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AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

Pens Can Wrap Up Series Friday

April 25, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins News Release


The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins will look to advance in the Calder Cup Playoffs this Friday night, when they take on the Hershey Bears in Game Five of the East Division Semifinals at the Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza. Game time is set for 7:05pm, and plenty of good seats are still available.

The Penguins carry a three-games-to-one advantage in the best-of-seven series. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton posted decisive victories in their previous two home games against their East Division foes, winning 6-2 in Game Two last Saturday and 5-1 in Game Three on Sunday.

This is the sixth straight year the Penguins have qualified for postseason play, and the seventh time in the club's nine year history.

Individual tickets for Games C and D are on sale now, and available through all TicketMaster locations, on line at www.ticketmaster.com, by phone at 693-4100, or through the Wachovia Arena Box Office.

Fans holding vouchers from the Penguins' Robo's Readers School Reading Program or from Sundance Vacations can use those vouchers for any first round playoff game. Vouchers must be redeemed through the Penguins ticket office located at 670 North River Street in the Waterfront Complex.

WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON PENGUINS vs. HERSHEY BEARS Game 1 Wednesday, April 16 @ Giant Center 2-1 Win (OT) Game 2 (A) Saturday, April 19 @ Wachovia Arena 6-2 Win Game 3 (B) Sunday, April 20 @ Wachovia Arena 5-1 Win Game 4 Wednesday, April 23 @ Giant Center 3-2 Loss (OT) Game 5 (C) Friday, April 25 @ Wachovia Arena 7:05pm *Game 6 Saturday, April 26 @ Giant Center 7:00pm *Game 7 (D) Sunday, April 27 @ Wachovia Arena 5:05pm

INDIVIDUAL PENGUINS PLAYOFF TICKETS ON SALE NOW! Individual tickets for home games C and D are now on sale. If the Penguins lose in Hershey on Wednesday, Game C would take place Friday night at 7:05pm. If the Penguins win Wednesday, the date, time and opponent for Game C will be determined by the outcome of the Philadelphia Phantoms-Albany River Rats series. Tickets can be purchased at the Wachovia Arena Box Office, through www.ticketmaster.com, by phone at 570-693-4100 and at all TicketMaster locations.

PENS IN THE PLAYOFFS: This is the sixth consecutive season the Penguins have made an appearance in the Calder Cup Playoffs, and the seventh time in the nine year history of the team.The Penguins have an all-time playoff record of 45-43 in postseason competition, and have outscored their opponents 249-247

.WHEN UP 3-1: The Penguins have held three games to one leads on two previous occasions (2001 Western Conference Semifinals vs. Philadelphia; 2004 East Division Finals vs. Philadelphia). On both occasions the Penguins went on to drop Game Five, but also went on to win both series in six games.

WITH A CHANCE TO CLINCH: The Penguins have an all-time record of 10-6 in games when they have a chance to clinch a playoff series.

IN GAME FIVE: The Penguins have a record of 5-6 in Game Fives, and just a 1-3 Game Five record on home ice.

WORKING OVERTIME: The Penguins have played 88 postseason games during the past nine years, with 27 of those going to overtime (30.3% of all games).The Penguins have posted a 16-11 record in overtime games in the playoffs (11-7 on the road, 5-4 at home).

SERIES NOTES

With their 3-2 OT loss in Game Four, the Penguins have now have an all-time playoff record of 8-9 against the Bears. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has been outscored by Hershey, 39-45.

Tim Brent leads all scorers in the series with seven points (3+4), and carries a four-game scoring streak into Game Five.

Chris Minard has recorded four goals in the first four games of the series. The Pens' record for goals in a playoff series is six, set by Milan Kraft in 2001 against Philadelphia.

The team record for points in a period (two) has been equaled seven times so far this postseason, bringing the total number of times the feat has been accomplished to 36

NOTES FROM GAME FOUR:

Luca Caputi made his professional debut in Game Four, going scoreless and even. He was signed to an ATO by the Penguins on April 17.

Chris Minard tied the team playoff record for goals in a period, picking up two in the third. It was the fifth time a Penguins player has accomplished the feat (Milan Kraft, 4/28/01 vs. Philadelphia; Micki DuPont, 4/19/03 vs. Grand Rapids; Kris Beech, 5/23/04 vs. Hartford; Jonathan Filewich, 4/21/07 vs. Norfolk

Minard also tied the team record for goals in a game (23rd time) and points in a period.

NOTES FROM GAME THREE:

Dennis Bonvie appeared in his 99th career AHL playoff game, and his 100th professional playoff game overall. He suited up for one game with the Boston Bruins during the 2002 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

John Curry became the second Penguins goaltender to win his first three playoff games with his 5-1 victory in Game Three. Andy Chiodo picked up wins in his first three playoff appearances with the Penguins during the 2004 East Division Semifinals vs. Bridgeport (Game 5, April 22 - 2-1 OT; Game 6, April 23 - 5-0; Game 7, April 25 - 3-2 OT).

Chiodo went on to start Game 1 of the East Division Finals vs. Philadelphia, allowing four goals in just over a period before being pulled in favor of Sebastien Caron, who went on to earn the victory. Chiodo returned to the pipes for Game 3, posting a 3-0 win, and followed that up with a 2-0 shutout in Game 4 before dropping a 4-2 decision in Game 5, meaning he actually won his first five decisions. Alex Goligoski recorded two assists in the first period of Game Three, tying the team record for assists in a playoff period. It was the 16th time a Penguins player had accomplished the feat.

NOTES FROM GAME TWO

The Penguins tied the team record for goals in a home playoff game with six, which was previously set three times (4/19/03 vs. Grand Rapids; 5/23/01 vs. Saint John; 4/18/01 vs. Syracuse). Nathan Smith attempted the first penalty shot in Penguins playoff history, failing to convert against Frederic Cassivi at 7:21 of the first period. Dennis Bonvie appeared in his 98th career AHL playoff game, moving him into sole possession of 10th place on the league's all-time list. John Stevens is ninth with 102 games. The win upped the Penguins record in Game Twos to 6-11 overall and 6-3 at home. Tim Brent notched two goals in the game, the 22nd time in team history a player has netted multiple goals in a game. WORKING OVERTIME: The Penguins have played 85 postseason games during the past nine years, with 26 of those going to overtime (30.6% of all games).

The Penguins have posted a 16-10 record in overtime games in the playoffs (11-6 on the road, 5-4 at home).

WIN IN HERSHEY IS SWEET: The Penguins' 2-1 overtime win in Game One was the team's first playoff victory at the Giant Center in six tries. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton dropped Games Three and Four of the 2006 East Division Finals to the Bears by 4-1 and 1-0 scores, then fell in Games One (4-3), Two (4-3, 2OT) and Five (7-6, OT) of the 2007 East Division Finals.

The Penguins won Games Three and Four of the 2001 Western Conference Finals in Hershey (5-4 in OT & 3-1), but those games were played in the old Hershey Park Arena.

PENS DEBUTS: Five Penguins appeared in their first AHL postseason contests last Wednesday night in Hershey: goaltender John Curry, defensemen Ben Lovejoy and Alex Goligoski, and forwards J.M. Daoust and Nick Johnson

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