RW Aaron Boogaard notched his first goal of the season in a 6-3 win at Binghamton on October 16th. The goal turned out to be the game-winner - the first of Boogaard's AHL career.
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