Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Aims for Revenge against Lehigh Valley
March 12, 2024 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins News Release
Weekly Rewind
Friday, Mar. 8 - PENGUINS 3 at Lehigh Valley 2
After falling behind in the second period, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton came from behind to stun a rowdy crowd a PPL Center. Austin Rueschhoff kicked off the scoring with an early, first-period power-play goal, but the Phantoms received two tucks from Rhett Gardner in the second period to seize a 2-1 lead. The Penguins pulled even on Lukas Svejkovsky's first goal of the season, followed by a dagger by Corey Andonovski with 2:08 remaining in regulation. Joel Blomqvist made 27 saves for his 18th win of the season.
Saturday, Mar. 9 - PENGUINS 2 vs. Lehigh Valley 4
The Phantoms returned the favor on Saturday, rallying in the third period with four-straight goals. After two stellar periods by Blomqvist, who was making back-to-back starts, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton entered the final frame with a 1-0 lead on a scorching slap shot by Ryan Shea. Lehigh Valley's comeback started on a power-play goal by Samu Tuomaala. A five-minute major power play for the Penguins turned sour when Brendan Furry scored shorthanded to snatch the lead for the Phantoms. Lehigh Valley rattled off two quick even-strength tallies to take a commanding 4-1 lead, before Sam Poulin rounded out the scoring with a penalty shot goal.
The Week Ahead
Wednesday, Mar. 13 - PENGUINS at Lehigh Valley
This will mark the third-straight game between the Penguins and Phantoms and the eighth matchup in their 12-game season series. Lehigh Valley has four wins to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's three, but the Penguins have gone 3-1-2-1 to pick up nine out of a possible 14 points. Three veterans are tied for the season-series lead, as the Penguins' Vinnie Hinostroza as well as the Phantoms' Cooper Marody and Rhett Gardner are all producing at a point-per-game pace through seven head-to-head games.
Ice Chips
- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton owns the league's fourth-best penalty kill (84.5%), which improves to third place at home (87.0%).
- Sam Poulin's penalty shot on Saturday was the first awarded to the Penguins this season, their first on home ice since Feb. 13, 2016, and their first penalty shot conversion at home since Mar. 14, 2014.
- Poulin has 12 points (4G-7A) in his last 10 games.
- Radim Zohorna has nine points (3G-6A) in his last six games.
- Vinnie Hinostroza is on a four-game point streak with six points (3G-3A) in that time.
DIVISION STANDINGS
TEAM GP W L OTL SOL PTS Pts%
1. Hershey 57 42 11 0 4 88 .772
2. Providence 57 35 17 3 2 75 .658
3. PENGUINS 57 29 20 7 1 66 .579
4. Hartford 54 29 17 6 2 66 .611
5. Charlotte 56 28 22 6 0 62 .554
6. Springfield 57 26 26 3 2 57 .500
7. Lehigh Valley 55 25 23 5 2 57 .518
8. Bridgeport 57 20 30 6 1 47 .412
TEAM LEADERS
SKATERS GP G A PTS
Ty Smith 53 9 23 32
Alex NylanderX 43 17 15 32
Vasily Ponomarev 41 8 21 29
Peter Abbandonato 45 8 18 26
Sam Poulin 30 12 12 24
Vinnie Hinostroza 29 11 13 24
Rem PitlickX 32 8 16 24
GOALIES GP W-L-OT GAA SV% Shutouts
Joel Blomqvist* 34 18-9-5 2.19 .918 0
Magnus HellbergX 19 9-8-2 2.92 .905 0
* = rookie
X = no longer on roster
UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME
Wed, Mar. 13 Lehigh Valley PPL Center 7:05 p.m.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
Fri, Mar. 8 (G) Jaxon Castor Signed to PTO
Sat, Mar. 9 (C) Jonathan Gruden Recalled to PIT
Sun, Mar. 10 (G) Jaxon Castor Released from PTO
Tue, Mar. 12 (RW) Dillon Hamaliuk Reassigned by PIT to WHL
Tue, Mar. 12 (RW) Tanner Laderoute Released from PTO
Tue, Mar. 12 (D) Philip Waugh Signed to SPC
American Hockey League Stories from March 12, 2024
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- Flames Recall Dustin Wolf - Calgary Wranglers
- Dylan Garand's 31 Saves Not Enough as Wolf Pack Fall 2-1 in Overtime to Checkers - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Mackie Samoskevich Nets OT Winner against Hartford - Charlotte Checkers
- Phantoms Power Play Presented by Provident Bank - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Morning Skate Report: March 12, 2024 - Henderson Silver Knights
- Silver Knights Sign Forward Ryan Dzingel - Henderson Silver Knights
- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Aims for Revenge against Lehigh Valley - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Penguins Sign Philip Waugh - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Monsters Total Solar Eclipse Game Enters Orbit and Lands on CW 43 WUAB - Cleveland Monsters
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- Game #56: Tucson Roadrunners vs. Henderson Silver Knights - Tucson Roadrunners
- Wolf Pack Open Key Back-To-Back Set in Charlotte - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Dillon Hamaliuk Reassigned to Wheeling - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Griffins Continue Playoff Push with Three Games this Week - Grand Rapids Griffins
- IceHogs Bring Six-Game Win Streak to Texas - Rockford IceHogs
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