AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

Penguins Weekly

Published on March 20, 2012 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Source: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins News Release


LAST WEEK'S RESULTS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14: Penguins 1, ADMIRALS 4...

Tyler Johnson had a goal and two assists to lead the Admirals to a 4-1 win over the Penguins on Wednesday night at the Norfolk Scope.

Bryan Lerg opened the scoring, giving Wilkes-Barre/Scranton a 1-0 lead at 8:47 of the first, but the Admirals responded with goals 31 seconds apart by Richard Panik and Radko Gudas.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton was held to a season-low 13 shots by Norfolk. Scott Munroe made 29 saves in the loss.

SATURDAY, MARCH 17: PENGUINS 4, Sharks 1...

Alexandre Picard registered the first hat trick of his professional career and the first one of the season for Wilkes- Barre/Scranton in a 4-1 drubbing of Worcester at Mohegan Sun Arena.

The seventh-year pro notched two of his goals as part of a 3-for-9 effort by the Penguins' power play. Ryan Craig provided the eventual game-winner on the man-advantage at 8:10 of the first period.

Scott Munroe had his shutout bid spoiled by a 5-on-4 goal by John McCarthy, but stopped the other 27 shots he faced for his 16th win of the season.

SUNDAY, MARCH 18: PENGUINS 3, Senators 2...

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton rallied from a two-goal deficit to overcome Binghamton, 3-2, at Mohegan Sun Arena.

Ben Street brought the Penguins even with two goals in the second period. His even-strength marker at 4:38 of the frame was followed by a power play tally four and a half minutes later. Geoff Walker notched the deciding goal with 7:32 left in regulation.

Scott Munroe's 24 save-performance raised his record to 17-6-3

MILESTONE WEEKEND...

It was a weekend of milestones as the Penguins won both games to start their homestand. On Saturday, Alexandre Picard picked up the first hat trick of the season for the Penguins as his team defeated the Worcester Sharks, 4-1. It was Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's first hat trick and first by a defenseman since Steve Wagner scored the first three goals in a 6-3 win on Apr. 23, 2011 that eliminated the Norfolk Admirals in Game 6 of the Division Semifinal. The following night it was Scott Munroe making 24 saves in a 3-2 Penguins win over the Binghamton Senators for his 100th AHL victory.

ICE CHIPS...

Alex Grant is third among AHL rookies and tied for second among defensemen with 25 power play points (6g- 19a)...Wilkes-Barre/Scranton leads the league in shots allowed at 29.3 per game...With a record of 26-1-1-1, the Penguins have the third-highest winning percentage when leading after the second period (.948)...Scott Munroe has won four of his last five starts...Ben Street has posted nine points (5g-4a) in his last six games.

PENGUINS RECENT TRANSACTIONS...

03/19/2012 Philip Samuelsson D ADD Reassigned by Pittsburgh (NHL) from Wheeling (ECHL)

03/14/2012 Philip Samuelsson D DEL Reassigned by Pittsburgh (NHL) to Wheeling (ECHL)

UPCOMING GAMES

FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 7:05 PM: PENGUINS vs. Phantoms...

The Phantoms make their only visit of the season to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton looking to stop a three-game losing streak. At 30-31-2-1, Adirondack sits in fifth place in the Northeast Division, but with 63 points, is only four out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Phantoms rookie Jason Akeson is tied for first among first-year players in assists (37) and power play points (29). He ranks first with 23 power play assists and is tied for seventh with 47 points (10g-27a). Denis Hamel leads the entire league with 256 shots.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton scored a 3-2 win on March 4 in its first meeting this season against Adirondack. Paul Thompson and Brandon DeFazio scored goals twenty seconds apart in the third period as the Penguins came back for the win. The Penguins are 11-5-1-0 (W-L-T-OTL-SOL) all-time against the Phantoms.

SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 7:05 PM: PENGUINS vs. IceCaps...

St. John's dropped three of four during a busy week that saw the team play four games in six days. The IceCaps lead the Atlantic Division with a record of 38-18-5-2 and their magic number to clinch a playoff spot is eight.

The IceCaps start a six-game road stretch on Wednesday in Hershey. St. John's has the league's best road winning percentage (.759) with a record of 20-5-2-2. They are also averaging the third-most goals per game with 3.32.

The road team has been the victor in the Penguins and IceCaps' previous three games. St. John's triumphed in the most recent meeting, 5-2, on March 6. Bryan Lerg has three goals and an assist in two games versus the Ice Caps. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton leads the all-time series 2-1-0-0-0.

SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 3:05 PM: PENGUINS vs. Falcons...

This is the final match of the four-game season series between Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Springfield. The Falcons are in third place in the Northeast Division with a record of 30-29-3-3. They are one point behind the Worcester Sharks for eighth place in the conference.

Nick Drazenovic has posted three goals and two assists in his last three games. The Falcons are tied with the Penguins for the most shorthanded goals scored this season (13). Martin St. Pierre is third in the league with 48 helpers.

The Penguins have taken two of the three games versus the Falcons this season, including a 4-3 shootout win on March 11 in Springfield. The Penguins have a 10-6-1-2-0 record in the all-time series.

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, March 22. Admission to each taping is free and open to any Penguins fans in the area.

UPCOMING EVENTS/PROMOTIONS...

Friday's contest against the Adirondack Phantoms on March 23, and all Friday home games, is a Dollar Dog and Draft Night. Fans can purchase dollar dogs while supplies last, and fans 21 years of age and older may purchase select draft beers also for just $1 from 6:00-7:30pm.

On Saturday, March 24 when the Penguins battle the IceCaps, the first 5,000 fans will receive a Zach Sill bobblehead magnet.

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 76 regular-season Penguins games can be heard live on the home for Penguins hockey, 102.3 The Mountain, and online at www.wbspenguins.com. Games may also be viewed online 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

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American Hockey League Stories from March 20, 2012


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.

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