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Home Game 16

AHL Game: 445

Who: Abbotsford Heat

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m. EST

Media Kit

Last Game / Last Meeting: These two teams met Wednesday night in Wilkes-Barre for the first time ever. The Penguins won in overtime 2-1. Nick Johnson netted the game winner. Keith Seabrook tallied very late for the Heat to force overtime.

Record: For WBS, 22-6-0-0 (44 pts., 1st place East Division) — For ABB, 16-12-1-3 (36 pts., 2nd place North Division)

Why you should care: After what can be described as a snooze fest on Wednesday, look for a completely different game tonight. Inject forwards Dustin Jeffrey, Jesse Boulerice and defenseman Robert Bortuzzo back into the lineup and watch what happens. To Abbotsford’s credit they are known as a defensive team. With the League’s leading scorer back in the building tonight we should see how well the Penguins matchup against a team built on defense.

Referee(s): Mark Lemelin

Linesmen: Chris Allman / Leo Boylan 

Twitter: @wbspenguins / @AbbotsfordHeat / @nafsnep

Beat writers: @CVBombulie / @camabbytimes / @dankinvigsports

Radio: For WBS: 102.3 The Mountain. For Abby: Country 107.1

Television: AHL Live

Promotion(s): Lots. Penguins Holiday Skull Cap for the first 5,000 fans, the special Holiday jerseys the Pens are wearing will be auctioned off. Also don’t forget dollar dog and draft night. 1,500 hot dogs are on sale for a $1 and select beers are $1 too. On top of that, Season Ticket Holders have a voucher with their tickets to get a Mario Lemieux bobblehead. Merry Christmas!

Next Five Games: @ SYR 12/18, @ ALB 12/26, SYR 12/29, HER 12/30*, NOR 1/1

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

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Home Game 15

AHL Game: 430

Who: Abbotsford Heat

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m. EST

Media Kit

Last Game: For WBS: The Pens were supposed to play Sunday in Atlantic City vs. the Albany Devils but due to unsafe ice conditions, the game was postponed to February 7. For ABB: Last night vs. the Rochester Americans the Heat won 1-0. Ex-Penguin Ryan Stone had the only goal, while goaltender Leland Irving earned his third shutout of the year.

Record: For WBS, 21-6-0-0 (42 pts., 1st place East Division) — For ABB, 16-12-0-3 (35 pts., 2nd place North Division)

Why you should care: Abbotsford is an unknown opponent to most because they play out West in the Pacific time zone and most games are at 10 p.m. Wilkes-Barre time. They are a gritty defensive team. They have familiar faces in the aforementioned ex-Pen Ryan Stone and ex-Bear Quintin Laing. This should be a “feeling-out” game and very well could be a one goal game.

Referee(s): Graham Skilliter

Linesmen: Jameel Chaudry / Chris Allman

Twitter: @wbspenguins / @AbbotsfordHeat / @nafsnep

Beat writers: @CVBombulie / @camabbytimes / @dankinvigsports

Radio: For WBS: 102.3 The Mountain. For Abby: Country 107.1

Television: AHL Live

Promotion(s): None.

Next Five Games: ABB 12/17, @ SYR 12/18, @ ALB 12/26, SYR 12/29, HER 12/30*

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

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Home Game 14

AHL Game: 412

Who: Norfolk Admirals

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m. EST

Media Kit

Last Game / Last Meeting: For WBS: Last night vs. these same Admirals, the Pens lost at the Scope 4-2. Alex Berry had a goal and two assists for the Admirals and Nick Johnson had two goals in the loss for Wilkes-Barre.

Record: For WBS, 21-5-0-0 (42 pts., 1st place East Division) — For NOR, 16-6-4-1 (37 pts., 2nd place East Division)

Why you should care: Forget Hershey. Forget Charlotte. Forget Binghamton and anyone else you think is a threat to the Penguins right now. The only threat to this team at this time is the Norfolk Admirals. This team is for real. The noise an Admirals win tonight would be heard league wide. Wilkes-Barre hasn’t lost two in a row all year. That said, they haven’t beaten Norfolk yet all season. Something has to give.

Referee(s): Jamie Koharski

Linesmen: Bob Fyrer / Mike McDevitt

Twitter: @wbspenguins / @NorfolkAdmirals / @nafsnep

Beat writers: @CVBombulie

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

Television: AHL Live / myFOXnepa (in WBS)

Promotion(s): Kids’ Jersey Bag (first 1,500 fans ages 14 and under) – Tobyhanna Army Depot Teddy Bear Toss #1 (during 1st intermission)

Next Five Games: @ ALB 12/12*, ABB 12/15, ABB 12/17, @ SYR 12/18, @ ALB 12/26

* – game played in Atlantic City

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Away Game 13

AHL Game: 394

Who: Norfolk Admirals

Where: Norfolk Scope

When: 7:30 p.m. EST

Media Kit

Last Game: For WBS: Wednesday home v. Toronto, the Pens won 5-1. Eric Tangradi had a hat trick and an assist good for a four point night. For Norfolk: This past Wednesday v. Syracuse, the Admirals came back from an 0-3 hole in the third period to tie the score but ultimately lose in overtime. Marc-Andre Pouliot had two goals in the OT loss.

Record: For WBS, 21-4-0-0 (42 pts., 1st place East Division) — For NOR, 15-6-4-1 (35 pts., 2nd place East Division)

Last Meeting: November 19 in Wilkes-Barre, the Pens lost 4-1. Blair Jones had three points (2-1-3). Tim Wallace had the lone goal for the Penguins.

Why you should care: The Admirals are nipping at the Penguins heels in the ever competitve East Division this year. They are the highest scoring team in the AHL at 3.92 goals for a game. However, the Penguins are 2nd in goals against at only 2.16 a game. Bard Thiessen is expected to get the start tonight, and his GAA / SV% is 2.07 / 0.922 respectively. This is one of the marquee matchups in the league tonight.

Referee(s): Ghislain Hebert

Linesmen: Tom George / Mark Hamlett

Twitter: @wbspenguins / @NorfolkAdmirals / @nafsnep

Beat writers: @CVBombulie

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

Television: AHL Live

Next Five Games: NOR 12/11, @ ALB 12/12*, ABB 12/15, ABB 12/17, @ SYR 12/18

* – game played in Atlantic City

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Home Game 13

AHL Game: 387

Who: Toronto Marlies

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena

When: 7:05 p.m. EST

Media Kit

Last Game: For WBS: Last Saturday v. Adirondack, the Pens won 3-2. Dustin Jeffrey had a goal and an assist good enough to tie him with Hershey’s Andrew Gordon for the AHL scoring lead. For TOR: This past Sunday v. Chicago the Marlies lost 5-1. Ex-WBS Penguin Luca Caputi had an assist.

Record: For WBS, 20-4-0-0 (40 pts., 1st place East Division) – For TOR, 14-9-0-3 (31 pts., 2nd Place North Division)

Why you should care: Toronto is a tough opponent out of the North Division. They are one point out of 1st overall in the North Division and normally play teams tough. Both teams tonight will be tested against competition they do not normally see. Toronto is a much better road team, 8-2-0-3 away from Ricoh Coliseum. Wilkes-Barre has won it’s last 5 games in a row. Something has to give tonight.

Referee(s): Geno Binda / Chris Ciamaga

Linesmen: Scott Adams / Matt McNulty

Twitter: @wbspenguins / @TorontoMarlies / @bartsbytes / @nafsnep

Beat writers: @CVBombulie / @chansler

Radio: For WBS: 102.3 The Mountain. For Toronto: Game not carried on radio due to parent Leafs game played at same time. Try the AHL Live radio feed.

Television: AHL Live

Promotion(s): None.

Next Five Games: @ NOR 12/10, NOR 12/11, @ ALB 12/12*, ABB 12/15, ABB 12/17

* – game played in Atlantic City

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Home Game 12

AHL Game: 365

Who: Adirondack Phantoms

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena

When: 7:05 p.m. EST

Media Kit

Last Game: For WBS: Last night v. Binghamton, the Pens won 4-2. Chris Collins had a pair of third period goals. For ADK: This past Sunday @ the Connecticut Whale, the Phantoms were shutout 3-0.

Record: For WBS,  19-4-0-0 (38 pts., 1st place East Division) – For ADK, 3-18-2-0 (8 pts., 8th Place East Division)

Last Meeting: October 29 in Glens Falls the Pens won 4-1. Nick Johnson had a goal and and assist for Wilkes-Barre.

Why you should care: Simply, the Pens are on a roll. Want to see them win? Come to the game tonight. Adirondack is a team in disarray. It’s unfortunate for them, but what can you do?

Referee(s): Graham Skilliter

Linesmen: Judson Ritter / Jameel Chaudry

Twitter: @wbspenguins / @PhantomsHockey / @nafsnep

Beat writers: @CVBombulie / @PSPhantoms

Radio: For WBS: 102.3 The Mountain. For Adirondack: QNYQ Stream

Television: AHL Live / myFOXnepa (in WBS)

Promotion(s): None.

Next Five Games: TOR 12/8, @ NOR 12/10, NOR 12/11, @ ALB 12/12*, ABB 12/15

* – game played in Atlantic City