Blomqvist Heating up as Pens Return Home from Five-Game Road Trip
November 28, 2023 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins News Release
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (9-7-2-0) sits 5th in Atlantic Division at the season's quarter mark
Weekly Rewind
Wednesday, Nov. 22 - PENGUINS 1 at Hershey 2
Joel Blomqvist turned in a dazzling, 30-save effort, but the Bears pulled out the win in a nailbiter. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's only goal came from Rem Pitlick midway through the first period.
Friday, Nov. 24 - PENGUINS 3 at Charlotte 6
A third-period charge gave the Penguins life, but the comeback bid proved to be too little, too late. Down 3-0 entering the final frame, Jonathan Gruden and Cédric Desruisseaux scored quickly to pull the Black & Gold within one. Charlotte rebuilt a multi-goal lead before Ty Smith tallied again for the Pens.
Saturday, Nov. 25 - PENGUINS 4 at Charlotte 1
The Penguins corrected course by scoring early and often in their rematch with the Checkers. Valtteri Puustinen, Joona Koppanen and Raivis Ansons all scored in the first period, followed by Gruden notching a power-play goal in the second. Blomqvist clamped down with a career-best 44 saves.
The Week Ahead
Wednesday, Nov. 29 - PENGUINS vs. Hershey
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Hershey go head-to-head for the sixth time this season and for the fourth time this month. The Bears lead the season series three wins to two, but the Penguins are 2-0-1-0 at home.
Friday, Dec. 1 - PENGUINS at Springfield
The first game of a home-and-home puts the Penguins in the Thunderdome for the first time this season. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton defeated Springfield, 3-1, back on Oct. 21.
Saturday, Dec. 2 - PENGUINS vs. Springfield
Quick turnaround as both teams trek from New England to NEPA for their rematch. The T-Birds have a lethal offense, one that boasts Adam Gaudette's league-leading 13 goals.
Ice Chips
- Joel Blomqvist ranks third among rookie goalies in goals against average (2.04) and fourth in save percentage (.926). He's one of two rookie netminders to have six wins on the year.
- Blomqvist became the 11th goalie in Penguins history to achieve 44+ saves in a game, the first since Casey DeSmith posted 45 stops on Mar. 26, 2017.
- Jonathan Gruden's goal 18 seconds into the third period on Saturday was the fastest goal to start a period by the Penguins this season.
- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has had a different game-winning goal-scorer in each of its nine victories this season.
DIVISION STANDINGS
TEAM GP W L OTL SOL PTS Pts%
1. Hershey 19 15 4 0 0 30 .789
2. Hartford 18 12 4 2 0 26 .722
3. Lehigh Valley 18 9 6 3 0 21 .583
4. Springfield 19 10 8 1 0 21 .553
5. PENGUINS 18 9 7 2 0 20 .556
6. Charlotte 17 10 7 0 0 20 .588
7. Providence 19 8 8 1 2 19 .500
8. Bridgeport 18 6 11 1 0 13 .361
TEAM LEADERS
SKATERS GP G A PTS
Rem Pitlick 18 4 7 11
Ty Smith 17 3 8 11
Jansen Harkins^ 11 4 5 9
Jonathan Gruden 18 4 5 9
three players tied 8
GOALIES GP W-L-OT GAA SV% Shutouts
Joel Blomqvist* 11 6-3-1 2.04 .926 0
Taylor GauthierX 3 1-1-1 3.06 .908 1
Magnus Hellberg 3 1-2-0 3.42 .888 0
* = rookie
^ = recalled to Pittsburgh
x = reassigned to Wheeling
UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME
Wed, Nov. 29 Hershey Mohegan Sun Arena 7:05 p.m.
Fri, Dec. 1 Springfield MassMutual Center 7:05 p.m.
Sat, Dec. 2 Springfield Mohegan Sun Arena 6:05 p.m.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
Mon, Nov. 27 (C) Peter Abbandonato Traded from CHI
Mon, Nov. 27 (D) Owen Headrick Traded from CHI
Tue, Nov. 28 (D) Mark Pysyk Released from PTO
American Hockey League Stories from November 28, 2023
- Phantoms Power Play Presented by Provident Bank - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Stastney Reassigned to Milwaukee - Milwaukee Admirals
- Millman Joins Phantoms, Gahagen to Reading - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Belleville Sens Announce Details for Holiday Celebration Game Presented by McDowell's Independent Grocer - Belleville Senators
- Syracuse Crunch Weekly - Vol. 30, No. 7 - Syracuse Crunch
- Syracuse Crunch to Hold 13th Annual Stanley Steemer Tired Teddy Toss December 9 - Syracuse Crunch
- Syracuse Crunch Sign Goaltender Brandon Halverson to Two-Year AHL Contract - Syracuse Crunch
- T-Birds Generate $10,650 for Lewiston, Maine - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Griffins Continue Stretch of Games against Central Division Rivals - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Superhero Chain Package Available Saturday - Charlotte Checkers
- $2 Beers and $5 Knit Caps this Weekend - Bakersfield Condors
- Bears Loan Leivermann to South Carolina - Hershey Bears
- Hype Around Queen City Outdoor Classic Grows as Checkers Practice Outdoors - Charlotte Checkers
- Checkers Recall Will Reilly, Assign Mark Senden and Cam Morrison to Everblades - Charlotte Checkers
- Jets Reassign Kuzmin to Moose - Manitoba Moose
- Blomqvist Heating up as Pens Return Home from Five-Game Road Trip - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Minnesota Wild Names Patrick Dwyer as an Assistant Coach - Iowa Wild
- Detroit Recalls Jonatan Berggren - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Rangers Recall Brodzinski and Edström from Wolf Pack, Assign Mackey - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Game #18: Tucson Roadrunners at Ontario Reign - Tucson Roadrunners
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
