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 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

Penguins clinch playoff spot with more than a month to play

March 13, 2006 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins News Release


The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins still have 15 regular season games to play, but they already know they'll be suiting up past April 15 after securing the team's fifth playoff appearance with a 4-1 win against the Binghamton Senators on Sunday.

The victory gives the Penguins a record of 43-16-3-3, good for 92 points and first place in the East Division.

The win also means neither the Senators (26-31-4-3, 59 points in 64 games) nor the Philadelphia Phantoms (26-30-1-7, 60 points in 64 games) can pass the Pens in the standings, and guarantees Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at least a fourth place finish in the division.

Philadelphia could conceivably equal the Penguins' 92 points, but the Phantoms can not finish with more than 42 wins - with wins being the first tie-breaker when determining a playoff spot.

The 2006 Calder Cup Playoffs mark the fifth time in seven seasons - and the fourth consecutive year - the Penguins have qualified for postseason play. They previously earned playoff berths in the 2000-01, 2002-03, 2003-04 and 2004-05 seasons.

BONVIE'S BIG DAY

Right wing Dennis Bonvie eclipsed the 4,000 penalty minute mark as an American Hockey League player on Sunday afternoon during the Penguins' win against Binghamton.

Bonvie, the AHL's all-time penalty minutes leader, received five minutes for fighting Binghamton's Brett Cloutier, and a 10-minute misconduct at 2:13 of the first period, giving him 4,008 penalty minutes in the AHL at that point. He finished the game with 40 penalty minutes on the evening, giving him 4,033 in 750 career AHL contests.

A veteran of 12 professional seasons, Bonvie also surpassed the 800 penalty minute mark while wearing a Wilkes-Barre/Scranton uniform on Sunday, and now is second all-time on the team's penalty minutes list with 824 in 165 games. He trails Darcy Verot by six minutes for the team's all-time lead entering Wednesday night's return match with the Senators in Binghamton.

Bonvie's 360 penalty minutes this season lead the league, and are also the third-highest single season total in Penguins history, trailing only Steve Parsons (366 in 2001-02) and Verot (387 in 2001-02).

Bonvie also has 311 penalty minutes in the National Hockey League, giving him 4,344 combined minutes for his career.

PENGUINS TIE TEAM MARK FOR POINTS IN A SEASON

The Penguins' 4-1 win Sunday against the Binghamton Senators gave the team 92 points through just 65 games, tying the team mark for points in a season set by the 2004-05 squad. The Penguins still have 15 games in which to try to break the mark.

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PENGUINS CLOSE IN ON HOME WINS RECORD

The Penguins' win Sunday against the Senators was the 21st victory on home ice this season, leaving the team two wins shy of the team-record of 23 set last season. This year's club is 21-7-2-1 (45 points) through 31 home games, and has nine more contests at the Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza. Last year's club went 23-12-3-2 (51 points).

SABOURIN BEARING DOWN ON FLEURY

Dany Sabourin picked up his 25th victory of the season on Sunday, leaving him one win shy of Marc-Andre Fleury's single season wins record of 26 for the Penguins, set last season.

Sabourin currently ranks among the AHL leaders in goals against average (first, 2.21), save percentage (first, .924), shutouts (tied for second, three) and wins (tied for third, 25).

NEW GUYS FITTING IN FINE

The AHL Penguins are benefiting from the NHL trade deadline, which saw the parent Pittsburgh Penguins pick up and assign two players to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Center Krystofer Kolanos, 24, was acquired by Pittsburgh from the Carolina Hurricanes, along with Niklas Nordgren and a second round choice in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft for right wing Mark Recchi, and has strung together a three-game point streak (1-2-3) since joining the Penguins on March 9.

He has appeared in 15 games this season with Edmonton and Phoenix, recording three points (2+1) and four penalty minutes. In 22 games in the American Hockey League with San Antonio and Lowell, Kolanos recorded 22 points (10+12) and 40 penalty minutes.

The 6-3 and 206-pound native of Calgary, Alberta has played in 115 career NHL games with Phoenix and Edmonton, recording 35 points (17+18) and 76 penalty minutes. He was originally drafted by Phoenix in the first round (19th overall) of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.

Center Petr Taticek, 22, was acquired from the Florida Panthers in exchange for defenseman Ric Jackman. He had appeared in 44 games with the Houston Aeros (AHL) at that time, recording 30 points (9+21) and 10 penalty minutes. In three games with Florida (NHL), Taticek went scoreless.

The 6-3 and 195-pound native of Rakovnik, Czech Republic picked up the game-winning goal in the Penguins' 4-1 win against Binghamton on Sunday, earning his first point with the club in his second game.

Taticek was drafted in the first round (9th overall) by the Florida Panthers in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.

Additionally, the Penguins assigned center Shane Endicott to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on a two week conditioning assignment on March 9, and Endicott has chipped in with two assists in his first three games back with the club.

Endicott, 24, appeared in 34 games with Pittsburgh, recording two points (1+1) and 37 penalty minutes. He missed the first 20 games of the season recovering from a high ankle sprain suffered in training camp, and later missed nine games with a groin injury.

The 6-4 and 211-pound native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan is fourth on Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's all-time points list with 166 (73+93) in 288 games. He was drafted by Pittsburgh in the second round (52nd overall) of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.

DEFENSE FIRST

The Penguins continue to have the fewest goals against in the AHL this season, having allowed just 141 goals through 65 games thus far (2.17 goals per game). The next closest teams in the goals against column are the Providence Bruins, who have allowed 171 goals in 63 contests, and the Manitoba Moose, who are averaging 2.65625 goals against per game (172 goals/65 games).

The Penguins team record for fewest goals allowed in a season is 197 (2.4625 goals per game), set during the 2003-04 campaign.

ATTENDANCE

The Penguins are averaging 8,145 fans per home game this season (252,510 in 31 games), 100.1% of capacity.

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A LOOK AHEAD:

Wednesday, March 15 - PENGUINS @ Binghamton Senators

NOTES:

The Penguins are 5-0-0-0 against the Senators this season. This is the sixth of eight games between the teams. Binghamton is 26-31-4-3 (59 points) and in sixth place in the East Division.

Friday, March 17 - PENGUINS @ Philadelphia Phantoms

NOTES:

The Penguins are 5-1-0-0 against the Phantoms this season. This is the seventh of 10 meetings between the clubs. Philadelphia is 26-30-1-7 (60 points) and in fifth place in the East Division.

INDIVIDUAL LEAGUE LEADERS

Dany Sabourin is first overall with a 2.21 goals against average, first with a .924 save percentage, tied for third with 25 wins and tied for second with three shutouts. Dennis Bonvie is first overall with 360 penalty minutes. Matt Hussey is tied for fourth with six game-winning goals.

RECENT TRANSACTIONS

03/13/2006 Cam Paddock (RW) DEL Reassigned by Pittsburgh/NHL to Wheeling/ECHL

03/10/2006 Alain Nasreddine (D) DEL Recalled from loan by Pittsburgh (NHL)

03/09/2006 Krystofer Kolanos (C) ADD Loaned from Pittsburgh (NHL)

03/09/2006 Petr Taticek (C) ADD Loaned from Pittsburgh (NHL)

03/09/2006 Shane Endicott (C) ADD Conditioning loan from Pittsburgh (NHL)

ON THE AIR

All Penguins games can be heard live on QFM 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 all Penguins home games. 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.


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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.

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