The Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins have an extremely busy week ahead of them that starts Tuesday night at home vs. (checks time, 6:35 p.m.? really? yeah, that’s the time) Utica, then a three in three weekend that takes them to Hershey Friday, then two home games that start at 6:05 home against the Hamilton Hammers Saturday and then again against Lehigh Valley on Sunday.
A Word to the Front Office…
If you are going to do Sunday games, I’d rather them at 1 o’clock on Sunday then at 6:05 on Sunday. If you could do away with them entirely, that would be aces, but since you can’t, a 6:05 Sunday game seems cruel. Don’t.
Music to Set the Mood…
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(I’m a closet Sabrina fan, don’t tell anyone)
A Quote…
“Don’t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life”. — Dolly Parton
The Setup
Gave it away at the top. Utica tonight, Hershey Friday, Hamilton Saturday and Lehigh Valley Sunday.
The Penguins were in Charlotte last weekend and swept the Charlotte Checkers, something they have not done down there since 2025. They beat them in overtime on Friday and mollywhopped the division leaders on Saturday.
I think we are seeing the there there with this team. A team that never says die like they exhibited on Friday, rallying from down 0-3 in the third to win in overtime shows they know that they can win and then to respond the next night when you know the home team is going to come out snarly and just bottle them up and beat them 4-1 shows that while there may be bumps, this team can win.
Utica comes to Wilkes-Barre winners of four in a row. A hot team. They beat Syracuse and Rochester at home this past weekend and have an 8-2 record, good for third in the North and 16 points.
Hershey split a pair in Springfield this past weekend. They host Hamilton on Wednesday, the Pens Friday then the Checkers on Sunday. The Bears are 8-6, with 16 points and are second in the Atlantic.
The Hamilton Hammers are the old Bridgeport Islanders team. Mind numbing that the Islanders would move their affiliate farther away, to a different country, but here we are. The Hammers have struggled, with a 4-9-0-2 record, in dead last in the North and 10 points. They lost to Providence in embarrassing fashion Friday and beat Lehigh Valley on Saturday.
Lehigh Valley split in Canada, beating Belleville and losing to Hamilton. The Phantoms will host the Hammers Friday, the Checkers on Saturday and then head to Wilkes-Barre on Sunday. They have a 5-7-1 record good for 11 points and sixth in the division.
Records
Gave them away above but for the Penguins, who are 7-4-1 and have 15 points and third in the Atlantic
The Rest of those Rascals…
Gave you Charlotte’s body of work above. They are 8-5-1 and have 17 points and lead the Atlantic. The Checkers have an extremely busy week a well, hosting Providence Tuesday and Wednesday and then going to Allentown Saturday and Hershey Sunday.
Hartford is fourth in the division with a 7-8-1 record and 15 points. The Wolf Pack lost in Rochester Friday but headed east on I-90 and beat Syracuse Saturday in overtime. Hartford travels to Springfield Tuesday, then host the Thunderbirds on Saturday.
Providence is fifth with a 6-7 record and 12 points. The Bruins stormed for five goals in Hamilton Friday and won clean and then lost in Belleville Saturday. They head to Charlotte Tuesday and Wednesday before returning home Friday against Springfield and then hosting Toronto on Sunday.
Springfield brings up the rear in the division with a 4-5-2-1 record, splitting with Hershey this past weekend. They host Hartford Tuesday, then go to Providence Friday and Hartford on Saturday.
Who’s Up? Who’s Down? Who’s Out?
Up: I think this will be the last time I mention Ilya Solovyov being up. Rutger McGroarty went up Sunday. David Breazeale remains up from ECHL Florida. Forward Max Graham was recalled from Florida Tuesday morning.
Down: Maleek McGowan and Tiernan Shoudy are with the Florida Everblades.
Out: Tanner Howe longer term, Harrison Brunicke is day to day. This past weekend we learned about David Gustafsson and his upper body injury and Owen Pickering left Saturday’s game and didn’t return.
What can we learn about the Penguins this week?
I think they may have fixed their goalie problem, putting Taylor Gauthier out there Friday, but then Joel Blomqvist goes out the next night and shuts down the Checkers. I think this week will put more pieces in the puzzle, possibly, which I will discuss more below.
With four games this week and a lot of other teams playing three or more, it’s time to start making hay on the pretenders and catching the contenders. It’s conceivable that the Penguins, if things break the way we hope, lead the division when the dust settles this Sunday.
It’s not an unreasonable expectation in the slightest and should be the objective if not the goal, especially with the way they have been playing in their current form.
But, the depth is starting to be tested. Pittsburgh realizes they are old and can’t contend anymore but for flashes, and injuries are hitting the home front. How ready are the reinforcements in Florida if called upon?
Who’s in Goal?
I think you find a way get Taylor Gauthier three games this week and here’s how. Utica, Hershey and Lehigh Valley. But do you want Blomqvist to accumulate rust? No, but I think they are primed to stack wins. I think Gauthier is a step in that direction.
Jakub Máłek, Mitch Gibson, Josh Kotai, Carson Bjarnason for the opposition, subject to change.
Who’s Running the Show?
Nolan Bloyer and Mason Riley have the Tuesday assignment with John Rey and Patrick Dapuzzo on the lines. No rosters yet for the Friday, Saturday and Sunday games, which is usual for the early week games such as this one.
Looking Ahead…
Home with Milwaukee next Wednesday, a Friday trip down the Turnpike to Allentown on Friday then Rochester stops in Saturday.
Give us a bold prediction…
They are a point off the Atlantic Division lead when the dust settles Sunday night.
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