I didn’t run the Weekend Preview on Friday because I wanted up to the minute standings and results for the Atlantic Division and give you an idea of a current picture as to what they Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins, who qualified for the Calder Cup Playoffs last weekend, are facing.
Music to Set the Mood…
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A Quote…
Breathe deeply. Move slowly. You’ve arrived at Saturday. — Unknown
The Setup…
Laval drops in for their only visit of the season Saturday then the Lehigh Valley Phantoms pay off the Sunday home games bloc for the Penguins (thank god)
Last week the Penguins had their Canada trip. It didn’t start out great with a 5-1 blowout loss in Laval last Wednesday, then last Friday the Penguins gritted out a 2-1 shootout win in Belleville and then last Sunday they beat the Toronto Marlies in a 4-3 nail biter.
The Rocket beat the Springfield Thunderbirds last Friday then lost in a shootout to Utica on Wednesday. They bussed in from Bridgeport last night where they lost in a shootout 3-2.
Lehigh Valley beat Providence last Wednesday, then went to Charlotte and were swept. They hosted Springfield last night and lost 5-3.
Records
The Penguins are 39-16-6-2 with 86 points and second in the Atlantic Division.
Laval is 39-19-2-5 and lead the North Division with 85 points.
Lehigh Valley is 27-30-3-3 with 60 points in seventh in the Atlantic.
The Rest of those Rascals
Providence has taken advantage of their cupcake schedule and have used their games in hand on the Penguins to run away with the division. After beating the Phantoms last Wednesday, they swept last place in the North Division Utica in a home and home and beat Springfield this past Wednesday. The Bruins are in inflated 48-13-1 with 97 points, still haven’t played anybody good since the Penguins and play a decent Bridgeport Saturday and Springfield on Saturday.
Charlotte may end up as the three seed. They dropped a crucial game in regulation against Bridgeport this past Wednesday after sweeping Lehigh Valley this past weekend. They are in Hartford for a pair of games Saturday and Sunday. The Checkers backed into a playoff berth Wednesday and have a 37-21-5 record with 79 points.
(Charlotte can max out at 97 points, meaning math being what it is, Wilkes-Barre needs 12 points out of its 9 remaining games to sew up the bye)
Hershey is in danger of being passed by Bridgeport after the Islander swept the Bears in a home and home series last weekend. The Bears went to Syracuse last night and won 4-3and are in Allentown Saturday. The Bears have a 28-26-6-3 record and 65 points.
Bridgeport is probably the hottest team in the division right now after sweeping the Bears last weekend and beating the Checkers clean on Wednesday. They hosted the Rocket last night and beat them in a shootout and are in Providence Saturday looking to build on their 28-27-3-5 record and 64 points.
Gave you Lehigh Valley’s body of work scattered about above.
Springfield has hit a rough stretch which may result in their missing out on playoffs. They lost at Laval last Friday, won at Belleville last Saturday but lost home against Providence on Wednesday. They won against the Phantoms Friday and overtook Lehigh Valley for the sixth and final playoff spot and are in Providence Saturday looking to build on their 26-29-6-2 record and 60 points.
Hartford swept the Charlotte Checkers last week in identical 5-2 wins then went to Toronto and Rochester and lost in identical 6-3 losses. They host the Checkers for a pair Saturday and Sunday and have a 24-32-4-2 record with 54 points.
Who’s Up? Who’s Down? Who’s Out?
Up: Ville Koivunen, Avery Hayes and Joona Koppanen went up this week at various parts of same.
Down: Raivis Ansons was recalled from Wheeling. Emil Pieniniemi remains with the team as well.
Out: No word on Tristan Broz. Melvin Fernstrom left the game Sunday with his arm dangling so figure he’s out unless he isn’t.
All of a sudden they are thin at forward.
What Can We Learn About the Penguins This Week?
Where are the goals going to come from with three forwards on recall and two possibly out due to injury and the rest standing around waiting for the other to score?
I think Rafaël Harvey-Pinard is getting warm and Rutger McGroarty may be playing with a burr in his saddle after getting passed over not once, not twice but three times for an NHL recall this week. One would hope.
I think they have a clearer picture on who starts Game 1 of the Playoffs also, but that’s the next section.
Who’s in Goal?
I think Joel Blomqvist is slowly surpassing Sergei Murashov for number one net minder in Wilkes-Barre. However with that said I expect Murashov to start Saturday and Blomqvist to start Sunday.
I also think it’s silly that those in Pittsburgh are demanding Murashov be recalled when he’s being out played by Blomqvist in some games.
Hunter Shepard, late of the Hershey Bears last season and Belleville this season for Laval on Saturday and Aleksei Kolosov for the Phantoms on Sunday.
Who’s Running the Show?
Jack Young and Hayden Verbeek the assignment on Saturday with Owen Robertson and Davids Rozitis on the lines.
Young sticks around for Sunday and is joined by Mason Riley. Robertson also sticks around and Jud Ritter joins him on the lines.
Looking Ahead…
Hard to believe but relieved it’s April. Home and home with the Phantoms starting Friday in Wilkes-Barre.
International Break
International Friendly season and U.S. Open Cup season. New York City FC is off this week. St. Louis drops in next week.
NASCAR Picks…
It’s Martinsville, so it’s a Denny Hamlin kind of pick. Sleeper is Ryan Preece who’s good on short tracks and won at Bowman Gray at the Clash in February.
Give us a bold prediction…
Nail biter and win against Laval Saturday and then a blow out win against a tired Lehigh Valley on Sunday. Come Monday there’s a line out the door at Abide for free coffees before the Monday morning workday begins.
Comments Off on GAMEDAY: @ Syracuse 1/3
Posted by nafsnep on January 2, 2026
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The Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins and Syracuse Crunch face-off for the first time this season when the Pens take the two and a half hour trip north straight up I-81 to take on the second place in the North Division Syracuse Crunch team.
Syracuse is 17-11-2-1 and have 37 points in second in the North Division and trail the Laval Rocket by four points.
Their recent body of work included a shootout loss and regulation loss to the Laval Rocket in Quebec this past weekend and then on New Years they lost in overtime against the Toronto Marlies in Canada.
The Penguins meanwhile, have seen a flux of players come in and players depart by way of trade.
Let’s get into their record first. They are 22-8-1-2 and sit atop the Atlantic Division with 47 points, four clear of the Providence Bruins who have five games in hand. They burned off the sixth one with a New Years Eve loss in Springfield.
We will get back to the Bruins and the Charlotte Checkers in a second.
The Penguins beat Hershey clean Saturday night at home, lost in a shootout to Lehigh Valley on Sunday and were stomped by the Checker on Tuesday.
You can blame it on a roster in flux. Forwards Brayden Edwards and Zach Urdahl were recalled on New Years. They let go forward William Dufour, who they signed to a PTO a few months ago on New Years Eve. Defensemen Tommy Budnick and Brent Johnson were sent back to Wheeling. Defenseman Ryan Graves and his albatross contract cleared waivers and was assigned to the Penguins on New Years Eve also. Forward Phil Tomasino was traded for Defenseman Egor Zamula from Philadelphia. Zamula is with the AHL team and Tomasino went to Allentown. Forward Max Graham was recalled on Tuesday and Forward Danton Heinen was traded to Columbus after clearing waivers.
That’s just the transactions. Here are the injuries, as best as I know them.
Forward Aaron Huglen returned after missing the last month and a half wearing a bubble. He probably had a fractured something in his mouth or face.
Forwards Gabe Klassen, Aidan McDonough did not play Tuesday. McDonough took a check to the head (uncalled, unsuspended) Sunday in Allentown.
Defensemen Daniel Laatsch (lower) Sebastian Aho, Finn Harding (upper) and forward Avery Hayes are week to week. Defenseman Alex Alexyev is day to day.
Defenseman Matt Dumba is healthy, but clearly does not want to be here and is completely useless.
The Bruins play tonight, in last place Hartford who are awful, so expect the Bruins to draw to two points behind the Penguins with four games in hand still. The Penguins will play Syracuse Saturday with Providence idle so the Bruins will burn off one of their five game in hand Sunday when they host the Springfield Thunderbirds again.
Charlotte may be the best team in the Division, though. The Checkers swept their way through Pennsylvania with wins against Hershey Sunday, Lehigh Valley Monday and the penguins on Tuesday. These were all on the road mind you after the Christmas break. Impressive. The Checkers are in Cleveland for a pair of games Saturday and Monday and will have at the end of Monday’s action three games in hand on the Penguins. The Checkers are nine points off the Penguins as it stands right now.
Looking ahead, the Penguins and Checkers meet up next weekend in North Carolina Friday and Saturday, then the Penguins have a midweek road game against the Providence Bruins next Wednesday.
Scheduled officials for Saturday’s contest in Syracuse are Chad Ingalls and Jared Cummins with Trevor Davis and Tory Carissimo on the lines.
Comments Off on Technology is a B — Pens WIN 4-2
Posted by nafsnep on December 19, 2025
I came home from shopping around 4 p.m. today to no phone, TV or internet. As a result I wasn’t able to watch any of the 4-2 Wilkes-Barre win in Utica. Thankfully, I had a radio where I could catch Nick Hart’s call.
The Penguins did grit out a 4-2 win. in Utica against the Comets. The two teams will rematch Saturday in Wilkes-Barre.
Phil Tomasino was lost to injury in the first period and didn’t return.
Kyle Criscuolo had a pair of goals, one of them shorthanded. Joona Koppanen also had a pair. Boko Imama had a goal in the third period that game the Penguins their first lead of the game. Tristan Broz had an empty netter that sealed the win.
The win gave the Penguins sole possession of first place in the Atlantic with 41 points and gave them their 20th win of the season. Providence was idle and as I mentioned in the Weekend Preview earlier today, they will have four games in hand after the weekend.
Lineup Notes: Raivis Ansons and William Dufour out for Zach Gallant and Nolan Renick up front. No changes to the defense. Sebastian Aho is week to week with Aaron Huglen and Alex Alexyev is day to day.
A good win and needed after the hellish week that the Penguins endured. I only listened tonight and get the sense that it was a gritty win that the Penguins earned. We will have to see how Utica responds Saturday and the status of Tomasino. Hopefully it isn’t that bad. He did return for a bit after the hit, but perhaps the adrenaline wore off.
Back at it Saturday. Sorry about the striped down version tonight.
Comments Off on GAMEDAY: vs. Belleville 3/4
Posted by nafsnep on March 4, 2025
This game is kind of on an island by itself being a makeup game from January 18, and with another three in three for the Pens next week, the Weekend Preview will return Friday afternoon.
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Who: Belleville Senators
Where: Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza
When: 7:05 p.m.
Last Game: Saturday in Hershey the Pens had a 3-0 lead on the Bears but lost 5-4 in overtime. Yeah, I am still hot about it. For Belleville, they were in Laval Saturday and lost 4-1.
Last Meeting: January 12 in Belleville, the Pens lost 4-3. This was the beginning of the, “can’t hold onto a lead” stigma that irks this team, as Wilkes-Barre had a 2-1 lead heading into the third, Belleville scores :33 in to tie it, Emil Bemstrom scores to make it 3-2 but then the Senators storm back to tie it and then Wyatt Bongiovanni scores a power play goal with three seconds left to stun the Pens and take the full two points.
Record: For WBS: 29-14-7-1 (66 pts., 3rd place Atlantic) — For BEL: 24-19-4-4 (56 pts., 6th place North)
Referees: Rob Hennessey / Austin O’Rourke
Linesmen: J.P. Waleski / Chandler Yakimowicz
Why You Should Care: I want a full circle moment here. The beginning of the “no lead is safe” mantra started the last time the Pens saw Belleville and continued Saturday in Hershey when the Bears won in OT. Wilkes-Barre is better than Belleville in all facets and should put this team away easily, but they don’t play games on paper.
Comments Off on GAMEDAY: vs. Bridgeport 11/22
Posted by nafsnep on November 22, 2024
Since there’s only one game this weekend, and oldie but goodie is back. We return to Weekend Previews next week!
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Who: Bridgeport Islanders
Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza
When: 7:05 p.m.
Last Game / Last Meeting: Last Saturday in Wilkes-Barre, the Pens lost 5-2. The Islanders scored two empty net goals to make the score seem worse then it seemed. Tristan Broz stayed hot with a goal for the Pens, but Liam Foudy’s goal on a delayed call broke the 2-2 deadlock and gave the Islanders a lead they would not relinquish.
Record: For WBS: 8-4-1-0 (17 pts., 3rd place Atlantic) — For BRI: 4-9-1-1 (10 pts., 8th place Atlantic)
Referees: Jack Young / Rob Hennessey
Linesmen: J.P. Waleski / Ryan Knapp
Why You Should Care: Penguins had a week to stew on this loss with no Wednesday game. Will they be ready for a tougher then the standings place would indicate Islanders team?
Comments Off on GAMEDAY: @ Lehigh Valley 2/9
Posted by nafsnep on February 9, 2024
Back for one night only! We return to the Weekend Previews next week!
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Who: Lehigh Valley Phantoms
Where: PPL Center
When: 7:05 p.m.-ish
Last Game / Last Meeting: Last Saturday in Allentown, the Penguins won 3-1. Joona Koppanen had a goal and an assist for the Penguins. AHL All-Star Joel Blomqvist had 20 saves. Jon-Randall Avon scored the only goal for the Phantoms in the win.
Record: For WBS: 24-16-6-0 (54 pts., 3rd place Atlantic) — For LV: 18-18-5-2 (43 pts., 7th place Atlantic)
Referees: Jackson Kozari / Patrick Hanrahan
Linesmen: J.P. Waleski / Jud Ritter
Why You Should Care: Penguins return from the all star break looking for two points over a Phantoms team they know they can beat so that they can keep pace with second place Providence and keep distance on fourth place Hartford.
Comments Off on GAMEDAY: @ Hershey 5/16
Posted by nafsnep on May 16, 2021
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Who: Hershey Bears
Where: Giant Center
When: 3:00 p.m.
Last Game: Last night in Allentown the Penguins won 2-1 in overtime. Alex D’Orio made 23 saves, Kasper Bjorkqvist scored his first goal of the season for the game winner….For Hershey, they hosted Binghamton yesterday and won 3-2. Connor McMichael had a goal and an assist in the win. With the win, the Bears won the North Division title, despite not even playing Syracuse, Rochester or Utica.
Last Meeting: May 1 in Wilkes-Barre, the Penguins lost 4-3 in overtime. Sam Miletic had a goal and an assist for the Pens but Connor McMichael scored in overtime to win it for the Bears.
Record: For WBS: 13-12-4-2 (32 pts.) — For HER: 23-7-2-0 (48 pts.) — UPDATE RECORD AND POINTS
Referees: Jordan Deckard / Rob Hennessey
Linesmen: Tom DellaFranco / Tom George
Why You Should Care: Last game of the season for both teams and you want your team to win their last game heading into the summer.
WBS News
Chirps from Center Ice 