AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

Penguins Post Two Wins In Texas; Finally Return Home This Week

Published on November 3, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins News Release


The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins first trip to Texas in five years turned out to be a fruitful one, as the Pens posted wins against the San Antonio Rampage and Houston Aeros to up their record to 5-3-0-1 on the season.

Despite playing without Chris Minard and Janne Pesonen, who were recalled prior to the contest, the Penguins still managed to pull out a 3-1 win against the Rampage on October 31. Jeff Taffe, who spent parts of two seasons in San Antonio, led the way for the Penguins, recording a goal and assisting on Tim Wallace's game-winning tally. John Curry made 31 saves for his first win of the season. Connor James also chipped in with a shorthanded goal.

Minard and Pesonen were reassigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Sunday morning, and made huge contributions to a 4-3 win later that day. Minard picked up his third career Penguins hat trick, while Pesonen helped out with two assists as the Aeros suffered their first home loss of the season. Taffe set up three goals on the evening as well, and Curry stopped 34 shots for the win.

The Penguins are 4-2-0-0 on their current seven-game road swing, which concludes on Wednesday morning with an 11:00am game against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The Penguins return to the Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza this week for home contests against the Lowell Devils (Friday, November 7) and the Hershey Bears (Saturday, November 8).

The Penguins seven-game road swing is the team's longest trip of the season, and the longest since a nine-game trip from Feb. 12-26, 2006. The Pens have had five strings of seven games or more in a row on the road in their nine years:

1999-2000 13 games Oct. 1-Nov. 12 (1-9-3)

2002-2003 8 games Nov. 29-Dec. 15 (4-2-1-1)

2003-2004 7 games Feb 18- 29, 2004 (4-2-1-0)

2005-2006 9 games Feb. 12-26, 2006 (3-5-0-1)

2008-2009 7 games Oct. 19-Nov. 5, 2008 (4-2-0-0, as of Nov. 3)

LEAGUE LEADERS

Chris Minard is second in points (16), first in goals (10), tied for fifth in power play goals (3), first in game-winning goals (3), tied for 11th in power play goals (3), and tied for second in plus/minus (plus-10)

Janne Pesonen is tied for 16th in points (11), tied for third in assists (9), tied for eight in power play assists (3) and tied for second in plus/minus (plus-10)

Jeff Taffe is tied for third in points (14), tied for fifth in goals (7), tied for 14th in assists (7) and tied for second in plus/minus (plus-10)

John D'Aversa is tied for 10th in power play assists (4)

Ben Lovejoy is tied for seventh in plus/minus (plus-8)

T.J. Kemp is tied for 16th in plus/minus (plus-7)

Adam Berkhoel is 15th in save percentage (.916), tied for 15th in wins (3) and tied for third in shutouts (1)

MINARD'S GREAT START: Chris Minard has had one of the hottest scoring hands in the American Hockey League this season, recording 16 points (10+6) in eight games with the Penguins. He missed the team's October 31 game against the San Antonio Rampage due to recall by Pittsburgh, but was returned to the team prior to a November 2 contest in Houston.

Minard netted a hat trick in his Wilkes-Barre/Scranton return, the third of his AHL and Penguins careers.

CHRIS MINARD HAT TRICKS

October 3, 2007 vs. Hershey

January 2, 2008 vs. Syracuse

November 2, 2008 @ Houston

Minard equaled Michel Ouellet's team record for career hat tricks with his performance in Houston, and now has at least on point in every game he has played with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season.

CHRIS MINARD GAME-BY-GAME SCORING

Date Opponent G-A-Pts Notes

Oct. 8 vs. Hershey 0-1-1

Oct. 11 vs. Philadelphia 2-1-3 Game-Winning Goal

Oct. 17 vs. Bridgeport 1-0-1

Oct. 19 @ Hershey 2-1-3 Game-Winning Goal

Oct. 22 @ Lowell 1-0-1

Oct. 24 @ Manchester 0-1-0

Oct. 25 @ Portland 1-2-3

Oct. 31 @ San Antonio On Recall To Pittsburgh

Nov. 2 @ Houston 3-0-3 Hat Trick, Game-Winning Goal

Minard's personal best for points in a game is three, and he has already accomplished that feat four times this season.

CHRIS MINARD CAREER AHL THREE POINT GAMES

February 26, 2006 vs. Syracuse (0+3)

December 17, 2006 vs. Providence (2+1)

October 3, 2007 vs. Hershey (3+0)

January 2, 2008 vs. Syracuse (3+0)

October 11, 2008 vs. Philadelphia (2+1)

October 19, 2008 @ Hershey (2+1)

October 25, 2008 @ Portland (1+2)

November 2, 2008 @ Houston (3+0)

TAFFE TEARING IT UP: Jeff Taffe was assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton from Pittsburgh on October 10 after appearing in Pittsburgh's season opening game against the Ottawa Senators in Sweden. That game with Pittsburgh was the 400th of Taffe's professional career (254 AHL, 146 NHL).

Since being assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Taffe has recorded 14 points (7+7) in eight games. He has recorded at least one point in seven of those games, and multiple points in six contests. He has multiple points in each of his past five games.

JEFF TAFFE SCORING STREAK

Date Opponent G-A-Pts Notes

Oct. 22 @ Lowell 2-0-2 Game-Winning Goal

Oct. 24 @ Manchester 1-1-2

Oct. 25 @ Portland 2-0-2

Oct. 31 @ San Antonio 1-1-2

Nov. 2 @ Houston 0-3-3

TOTALS 6-5-11

Taffe began the 2007-08 season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, recording 21 points (11+10) in 27 games before being promoted to Pittsburgh. In parts of two seasons with the AHL club, Taffe has amassed 35 points (18+17) in 35 games.

GREAT DEALS FROM THE PENGUINS

The Penguins, Sunoco and WBRE-TV are making the trip to see the Pens a little bit easier with the 'We Buy The Gas' promotion. Now through November 14, anyone purchasing a 10-ticket flex book will receive a free $25 gas card for use at area Sunoco stations. 'We Buy The Gas' packages start at just $172.50, and are available by contacting the Penguins ticket department at 270-208-7367.

You'll get double the fun with our 'Double Feature Plan', sponsored by R.C. Theaters in Wilkes-Barre. Purchase two tickets to the Wednesday, November 26th Penguins game against the Philadelphia Phantoms, and you'll receive two FREE movie passes for Wilkes-Barre Movies 14. Packages are available now, and start at just $30, and must be purchased through the Penguins team store at the waterfront complex (movie passes based on availability/limited time offer). For more information, contact the Penguins at 570-208-7367.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS

Unigraphic Team Photo Night (first 5,000 fans) Friday, November 7 vs. Lowell

Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep Game Worn Jersey Card Night #1 (first 5,000 fans) Saturday, November 15 vs. Binghamton

Check out the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from November 3, 2008


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