AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

Penguins Head Home After Successful Road Swing

December 3, 2007 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins News Release


RECENT ACTION:

Wednesday, November 28 @ Hamilton: Joe Jensen's first goal of the season with 4:46 to play gave the Penguins a 3-2 win against the defending Calder Cup champion Hamilton Bulldogs. Nathan Smith and Chris Minard tallied goals to give the Penguins 1-0 and 2-1 leads in the game as well. Ty Conklin stopped 30 shots to record the win for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Friday, November 30 @ Syracuse: Ryan Lannon's second goal of the year proved to be the deciding tally, as the Pens posted a 4-2 win against the Crunch. The Penguins overcame a pair of one-goal deficits, with Tim Brent and Tim Wallace evening up the game on separate occasions. Lannon's goal came with 10:40 left in the game, and Jeff Taffe added his 10th of the season late to secure the victory. Conklin made 27 saves in the victory.

Saturday, December 1 @ Hershey: Taffe's team-leading 11th goal of the season forced overtime, and his tally in the shootout helped the Penguins to a 2-1 victory against the Hershey Bears at the Giant Center. Taffe, Mark Letestu and Ryan Stone scored in the shootout for the Pens, while Conklin stopped 32 shots during regulation and overtime, before turning aside three of four in the shootout.

UPCOMING ACTION: The Penguins carry a three-game winning streak when they return home to take on the Hershey Bears on Friday, December 7, at 7:05pm. The Penguins have won four of their past five games, and five of their last seven. They have also defeated the Bears twice, while falling to Hershey once, this season. Friday's contest will be the first home contest for the club in two weeks, and the only home tilt until December 21.

The Pens head back on the road on Saturday night, when they will take on the Norfolk Admirals at the Scope. The puck drops at 7:15pm. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton won the first match between the two teams, 2-1 in a shootout, on November 3.

All Penguins games can be seen live via the B2 networks, and can be heard on 92.1 and 100.5 QFM, and via the Penguins website at www.wbspenguins.com.

PENGUINS DECEMBER SCHEDULE: TEAM LEADERS:

DATE TIME OPPONENT Goals Jeff Taffe - 11

Dec. 7 7:05pm vs. HERSHEY Assists Tim Brent - 12

Dec. 8 7:15pm @ Norfolk Points Jeff Taffe - 15

Dec. 14 7:05pm @ Worcester PIM Ryan Stone - 49

Dec. 15 5:00pm @ Albany (Glens Falls) Plus/Minus James, Wallace (plus-6)

Dec. 16 5:05pm @ Philadelphia Wins Ty Conklin - 11

Dec. 21 7:05pm vs. MANCHESTER G.A.A. John Curry - 2.21

Dec. 22 7:05pm vs. ALBANY Save % John Curry - 919

Dec. 26 7:05pm vs. SYRACUSE

Dec. 27 7:00pm @ Syracuse

Dec. 29 7:05pm vs. BINGHAMTON

Dec. 31 6:05pm vs. NORFOLK

SKILLS COMPETITION THIS SUNDAY

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Skills Competition, presented by Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep, takes place this Sunday, December 9 at 5:00pm at the Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza.

The competition pits two teams of Penguins players against each other in events including the hardest shot, puck control relay, rapid fire, fastest skater, pass and score, accuracy shooting and breakaway relay.

The event is run by JRP Group, the same organization which stages the NHL and AHL All-Star Skills Competitions.

Members of area youth hockey teams will be competing alongside their Penguins counterparts, and proceeds from the event will benefit the Penguins United Way Charity Fund, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and local youth hockey organizations.

Penguins season ticket holders can reserve their seats for the event for just $11.00 by contacting their Penguins Account Representatives.

Tickets for the general public are priced at $13.00, and are available at the Wachovia Arena Box Office, through www.ticketmaster.com, and at all local TicketMaster outlets.

UPCOMING PENGUINS PLAYER APPEARANCES:

DATE TIME PLACE PLAYER

Tuesday, Dec. 4 7:30-9:00pm COORS LIGHT STAR BAR Brews Brothers Chris Minard

Tuesday, Dec. 4 7:30-9:00pm COORS LIGHT STAR BAR Major League Sports Bar Mark Letestu

Wednesday, Dec. 5 7:30-9:00pm COORS LIGHT STAR BAR Ground Round Mark Ardelan

Wednesday, Dec. 5 7:30-9:00pm COORS LIGHT APPEARANCE T. C. Riley's Dennis Bonvie

Thursday, Dec. 6 7:00-8:00pm PENGUINS REPORT RADIO SHOW Kurtis McLean

Grotto Pizza (Wyoming Valley Mall) and Alain Nasreddine

Monday, Dec. 10 6:00-7:00pm Woodhouse Day Spa in Kingston Connor James

PENGUINS POINTS OF INTEREST:

LANNON CANNON: Ryan Lannon broke a 128 game goal drought when he scored on November 21 against the Worcester Sharks. His last goal before that game came on December 28, 2005. However, it took him considerably less time to record his next goal, which came just five contests later against the Syracuse Crunch on November 30. That tally was his first career game-winning goal. Lannon has four goals for his AHL career, two of those coming shorthanded.

MINARD MAKING WAVES: Chris Minard started the season with a hat trick on opening night, then went 14 consecutive games without a goal. However, he has recorded three goals in his past six games, and has eight points (3+5) in his last seven games dating back to November 21, when he recorded two assists against the Worcester Sharks.

300 & 100 ON 11/28/07 - The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins posted the 300th victory in team history with a 3-2 win at Hamilton on November 28, 2007. The victory came at the same site as the club's first ever win, which came on November 10, 1999. The Penguins' all-time record now stands at 300-258-48-37-17 (W-L-T-OTL-SOL). That game was also the 100th for the coaching tandem of Todd Richards and Dan Bylsma.

GAME ON FOR BONVIE: Dennis Bonvie moved into sole possession of 21st place on the AHL's all-time games played list on Sunday, December 1, appearing in his 835th AHL game - one better than former Philadelphia Phantoms player and coach John Stevens. Bonvie sits four games away from Ralph Kellar and Steve Kraftchuk, who share 19th place with 839 games. The game against Hershey was also Bonvie's 249th in the Penguins' sweater, tied with Eric Meloche for ninth place in team history. Chris Kelleher (250) and Colby Armstrong (251) sit just ahead of Bonvie on the list.

Check out the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from December 3, 2007


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