Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to Open March with Back-To-Back Games against Charlotte
February 27, 2024 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins News Release
Weekly Rewind
Wednesday, Feb. 21 - PENGUINS 2 vs. Lehigh Valley 3 (OT)
Jagger Joshua and Alex Nylander put Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in a 2-0 lead against their turnpike rival, but Lehigh Valley roared back and got the win in overtime. Cooper Marody generated both the Phantoms' tying and game-winning goals.
Friday, Feb. 23 - PENGUINS 1 at Hershey 4
Down seven forwards due to injury, a short-staffed Penguins squad hung with the No. 1 team in the league until late in regulation. Hershey cashed in on its seventh power play of the night with 3:38 left to take its first lead of the game. Jonathan Gruden scored his team's only goal while shorthanded.
Saturday, Feb. 24 - PENGUINS 4 vs. Bridgeport 1
Mounting injuries did not stop the Penguins from picking up a decisive win on Military Appreciation Night presented by MetLife. Gruden and Joshua scored 48 seconds apart before the game was three minutes old. Dmitri Samorukov tallied for the first time in 21 games to put things out of reach, while Magnus Hellberg notched 31 saves during a solid outing in net.
The Week Ahead
Friday, Mar. 1 - PENGUINS vs. Charlotte
The first of back-to-back visits by the Charlotte Checkers takes place on Friday night. The season series has been a neck-and-neck affair, with the clubs splitting six decisions right down the middle. Checker forward Rasmus Asplund leads the series with seven points (1G-6A) in six games. The first 1,200 fans in attendance on Friday will receive a Sidney Crosby Bobblehead.
Saturday, Mar. 2 - PENGUINS vs. Charlotte
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is 9-7-3-0 (.553) in the second game of back-to-backs this season, including three-straight wins in that scenario. However, including playoffs, Charlotte has won 14 of its last 17 games at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.
Ice Chips
- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton allows 2.83 goals against per game, good for fourth in the Eastern Conference and 10th overall in the league.
- Despite playing in a league-high 53 games, the Penguins have allowed the fewest first-period goals in the AHL (29).
- Since returning from injury on Jan. 31, Jonathan Gruden has 10 points (5G-5A) in his last eight games.
- Gruden is also on a six-game point streak, establishing a new career-high.
- Jagger Joshua has three goals and two assists for five points in his last four games.
DIVISION STANDINGS
TEAM GP W L OTL SOL PTS Pts%
1. Hershey 53 41 9 0 3 85 .802
2. Providence 53 33 15 3 2 71 .670
3. PENGUINS 53 27 18 7 1 62 .585
4. Hartford 49 26 17 5 1 58 .592
5. Charlotte 51 25 20 6 0 56 .549
6. Springfield 51 24 22 3 2 53 .520
7. Lehigh Valley 49 22 20 5 2 51 .520
8. Bridgeport 51 16 28 6 1 39 .382
TEAM LEADERS
SKATERS GP G A PTS
Alex NylanderX 43 17 15 32
Ty Smith 49 9 22 31
Peter Abbandonato 45 8 18 26
Rem PitlickX 32 8 16 24
Jonathan Gruden 41 13 10 23
GOALIES GP W-L-OT GAA SV% Shutouts
Joel Blomqvist* 31 16-8-5 2.17 .918 0
Magnus Hellberg 18 9-7-2 2.91 .905 0
* = rookie
X = no longer on roster
UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME
Fri, Mar. 1 Charlotte Mohegan Sun Arena 7:05 p.m.
Sat, Mar. 2 Charlotte Mohegan Sun Arena 6:05 p.m.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
Thu, Feb. 22 (RW) Alex Nylander Traded by PIT to CBJ
Thu, Feb. 22 (G) Magnus Hellberg Reassigned from PIT
Fri, Feb. 23 (LW) Dillon Hamaliuk Reassigned by PIT to WHL
Fri, Feb. 23 (LW) Dillon Hamaliuk Reassigned by PIT from WHL
Sat, Feb. 24 (G) Taylor Gauthier Reassigned by PIT to WHL
American Hockey League Stories from February 27, 2024
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- Syracuse Crunch Weekly - Vol. 30, No. 20 - Syracuse Crunch
- T-Birds to Host Sensory-Friendly Game on Sunday, March 3 - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to Open March with Back-To-Back Games against Charlotte - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Tucson Roadrunners Road Ahead: Spring Break Trip - Tucson Roadrunners
- Condors Home for Three this Week - Bakersfield Condors
- Tampa Bay Lightning Reassign Forward Bennett MacArthur from Syracuse Crunch to Allen Americans - Syracuse Crunch
- Griffins Ride 15-Game Point Streak into Three-Game Week - Grand Rapids Griffins
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- The Bridgeport Report: Week 20 - Bridgeport Islanders
- Last Week around the Leagues - OSC Original by Fran Stuchbury
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