New Year Approaches with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in Pole Position
Published on December 30, 2025 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins News Release
Penguins (22-7-1-2) host Charlotte to close 2025, visit Syracuse to open 2026
Weekly Rewind
Saturday, Dec. 27 - PENGUINS 5 vs. Hershey 2
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton came roaring out of the holiday break, burying five goals in the first period of its first game back. The scoring started early, with Nolan Renwick potting his first of the season two minutes in. Raivis Ansons lit the lamp 92 seconds later, followed by a pair of strikes by Gabe Klassen and a late power-play goal from Phil Tomasino.
Sunday, Dec. 28 - PENGUINS 3 at Lehigh Valley 4 (SO)
Rafaël Harvey-Pinard had a day, but the Penguins ultimately fell in a shootout to their turnpike rival. Harvey-Pinard tucked in a slick feed from Valtteri Puustinen three minutes into the game, then went coast-to-coast for a snipe on the rush early in the second period. David Breazeale notched his first AHL goal swiftly after the Phantoms took the lead in the third period, where Harvey-Pinard picked up an assist. However, Lehigh Valley scored on both of its shootout attempts, whereas Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton was shut down.
The Week Ahead
Tuesday, Dec. 30 - PENGUINS vs. Charlotte
The Penguins do battle with the Checkers for the fifth time this season and the third time this month. The season series is even at two wins apiece, but the visiting team has emerged victorious each time. Charlotte is at the end of a three-in-three, having successfully defeated both Hershey and Lehigh Valley on Sunday and Monday, respectively.
Saturday, Jan. 3 - PENGUINS at Syracuse
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton opens the New Year by clashing with one of the top teams in the North Division. Syracuse has lost three in a row, but is still second in the North and averages an Eastern Conference-leading 3.40 goals for per game. Crunch forward Jakob Pelletier has 33 points (15G-18A) this season, tied for second overall in the AHL.
Ice Chips
- Rafaël Harvey-Pinard was named the Howie's Hockey Tape/ AHL Player of the Week after posting two goals and two assists for four points in two games.
- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is on a five-game point streak (3-0-0-2).
- Valtteri Puustinen ranks fourth all-time in Penguins franchise history in career assists (97) and fifth in career points (167).
- Puustinen is also one goal away from tying Michel Ouellet for seventh all-time in franchise history for career goals.
- Joona Koppanen has seven points (3G-4A) in his last seven games.
ATLANTIC DIVISION STANDINGS
TEAM GP W L OTL SOL PTS Pts%
1. PENGUINS 33 22 7 1 2 47 .734
2. Providence 27 21 5 1 0 43 .796
3. Charlotte 27 16 9 2 0 34 .630
4. Lehigh Valley 29 15 11 1 2 33 .569
5. Hershey 28 14 13 1 0 29 .518
6. Springfield 28 10 12 4 2 26 .464
7. Hartford 28 10 13 4 1 25 .446
8. Bridgeport 28 11 14 2 1 25 .446
TEAM LEADERS
SKATERS GP G A PTS
Tristan Broz 29 10 10 20
Sam PoulinX 22 9 11 20
Valtteri Puustinen 27 5 13 18
Avery Hayes 24 9 8 17
Danton HeinenX 12 6 11 17
Aidan McDonough 31 6 11 17
GOALIES GP W-L-OT GAA SV% Shutouts
Sergei Murashov* 14 11-2-0 1.59 .941 2
Joel Blomqvist 9 5-2-2 1.93 .933 1
Filip Larsson 7 3-2-1 3.74 .863 0
* = rookie
^ = recalled to Pittsburgh
X = no longer in organization
UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME
Tue, Dec. 30 Charlotte Mohegan Arena 7:05 p.m.
Sat, Jan. 3 Syracuse Upstate Medical Univ. Arena 7:00 p.m.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
DATE PLAYER TRANSACTION
Thu, Dec. 18 (D) David Breazeale Reassigned to WHL
Sat, Dec. 27 (D) David Breazeale Recalled from WHL
Sun, Dec. 28 (D) Brent Johnson Recalled from WHL
Sun, Dec. 28 (D) Tommy Budnick Recalled from WHL
Mon, Dec. 29 (C) Danton Heinen Reassigned from PIT
Mon, Dec. 29 (C) Danton Heinen Traded by PIT to CBJ
Tue, Dec. 30 (LW) Max Graham Recalled from WHL
American Hockey League Stories from December 30, 2025
- Wranglers Back on Home Ice against Eagles - Calgary Wranglers
- Penguins Close out 2025 with Loss to Checkers - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Monsters Come up Short in 2-1 Loss to Marlies - Cleveland Monsters
- Preview: Phantoms vs. Hershey, Game 31 - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Checkers Blow out Penguins 6-2 - Charlotte Checkers
- Phantoms Weekly - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- John Leonard Returns to Grand Rapids - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Bears Announce Transactions with South Carolina - Hershey Bears
- Bears Battle Phantoms and IceHogs - Hershey Bears
- New Year Approaches with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in Pole Position - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Start the New Year with the Condors this Weekend - Bakersfield Condors
- League-Leading Griffins Celebrate New Year with Three-Game Week - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Dallas Stars Loan Nathan Bastian to Texas Stars on Conditioning Assignment - Texas Stars
- Syracuse Crunch Weekly - Vol. 32, No. 12 - Syracuse Crunch
- Penguins Recall Forward Max Graham from Nailers - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Wild, Late Comeback for OT Point vs. Charlotte - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Amerks Flip the Script on Monsters to Split Home-And-Home - Rochester Americans
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