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It’s becoming a trend.

Whenever Matt Murray skates out to the net the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins are defending at the beginning of the game, the Penguins have a chance to win.

What does a goaltender do? Stops shots. Helps the team win. Murray has done his job, masterfully. His #1 status in Wilkes-Barre, the AHL Goaltender of the Month Award for February backs up that statement.

But he is on another planet. Another shutout today, his ninth overall and fourth in a row, breaking a Wilkes-Barre / Scranton team record for consecutive shutouts with four.

But wait, there is more. Murray can make AHL history tomorrow if he skates out to the net the Penguins defend tomorrow afternoon in Springfield and does his job for another 23 more minutes.

That would be the AHL record for consecutive shutout minutes, set by Barry Brust of the now defunct Abbotsfoird Heat a few years ago. The record is 268:17. Murray’s streak is 245:22.

You think Murray is aware of this? You think he cares? You think Head Coach John Hynes is aware of this, you think he cares?

My money bets no. The Penguins are in a playoff battle and are chasing the Hershey Bears for the East Division lead and 6 other teams in the Eastern Conference for a playoff berth. Murray, Hynes and Company are probably more focused on just winning tomorrow against the Falcons and nothing else. The rest is gravy. The Penguins won the game today 3-0.

Murray opposed Patrik Bartosak today in net.

Lines were….

Conor Sheary – Andrew Ebbett – Tom Kostopoulos
Scott Wilson – Jayson Megna – Adam Payerl
Tom Kuhnhackl – Carter Rowney – Dominik Uher
Pierre Leblond – Matia Marcantuoni – Bobby Farnham

Brian Dumoulin – Taylor Chorney
Scott Harrington – Barry Goers
Nick D’Agostino – Harrison Ruopp

Matt Murray – Jeff Zatkoff

Lineup Notes: Josh Archibald was scratched. J-S Dea took warmups but was scratched. I had a booster club member tweet in and tell me that they saw Reid McNeill with a cast on his left hand in the elevator, thus Harrison Ruopp was in for him today. Obie said on the broadcast that he is week to week.

First Period: Penguins opened with a slower pace to start and got physical after every whistle that stopped play. The game plan worked. Forechecking pressure by Dominik Uher caused a turnover by the Monarchs right to Matia Marcantuoni who was parked right in the slot, collected the puck, fired and scored….

[tweet https://twitter.com/nafsnep/status/574308974939533313]

Penguins limited the Manchester chances, let the game come to them, and led the Monarchs in shots 12-8 after the first period.

Second Period: Penguins kept the Monarchs to the outside, played a team centric game and at times smothered the Monarchs, who remember are one of the AHL’s best teams at home and one of the best teams in the AHL all season long. Conor Sheary kept his eye on the puck….

[tweet https://twitter.com/nafsnep/status/574316534170058752]

… and doubled the Penguins lead.

The Penguins continued to pressure the Monarchs. What little momentum they did build was halted when they took a penalty late in the period. The Penguins continued to smother Manchester late.

Third Period: If Murray does make AHL history should he start tomorrow in Springfield, point back to this period as the period that helped him get the record…

1) The Penguins started out on the penalty kill with a late second period penalty to Adam Payerl. Manchester had 1:58 of power play time on clean ice to work with. The Monarchs have the top unit in the AHL.

2) Brian Dumoulin was nabbed for elbowing, putting the Monarchs back on the power play. The Penguins did a good job of holding off the Monarchs power play the last time, but did an even better job this go around because Tom Kuhnhackl scored just the second shorthanded goal of the season for the Penguins here….

[tweet https://twitter.com/nafsnep/status/574330342577934336]

3) Scott Harrington was caught closing his hand on the puck in the crease when there was a mass of bodies in front of the net. After discussion, referees awarded a penalty shot. Sean Backman took it and missed.

4) Monarchs got yet another chance on the power play, but did not capitalize.

Penguins took just five shots in the third. Manchester had seventeen. They threw everything they had at Murray, had the benefits of three power plays and a penalty shot, and came up empty. Remember this is the same Manchester team that subjugated the Penguins the night before.

Three Stars: 3) Tom Kuhnhackl (shorthanded goal, +1) 2) Matia Marcantuoni (goal, +1) and 1) Matt Murray (32 save shutout)

Around the Division: Hershey beat Hartford 5-3 so the lead between Hershey and Wilkes-Barre remains seven to the Bears…Portland beats Lehigh Valley 5-4 in Allentown. Binghamton and Norfolk were idle.

Standings: Hershey 79 — Penguins 72 — Lehigh Valley 59 — Binghamton 56 — Norfolk 51

Conference: 1) HER (79) 2) MCH (77) 3) SYR (74) 4) WBS (72) 5) PRO (70) 6) SPR (70) 7) WOR (68) 8) POR (68)

Wheeling Update: Nailers win 4-3 against Indy in Indiana. Alex Boak had a goal. Big win for Wheeling.

SendToNews Highlights: Manchester doesn’t send them. Click on my replays of everything for all that you need.

Will Murray get the net tomorrow? Will he make history? Tomorrow’s game in Springfield is a 3 p.m. start. Remember to set your clocks ahead one hour!

Let’s Go Pens!

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A couple of questions will surround this Penguins team tonight into tomorrow, after a 6-3 loss to the Manchester Monarchs in New Hampshire tonight….

— Can the Penguins run with the elite teams? Manchester has a great home record (24-6-1-0) and just doesn’t lose at the Verizon Wireless Arena.
— Is Wilkes-Barre a one-dimensional team that, with proper personnel and scouting, you can shut down? The Penguins were out shot 28-18 tonight and had just 11 shots through 40 minutes of play.
— Is this the end of the Jeff Zatkoff as we know him? Zatkoff has been insulated by the stellar play by February’s AHL Goaltender of the Month Matt Murray and is basically the backup for the Penguins coming down the stretch.

As I was watching this one on AHL Live tonight, with the game already decided, I wondered if Head Coach John Hynes will even sleep tonight, with the teams rematching Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.

The answer to my third question really wouldn’t have mattered and you are silly if you pin the loss 100% on Jeff Zatkoff’s shoulders. The Penguins lost this game tonight because they played bad as a team, not because of the play of the goaltender tonight.

We don’t have to wait very long to see how the Penguins respond to this loss, which snaps a 10game point streak.

The aforementioned Jeff Zatkoff vs. Jean-Francois Berube.

Lines were…

Conor Sheary – Andrew Ebbett – Tom Kostopoulos
Scott Wilson – Jayson Megna – Josh Archibald
Tom Kuhnhackl – Carter Rowney – Dominik Uher
Bobby Farnham – Matia Marcantuoni – Adam Payerl

Brian Dumoulin – Taylor Chorney
Reid McNeill – Scott Harrington
Nick D’Agostino – Barry Goers

Jeff Zatkoff – Matt Murray

Harrison Ruopp skated the warmups but was a scratch. J-S Dea and Pierre Leblond did not participate in warmups and were the other healthy scratches.

Nick Drazenovic (upper body) and Bryan Rust (lower body) are still week-to-week and are not on the trip.

First Period: There are a few teams in the AHL that you just cannot make a mistake against. The Monarchs are one of them. After a really bad turnover by Taylor Chorney to Jordan Weal, Manchester jumped out to the quick 1-0 lead. They quickly made it 2-0 off a Brian O’Neill slam dunk far post. The Penguins were trapped on the ice for an icing, got caught trying too hard to get the puck out of the zone and forgot that O’Neill was camped out far post.

Penguins got one back on the power play off of Scott Harrington’s first of the season….

[tweet https://twitter.com/nafsnep/status/574004355470352384]

It was also the eighth straight game that Wilkes-Barre has scored a power play goal.

Manchester re-established the two goal lead on a power play goal from Colin Miller.

Second Period: Frustrating period for the Penguins, who managed just one shot on goal for the first ten minutes/ They didn’t do themselves any favors, gift wrapping the Monarchs a long 5-on-3 power play that Vincent LoVerde scored on at the very end of to make it 4-1. The Monarchs continued to contain the Penguins. Finally, late, the Pens had two consecutive power play opportunities and scored on this one from Taylor Chorney…

[tweet https://twitter.com/nafsnep/status/574019023819702273]

Just when you think the tide is turning for the Penguins, Andrew Bodnarchuk scores to make it 5-2 for the home team in the final minute.

Felt like that whenever the Penguins took a step forward, they followed it up with two steps backward.

Third Period: Penguins opened with a sense of urgency and got this goal from Dominik Uher to draw back within two…

[tweet https://twitter.com/nafsnep/status/574025418166157312]

Carter Rowney set that play up by cycling the puck low and threw the puck on Berube. Uher was there to clean up the rebound.

Josh Archibald took his first of two tripping calls in the period and that ended any hope of a Penguins comeback because the Penguins needed to kill a penalty. They were successful, but then Jordan Weal picked up his fourth point of the night when he deked Nick D’Agostino out of his jock and scored to make it 6-3.

[tweet https://twitter.com/nafsnep/status/574030543261732864]

Yikes.

Credit to Manchester. Every piece of momentum that the Penguins countered with they responded to. That needs to be cleaned up quickly and should.

Three Stars: 3) Zach O’Brien (two assists, +3) 2) Brian O’Neill goal, assist, +3) and 1) Jordan Weal (two goals, two assists, +2)

Around the Division: All wasn’t lost from a Penguins perspective because Hershey lost 2-1 to Providence. Binghamton beat Norfolk 3-2 in overtime and Lehigh Valley beat Bridgeport 2-1 also in overtime.

Standings: Hershey 77 — Penguins 70 — Lehigh Valley 59 — Binghamton 56 — Norfolk 51

Conference: 1) MCH (77) 2) HER (77) 3) SYR (74) 4) WBS (70) 5) SPR (70) 6) WOR (68) 7) HFD (68) 8) PRO (68)

Wheeling Update: After playing four games in five games this week, the Nailers had a much needed Friday night off.

SendToNews Highlights: Are not up yet. Doubt you’d want to look anyway. If I remember at some point tomorrow I will link in. No promises.

Gameday for the rematch vs. these Monarchs will be up at 11 a.m. for the 3 p.m. start.

Let’s Go Pens!

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The Penguins as a team rolled to a 7-0 win Sunday afternoon vs. the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in Southern Connecticut. The two teams are two teams that are going in opposite directions.  The Penguins haven’t are 8-0-1-1 and the Sound Tigers have lost now nine straight. Two trains passing in the night, if there ever was one.

The only real issue after the end of the first period wasn’t whether the Penguins, up 2-0 at the time, were going to win the game but whether Matt Murray was going to earn his third straight shutout, and eighth overall.

He did.

Just some of his statistics for you to gnaw on…

— Three straight shutouts.
— A streak of 185:22.
— Last five starts: 127 saves on 128 shots, 5-0-0, 0.20 GAA and a .992 SV% with four shutouts.
— Murray takes over the Penguins franchise lead in shutouts for a season, passing Brad Thiessen in that category.

Murray is one shutout shy of tying himself with Wade Dubielewicz (2003-04) and Gordie Bell (1942-43) for all time shutouts made by a rookie goaltender.

A remarkable, remarkable run for the first year goaltender.

He will tell you that it is a team effort and will downplay any attention paid in his direction.

But the stats, and the company he is in so far, bears the attention.

The Penguins just dominated the Sound Tigers today. Bridgeport only had 18 shots on goal today playing the third game in three games. The Penguins were the rested and better of the two teams and this was on full display today.

Matt Murray vs. David Leggio

Lines were:

Conor Sheary – Andrew Ebbett – Tom Kostopoulos
Scott Wilson – Jayson Megna – Josh Archibald
Tom Kuhnhackl – Carter Rowney – Dominik Uher
Pierre Leblond – Matia Marcantuoni – Bobby Farnham

Brian Dumoulin – Taylor Chorney
Reid McNeill – Scott Harrington
Nick D’Agostino – Barry Goers

Matt Murray – Jeff Zatkoff

Alex Boak skated the warmups as the extra defenseman but was scratched. Adam Payerl was swapped out for Tom Kostopoulos.

First Period: Sound Tigers opened with some pressure. Brett Gallant had a nice hit on Matia Marcantuoni. As he was coming off the ice with his team pressuring in front of Matt Murray, he was confronted by Bobby Farnham. They tumbled right to the ice and it wasn’t much of a fight at all. Very smart play by Farnham to stop play and start something.

Then the Penguins went on a power play and, despite what the caption says, Tom Kuhnhackl finished this…

[tweet https://twitter.com/nafsnep/status/572129818990395392]

Pierre Leblond nearly scored from the high slot as the Penguins continued to pressure. Bridgeport then had a chance n a power play but couldn’t sneak anything past Murray.

While the teams were four-on-four, Jayson Megna did this…

[tweet https://twitter.com/nafsnep/status/572133170394447872]

That’s Josh Archibald that finished off that play. His first AHL goal since November 21 against Albany.

Penguins continued to pressure the Sound Tigers and outshot them 16-5.

Second Period: Was actually running a bit behind coming up the steps as the second period started as Jayson Megna did this…

[tweet https://twitter.com/nafsnep/status/572143751230988288]

It was off of a gaffe of a turnover by Cory Conacher.

Brian Dumoulin hasn’t had a power play goal at all this season, but finally got one off of this play…

[tweet https://twitter.com/nafsnep/status/572145944675807232]

There really wasn’t much to this period, the Penguins really dominated the Sound Tigers in all facets in this period. The Penguins had five shots in the period but scored two goals off of them, while the Sound Tigers only had seven.

Third Period: Sorry about the lack of video for the fifth goal, which was a Scott Wilson shot from the long side of the left circle that made it 5-0.

The Sound Tigers wouldn’t stop taking penalties. The Penguins made them pay. This was on repeat twice more in the period.

First, Andrew Ebbett…

[tweet https://twitter.com/nafsnep/status/572161220276461568]

And then Josh Archibald…

[tweet https://twitter.com/nafsnep/status/572161852836225025]

It was Archibald’s second of the game and again, first goals since November. I would say that the stint in Wheeling paid dividends for Archibald, who was the footnote to Murray and the Penguins dominating day.

The only issue was would Murray hang on for the shutout, and he did.

Three Stars: 3) Matt Murray (18 save shutout) 2) Jayson Megna (goal, assist, +3) and 1) Brian Dumoulin (goal, two assists, +1)

Around the Division: Binghamton lost in overtime to the Albany Devils, 4-3 in overtime. Hershey keeps winning too, beating Lehigh Valley 2-0. Goaltender Philipp Grubauer with his sixth shutout of the season as well.

Standings: Hershey 77 — Penguins 70 — Lehigh Valley 57 — Binghamton 52 — Norfolk 50

Conference: 1) HER (77) 2) MCH (75) 3) SYR (74) 4) WBS (70) 5) SPR (70) 6) HFD (68) 7) WOR (66) 8) PRO (66)

As long as the Penguins keep winning, there really is no sense in keeping up with what other teams in the Conference are doing win / loses wise. So let’s juts move past this…

Wheeling Update: The Nailers played today but due to bad ice at WesBanco Arena, the game was delayed until tomorrow with the Greenville Road Warriors.

SendToNews Highlights: Are here.

Depending on the trade deadline, Monday at 3 p.m., I may run a summary post of what it all means for the Penguins and the teams in the East Division. The Week 21 AHL Power Rankings will hit the blog at some point, I just haven’t decided when yet. Also, the Third Quarter Grades are going to be later on this week also, so be on the look out for those.

Latest on Twitter as always.

Let’s Go Pens!

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Before I get started, make sure you read about tonight’s 3-2 overtime win by the Penguins in the Sunday version of The Citizens’ Voice tomorrow at some point. I pinch hit for Jonathan Bombulie tonight and my words are in the paper.

Anyway, the Penguins probably don’t want the month of February to end. They go throughout the month without a single regulation loss, 7-0-1-1 to be exact and are on a tear.

There is a team about an hour south of Coal Street that is slightly hotter, and the best team in the AHL, but that’s for later.

An overtime game winning goal by Andrew Ebbett, a power play goal by Jayson Megna and Reid McNeill’s second goal of the season with 29 saves from Jeff Zatkoff was enough for the Penguins tonight.

The lineup was unchanged from last Sunday. Josh Archibald skated in warmups instead of Alex Boak. Bobby Farnham played after leaving last Sunday with injury. Jeff Zatkoff opposed Yann Danis.

First Period: Nothing happened. Hartford blocked shots. The Penguins did too. Goaltenders made saves.

Second Period: Penguins jumped out to a 1-0 lead with Reid McNeill’s second of the season setup by the nice forecheck of Dominik Uher. Penguins continued to make boneheaded exit passes that in the past have cost them but tonight they were lucky. Zatkoff stopped a three on one attempt by the Wolf Pack.

Megna took a penalty and seven seconds later Chris Mueller scored to tie the game at one. Mueller fumbled a pass from Chris Bourque, causing Jeff Zatkoff to overslide in the crease and giving Mueller enough room to score.

Wilkes-Barre responds with a power play goal from Megna with 8.6 seconds left off of a rebound that Danis left on an initial shot from Scott Harringtion.

Third Period: Looked as though the Penguins were going to cruise to a win, locking down the Wolf Pack. It didn’t happen. Mike Koska throws a shot on net that Mueller scores on to make it a 2-2 game. Zatkoff had been scattering rebounds all night and Mueller was in position to take advantage.

Penguins had two opportunities to score on the power play in the period but didn’t.

I don’t know if you listened to the Penguins Pit Podcast Friday afternoon or not, but I did. In it, Jonathan stated that the Penguins didn’t ask the AHL to review the hit that Dylan McIlrath laid on Bobby Farnham last Sunday. That didn’t stop McIlrath from having to answer to Pierre Leblond. The two threw down about halfway through the period for a long bout that lasted well over a minute.

Nothing of big significance happened after the fight, so with the game tied at two yet to be decided it was off to…

Overtime: Brian Dumoulin pinned his man against the near wall freeing a puck to Andrew Ebbett who was all alone and beat Danis stick side.

Of note, Ebbett’s goal in overtime was the 200th overtime goal scored in the AHL this season.

Three Stars: 3) Dylan McIrath (no idea, he had two shots, seven penalty minutes) 2) Andrew Ebbett (overtime game winning goal) and 1) Chris Mueller (two goals)

Around the Division: Hershey starts out listless and is in an 0-2 hole at home against Albany but then scored two goals in a franchise best five seconds and roll on to win 4-2. There is no two teams hotter than the Penguins and Bears right now. The only reason why it may appear to the common man that the Bears are the better team with the bigger lead is because of the games in hand situation. Hershey had three on the Penguins to open the month, and won two of them. The two teams meet in Wilkes-Barre a week from Wednesday…Binghamton lost to Lehigh Valley 3-2 in overtime and Norfolk lost 4-3 to Providence.

Standings: Hershey 75 — Penguins 68 — Lehigh Valley 57 — Binghamton 51 — Norfolk 50

Conference: 1) HER (75) 2) SYR (74) 3) MCH (73) 4) SPR (70) 5) WBS (68) 6) HFD (68) 7) WOR (66) 8) PRO (66)

The top eight are tight. St. John’s actually beat Worcester 2-0. The Sharks have games in hand that they have yet to play.

Wheeling Update: The Nailers lost 4-3 to the Greenville Road Warriors (who happen to be the ECHL affiliate of the Hartford Wolf Pack) J-S Dea had a goal and an assist. Eric Hartzell started in net for the Nailers and stopped 23 of 27.

SendToNews Highlights: Are here.

Pens travel down the road a bit to Bridgeport for a 3 p.m. start against the Sound Tigers. Gameday setup for that will be up here on the blog at 11 a.m.

Let’s Go Pens!