AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

Last Chance to See Penguins At Home 'Til March

February 6, 2006 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins News Release


The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins play four games in five days this week, including their final two home games until the first weekend of March.

The Pens take on the Philadelphia Phantoms on the road this Wednesday, before returning home to face the Hershey Bears on Friday and the Albany River Rats on Saturday. Following the mini-homestand, the Penguins will play their next nine games on the road, taking in two countries, four states, two provinces and eight cities during the final three weeks of February.

PENGUINS SCHEDULE, FEBRUARY 8-28:

Date Opponent Time

Wednesday, February 8 @ Philadelphia 7:05pm

Friday, February 10 vs. Hershey 7:05pm

Saturday, February 11 vs. Albany 7:05pm

Sunday, February 12 @ Bridgeport 4:05pm

Wednesday, February 15 @ Albany 7:00pm

Friday, February 17 @ Lowell 7:35pm

Saturday, February 18 @ Springfield 7:05pm

Sunday, February 19 @ Providence 4:05pm

Wednesday, February 22 @ Syracuse 7:00pm

Friday, February 24 @ Manitoba 8:30pm

Saturday, February 25 @ Manitoba 8:30pm

Sunday, February 26 @ Toronto 5:05pm

The Penguins finally return home on Friday, March 3, when they will host the Toronto Marlies at 7:05pm.

PENS THE TALK OF ‘THE OFFICE'

The NBC television network has been showcasing National Hockey League games on Saturdays this season, and now the AHL (and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins) will be getting a little air time as well. The hit comedy series ‘The Office' (Thursdays at 9:30pm), which is fictionally set in Scranton and stars Steve Carell (Anchorman; The 40-Year Old Virgin), recently contacted the team to get their hands on a Penguins road jersey, which is expected to be featured in an episode sometime around March 16. Keep checking the show's website at www.nbc.com/The_Office for more information on the upcoming episode.

HUSSEY STAYS HOT

Matt Hussey has points in eight of his past 10 games dating back to Jan. 14 in Hershey. In that time, Hussey has recorded 14 points (5+9), and has now taken over the team scoring lead with 36 points (14+22) in 32 games with the AHL Pens.

Hussey had three points (1+2) in Saturday night's win against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. His goal was the fourth shorthanded tally of his Wilkes-Barre/Scranton career, and his fifth game-winner this season.

FILEWICH SETS SPEED RECORD

Penguins rookie Jonathan Filewich netted a goal just 17 seconds into the team's 4-3 win against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Friday night, setting a new team record for fastest goal by a Penguin to start a game. The former record of 23 seconds was held by Michel Ouellet, who opened the scoring against the Springfield Falcons on January 1, 2005.

SABOURIN SHINES

Dany Sabourin was named the KOHO AHL GOALTENDER OF THE MONTH for January, after the 25-year old, posted a 7-2-1 record with a 2.26 goals against average and a .922 save percentage in 10 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The sixth-year pro also earned a recall by the Pittsburgh Penguins and appeared in the 2006 Rbk Hockey AHL All-Star Game during the month.

Sabourin is the second Penguins goaltender to win the award this season. Marc-Andre Fleury was named the recipient of the award for October, after recording a 6-0-0, a 1.17 goals-against average and a .955 save percentage in six starts during the month.

DEFENSE FIRST

The Penguins continue to have the fewest goals against in the AHL this season, having allowed just 97 goals through 47 games thus far (2.06 goals per game). The next closest team in the goals against column is the Manitoba Moose, who have allowed 126 goals in 51 contests (2.47 goals per game).

The team record for fewest goals allowed in a season is 197 (2.46 goals per game), set during the 2003-04 season.

A LOOK AHEAD:

Wednesday, February 8 - PENGUINS @ Philadelphia Phantoms, 7:05pm

The Penguins are 5-0-0-0 against Philadelphia this year, and have posted two shutouts against the Phantoms. Former Penguin John Slaney is the leading point getter currently on the Philly roster with 28 points (6+22). The Phantoms are currently 18-25-1-5 (42 points) and in fifth place in the East Division. The Pens and Phantoms will meet four more times after Wednesday night's game.

Friday, February 10 - Hershey Bears @ PENGUINS, 7:05pm

The Penguins are 5-0-1-1 against the Bears this season. The Bears enter this week with a 30-12-2-7 record (69 points), good for second place in the East Division. Hershey's Eric Fehr is fourth among AHL rookies with 44 points and tied for second with 21 goals. Bears defenseman Lawrence Nycholat is tied for third among league blueliners with 38 points (10+28). The Pens and Bears will meet twice more this season after Friday's contest.

Saturday, February 11 - Albany River Rats @ PENGUINS, 7:05pm

Saturday night's game is the first of four games between the Penguins and River Rats this season. Albany is 17-29-1-2 (37 points) and in seventh place in the Atlantic Division entering the week. Former Penguins tough guy Mike Sgroi is on the River Rats roster, but is currently serving a 10-game suspension by the league. He is expected back in uniform for Saturday's game.

Sunday, February 12 - PENGUINS @ Bridgeport Sound Tigers, 4:05pm

The Penguins have a 4-3-0-1 record against Bridgeport this season. The Sound Tigers are 24-22-3-2 (53 points) and in fourth place in the East Division as of Monday. All-Star Bruno Gervais is tied for 10th among AHL defensemen with 31 points, and first with 16 goals. The Pens and Sound Tigers will meet once more this season, that game coming on April 14 in Wilkes-Barre.

INDIVIDUAL LEAGUE LEADERS (all stats as of 02/06)

Dany Sabourin is first overall with a 2.07 goals against average, first with a .931 save percentage, tied for second with 21 wins and tied for second with three shutouts. Alain Nasreddine is second overall with a plus-23 rating. Ryan Lannon is tied for fourth overall with plus-17 rating. Dennis Bonvie is first overall with 271 penalty minutes. Matt Hussey is tied for fourth with five game-winning goals.

RECENT TRANSACTIONS

02/06/2006

01/31/2006 Guillaume Lefebvre (LW)

Rico Fata (LW) ADD Returned on loan from Pittsburgh (NHL)

DEL Recalled from loan by Pittsburgh (NHL)

ATTENDANCE

The Penguins are averaging 8,148 fans per home game this season (203,724 in 25 games), 100% of capacity.

ON THE AIR

All Penguins games can be heard live on WQFM 92.1 and on the internet at www.wbspenguins.com, with Tom Grace calling the action.

ON THE WEB

All Penguins games can be seen live on the internet thanks to the B2 Network. Log on to www.wbspenguins.com to watch all Penguins home and road games live.

TICKETS

Good seats remain for both games this weekend. Full season, partial season, group and individual tickets for Penguins home games are now on sale. For more information, contact the Penguins at 570-208-7367 or log on to www.wbspenguins.com.

Check out the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from February 6, 2006


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