Penguins Finish Season Strong, Prepare for First Round Series with Checkers
April 17, 2018 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins News Release
Weekly Rewind
Friday, Apr. 13 - PENGUINS 3 at Springfield 2
Daniel Sprong set the franchise record for goals by a rookie with his 31st tally of the season. Sprong's goal opened the game's scoring, one of only a few bids that fooled Harri Säteri. The Thunderbirds' goalie conjured 46 saves in the loss.
Saturday, Apr. 14 - PENGUINS 1 at Lehigh Valley 2 (SO)
The Penguins lost a shootout decision to the recently crowned Atlantic Division Champions. Both teams were held scoreless until the final two minutes of the third period, during which both teams found the back of the net. By getting to OT, the Penguins clinched the No. 2 seed in the Atlantic Division.
Sunday, Apr. 15 - PENGUINS 3 at Hershey 2
The Penguins remained unbeaten in regulation against the Bears in the two clubs' final matchup of 2017-18, going 10-0-1-1 to notch the best single-season record in the rivalry's 19-year history. Sprong scored again for goal 32, and Jan Drozg earned an assist in his pro debut.
The Week Ahead
Friday, Apr. 20 - PENGUINS at Charlotte - GAME ONE
S econd-seeded Wilkes-Barre/Scranton travels to North Carolina to take on third-seeded Charlotte in the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs. The Penguins hope to avenge a 2011 playoff series loss handed to them by the Checkers in the teams' only postseason meeting. Charlotte closed out the season on a 10-game point streak (9-0-1-0), and won 15 of its last 18 contests.
Saturday, Apr. 21 - PENGUINS at Charlotte - GAME TWO
The Penguins went 1-3-0-0 against the Checkers in their four-game regular season series, but both teams were evenly matched on the special teams front. Both were 16.7% on the PP and 83.3% on the PK when facing one another this season.
Ice Chips
- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is going to the Calder Cup Playoffs for the 16th consecutive season, the AHL's longest active streak.
- Daniel Sprong's 32 goals not only established a new franchise record for rookie scoring, but he also tied Janne Pesonen for the second-most goals in a season in team history.
- Sprong finished the season ranked in the AHL's top five in three categories: third in goals (32), fourth in shots (214) and fifth in points (65). Sprong also led all rookies in goals and shots, while tying fellow first-years for tops in power play goals (11).
- Five of Michael Leighton's six starts as a Penguin have gone past regulation. He is 4-0-1 in those games.
FINAL DIVISION STANDINGS
TEAM GP W L OTL SOL PTS Pt%
1. Lehigh Valley 76 47 19 5 5 104 .684
2. PENGUINS 76 45 22 6 3 99 .651
3. Charlotte 76 46 26 1 3 96 .632
4. Providence 76 45 26 3 2 95 .625
5. Bridgeport 76 36 32 5 3 80 .526
6. Hartford 76 34 33 6 3 77 .507
7. Springfield 76 32 37 5 2 71 .467
8. Hershey 76 30 37 4 5 69 .454
TEAM LEADERS
SKATERS GP G A PTS
Daniel Sprong* 65 32 33 65
Jean-S é bastien Dea 70 18 32 50
Teddy Blueger 70 21 24 45
Garrett Wilson 69 17 25 42
Ryan Haggerty 47 16 21 37
GOALIES GP W-L-OT GAA SV% Shutouts
Casey DeSmith^ 27 16-8-3 2.73 .910 2
Anthony Peters 24 12-7-3 2.71 .907 1
Tristan Jarry 16 9-5-2 3.05 .901 0
* rookie
^ currently with Pittsburgh
UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME
Fri, Apr. 20 Charlotte Bojangles' Coliseum 7:00 p.m.
Sat, Apr. 21 Charlotte Bojangles' Coliseum 6:00 p.m.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
Tue, Apr. 17 (LW) Sam Miletic Reassigned from OHL
Tue, Apr. 17 (LW) Jan Drozg Released from ATO
Fri, Apr. 13 (G) Alex D'Orio Reassigned to QMJHL
Wed, Apr. 11 (C) Anthony Angello Signed to ATO
Wed, Apr. 11 (C) Cam Brown Signed to PTO
American Hockey League Stories from April 17, 2018
- Roadrunners Add Three More on Tryouts - Tucson Roadrunners
- Syracuse Crunch Weekly - Syracuse Crunch
- Vegas' Glass Highlights Wolves Roster Additions - Chicago Wolves
- St. Louis Blues Assign Tanner Kaspick to Moose - Manitoba Moose
- Chicago Wolves Retain Illinois Lottery Cup - Chicago Wolves
- Penguins Finish Season Strong, Prepare for First Round Series with Checkers - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Monsters 2018 Home Opener Set for October 5th - Cleveland Monsters
- Anaheim Ducks Announce Roster Moves - San Diego Gulls
- Griffins Sign Goaltender Joel Martin to PTO - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Atlantic Division Champion Phantoms Begin Calder Cup Quest this Week - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- D Frank Hora Returned to Reading Royals - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Sylvain Lefebvre Relieved of His Duties as Head Coach of the Laval Rocket - Laval Rocket
- Jets Recall Sami Niku from the Manitoba Moose - Manitoba Moose
- Brother John's Beer, Bourbon & BBQ to Host Roadrunners First Round Watch Parties - Tucson Roadrunners
- Sam Miletic Reassigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- P-Bruins vs Phantoms: Round One Series Preview - Providence Bruins
- Marlies Announce 2018 Calder Cup Roster - Toronto Marlies
- Senators Sign Leier to AHL Deal for 2018-19 - Belleville Senators
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