Penguins December Schedule Starts Wednesday In Worcester
Published on December 2, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Worcester Sharks News Release
The Penguins posted a 1-1-1-0 record last week. The team dropped a 5-1 decision to Philadelphia in a pre-Thanksgiving home contest, with Luca Caputi netting the lone Penguins score in the game.
Connor James fueled the Pens attack on Friday night, grabbing two goals in a 4-3 win in Norfolk. James' first goal of the night was his league-leading fourth shorthanded tally of the year. Bill Thomas opened the scoring for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, and Jeff Taffe picked up his third game-winning goal of the season late in the third period. Dave Brown recorded his first AHL win of the year, stopping 26 shots on the night.
The Pens were on the opposite side of that score on Saturday, as they squandered a two-goal, third period lead and saw the Admirals take a 4-3 overtime win. Mark Letestu and Joey Mormina each picked up his first goal of the year in the game, and Luca Caputi recorded his second goal in three games. Adam Berkhoel stopped 44 shots in a losing effort.
UPCOMING GAMES:
The Penguins take to the road for a Wednesday night tilt against the Worcester Sharks. The Sharks feature former Penguins defenseman Brendan Buckley, as well as 43-year old Claude Lemieux, who has returned to active duty after five years away from the game. Game time is 7:05pm, and fans can catch all of the action on 102.3 the Mountain, on AHLLive.com and www.wbspenguins.com.
The Penguins return home for a pair of games this weekend, when they will host the Albany River Rats on Saturday at 7:05pm and the Philadelphia Phantoms on Sunday at 5:05pm.
The first 5,000 fans at Saturday night's game will receive a Tom Kostopoulos 10th Season Team bobblehead, courtesy of BlueCross of Northeastern Pennsylvania. This is the first in a series of seven five-and-a-half inch tall bobblheads being given away throughout the season to commemorate the Penguins all-time team.
Sunday is the first of four special 'Skate with the Penguins' days, being held EXCLUSIVELY for Penguins Kids Club members. A handful of Penguins players will stay on the ice following Sunday's contest, skating with the kids and signing autographs. To sign up for the Penguins Kids Club, visit the club's booth behind Section 101 at Penguins home games, or call the Pens at 570-208-7367.
EAST DIVISION STANDINGS (as of December 2) PENGUINS LEADERS
Team GP W L OT SOL PTS Goals: Chris Minard - 16
Hershey 24 18 5 0 1 37 Assists: Janne Pesonen - 16
Bridgeport 22 15 5 0 2 32 Points: Chris Minard - 29
Binghamton 23 11 8 2 2 26 PIM: Deryk Engelland - 52
PENGUINS 22 11 9 1 1 24 Plus-Minus: Ben Lovejoy - plus-13
Philadelphia 23 12 11 0 0 24 PPG: Chris Minard - 8
Norfolk 23 7 12 1 3 18 SHG: Connor James - 4
Albany 20 6 9 3 2 17 GWG: Chris Minard - 4
Wins: Adam Berkhoel - 7
Shutouts: Adam Berkhoel - 4
GAA: Adam Berkhoel - 2.28
LEAGUE LEADERS (as of December 2)
Chris Minard is tied for second in goals (16), tied for second in points (29), second in power play goals (8) and tied for first in game-winning goals (4)
Jeff Taffe is tied for 10th in points (22), tied for seventh in goals (12), tied for third in game-winning goals (3)
Janne Pesonen is tied for 10th in assists (16) and tied for 12th in power play assists (8)
Ben Lovejoy is tied for 11th in plus/minus (plus-13)
Connor James is first in shorthanded goals (4) and tied for first in shorthanded points (5)
Dustin Jeffrey is first in shorthanded assists (4) and tied for first in shorthanded points (5)
Adam Berkhoel is first in shutouts (4), sixth in goals against average (2.28), fifth in save percentage (.929), and tied for 11th in wins (7)
SHORT STUFF: Connor James netted his fourth shorthanded goal of the season on November 28 against the Norfolk Admirals - the most in the American Hockey League this season.
The four shorthanded tallies recorded by James so far this season are tied for the second most in a single season by a Penguins player. Stephen Dixon also netted four during the 2006-07 season, while Billy Tibbetts scored five in 2001-02.
The Penguins also lead the AHL in team shorthanded goals, with eight.
In addition to James, rookie forward Dustin Jeffrey leads the league with four shorthanded assists. Both James and Jeffrey have five shorthanded points on the season.
James now has five shorthanded goals for his Penguins career, tying him with Tom Kostopoulos and Shane Endicott for third place all-time. Billy Tibbetts and Stephen Dixon hold down the top spot with six apiece.
The Penguins recorded four shorthanded goals (Ryan Lannon - 1; Dave Gove - 3) during the entire 2007-08 season.
LOVEJOY A PLUS FOR PENS: Ben Lovejoy leads the team and ranks in the top 10 in the league with a plus-13 rating as of December 2. He also led the club with a plus-16 rating last season, his first full year as a professional.
OT ON THE ROAD: The Penguins 4-3 OT loss to the Norfolk Admirals on November 29 was their first road OT loss since November 12, 2006, when they lost in Providence by a score of 4-3. Between those two games, the Penguins posted 11 wins (two OT wins, nine shootout wins) and six shootout losses in road overtime games.
STREAKING
- Luca Caputi has points in three consecutive games (2+1=3; Nov. 26-29)
- Dustin Jeffrey has points in three consecutive games (0+3=3; Nov. 26-29)
MOVING UP THE LADDER - PENGUINS ALL-TIME LEADERS
- Ryan Stone picked up his eighth assist of the season on November 23 at Lake Erie, giving him 84 assists for his Penguins career and moving him past Colby Armstrong for seventh place on the team's all-time assist list.
- Stone started the season in 12th place on the team's all-time penalty minutes list with 324, but has since moved into ninth place with 369 (42 this season). He trails Billy Tibbers by nine for eighth place.
- Jonathan Filewich appeared in his 240th career game on November 21 at Grand Rapids, moving him past Tomas Surovy for 12th place on the team's all-time games played list.
- Adam Berkhoel's shutout on November 19 vs. Syracuse was his fourth with the Penguins, tying him with Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers for fifth place on the team's all-time list. His four shutouts in a season are also one shy of the team record, set by Marc-Andre Fleury in 2004-05.
- Connor James' shorthanded tally against Norfolk on November 28 was his fourth of the season, tying him for second place on the Penguins single season record list with Stephen Dixon (4 in 2006-07) and one behind Billy Tibbetts (5 in 2001-02). His five career shorthanded goals with the Penguins are tied for third on the team's all-time list (Shane Endicott and Tom Kostopoulos with 5 - Billy Tibbetts and Stephen Dixon with 6).
- Jonathan Filewich and Chris Minard have both recorded their 21st power play goals of their Penguins careers this season, tying the teammates for ninth place on the team's all-time list.
100 IN A ROW FOR ENGELLAND: Penguins defenseman Deryk Engelland appeared in his 100th consecutive regular season game with the Penguins on November 26 vs. Philadelphia. He was the only Wilkes-Barre/Scranton skater to play in all 80 regular season games last season, and has appeared in all 22 games so far this year.
EXTENDED TEAM STORE HOURS FOR THE HOLIDAYS The Penguins Team Store has everything you need for the hockey fan in your life this holiday season. And to make your shopping experience even easier, we're expanding our store hours for the next month.
The Team Store (located at 670 North River Street in Wilkes-Barre) is now open from 9:00am-9:00pm Monday through Friday, 10:00am-9:00pm on Saturdays and from 11:00am-9:00pm on Sundays. These hours come to an end on December 24.
The store will be closed on Christmas day and New Year's day.
PENGUINS HOLIDAY PARTY AT ARENA BAR AND GRILL ON DECEMBER 15 Join the Penguins at the Arena Bar & Grill on Monday, December 15th from 6-9 PM for a Holiday Party with the team.
The event will include a full buffet dinner, a chance to meet and greet the team, a gift for fans 21 & over and a visit from Santa! All proceeds will benefit the Pens United Way Charity Fund. Cost is $30.00 per adult and $15.00 for kids 10 and under.
Stop by the Fan Assistance Center on the concourse at any home game to pick up a registration form.
DON'T MAKE HIM TELL YOU TWICE! MICHEL THERRIEN BOBBLEHEAD NIGHT DECEMBER 13 You don't want to get on Michel Therrien's bad side. So to avoid any issues with the fiery Penguins coach, we suggest you get your tickets to Michel Therrien Bobblehead Night as quickly as possible! Michel Therrien Bobblehead Night is Saturday, December 13, when the Penguins take on the Portland Pirates at 7:05pm. The first 5,000 fans through the Wachovia Arena doors will receive a five-and-a-half inch tall replica of the former Penguins captain.
Therrien was hired prior to the team's fifth season, and made an immediate impact on the club. He led the Penguins to the Calder Cup Finals in his first season behind the bench, and followed that up with a then club-record 39 victories in 2004-05. That season Therrien guided the club to a first round upset of the Binghamton Senators, who had posted the AHL's top record in the regular season.
The former Montreal Canadiens head coach helped the team to an incredible 21-1-2-1 record to start the 2005-06 campaign, setting a new professional hockey record for consecutive road victories (15 games, April 10, 2005-Dec. 3, 2005) and an AHL record for consecutive games with a point to start the season (23 games, Oct. 5-Dec. 4, 2005; 20-0-2-1 record for 43 points). That led to Therrien being promoted to head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins on Dec. 15, 2005.
The Penguins 10th Season Team was selected earlier this season by fan voting conducted by the Scranton Times Tribune and on-line at www.wbspenguins.com.
Don't miss out on your favorite player. Get your tickets for upcoming bobblehead giveaways by calling the Penguins ticket department at 208-7367.
PENGUINS 10th SEASON TEAM BOBBLEHEAD GIVEAWAYS
DATE OPPONENT BOBBLEHEAD
Saturday, December 6 Albany River Rats Tom Kostopoulos
Saturday, December 13 Portland Pirates Michel Therrien
Saturday, January 10 Syracuse Crunch Colby Armstrong
Saturday, February 14 Hamilton Bulldogs John Slaney
Saturday, March 7 Binghamton Senators Alain Nasreddine
Sunday, March 8 Norfolk Admirals Marc-Andre Fleury
Wednesday, April 8 Norfolk Admirals Dennis Bonvie
NEW ONLINE TEAM STORE UP AND RUNNING
The Penguins and Solid Cactus have teamed up to bring you an all new online team store shopping experience. Log on to wbspenguins.com and check out all of our newest merchandise for the holiday season featuring third jerseys, player t-shirts and more. Log on to www.wbspoenguins.com to check it out!
FOUR SNOW TIRES, FOUR TICKETS FROM McCARTHY
Fans, next time your vehicle needs new tires, stop by any McCarthy Tire location and take advantage of this exciting new offer. Now through December 15th, buy four snow tires at McCarty Tire and receive four free ticket vouchers good for any Penguins home game. That's $70 worth of tickets, absolutely free!
THE OLD COLLEGE TRY
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and the Luzerne County Transit Authority have teamed up for an incredible new offer, EXCLUSIVELY for local college students.
The LCTA will be offering transportation to and from all Penguins Saturday home games. The LCTA trolley will pick students up at the Ramada Inn on Public Square at 6:00pm and transport them to the Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza. The trolley will also provide return travel back to Public Square at 9:30pm. Students will receive transportation to and from the game, a Blue Zone ticket, hot dog, soda and popcorn, all for just $15.25! Students must present valid college ID at the Wachovia Arena to take full advantage of the deal.
Can't make it to a game on Saturday? Take Part in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Student Rush. Present your valid college ID at any Penguins home game and receive a discount off the gate price. For more information, contact the Penguins at 570-208-7367.
American Hockey League Stories from December 2, 2008
- Houston Aeros Fall 5-3 to Manitoba Moose Tuesday Night - Houston Aeros
- Moose Stun Aeros, 5-3 - Manitoba Moose
- Marlies Host Milwaukee On Saturday In Only Home Game This Week - Toronto Marlies
- Falcons Recall Ryan Huddy From Stockton - Springfield Falcons
- Pirates Room Dedication Scheduled at Gary's House on Wednesday - Portland Pirates
- Admirals Reassign Trio to Cincinnati - Milwaukee Admirals
- Rolling River Rats Extend Unbeaten Streak To Five Games - Albany River Rats
- Griffins Within One Point of First Place in North - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Pirates Community Appearances on Wednesday - Portland Pirates
- On the Road Again: Admirals Head East - Norfolk Admirals
- Hamilton Bulldogs weekly - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Hurricanes Recall Goaltender Justin Peters - Albany River Rats
- Casey's General Store and Rivermen Offer December Pizza Special - Peoria Rivermen
- Rissmiller Joins Wolf Pack - Connecticut Whale
- Penguins December Schedule Starts Wednesday In Worcester - Worcester Sharks
- Lundmark named CCM/AHL Player of the Month - Abbotsford Heat
- Aeros take on Moose tonight at Toyota Center - Houston Aeros
- Schneider named Reebok X-Pulse/AHL Goalie of Month - Manitoba Moose
- Osala named Reebok Edge AHL Rookie of the Month - Hershey Bears
- Moose's Schneider named Reebok X-Pulse/AHL Goaltender of the Month - AHL
- Bears' Osala named Reebok Edge/AHL Rookie of the Month - AHL
- Flames' Lundmark named CCM/AHL Player of the Month - AHL
- Rob Schremp Recalled By Edmonton Oilers - Springfield Falcons
- Dartmouth Alumnus Opens New Chapter in Wolves Read to Succeed Program - Chicago Wolves
- Fifth Annual Toys For Tots Spaghetti Dinner Set For December 9th - Binghamton Senators
- Smolenak and Szczechura Earn First NHL Call-Ups - Norfolk Admirals
- Boychuk and Lashoff Recalled - Providence Bruins
- Big Buddy Night to Benefit Students of Thomas Jefferson School - Peoria Rivermen
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.
