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Home Game: 16

AHL Game: 503

Who: Norfolk Admirals

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m. EST

Media Kit

Last Game: On New Years Eve, the Pens beat the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at home by a score of 4-2. Zach Sill scored two goals. For Norfolk, they lost 3-2 in Hershey to the Bears in a shootout. Mike Kostka had a goal and an assist for the Ads in the loss.

Last Meeting: December 17 in Wilkes-Barre, the Pens got thumped 5-2 before a sellout crowd. Carter Ashton had a goal and an assist for the Ads in the win.

Record: For WBS: 18-10-1-4 (41 pts., 3rd place East Division) — For NOR: 20-11-0-2 (42 pts., 2nd place East Division)

Why you should care: Expect a different outcome tonight from December 17. The Pens have probably their best lineup they’ve had in months and will be looking to stop the streak Norfolk is on (7-2-0-1 in their last ten games) and leapfrog them in division standings.

Referee(s): Chris Ciamaga / Chris Cozzan

Linesmen: Jud Ritter / Mike McDevitt

Twitter: @wbspenguins / @NorfolkAdmirals / @AdsGameUpdates

Beat Writers: @CVBombulie

Broadcasters: For WBS: Tom Grace @TGracePens and Mike O’Brien @MikeOBrienWBS / For NOR: Pete Michaud @PeteMichaud2012

Fan Bloggers: @nafsnep

Radio: For WBS: 102.3 The Mountain / For Norfolk: 102.1 The Game

Television: AHL Live

Promotion(s): Remember Whensday (1970s)

Other Game to Watch: Atlantic Division leader Manchester hosts Bridgeport. With any point, Manchester is tops in the Conference.

Next Five Games: RCH 1/6, SYR 1/7, @ NOR 1/10, @ StJ 1/14, @ StJ 1/15

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Home Game: 15

AHL Game: 491

Who: Bridgeport Sound Tigers

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 5:05 p.m. EST

Media Kit

Last Game: On Wednesday in Hershey, the Pens won in a shootout 6-5. Geoff Walker had a goal, assist and the game winning shootout goal in the bottom of the ninth round to win it. For Bridgeport, last night in Norfolk the Sound Tigers lost 3-2. Tony Romano and Casey Cizikas scored the goals in the loss.

Record: For WBS: 17-10-1-4 (39 pts., 3rd place East Division) For BRI: 12-16-3-1 (28 pts., 5th place Northeast Division)

Why you should care: First meeting of the season between the old East Division foes. Pens look to close out 2011 on a winning note. The Sound Tigers have lost nine straight road games. Who starts in net? Thiessen or Munroe?

Referee(s): Chris Brown

Linesmen: Jud Ritter / Mike McDevitt

Twitter: @wbspenguins / @TheSoundTigers

Beat Writers: @CVBombulie / @fornabaioctp

Broadcasters: WBS: Tom Grace @TGracePens and Mike O’Brien @MikeOBrienWBS / BRI: Phil Giubileo @philgpbp

Fan Bloggers: @nafsnep

Radio: For WBS: 102.3 The Mountain / For Bridgeport: AHL Live *

Television: AHL Live

Promotion(s): New Year’s Eve Celebration – Reusable Grocery Bag Giveaway (first 5,000 fans)

Other Game to Watch: I should just rename this section “Hershey and Norfolk” because they are always mentioned here. They square off in Hershey tonight at 6 p.m.

Next Five Games: NOR 1/4, RCH 1/6, SYR 1/7, @NOR 1/10, @StJ 1/14

* – Bridgeport really doesn’t have a true “radio” broadcast. The Sound Tigers-centric radio feed is going to be found on AHL Live under the “radio” tab.

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Away Game: 18

AHL Game: 457

Who: Hershey Bears

Where: Giant Center

When: 7:00 p.m. EST

Media Kit

Last Game / Last Meeting: Yesterday, the Pens were embarrassed on home ice and lost 6-0. Cody Eakin scored two goals and Braden Holtby had a 28 save shutout.

Record: For WBS: 16-10-1-4 (37 pts., 3rd place East Division) For HER: 18-8-3-2 (41 pts., 1st place East Division)

Why you should care: Penguins look to repay the favor from last night in the form of a win tonight. They cannot afford to lose anymore points to the Bears. I am stopping short of calling this a “must win” – but it certainly has the structure to be one.

Referee(s): Darcy Burchell

Linesmen: Bob Goodman / Tom George

Twitter: @wbspenguins / @TheHersheyBears

Beat Writers: @CVBombulie / @timleone

Broadcasters: WBS: Tom Grace @TGracePens and Mike O’Brien @MikeOBrienWBS / HER: Scott Stuccio @ScottStuccio

Fan Bloggers: @nafsnep / @SweetestHockey

Radio: For WBS: 102.3 The Mountain / For Hershey: 1460 The Ticket

Television: AHL Live

Other Game to Watch: Bridgeport is in Norfolk for a game vs. the Admirals who are tied with the Penguins in points.

Next Five Games: BRI 12/31, NOR 1/4, RCH 1/6, SYR 1/7, @ NOR 1/10

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Home Game: 14

AHL Game: 454

Who: Hershey Bears

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m. EST

Media Kit

Last Game: Last Tuesday at home the Pens lost to the Albany Devils 2-1. Ben Street had the lone goal. For Hershey, last Wednesday at home vs. Syracuse, the Bears won 5-2. Julien Brouillette and Patrick McNeill had a goal and an assist each and Dany Sabourin made 38 saves.

Last Meeting: December 10 in Hershey the Pens won 4-2. Bryan Lerg and Eric Tangradi had a goal and an assist each in the win and Scott Munroe made 33 saves.

Record: For WBS: 16-9-1-4 (37 pts., 3rd place East Division) For HER: 17-8-3-2 (39 pts., 1st place East Division)

Why you should care: First game back for both teams from the extended Christmas holiday. The Pens need this one to even up the points and get back even with the Bears.

Referee(s): Darcy Burchell / David Banfield

Linesmen: Matt McNulty / Scott Adams

Twitter: @wbspenguins / @TheHersheyBears

Beat Writers: @CVBombulie / @timleone

Broadcasters: WBS: Tom Grace @TGracePens and Mike O’Brien @MikeOBrienWBS / HER: Scott Stuccio @ScottStuccio

Fan Bloggers: @nafsnep / @SweetestHockey

Radio: For WBS: 102.3 The Mountain / For Hershey: 1460 The Ticket

Television: AHL Live

Promotion(s): None

Other Game to Watch: Albany visits Connecticut in a battle of the Atlantic Division leaders.

Next Five Games: @ HER 12/28, BRI 12/31, NOR 1/4, RCH 1/6, SYR 1/7

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Home Game: 13

AHL Game: 432

Who: Albany Devils

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m. EST

Media Kit

Last Game: Saturday at home, the Pens lost 5-2 to the Norfolk Admirals. Boris Valabik finally made his debut in the game. For Albany, they lost in an 11-round shootout 2-1 to the Springfield Falcons. Darcy Zajac had the lone goal for the Devils in the loss.

Record: For WBS: 16-8-1-4 (37 pts.,  1st place East Division) — For ALB: 12-11-3-2 (29 pts., 3rd place Northeast Division)

Why you should care: These aren’t your uncle’s Albany Devils. This is a much improved Albany team this season. While Wilkes-Barre has never lost to a Devils AHL affiliate, the Penguins are going to have to work extra hard tonight with a good majority of its corps on recall to Pittsburgh.

Referee(s): Francis Charron / Jarrod Ragusin

Linesmen: Alex Stagnone / Francis Trempe

Twitter: @wbspenguins / @AlbanyDevils

Beat Writers: @CVBombulie / @Bill_Cain_

Broadcasters: For WBS: Tom Grace @TGracePens and Mike O’Brien @MikeOBrienWBS / For ALB: Josh Heller @Josh_Heller

Fan Bloggers: @nafsnep / @tel915

Radio: For WBS: 102.3 The Mountain / For Albany: ESPN Radio 104.5 The Team

Television: AHL Live

Promotion(s): None

Other Game to Watch: This is the only game on the AHL slate, so you’re stuck with it. Sorry!

Next Five Games: HER 12/27, @ HER 12/28, BRI 12/31, NOR 1/4, RCH 1/6

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Away Game: 17

AHL Game: 408

Who: Syracuse Crunch

Where: Onondaga County War Memorial at OnCenter

When: 7:30 p.m.

Media Kit

Last Game: Tuesday night, the Pens beat the Binghamton Senators at home 4-2. Colin McDonals had two goals. For Syracuse, this Wednesday in Albany the Crunch won in overtime 3-2. Nick Bonino won the game for the Crunch with 0.4 seconds left.

Last Meeting: December 3 in Syracuse the Pens lost 5-2. Brian Gibbons and Geoff Walker had the goals in the loss.

Record: For WBS: 15-7-1-4 (29 pts., 1st place East Division) For SYR: 12-10-2-1 (27 pts., 4th place East Division)

Why you should care: Gotta keep this thing rolling. Syracuse isn’t a slouch. Pens are going to look to get in to Syracuse and get out with a win to keep pace with St. John’s in the conference and Hershey and Norfolk in the division.

Referee(s): Terry Koharski

Linesmen: Fraser McIntyre / Dan Murphy

Twitter: @WBSPenguins / @SyracuseCrunch

Beat Writers: @CVBombulie / @PSCrunchHockey

Broadcasters: WBS: Tom Grace @TGracePens and Mike O’Brien @MikeOBrienWBS / SYR: Jason Lockhart @JLCrunch

Fan Bloggers: @nafsnep / @Allovimo

Radio: For WBS: 102.3 The Mountain / For Syracuse: The Score 1260

Television: AHL Live

Other Game to Watch: Hershey and Norfolk faceoff against each other at Scope Arena in Hampton Roads tonight.

Next Five Games: NOR 12/17, ALB 12/19, HER 12/27, @ HER 12/28, BRI 12/31