AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

Pens Bring Eight Game Winning Streak Back Home

Published on March 18, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins News Release


The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (40-24-0-3, 83 points, second in East Division) return to the friendly confines of the Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza Wednesday, settling in for the first of five consecutive home contests. Ten of the Penguins' final 13 regular season games will take place on home ice.

The Penguins carry an eight-game winning streak into Wednesday night's game against the Lowell Devils - one game shy of tying the team record for consecutive wins. That mark was originally set between October 5-29, 2005, and tied earlier this season when the Pens ran off nine straight wins from December 15 through January 2.

THIS WEEK'S ACTION

Wednesday, March 19 vs. Lowell - The Devils hold down the seventh spot in the Atlantic Division with a 21-34-7-4 record for 53 points. This is the second and final meeting between the clubs this season, after the Pens took a 3-2 win in Massachusetts back on January 23. Petr Varna leads the Devils with 47 points (12+35), while Barry Tallackson paces the club with 21 goals.

Friday, March 21 vs. Albany - The River Rats (37-26-2-4, 80 points) currently reside in third place in the East Division after dropping a 2-0 decision to the Penguins last Saturday. Goaltender Michael Leighton leads the entire AHL with a 2.04 goals against average, just .03 points better than the Penguins' John Curry. Jamie Johnson leads the Albany offense with 50 points (17+33) on the season. This is the sixth of eight meetings between the clubs this season, with the Penguins holding a 3-2 edge in the season series.

Saturday, March 22 vs. Providence - The Bruins (46-15-3-3, 98 points, first in Atlantic Division) are the first team in the AHL to clinch a playoff berth this season. Pascal Pelletier ranks fourth in the league with 31 goals and sixth with 64 points. The Bruins have picked up points in their past six games, going 4-0-0-2, with one of those shootout losses coming to the Penguins on Sunday afternoon.

PENS PROMOTIONS THIS WEEK

* The first 6,000 fans at Friday night's game between the Penguins and River Rats will receive a Penguins game-worn jersey card. The players featured in the fourth and final jersey card giveaway will be Dennis Bonvie, Ryan Stone, Tyler Kennedy, Nathan Smith, Joe Jensen and Jeff Taffe.

TEAM TO HONOR DARCY ROBINSON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins will pay tribute to former defenseman Darcy Robinson at the team's home games on March 21 and 22.

Robinson passed away on September 27 while playing for Asiago Hockey AS of the Italian Ice Hockey Federation. He suited up for the Penguins from 2001-2005, after being drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the eighth round (233rd overall) of the 1999 Entry Draft.

"Darcy spent four years in Northeast Pennsylvania, and became one of our fan favorites during the early years of the team," said Barrett. "We feel that it is only fitting that we ensure his legacy lives on in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area."

Many of the events during the weekend will center around the fight against dyslexia, a condition from which Robinson suffered. Several fund-raising efforts will go towards funding that battle, with the money raised benefiting local charities battling the disease, as well as the team's Robo's Readers school program.

"Our family is happy that the Penguins have taken an active role combating dyslexia," said Ernesta Marie Robinson, Darcy's mother, who will be in Wilkes-Barre for the weekend honoring her son. "Despite suffering from dyslexia, Darcy never let his condition dictate his life. He felt very strongly about doing all he could to help others with dyslexia, and we hope this special weekend will help in those efforts."

A permanent banner featuring Darcy's nickname (Robo), which will be raised to the Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza rafters prior to the Penguins March 22 game against the Providence Bruins. Fans can sign the banner for a $5 donation through the end of Friday night's game against the Albany River Rats.

There will also be two special jersey raffles conducted during the March 21 and 22 games, featuring the home and away sweaters from Robinson's Asiago club. Tickets for both raffles will be $10 for one or $20 for three.

Additionally, the Penguins Break Away game program for those nights will feature articles about Darcy's time in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, as well as remembrances from former teammates. Lineup cards for both games will also feature photos of the former Penguins defenseman.

NEWS AND NOTES

STINGY ON THE ICE

The Penguins have allowed just 152 goals through 67 games this season, an average of 2.27 goals per game. Only the Houston Aeros have allowed fewer total goals in the AHL with 149, however they have also played three fewer games than the Penguins.

The team record for fewest goals allowed in a season is 178, set by the 2005-06 squad.

MAC TIES TEAM MARK FOR GWG

Kurtis Mclean picked up his seventh game-winning goal of the season in the Penguins 2-0 win in Albany last Saturday, moving him into a tie for third in the American Hockey League this year.

Mac's seventh decisive goal of the year also tied the team record for game-winning goals in a season, which was originally set by Michel Ouellet (2003-04) and tied by Matt Hussey (2005-06).

McLean's 19 goals were the most of any player currently on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton roster as of March 17. Chris Minard, who was still on recall to Pittsburgh, leads the team overall with 21.

GREAT GOING FOR GOVE

Dave Gove recorded his first professional hat trick on March 12 against the Norfolk Admirals. It was the fourth hat trick of the year for the Penguins, and the 20th in team history.

Gove recorded nine goals in his first 23 games with the Penguins since being acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes for Joe Jensen on February 1. He netted eight goals in 45 games with the Albany River Rats this season.

LOTS OF LOVE FOR BEN

Ben Lovejoy picked up his first AHL goal against the Admirals on March 12. Lovejoy had 17 points (1+16) through his first 59 games this season, his first full professional campaign. He was scoreless during a five game tryout with the Norfolk Admirals at the end of last season.

As of Monday, Lovejoy was 15th in the league and second among rookies with a plus-17 rating on the year.

FILEWICH FEELING GOOD IN MARCH

Jonathan Filewich recorded seven points (1+6) in nine games between March 1 and 16, making it his best month of the season so far. Three of those points came during the Penguins 4-1 win in Bridgeport on March 14. All three of those were assists, setting a new personal best for assists in a game for the third year pro. Filewich now ranks 11th on the team's all-time points list with 119 career points, 10 behind 10th place Colby Armstrong

LANNON CANNON

Ryan Lannon picked up his third goal of the season during the Penguins' 2-0 win in Albany on March 15, setting a new personal best for goals in a season.

BRENT HITS 50

Tim Brent picked up two assists in the Penguins' 4-1 win in Bridgeport on March 14, giving him 50 points for the season. He is just the 16th player in team history to hit the 50-point mark, and needs just six points in the team's final 13 games to surpass the team-leading 56 points recorded by Jonathan Filewich and Kyle Brodziak last season.

BISS BREAKS THROUGH

Paul Bissonnette recorded the second multi-point game of his AHL career last Friday against the Sound Tigers, picking up a goal and an assist in the Penguins win. His first multiple point game with the Penguins came back on March 24, 2006 when he recorded two assists against the Hershey Bears.

Bissonnette added an assist on Kurtis McLean's gaol against the Providence Bruins on Sunday, giving him six points (2+4) in 38 games this season. That equalled his point production from his first season in the AHL, when he had one goal and five assists in 55 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

CURRY SCURRIES ALONG

Goaltender John Curry picked up his seventh consecutive victory by shutting out the River Rats, 2-0, last Saturday. The Albany win was his 19th on the season, the seventh-highest single season total in team history. He also notched his third shutout of the year, which is just two shy of the team record of five in a season, set by Marc-Andre Fleury in 2004-05.

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American Hockey League Stories from March 18, 2008


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