AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

Penguins Weekly

February 7, 2012 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins News Release


LAST WEEK'S RESULTS

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3: PENGUINS 4, Bears 3...

Down 3-0 after two periods, the Penguins exploded for four goals in the third to rally for a 4-3 win over the Bears at Mohegan Sun Arena.

Jason Williams started the comeback with a 5-on-3 power play goal 1:58 into the final frame. Brandon DeFazio and Robert Bortuzzo both beat Hershey goaltender Braden Holtby to complete a flurry of three goals over a span of 2:44. Paul Thompson potted the game-winner with 4:29 left in regulation.

Brad Thiessen registered the victory with 23 saves on 26 shots by Hershey.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4: PENGUINS 5, Devils 2...

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton opened up a 3-0 first period lead on the Devils, but it wasn't until Bryan Lerg recorded goals 16 seconds apart in the fleeting minutes of regulation that the Penguins were able to secure the 5-2 in on their home ice.

Defensemen Alex Grant and Joey Mormina sandwiched goals around a Brian Gibbons' power play tally to account for the Penguins' scoring in the first period. Bryan Lerg gave the Penguins insurance with 1:45 left in regulation and added the empty-netter soon thereafter.

Geoff Walker had a game-high three assists, while Brad Thiessen made 20 saves for his 19th win of the season.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5: Penguins 3, BEARS 4 (SO)...

Hershey goaltender Braden Holtby made 24 saves through overtime and 3-of-4 in the shootout as the Bears ended the Penguins' nine-game winning streak at the Giant Center with a 4-3 win.

Brandon DeFazio's shorthanded goal gave Wilkes-Barre/Scranton a 1-0 lead 3:43 into the game. A 5-on-3 marker by Geoff Walker made it 3-2 for the Penguins midway through the second period. Mike Carman scored for Hershey in final frame to force overtime.

Bryan Lerg also recorded a goal and an assist to take over the team lead in points with 39 (21g-18a).

ICE CHIPS...

Jason Williams (2g-6a) and Bryan Lerg (3g-3a) are both on five-game point streaks...Brad Thiessen is tied for second in the AHL with 19 wins...Brandon DeFazio's shorthanded goal was the Penguins' 10th on the road and 12th overall - both tops in the league...Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's offense has risen to the fifth best in the league, averaging 3.27 goals per game...The Penguins have yet to lose in regulation on the road in a game that has been decided by one goal.

UPCOMING GAMES

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 7:05 PM: PENGUINS vs. Pirates...

The Portland Pirates make their final visit of the season to Mohegan Sun Arena when they skate into town on Saturday. Portland (22-19-2-3) put an end to a three-game skid by defeating Binghamton, 5-2, last Saturday. The Pirates are currently tied for fourth in the Atlantic Division and sit just two points out of the final playoff spot in the East Conference.

Since his return from the Phoenix Coyotes, Patrick O'Sullivan has posted 11 points (4g-7a) in ten games for Portland. He is also on a five-game road assist streak (6a).

The Pirates got the better of the Penguins on Nov. 18 with a 3-2 shootout win in their first meeting, but Wilkes- Barre/Scranton got its revenge at home on Dec. 2 in a 4-1 victory. The Penguins complete the season series against the Pirates on Feb. 20 in Portland. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has an all-time record of 9-11-1-0-1 versus Portland.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 5:00 PM: Penguins at Bears...

With their victory over the Penguins on Sunday, the Bears won for just second time in eight games. Hershey (26- 14-4-3) occupies second place in the East Division and is four points behind Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the standings. This will be the final game for the Penguins at the Giant Center during the regular season.

The Bears' power play is 0-for-11 over the last three games since the recall of Keith Aucoin on February 3. With Aucoin in Washington, Hershey's active scoring leader, Chris Bourque, is also the active AHL leader in points (66) and assists (44).

The Penguins are 6-2-0-2 against the Bears this season with a 4-0-0-1 record in Hershey. The last meeting of the 2011-12 season will be on Apr. 6 in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The Penguins are 65-54-4-6-5 all-time versus the Bears.

THANKS 4 FIGHTING...

On Saturday, February 11, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins will host their Thanks 4 Fighting Night when they face off against the Portland Pirates. It will be the second straight year that the Penguins will join the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in their crusade against these terrible diseases. Fans who purchase a ticket to the game on Feb. 11 will also receive a Penguins hat and food voucher for a hot dog, soda and popcorn. Plus, $4 for each ticket sold will go back to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

In addition, season ticket sales executive Chris Kobela - currently fighting acute lymphoblastic leukemia - has partnered with Angel 34, a national organization united in the fight against childhood cancer and dedicated to finding a cure. The Penguins will be raffling off an autographed Mario Lemieux jersey on February 11 to benefit Angel 34 and also selling "Drop the Gloves vs. Cancer" branded CK in honor of Chris.

For information on Thanks 4 Fighting Night or to purchase tickets, contact Emily Kain in the Penguins' office at (570) 208-5415 or ekain@wbspenguins.com.

CHILLIN' WITH THE PENGUINS...

Fans will get an up close and personal look at the Penguins on TV, as CHILLIN' WITH THE PENGUINS hits the airwaves this season. The half hour show will feature Penguins broadcasters Tom Grace and Mike O'Brien chatting with Pens players, and will allow fans to ask questions directly to their favorite Penguins with an interactive Q&A session in each episode.

The show will feature two Penguins players or coaches each week, and will be taped in front of a live audience inside the Ice Rink at Coal Street Park (40 Coal Street in Wilkes-Barre). Ten shows will be taped this season, and aired at 6:30pm as a lead in to Penguins home games being broadcast on MyNetwork TV.

The next taping will be held at 6:00pm on Thursday, February 9. This week's guests will be Brad Thiessen and Brian Strait. Admission to each taping is free and open to any Penguins fans in the area.

UPCOMING EVENTS/PROMOTIONS...

Tickets for all upcoming Penguins home games are available at the PennStar Box Office at Mohegan Sun Arena, through any Ticketmaster outlet, or online at ticketmaster.com. Tickets can be purchased via phone by calling 1- 800-745-3000. Additionally, full and partial season ticket plans for the 2011-12 season of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Hockey are on sale, and available by calling 570-208-PENS (7367).

BROADCAST INFO...

All 80 regular-season Penguins games can be heard live on the home for Penguins hockey, 102.3 The Mountain, and on-line at www.wbspenguins.com. Games may also be viewed on-line at www.ahllive.com. AHL Live, powered by NeuLion, is the official video provider of the American Hockey League.

Check out the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from February 7, 2012


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