AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

Pens Look To Lock Up Second Division Championship

Published on April 8, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins News Release


WILKES-BARRE, PA - The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins head into the final week of the American Hockey League regular season with a chance to capture the club's second division championship.

With three games left in the 2007-08 campaign, the Penguins currently hold down the top spot in the East Division with a record of 46-26-1-4, good for 97 points. Although that point total only puts them in a tie with the Philadelphia Phantoms (45-25-4-3, 97 points), the Penguins currently hold the first tie-breaker (total wins) over their intra-state rivals.

The Penguins, who clinched their sixth straight appearance in the Calder Cup Playoffs with a 6-1 win against the Springfield Falcons last Friday, control their own fate in the race for first place. Winning all three remaining games would guarantee a second East Division regular season championship, which the Pens also captured in 2005-06.

REMAINING REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULES

PENGUINS PHANTOMS

Wednesday, April 9 vs. Bridgeport Friday, April 11 vs. Hershey

Friday, April 11 @ Albany Saturday, April 12 @ Hershey

Saturday, April 12 vs. Norfolk Sunday, April 13 vs. Albany

THIS WEEK'S GAMES

Wednesday, April 9 vs. Bridgeport - The Sound Tigers (38-34-1-3, 80 points) will be fighting for their playoff lives when they visit the Wachovia Arena on Wednesday. Bridgeport sits in sixth place, six points behind the Hershey Bears for the fourth and final playoff spot. The Sound Tigers have four games remaining to the Bears' three.

Wednesday night's game is also fan appreciation night at the Wachovia Arena, with everyone entering the building winning at least one prize - and many Penguins backers will be taking home multiple gifts! A full list of items being given out is at the end of this release.

Friday, April 11 @ Albany - The River Rats (42-28-3-4, 91 points) have locked up a spot in the postseason for the second straight year following a six-season absence from Calder Cup competition.

Saturday, April 12 vs. Norfolk - The Admirals (27-43-2-5, 61 points) help the Penguins to wrap up the regular season on Team Awards Night. Fans are also encouraged to stay after the game for a very special ceremony honoring Dennis Bonvie as he appears in his final regular season AHL contest.

INDIVIDUAL PENGUINS PLAYOFF TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

Individual tickets for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins first three playoff contests are now on sale. Tickets for games A, B and C (dates and opponents to be determined) start at just $16.50 per ticket, and feature no price increase over regular season individual ticket prices. 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.

PENGUINS MARCH/APRIL SCHEDULE: TEAM LEADERS:

DATE TIME OPPONENT Goals Chris Minard - 25

Wed., April 9 7:05pm vs. Bridgeport Assists Tim Brent - 45

Fri., April 11 7:00pm @ Albany Points Tim Brent - 61

Sat., April 12 7:05pm vs. Norfolk PIM Dennis Bonvie - 198

Sun., April 6 5:00pm @ Hershey Plus/Minus Lovejoy/Goligoski - plus-16

Wins John Curry - 23

G.A.A. John Curry - 2.14

Save % John Curry - .917

PENGUINS POINTS OF INTEREST

PENS CLINCH PLAYOFF SPOT

The Penguins clinched their sixth consecutive playoff appearance with their 6-1 win Friday against the Springfield Falcons. The Pens have qualified for the postseason in seven of their nine seasons in the league.

CURRY CLIMBING

John Curry appeared in his 36th game of the season on Friday night against Springfield, moving him into seventh place on the team's all-time games played list among goaltenders. He also picked up his 23rd win of the season, the third highest single season win total in team history behind only Marc- Andre Fleury's 26 in 2004-05 and Dany Sabourin's 30 in 2005-06.

NAS NABS ANOTHER

Alain Nasreddine picked up an assist in the Pens' 6-1 win Friday vs. Springfield, giving him 55 points for his Wilkes-Barre/Scranton career. That tied him with Ryan Whitney and Micki DuPont for sixth place among defensemen scorers all time on the team. Nasreddine also picked up two penalty minutes in the win, giving him 300 for his Penguins career, 15th on the team's all-time list.

ROAD WARRIORS

The Penguins' 4-3 overtime win against the Hershey Bears on Sunday was the 24th road victory of the season for the club, establishing a new single season record. The Pens had won 23 road games in both the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons.

MINARD POWERING UP

Chris Minard tied the Penguins team record for power play goals in a season by notching his 13th of the year on April 6 against the Bears. Greg Crozier originally set the mark during the 2000-01 season.

STONE STEPS UP

Ryan Stone picked up an assist in Sunday's win in Hershey, giving him 105 points in his Penguins career. That moved him ahead of Greg Crozier for 15th place on the team's all-time points list. The assist was the 73rd of Stone's Penguins career, tying him with Michel Ouellet for 12th place on the team's all time list.

BRENT HELPING OUT

Tim Brent entered the final week of regular season play with 43 assists on the year, the second-highest single season total in team history. Kris Beech holds the team record with 48 assists in one season, set during the 2004-05 campaign. Brent's 61 points as of April 7 were the sixth highest single season total in team history. Toby Petersen holds the team record with 67 points in the 2000-01 season.

COACH CREEPING ON 100

Todd Richards collected his 97th win as Penguins head coach on Sunday in Hershey, meaning a sweep of the final three games of the regular season would give the second-year bench boss 100 wins in his brief career as a head coach. Glenn Patrick holds the team record with 115 wins.

FAN APPRECIATION NIGHT PRIZES

4,500 Fresh Fit Meals from Subway

3,000 BOGO coupons from Arena Bar and Grill

1,000 Penguins Autographed Pucks

1,000 Penguins Hats & T-Shirts

800 Free Movie Passes from Wilkes-Barre Theatres 14

800 Penguins Yearbooks

600 Free Movie Passes from Cinemark

50 Game Used Penguins Sticks

50 Waterpark Passes from Camelbeach

14 Party Platters from Subway

12 Toasted Wrap Sandwiches from KFC

10 Tiffany Style Penguins Lamps

10 pairs of tickets to Raven Simone's Pajama Party

6 Three day/two night stays from Caesars

6 Gift Baskets from Wegman's

5 pairs of tickets to Blue Man Group

4 Jr. Season Passes from Camelbeach

4 Single Night Starys at Hilton Garden Inn

3 Adult Season Passes from Camelbeach

2 32" LCD High Definition from Rent A Center

2 Cannon digital cameras Rent A Center

2 Toshiba DVD/VCR combo's Rent A Center

2 Hockey Stick Chairs from L.T. Verrastro

2 Team Autographed Drum Heads from L.T. Verrastro

2 Coors Light Hooded Sweatshirts from L.T. Verrastro

2 Team Autographed Sticks from L.T. Verrastro

1 Cannon computer printer Rent A Center

1 42" Plasma TV from Sundance Vacations

1 Trip for 2 to New York City from Martz

1 Recovery Room Package from Woodhouse Day Spa

1 MOTORIZR Z6tv from Verizon Wireless

1 Molson Golf Bag from L.T. Verrastro

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American Hockey League Stories from April 8, 2008


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