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Away Game 17

AHL Game: 550

Who: Charlotte Checkers

Where: Time Warner Cable Arena

When: 7 p.m. EST

Media Kit

Last Game / Last Meeting: Yesterday, the Pens won 5-2. Eric Tangradi had two goals for Wilkes-Barre. For the Checkers, Michal Jordan scored his first ever AHL goal.

Record: For WBS, 27-8-0-0 (54 pts., 1st place East Division) For CHA, 20-12-1-3 (44 pts., 2nd place East Division)

Why you should care: Last night in my opinion the Pens really toyed with the Checkers. Look for a completely different game tonight. If you really like defensive battles you may be in for a treat tonight as it looks like it may just shape up to be one this evening.

Referee(s): Francis Charron

Linesmen: Alex Stagnone / Mike Sheehan

Twitter: @wbspenguins / @CheckersHockey / @nafsnep

Beat writers: @CVBombulie

Radio: For WBS: 102.3 The Mountain. For Charlotte: I do not believe this game is on radio local in Charlotte. Try the “radio” section on AHL Live.

Television: AHL Live

Next Five Games: BRI 1/7, PRO 1/8, @ PRO 1/14, @ ADK 1/15, @ CT 1/16

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Away Game 16

AHL Game: 546

Who: Charlotte Checkers

Where: Time Warner Cable Arena

When: 7 p.m. EST

Media Kit

Last Game: This past Saturday home vs. Norfolk the Pens won 4-3. Bryan Lerg continued to fill the net with two goals. For CHA: This past Sunday home vs. the Binghamton Senators the Checkers won 4-2. Oskar Osala had a goal and two assists and was named the games first star.

Last Meeting: Way back on October 17, the Pens won 4-3. Brett Sterling had a goal and an assist and took 8 shots. Dustin Jeffrey had three assists.

Record: For WBS, 26-8-0-0 (52 pts., 1st place East Division) For CHA, 20-11-1-3 (44 pts., 2nd place East Division)

Why you should care: This is not the same Charlotte team from October. This team is much much better. We have played every team in the division at least three times except for Charlotte whom we have only played twice. Wilkes-Barre would love to continue its dominance over the division with a decisive win tonight.

Referee(s): Jason Rollins / Francis Charron

Linesmen: Terry Wicklum / Paul Carnathan

Twitter: @wbspenguins / @CheckersHockey / @nafsnep

Beat writers: @CVBombulie

Radio: For WBS: 102.3 The Mountain. For Charlotte: Sports Radio WFNZ 610 AM (tomorrow’s game is not on radio)

Television: AHL Live

Next Five Games: @ CHA 1/5, BRI 1/7, PRO 1/8, @ PRO 1/14, @ ADK 1/15

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Home Game 20

AHL Game: 534

Who: Norfolk Admirals

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m. EST

Media Kit

Last Game: December 30 in Pittsburgh at the CONSOL Energy Center, the Pens were shut out 1-0. For NOR: On December 30, the Admirals lost at home to the Charlotte Checkers 4-3 in overtime. Mike Angelidis had two goals in the loss.

Last Meeting: December 11 in Wilkes-Barre the Pens were defeated 7-4. The Pens would rally from a 4-1 deficit in the third to tie the game, only to lose. The recently suspect defensive pairing of Steve Wagner and Corey Potter had 5 assists between them (Wagner 2, Potter 3) Eric Tangradi had two goals. For Norfolk, Troy Milam had a three point night with two goals and an assist.

Record: For WBS, 25-8-0-0 (50 pts., 1st place East Division) — For NOR, 18-7-6-2 (44 pts., 2nd place East Division)

Why you should care: There is bad blood brewing in the water between the Admirals and Penguins. Norfolk has kicked our behinds in every meeting so far. The Penguins have looked vulnerable to better competition of recent. With a win, Wilkes-Barre seperates itself a bit from the East Division, being 8 up on Norfolk and anyone else for that matter. With a loss, the Pens come back to the East Division a bit leaving only 4 points between them, Norfolk and, depending on what Charlotte does tonight when they face Binghamton at home, the Checkers whom the Penguins face early next week.

Referee(s): Nick Krebsbach

Linesmen: Judson Ritter / Jameel Chaudry

Twitter: @wbspenguins / @NorfolkAdmirals / @nafsnep

Beat writers: @CVBombulie

Radio: For WBS: 102.3 The Mountain. For Norfolk: 102.1 FM The Game

Television: AHL Live

Promotion(s): None

Next Five Games: @ CHA 1/4, @ CHA 1/5, BRI 1/7, PRO 1/8, @ PRO 1/14

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Home Game 18

AHL Game: 505

Who: Syracuse Crunch

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m. EST

Media Kit

Last Game: For WBS: This past Sunday vs. Albany, the Pens won in a shootout 5-4. Bryan Lerg had a pair of goals. Brett Sterling netted the game winner in the shootout. For SYR: Last night at home vs. Adirondack, the Crunch got shutout 2-0.

Record: For WBS,  24-7-0-0 (48 pts., 1st place East Division) – For SYR, 11-17-1-3 (26 pts., 7th place East Division)

Last Meeting: December 18 up in Syracuse the Pens lost 3-1. Ryan Craig had the lone goal for Wilkes-Barre and Syracuse’s Trevor Smith had two goals for the Crunch.

Why you should care: On paper this should be an easy Pens “W” – but Syracuse isn’t buying into that. In my opinion, the single most important game of the year so far for Wilkes-Barre as the last two contests between these two teams (both losses for WBS) have not been close. It’s rare that you say a game vs. the 7th place team in the division is a “must win” but this game certainly looks like it’s heading that direction.

Referee(s): Geno Binda

Linesmen: Jameel Chaudry / Judson Ritter

Twitter: @wbspenguins / @SyracuseCrunch / @jlockhartcrunch / @chairmanhows / @nafsnep

Beat writers: @CVBombulie / @PSCrunchHockey

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

Television: AHL Live

Promotion(s): None

Next Five Games: HER 12/30*, NOR 1/1. @ CHA 1/4, @ CHA 1/5, BRI 1/7

* – game played in Pittsburgh, PA at the CONSOL Energy Center

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Away Game 15

AHL Game: 457

Who: Syracuse Crunch

Where: Onondaga County War Memorial at Oncenter

When: 7:30 p.m. EST

Media Kit

Last Game: For WBS: Last night vs. the Abbotsford Heat the Pens won 5-2. Eric Tangradi had a pair of goals. For SYR: Last night in Binghamton, the Crunch got shut out 7-0.

Record: For WBS,  23-6-0-0 (46 pts., 1st place East Division) – For SYR, 9-15-1-3 (22 pts., 7th place East Division)

Last Meeting: November 6 in Wilkes-Barre the Pens lost for the first time all season 4-3. Brett Sterling had two goals in the defeat.

Why you should care: This Crunch team beat Wilkes-Barre the last time the teams met but have only won 5 games since. This is a game on paper the Pens should easily win, but it has “trap game” written all over it. Truly elite teams have no problems dealing with inferior competition. Are the Pens truly an elite team? I guess we get a chance to find out tonight.

Referee(s): Chris Brown

Linesmen: Tim Kotyra / Andy Petrus

Twitter: @wbspenguins / @SyracuseCrunch / @jlockhartcrunch / @chairmanhows / @nafsnep

Beat writers: @CVBombulie / @PSCrunchHockey

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

Television: AHL Live

Next Five Games: ALB 12/26, SYR 12/29, HER 12/30*, NOR 1/1. @ CHA 1/4

* – game played in Pittsburgh, PA at the CONSOL Energy Center