AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

W-B/Scranton Opens First Weekend with Sullivan 1-1

October 13, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins News Release


Weekly Rewind

Friday, Oct. 9 - Penguins 2 at PROVIDENCE 1 (OT)

The first game of the season saw Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Providence try out the new full five-minute 3-on-3 overtime format. Matt Murray stopped 40 shots and Scott Wilson netted both goals in Mike Sullivan's first victory behind the Penguins bench. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's penalty kill went a perfect six-for-six at Dunkin' Donuts Center.

Saturday, Oct. 10 - Penguins 1 at BRIDGEPORT 4

Will O'Neill earned the Penguins' first power play goal of the season, but a barrage of Bridgeport chances broke the dam in the second game of a weekend back-to-back. Bracken Kearns opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal, and Jesse Graham ended up with the game-winner. Matt Murray made 24 saves while Christopher Gibson stopped 26 shots in his Sound Tigers debut.

The Week Ahead

Saturday, Oct. 17 - PENGUINS vs. Lehigh Valley

The Penguins open things up at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza with an afternoon showdown against Lehigh Valley. The Phantoms will come to town as the second game of a back- to-back. Lehigh Valley will be in Springfield the night before.

This marks the second year in a row that Wilkes- Barre/Scranton opens at home against Lehigh Valley. Last season, the Phantoms got the better of their host, 5-2.

However, the Penguins won the season series 7-3-0-2 and are 20-8-0-2 against the Phantoms franchise in the past five years.

Sunday, Oct. 18 - Penguins at BRIDGEPORT

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton gets the chance to exact some quick revenge on the team that handed it its first loss of the young season. Bridgeport has scored 10 goals in its first two games of the season, the most in the AHL.

Ice Chips

- Goaltender Matt Murray's 40 saves in Providence marked his first 40+ save performance since Apr. 11, 2015 at Portland in a 5-2 victory. Murray has made 40+ saves three times in his AHL career, but only once without the aid of an overtime period.

- Though his record is .500 after week one, Murray's save percentage is .941 through two games, identical to his final save percentage the year before. Murray is the AHL's reigning Rookie of the Year and Goalie of the Year.

- The Penguins' win at Providence not only gave new head coach Mike Sullivan his first win with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, but also his first regulation/overtime win as a head coach since Mar. 25, 2006 (Boston Bruins def. Buffalo Sabres, 5-4).

- The Penguins' penalty kill has yet to be beaten this season, successfully killing off all eight of its opponents' power play opportunities.

UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE

DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME

Sat, Oct. 17 Lehigh Valley Mohegan Sun Arena 4:05pm

Sun, Oct. 18 Bridgeport Webster Bank Arena 5:00pm

RECENT TRANSACTIONS

Thu, Oct. 8 DEL (C) Kevin Porter Recalled by PIT

Check out the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from October 13, 2015


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