NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

Penguins Take Two Of Three On The Week

November 10, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins News Release


The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins finished up their longest road trip of the season (seven games) last Wednesday, dropping a 3-2 decision to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. That decision left the Pens with a 4-3-0-0 record on their odyssey, which also included stops in Hershey, Lowell, Manchester, Portland, San Antonio and Houston. Jeff Taffe and Chris Minard sandwiched goals around three from Bridgeport. Both Taffe and Minard also added assists in the game.

The Penguins seven-game road swing was 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 (4-3-0-0)

The Penguins' first home game since October 17 proved to be much more successful, as Adam Berkhoel shut down the Lowell Devils for the second time this season, stopping 26 shots in a 4-0 victory on November 7. Chris Minard netted a pair of power play goals in the early going, while Ryan Stone and Tim Wallace chipped in with first period tallies to give Wilkes-Barre/Scranton all the offense it would need. Minard's first tally turned out to be the game-winning goal - his fourth of the season.

The Hershey Bears visited the Wachovia Arena one night later, and they helped to wake Danny Richmond from hibernation, as the Pens defender posted three assists - his first points of the season - in a 4-3 win. Richmond set up goals from Dustin Jeffrey (even strength), Bill Thomas (shorthanded) and Jeff Taffe (power play). Jonathan Filewich also scored for the Penguins, and John Curry made 29 saves for the win.

UPCOMING GAMES:

The Penguins are off until Friday, when they begin a home-and-home series with the Binghamton Senators at the Broome County Veteran's Memorial Arena at 7:05pm. Those same teams face off the following night in Wilkes-Barre at 7:05, and the Pens finish the weekend with a Sunday afternoon contest at home against the Syracuse Crunch at 5:05pm

LEAGUE LEADERS

Chris Minard is second in points (20), first in goals (13), tied for fifth in power play goals (3), first in game-winning goals (3), tied for second in power play goals (5), and tied for fourth in plus/minus (plus-11)

Janne Pesonen is tied for 18th in points (13), tied for sixth in assists (11), tied for eight in power play assists (3) and tied for eighth in plus/minus (plus-10)

Jeff Taffe is fourth in points (18), tied for third in goals (9), tied for 12th in assists (9), tied for third in game-winning goals (2) and tied for second in plus/minus (plus-12)

Ben Lovejoy is tied for fourth in plus/minus (plus-11)

Adam Berkhoel is sixth in goals against average (2.26), sixth in save percentage (.927), tied for 14th in wins (4) and tied for first in shutouts (2)

MINARD'S GREAT START: Chris Minard has had one of the hottest scoring hands in the American Hockey League this season, recording 20 points (13+7) in 20 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.

He carries an 11-game scoring streak into this week's action.

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 1-1-2

Oct. 31 @ San Antonio On Recall To Pittsburgh

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

Nov. 5 @ Bridgeport 1-1-2

Nov. 7 vs. Lowell 2-0-2 Game-Winning Goal

Nov. 8 vs. Hershey 0-1-1

Minard's personal best for points in a game is three, and he has already accomplished that feat three 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)

November 2, 2008 @ Houston (3+0)

Minard netted a hat trick in his return to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton from Pittsburgh, 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 one point in every game he has played with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season.

MINNY A WINNER: Chris Minard has recorded four game-winning goals in the Penguins' first 12 games. The team record for game-winners in a season is eight, set by Kurtis McLean in 2007-08.

Minard now has six game-winning goals in his Wilkes-Barre/Scranton career. The team record is 13 (Michel Ouellet).

PESONEN POURING ON POINTS: Janne Pesonen continues to be one of the most consistent helpers in the AHL this season, having recorded at least one point and one assist (2+11=13) in nine of the 11 games he has appeared in so far.

Pesonen picked up points in his first six games in North America (2+7=9) after joining the Penguins from Karpat in Finland. He was held scoreless against the Portland Pirates on October 25, and was recalled by the Pittsburgh Penguins following that contest.

He rejoined Wilkes-Barre/Scranton prior to a November 2 game against the Houston Aeros, in which he recorded two assists. Pesonen has four points (0+4) in four games since his return to the AHL.

TAFFE FINALLY TAMED: Jeff Taffe saw his six-game scoring streak snapped on November 7 against the Lowell Devils - a string which included multiple points in each contest.

JEFF TAFFE'S SIX-GAME 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

Nov. 5 @ Bridgeport 1-1-2

TOTALS 7-6-13

Taffe picked right back up on November 8, though, notching a goal and an assist in the Penguins 4-3 win against the Hershey Bears. His goal was his second game-winner of the season.

Since being assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Taffe has recorded 18 points (9+9) in 11 games. He has recorded at least one point in nine of those games, and multiple points in eight contests.

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 39 points (20+19) in 38 games (as of November 10).

BERKHOEL HAS A DEVILISH TIME: Goaltender Adam Berkhoel must wish the Lowell Devils played in the East Division. Berkhoel has faced the Devils twice this season, shutting out Lowell on both occasions (October 22, 5-0, 46 saves; November 7, 4-0, 26 saves). Those were Berkhoel's second and third career AHL Shutouts, and his 46 saves in the first meeting was a career high.

Berkhoel's only other AHL shutout came last season as a member of the Grand Rapids Griffins. He stopped 18 shots in a 1-0 win against Manitoba on February 23.

RICHMOND BREAKS OUT: Defenseman Danny Richmond was held without a point through the Penguins first 11 games, but picked up three assists in the team's 4-3 win against the Hershey Bears on November 8. Those were Richmond's first AHL points since Feb. 15, 2008. He missed the final two months of last season recovering from an injury incurred while playing with the Rockford Ice Hogs.

The three points were one shy of Richmond's career best (2+2=4), set as a member of the Norfolk Admirals against the Binghamton Senators on November 17, 2006.

STONE CLIMBING SCORING LADDER: Ryan Stone picked up his fourth goal of the season on November 2 against the Lowell Devils, giving him 117 points (36+81) for his Penguins career. That moved him one point ahead of Ross Lupaschuk on the team's all-time scoring list and into 12th place.

Stone's 81 assists (5 this season) place him tied for eighth on the team's all-time list with Martin Sonnenberg.

THANKS FOR GIVING FOOD DRIVE SET FOR SUNDAY

Join Froggy 101 and the Pens on Sunday, November 16th for The Doc's Show annual Thanks for Giving Food Drive. Fans are encouraged to bring canned goods and other nonperishable items to benefit local food banks this holiday season. Donations will be collected at Froggy's concourse table in Section 106.

GREAT DEALS FROM THE PENGUINS

WE BUY THE GAS

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 Penguins tickets (usable in any combination) 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.

DOUBLE FEATURE PLAN

It's a Penguins double feature! Buy two tickets to the Wednesday, November 26th game vs. the Philadelphia Phantoms and get two free movie passes to Wilkes-Barre Movies 14 - a more than $25.00 value! Packages are NOW available and start at just $30.00. Offer redeemable at the Penguins Team Store in the Waterfront Complex only. Movie passes based on availability. Limited time offer so hurry in soon!

FREE TICKETS FROM RBK

Stop by the Pens Team Store in the Waterfront Complex and take advantage of a special retail promotion from Reebok and CCM. For a limited time, buy any new RBK Edge jersey and receive two free tickets to a future Pens game! This promotion only lasts as long as the tickets do, so don't delay and take advantage of this special offer today!

SUNDAYS ARE FUN DAYS FOR KIDS

In honor of the Pens 10th Anniversary Season all blue and gold zone tickets to any Sunday game are just $10 for kids 14 and under! Be sure to take advantage of this offer next Sunday as your Pens take on the Syracuse Crunch! Tickets can be purchased at the Wachovia Arena Box Office or any Ticketmaster outlet.

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!

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS

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

Check out the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Statistics

• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...

American Hockey League Stories from November 10, 2008


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.

Other Recent Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central