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Away Game: 13

AHL Game: 360

Who: Hartford Wolf Pack

Where: XL Center

When: 7:00 p.m.

Media Kit

Last Game: Sunday in Bridgeport, the Pens won 4-1. Teddy Blueger scored his first professional goal, Stuart Percy scored his first as a Penguin and Tristan Jarry stopped 26 of 27 shots. For Hartford, the Wolf Pack were in Providence Sunday and defeated by the Bruins in a shootout, 2-1. Matt Carey scored the only goal for the Wolf Pack in regulation and Magnus Hellburg turned aside 40 of 41 shots.

Last Meeting: Sunday, November 13 in Hartford, the Pens won 4-1. The Penguins used two first period power play goals, limited Hartford to just 23 shots and took 40 of their own on a tail end of a three in three weekend.

Record: For WBS: 16-5-3-0 (35 pts., 1st place Atlantic Division)  — For HFD: 7-13-3-1 (18 pts., 7th place Atlantic Division)

Why you should care: Penguins face a midweek trap game with Hartford. The Wolf Pack have been up and down of recent. Wilkes-Barre will need a strong start in order to get the win tonight because if you leave Hartford hanging, they may just snap up and get you.

Referee(s): Brett Iverson / Terry Koharski

Linesmen: Kevin Briganti / Ryan Daisy

Twitter: @wbspenguins  and @WBSGameDay / @WolfPackAHL

Facebook:  /WilkesBarreScrantonPenguins // /HartfordWolfPack

Instagram: wbspenguins / hartford_wolfpack

Beat Writers: @CVSethLakso and @TLTomVenesky / @HowlingsToday

Broadcasters: For WBS: Mike O’Brien @MikeOBrienWBS and Nick Hart @_NickHart // For HFD: Bob Crawford  @HawkCrawford

Fan Bloggers: @nafsnep

Radio: For WBS: WILK NewsRadio / For Hartford: Fox Sports Radio 1410

Television: AHL Live

Other Game to Watch: Lehigh Valley hosts Bridgeport who you know is fuming after getting smashed by the Penguins Sunday.

Next Five Games: RCH 12/16, SPR 12/17, @ BNG 12/26, SPR 12/27, PRO 12/30

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Here’s something to consider.

The Bridgeport Sound Tigers are 16-8 this season and a damn good hockey team.

Four of those eight losses have come against the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins.

What does that make the Penguins?

The best team in the AHL right now based off of percentage points. There are a lot off good teams in this league. Four of them are at the top of the Atlantic Division alone. Milwaukee is good. Stockton is a surprise, lots of good teams.

For the Penguins organization, who is as healthy as ever, the hope is that this run keeps on keeping on.

A 4-1 win this afternoon in Bridgeport by the Penguins.

Tristan Jarry vs. Stephon Williams.

Lines were…

Dominik Simon – Kevin Porter – Tom Kostopoulos
Garrett Wilson – Oskar Sundqvist – Josh Archibald
Jake Guentzel – J-S Dea – Danny Kristo
Tom Sestito – Teddy Blueger – Reid Gardiner

Derrick Pouliot – Chad Ruhwedel
David Warsofsky – Stuart Percy
Cameron Gaunce – Lukas Bengtsson

Tristan Jarry – Casey DeSmith

Lineup Notes: Fourth line switch up again for Clark Donatelli’s crew as the line of Sestito-Blueger-Gardiner played Friday against Hershey and replaced Patrick McGrath, Jarrett Burton and Ryan Haggerty from last night’s win against the Bears. On defense, Lukas Bengtsson drew in for Ethan Prow. Josh Archibald left Saturday’s game with what appeared at the time to be a bad knee injury, but he actually was on the ice for warmups in Bridgeport and played.

First Period: Despite outshooting the Sound Tigers by a two to one margin (10-5) the Penguins trailed 1-0 off of a Kane Lafranchise goal with Josh Holmstrom screwing in front. J-S Dea left the game in the first period when a puck deflected by Ryan Pulock deflected up high and caught him in the mouth. Dea left the ice to the locker room for a repairs.

Reid Gardiner was robbed by this nice save by Stephon Williams…

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Williams was dialed in, also stopping Jake Guentzel when the Penguins rookie weaved past all five Sound Tigers skaters but was denied by the Bridgeport netminder.

Second Period: Teddy Blueger collected his first professional goal with this deflection of a Jake Guentzel shot…

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And in slow motion…

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Pens nearly made it 2-1 but Stephon Williams dove over to stop Danny Kristo to keep it 1-1.

Pens went ahead on a David Warsofsky power play goal late in the second…

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Third Period: Its as all about either preserving or extending the lead for the Penguins because with Bridgeport being rested having not played Friday, it could have been a different result had the Sound Tigers tied the game.

It didn’t happen.

Stuart Percy collected his first goal as a Penguin when his shot went off of Travis St. Denis stick and past Williams that made it 3-1 Wilkes-Barre.

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Then Jake Guentzel just walked the dog on Williams and scored his goal of the game that made it 4-1 Wilkes-Barre.

No scoring the rest of the way as the Penguins were trying to preserve the lead and the Sound Tigers were shuffling line combinations to kickstart anything in their favor.

Three Stars: 3) Tristan Jarry (26 saves on 27 shots) 2) Jake Guentzel (goal, assist, +2) and 1) David Warsofsky (goal, two assists, +1)

Around the Division: Hershey pounds Rochester 6-1 and Providence keeps their point streak running to 12 with a 2-1 shootout win at home against Hartford. Springfield is flying back from Newfoundland and Lehigh Valley was off.

Standings: Penguins (.729 percentage points) — Lehigh Valley (.700) — Hershey (.700) — Bridgeport (.667) — Providence (.620) — Springfield (.521) — Hartford (.375)

Wheeling Update: The Nailers were handed a 4-2 loss at the expense of the Brampton Beast today in Canada. More Tuesday at noon in the Wheeling Wrap.

I will post video highlights if I see them.

The Week 9 AHL Power Rankings hit the blog Monday at 4.

Let’s Go Pens!

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Away Game: 12

AHL Game: 349

Who: Bridgeport Sound Tigers

Where: Webster Bank Arena

When: 7:00 p.m.

Media Kit

Last Game: Last night at home against the Hershey Bears, the Penguins won 6-2. Oskar Sundqvist joined the likes of Erik Christensen and J-F Jacques with four goals in a game. For Bridgeport, the Sound Tigers battled back in the third period to force overtime, where they are perfect this year, and won 4-3 in Binghamton. Eamon McAdamn improved to 7-0 in goal for Bridgeport.

Last Meeting: November 26 in Wilkes-Barre, Tristan Jarry collected the first shut out of the season for the Penguins who won 1-0. Jean-Sebastien Dea scored the only goal of the game.

Record: For WBS: 15-5-3-0 (33 pts., 1st place Atlantic Division)  — For BRI: 16-7-0-0 (32 pts., 3rd place Atlantic Division)

Why you should care: It seems ridiculously fun when these teams play hockey together and I expect this evening’s game to be no different. Whoever scores first here tonight I think is going to have the easier game. Expect Tristan Jarry for the Penguins and probably Stephon Williams for Bridgeport in goal. Josh Archibald was hurt last night for the Pens so who slots in for his absence?

Referee(s): Pierre Lambert / Stephen Reneau

Linesmen: Jim Briggs / Brian Pincus

Twitter: @wbspenguins / @WBSGameDay / @TheSoundTigers

Facebook: /WilkesBarreScrantonPenguins // /soundtigers

Instagram: wbspenguins / thesoundtigers

Beat Writers: @CVSethLakso and @TLTomVenesky / @fornabaioctp

Broadcasters: For WBS: Mike O’Brien @MikeOBrienWBS and @_NickHart / For BRI: Alan Fuehring @AlanFuehring

Fan Bloggers: @nafsnep

Radio: For WBS: WILK NewsRadio / For BRI: I don’t think Sound Tigers games are on radio. Here’s the link to Mixlr where you could here the Sound Tigers call if you want to.

Television: AHL Live

Other Game to Watch: The Providence Bruins bring their league best 11 game point streak home to square off against the Hartford Wolf Pack.

Next Five Games: @ HFD 12/14, RCH 12/16, SPR 12/17, @ BNG 12/26, SPR 12/27

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Home Game: 12

AHL Game: 348

Who: Hershey Bears

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Media Kit

Last Game /Last Meeting: Last night in Wilkes-Barre, the Pens laid an egg and lost 5-2. Jake Guentzel figured in on both goals for the Pens, setting up a J-S Dea goal and scoring on a power play in the other. Zach Sill, Zach Sanford and Nathan Walker all had a goal and an assist for the Bears in the win.

Record: For WBS: 14-5-3-0 (31 pts., 2nd place Atlantic Division) — For HER: 14-4-4-1 (33 pts., 1st place Atlantic Division)

Why you should care: Expect a different tone set by the Penguins in this game tonight. Wilkes-Barre was flaccid in a 5-2 blowout loss by its biggest rival on home ice last night. Lineup changes were set coming into the weekend, but don’t be surprised to see a shocking scratch tonight, perhaps on defense. Pens need this one or could lose touch with Hershey who has been on a tear of late, points in their last 10 games.

Referee(s): Tim Mayer / Tom Chmielewski

Linesmen: Tom DellaFranco / Ryan Knapp

Twitter: @wbspenguins / @WBSGameDay / @TheHersheyBears

Facebook: /WilkesBarreScrantonPenguins // /TheHersheyBears

Instagram: wbspenguins / thehersheybears

Beat Writers: @CVSethLakso / @TLTomVenesky

Broadcasters: WBS: Mike O’Brien @MikeOBrienWBS and Nick Hart @_NickHart // HER: Zack Fisch @zackfisch

Fan Bloggers: @nafsnep / @ChocHockey

Radio: For WBS: WILK News Radio / For Hershey: 1460 The Ticket 

Television: AHL Live

Promotion(s): None

Other Game to Watch: Immediate game of interest is the rematch between Rochester and Lehigh Valley tonight in Allentown. Another poor showing by the Penguins coupled by a sweep of the Amerks by the Phantoms could leave the Penguins in third place or worse depending on the other game that I will keep an eye on, the Sound Tigers in Binghamton.

Next Five Games: @ BRI 12/11, @ HFD 12/14, RCH 12/16, SPR 12/17, @ BNG 12/26

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Home Game: 11

AHL Game: 334

Who: Hershey Bears

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Media Kit

Last Game: Sunday in St. John’s the Pens lost 3-2 in overtime. Wilkes-Barre battled back from an 0-2 hole and fired 52 shots at IceCaps netminder Yann Danis. For Hershey, the Bears beat Syracuse on Sunday 4-2. Joe Cannata stopped 35 of 37 shots which was good enough to earn him first star honors.

Last Meeting: November 23 in Hershey, the Bears shutout the Penguins 4-0. Vitek Vanecek stopped all 24 shots sent his way.

Record: For WBS: 14-4-3-0 (31 pts., 1st place Atlantic Division) — For HER: 13-4-4-1 (31 pts., 2nd place Atlantic Division)

Why you should care: Extremely important weekend for both teams as the standings at the top of the Atlantic Division are razor thin with six point separating the top five teams and seven points separating the top six. The Penguins are stacked, with the recent re-assignments of Jake Guentzel and Derrick Pouliot from the NHL and only missing Carter Rowney. The Pens will be looking to put the Bears away in regulation so as to not allow their division rival any amount of points.

Referee(s): Andrew Thackaberry

Linesmen: Luke Murray / Jud Ritter

Twitter: @wbspenguins / @WBSGameDay / @TheHersheyBears

Facebook: /WilkesBarreScrantonPenguins // /TheHersheyBears

Instagram: wbspenguins / thehersheybears

Beat Writers: @CVSethLakso / @TLTomVenesky

Broadcasters: WBS: Mike O’Brien @MikeOBrienWBS and Nick Hart @_NickHart // HER: Zack Fisch @zackfisch

Fan Bloggers: @nafsnep / @ChocHockey

Radio: For WBS: WILK News Radio / For Hershey: 1460 The Ticket 

Television: AHL Live

Promotion(s): WBRE Fan Friday ($14 Tickets), Bayard Printing / Scranton Times Tribune & Citizens Voice Team Photo (First 5,000), Postgame Autographs, $2 Draft Beers (6-7:30 p.m.)

Other Game to Watch: I like the Albany / Syracuse matchup tonight. Two teams here, like the Pens and Bears, at the top of the North Division battle tonight in Central New York.

Next Five Games: HER 12/10, @ BRI 12/11, @ HFD 12/14, RCH 12/16, SPR 12/7

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Away Game: 11

AHL Game: 309

Who: St. John’s IceCaps

Where: Mile One Centre

When: 4:00 p.m. Newfoundland time, 2:30 p.m. Wilkes-Barre time.

Media Kit

Last Game / Last Meeting: Last night in St. John’s, the Penguins won 6-2. Kevin Porter had a goal and two assists, Tom Kostopoulos had three assists as the Penguins struck three times on the power play to win. Sven Andrighetto assisted on both IceCaps goals.

Record: For WBS: 14-4-2-0 (30 pts., 1st place Atlantic Division) — For STJ: 11-11-1-0 (23 pts., 4th place North Division)

Why you should care: Rematch on The Rock for these two teams. You should see some shuffling at forward and on defense for the Penguins and expect Casey DeSmith to get the nod today for Wilkes-Barre. The IceCaps started strong in the first period then faded after the Pens struck on the power play late. St. John’s is hard to beat twice at home.

Referee(s): Troy Murray / Andrew Wilk

Linesmen: Sheldon Keough / Brian Lambert

Twitter: @wbspenguins / @WBSGameDay // @IceCapsAHL

Facebook: /WilkesBarreScrantonPenguins // /stjohnsicecaps

Instagram: wbspenguins / stjohnsicecaps

Beat Writers: @CVSethLakso / @TLTomVenesky // @telyrobinshort / @telybrendan

Broadcasters: For WBS: Mike O’Brien @MikeOBrienWBS  and @_NickHart / For STJ: Brian Rodgers

Fan Bloggers: @nafsnep 

Radio: For WBS: WILK Newsradio / For St. John’s: Listen Live

Television: AHL Live

Other Game to Watch: Lehigh Valley travels to Bridgeport to take on the Sound Tigers who are on a tear as of recent and are a very strong, underrated team.

Next Five Games: HER 12/9, HER 12/10, @ BRI 12/11, @ HFD 12/14, RCH 12/16

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Away Game: 10

AHL Game: 298

Who: St. John’s IceCaps

Where: Mile One Centre

When: 4:00 p.m. Newfoundland time, 2:30 p.m. Wilkes-Barre time.

Media Kit

Last Game: Last Saturday at home against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the Penguins picked up their first shutout of the season with a 1-0 win. Tristan Jarry stopped all 24 shots faced and J.S. Dea scored the only goal for the Penguins in the win. For St. John’s, the IceCaps hosted the Syracuse Crunch on Wednesday and won 3-2 in a shootout. Markus Eisenschmid had a goal and an assist and Yann Danis stopped everything in the shootout round.

Record: For WBS: 13-4-2-0 (28 pts., 1st place Atlantic Division) — For STJ: 11-10-1-0 (23 pts., 4th place North Division)

Why you should care: Should be a good weekend tilt. IceCaps have been floundering around as a would be contender in the North Division. This is going to be a great test for them as well as the Penguins who should be well rested after not playing for an entire week.

Referee(s): Troy Murray / Andrew Wilk

Linesmen: Darryl Butt / Jim Vail

Twitter: @wbspenguins / @WBSGameDay // @IceCapsAHL

Facebook: /WilkesBarreScrantonPenguins // /stjohnsicecaps

Instagram: wbspenguins / stjohnsicecaps

Beat Writers: @CVSethLakso / @TLTomVenesky // @telyrobinshort / @telybrendan

Broadcasters: For WBS: Mike O’Brien @MikeOBrienWBS  and @_NickHart / For STJ: Brian Rodgers

Fan Bloggers: @nafsnep 

Radio: For WBS: WILK Newsradio / For St. John’s: Listen Live

Television: AHL Live

Other Game to Watch: Hershey beat Lehigh Valley last night in Allentown 4-3. The Phantoms are looking for revenge tonight in Hershey when they take on the Bears.

Next Five Games: @ STJ 12/4, HER 12/9, HER 12/10, @ BRI 12/11, @ HFD 12/14