Comments Off on Weekend Preview – Turbulence?
Posted by nafsnep on November 5, 2025
After a week where the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins saw their first defeat of the season come at the hands of the Providence Bruins and then another loss to the then winless Utica Comets, the Penguins are facing their first bout of adversity on this overall successful start to the season.
Music to Set the Mood…
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A Quote…
“Fall seven times, stand up eight.”
– Japanese Proverb
I may be getting ahead of myself here. The Penguins are 8-2 and there are a ton of teams in the AHL that would trade places with the Penguins in a heartbeat.
The Setup…
The Penguins played the Providence Bruins tight but had a bad second period and lost to the Bruins on Wednesday. They played Bridgeport the same way but outclassed the Islanders Friday and won and lost in Utica to a winless at the time Comets team Saturday in Utica.
I think it sucks that Marc Johnstone, who was a fan favorite last year, will be in town with his Toronto Marlies team on Wednesday and the place will be half empty or more. They then head to Rochester for a Friday night game and then bus back overnight for a 6 p.m. start at home against Utica.
Bussing overnight 5+ hours from Rochester for an earlier start seems downright unfair, by the way. I would have no issues with the team putting out an announcement that the Saturday start time moves up an hour to 7:05, but such is life in this league.
So Toronto was out in Chicago this weekend and split there and are in the midst of an eight game road trip that takes them to Pennsylvania this week, then Grand Rapids for a pair then Belleville before Iowa comes in November 22. They have a very diverse schedule, playing Iowa, Grand Rapids and Chicago. They also see Manitoba, but not this month.
Rochester split in Laval last weekend and host Syracuse Wednesday.
Utica picked up their first win of the season against the Penguins last Saturday after the night before get shutout 3-0 to Syracuse. Utica hosts Belleville Friday.
Records
The Penguins are tied with the Providence Bruins at the top of the Atlantic Division with 16 points. The Pens have an 8-2 record.
The Marlies are 4-4-0-1 and have 9 points and are in a dead heat with the Cleveland Monsters and Belleville Senators who also have 9 points in the North Division.
Rochester is tied with Syracuse atop the North Division with 14 points and a 7-3 record.
Utica is 1-6-1-0 and have 3 points in last in the North.
The Rest of Those Rascals…
Providence has an 8-1 record and lead the Atlantic with 14 points. That one loss? A 2-0 setback to none other than the Hershey Bears on Saturday. The Bruins also beat Charlotte 5-2 Sunday. The Bruins are in Cleveland this weekend.
Lehigh Valley is third in the Atlantic with a 6-3-0-1 and 13 points. The Phantoms were blanked in Laval 3-0 on Wednesday then won a pair of overtime games against the Hartford Wolf Pack Friday and Saturday. They are in Bridgeport Wednesday then host Toronto Saturday.
Hershey is fourth in the division with a 5-3-1 record and 11 points. It was perfect weekend for the Bears, who won in Bridgeport Wednesday, in overtime Friday in Springfield and then shutout Providence Saturday. Are the Bears back? Hershey hosts Toronto Friday the Rochester on Sunday.
Charlotte is 4-4-1 with 9 points, in fifth place and lost in Hartford Wednesday, won in Springfield and lost to Providence Sunday. The Checkers host Syracuse this weekend.
Hartford is 3-4-2 and on 8 points in sixth place. If you paid attention, I mentioned them above, heads up! The Wolf Pack have a trip to Laval Friday, Belleville Saturday.
Bridgeport is 3-5-1 and have 7 points in seventh. Hershey beat them Wednesday, the Pens beat them Friday and then the Islanders won in a shootout over the Springfield Thunderbirds. They host Lehigh Valley Wednesday then a home and home with the Thunderbirds this weekend.
Springfield is last in the division with a 1-6-1-1 record and have 4 points. OT loss to Hershey Friday, 5-3 loss to Charlotte Saturday and a 2-1 SOL to the Islanders Sunday made for a tough three in in three weekend. Home and home with the Islanders this weekend.
What can we learn about the Penguins this week?
I think they are all winnable games this week but you have to be careful. Toronto always plays them tough, Rochester may be elite and Utica can and should be beaten.
They need to tighten things up I think, they played too loose in Utica. They played almost a perfect first period against Providence Wednesday and somehow managed to beat Bridgeport and then laid an egg against Utica. They have to get the power play straight if they want to continue to contend in and win hockey games. Don’t do that and you are struggling against winless teams like the Comets.
Who’s in Goal?
This seems meaningless if you don’t sync up the offense because you need to score goals to win hockey games. This isn’t Sergei Murashov’s fault, either.
Dennis Hildeby, Devon Levi and Nico Daws for the opposition of you made me guess, which if you are reading this are asking me to?
First of all, if you think that is a lot of transactions for a team in one day, you obviously are not a New York Mets fan like I am. This was an every day occurrence for the Metropolitans every day in August.
In response, Coal Street recalled Goaltender Maxim Pavlenko and Forward Zach Gallant.
Valtteri Puustinen joins Sebastian Aho and Taylor Gauthier on the injured list.
Wait, you never answered who was staring in goal for the Penguins!
You’re right, but I hope you understand why now!
I say Filip Larsson starts Wednesday and Friday and then you let Maxim Pavlenko start at home against Utica. Mix in Taylor Gauthier if he’s healthy.
That’s one thing with following baseball, they actually disclose injuries, unlike hockey. So you had an idea of who was close / still far off.
Who’s Running the Show?
Alright, so back to my gripes about the 80+ referees contracted to officiate games in the League. They get Adam Tobias and Riley Brace Wednesday with Jud Ritter and Bill Lyons on the lines. They have seen Brace already this year. Tobias? They will see him again Friday in Rochester with Mitchell Hardy. Shawn Oliver and T.J. Dockery will work the lines. Hardy? You guessed it…Saturday in Wilkes-Barre paired up with Mathieu Menniti with J.P. Waleski and Davids Rozitis on the lines.
Mix it up a bit, can we?
Looking Ahead…
Wednesday bus trip to Bridgeport, the Islanders return the favor for a Friday night game in Wilkes-Barre and then Springfield comes in Saturday night.
Comments Off on Weekend Preview — Who’s Next?
Posted by nafsnep on October 29, 2025
7-0 Wilkes-Barre / Scranton take on the 6-0 Providence Bruins at 7:05 on Wednesday night in a matchup of early season heavyweights.
The Penguins have beaten every team put in their path, but so has Providence. Only one team will walk out of Wilkes-Barre Wednesday night still undefeated and still considered a very early favorite.
Music to Set the Mood…
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In keeping with the Hair Nation staples, as my tan fades, it seems apropos. It’s also the Penguins goal song. Let’s hope we hear a lot of this later tonight.
A Quote…
Have no fear of perfection—you’ll never reach it.
– Salvador Dalí
The Setup…
Undefeated Wilkes-Barre / Scranton takes on undefeated Providence Wednesday and then Bridgeport at home this week, then hit the road for Utica to take on the Comets to open November.
The Bruins have the keys to the Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza, where they have beaten the Penguins TWELVE STRAIGHT TIMES (emphasis added) – with the last Penguins win coming all the way back in 2019, where even then it was a close 1-0 Penguins win.
I know it’s early, but if the Penguins want to win the division this season, the way things are setting up Wilkes-Barre may have to go through Providence.
Last week, the Penguins beat the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and were the first AHL team to 10 points, then went to Charlotte and swept the Checkers.
The Bruins beat the Thunderbirds 5-3 Friday, had off Saturday then beat the Bridgeport Islanders 4-1 on Sunday.
Bridgeport shut out Hartford 3-0, had Saturday off then lost to the Bruins 4-1. Bridgeport hosts Hershey Wednesday.
Utica were blanked by Syracuse 3-0 Friday, then lost to Laval 4-2. Utica is in Syracuse Friday.
Records
The Penguins lead the AHL with a 7-0 record and 14 points; Providence is 6-0 and in second place with 12 points; Bridgeport is 2-3-1 and in fifth with 5 points and Utica is winless, with an 0-5-1 record and have a point in last place in the North Division.
The Rest of Those Rascals…
Gave you Providence’s body of work. After they visit Wilkes-Barre, they host Hershey Saturday and Charlotte Sunday.
Lehigh Valley sits third in the Atlantic with a 4-2-0-1 record and 9 points. After they lost to the Penguins on last Wednesday, they split with Hershey but took 3 out of 4 points from the Bears, losing Saturday in a shootout. The Phantoms are in Laval Wednesday, then go to Hartford for a Friday-Saturday visit.
Charlotte were swept by the Penguins last week. They are 3-2-1 in fourth with 7 points. The Checkers are in Hartford Wednesday, Springfield Saturday and then Providence on Sunday.
Bridgeport shutout Hartord 3-0 in Hartford on Friday then lost to Providence 4-1 Sunday. They have a 2-3-1 record and have 5 points good for fifth in the Atlantic. They host the Bears Wednesday, visit the Penguins Friday and host Springfield Sunday.
Hershey split with the Phantoms last week and have a 2-3-1 record good for 5 points and in sixth place. They are in Bridgeport Wednesday, Springfield Friday and Providence on Saturday.
Hartford shutout Springfield 3-0 on Wednesday, then were shutout by Bridgeport 3-0 on Friday and beat Springfield 6-3 Saturday. They are 2-4 with 4 points in seventh place in the division and then host Charlotte Wednesday then the Phantoms for a pair at home this weekend.
Springfield were shutout by Hartford Wednesday, lost 5-3 to Providence on Friday and lost 6-3 to Hartford Saturday. They are 1-5 and have two points in last place in the division. They host Hershey Friday, Charlotte Saturday ad visit Bridgeport Sunday.
Who’s Up? Who’s Down? Who’s Out?
Scooter Brickey came off the injured list, Sebastian Aho replaced him. Taylor Gauthier is still injured. The status of Atley Calvert is uncertain as he didn’t play Saturday.
Connor Lockhart was signed to an AHL contract last week and is in Wheeling. Ville Koivunen used his demotion to his advantage and ate up AHL defenses like kids on Halloween and was called back up Sunday.
The Penguins called up forward Nolan Renwick and defenseman Daniel Laatsch from Wheeling. Reading the tea leaves makes me think that Atley Calvert may not be ready to go.
The Laatsch recall made more sense when Pittsburgh recalled Owen Pickering Monday evening.
What can we learn about the Penguins this week?
Can they beat Providence? Forget Hershey, Lehigh Valley or Charlotte. Last year the Bruins toyed with the Penguins. One of the reasons the Penguins didn’t get a bye last year was their ineffectiveness against the Bruins. If they beat the Bruins then you can feel better about the Penguins real chances of staying at the top of the division. If they lose, then it becomes a tight race and stays that way.
Does anything get figured out on a Wednesday in October? I don’t think so, but it’s good to speculate and hope.
But what if they beat the Bruins and lose to the winless Comets? Again, I suppose that is why they play the games.
Expect a good one Wednesday against two really good teams.
Who’s in Goal?
Sergei Murashov was named AHL Player of the Week on Monday and unless he gets hit by a bus or kidnapped by aliens, he’s the guy Wednesday. I’d expect him Friday and then Filip Larsson Saturday, or if you argued for Larsson Friday and Murashov Saturday, I wouldn’t stop you.
Michael DiPietro is also likely the starter for the Bruins Wednesday, although his counterpart Simon Zajicek has better numbers, so who knows.
Parker Gahagen is probably the guy the Penguins will be competitively shooting pucks at on Friday against the Islanders and then maybe Jakub Málek Saturday in Utica against the Comets.
Who’s Running the Show?
Mason Riley and Andrew Bell have the duties Wednesday with Davids Rozitis and Jud Ritter on the lines.
Friday we see Rob Hennessey and Patrick Hanhrahan in the orange arm bands with Rozitis on the lines again with John Rey.
David Elford and Jake Kamrass are the assigned officials Saturday in Utica with Anthony Lapointe and Sam Cucinotta on the lines.
Looking Ahead…
The Pens will host Marc Johnstone and the Toronto Marlies next Wednesday, then hop a bus for a date with the Rochester Americans on Friday then bus back for a 6:05 Saturday start against the Utica Comets again.
12 games in November for the Penguins. Busy schedule.
Give us a bold prediction…
I joked about it on Facebook, but if the Penguins go undefeated this week, I am busting out the WCW Goldberg theme and going all in on the “WHO’S NEXT” theme.
But when the Penguins ultimately do lose, expect, “Finger Poke of Doom” as the blog headline for that game. Real marks know.
Let’s just hope Kevin Nash doesn’t show up in a few hours….
Comments Off on Weekend Preview – Standing On Top of the World
Posted by nafsnep on October 22, 2025
The Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins are 4-0 for the first time in a while and off to a great start to their 2025-26 campaign. They take on the Lehigh Valley Phantoms Wednesday at home before hitting the road for a pair in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Music to set the mood…
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Apt. They are first place in the AHL and looking to stay there.
A Quote…
To be the man, you have to beat the man! – Ric Flair
So far they have run through Hartford twice, Bridgeport and Lehigh Valley. There are other teams, like the Checkers who they will see twice this weekend in North Carolina, that want a crack. This is apt too, as The Man Ric Flair is from the Queen City.
The Setup…
Home with the Phantoms then a pair in Charlotte this weekend. It’s hard to beat the Checkers twice in two nights. Are the Penguins up for it?
The Penguins went to Hartford and spoiled the Wolf Pack’s home opener. Then they went down 3-0 to Bridgeport on Saturday only to storm back for six unanswered and won 6-3. Message to the rest of the division? Maybe.
Lehigh Valley swept the Cleveland Monsters out in The Land this past weekend. Saturday’s game was won in the shootout. Friday, Aleksei Kolosov had a 35 save shutout.
The Checkers hosted and swept the hapless Iowa Wild, who are still winless this past weekend. Charlotte doesn’t have to go anywhere this week and will be waiting for the Penguins arrival this weekend.
Records
Penguins are 4-0 and have 8 points on top of the Atlantic. The Phantoms are 3-1 with 6 points. That one loss came at the hands of the Penguins two Sunday’s ago.
The Checkers are 3-1 with their loss coming to the hands of the Providence Bruins and have 6 points. Charlotte is third, Lehigh Valley is fourth.
The Rest of those Rascals…
Providence looks as good as the Penguins, off to a 4-0 start with weekend wins over Bridgeport and Hartford. The Bruins are 4-0 and host Springfield and Bridgeport this weekend.
Hershey picked up a win over the Springfield Thunderbirds on Saturday and rematched against the T-Birds Sunday and lost 5-1. The Bears are 1-2-1 with three points. The Bears have a home and home with the Phantoms this weekend.
Bridgeport lost both games this weekend to Providence and the Penguins. They are 1-2-1 and on 3 points in sixth place. The Islanders have a trip to Hartford Friday then a trip to Providence Sunday.
I gave you Springfield’s results above in the Bears paragraph. The Thunderbirds are 1-2 and have two points after winning their first game of the season Sunday in Hershey. They are in Hartford Wednesday, Providence Friday and then host the Wolf Pack Sunday.
Hartford is in dead last at 0-3 with no points and host the Thunderbirds Wednesday, Bridgeport Friday and travel to Springfield Saturday.
Who’s Up? Who’s Down? Who’s Out?
Light on the wire. Emil Pieniniemi was suspended by the team for failing to report to Wheeling. Status quo everywhere else with Scooter Brickey and Taylor Gauthier injured.
What can we learn about the Penguins this week?
I think if they get through the week and are still undefeated then we can say we may have a wagon on our hands. Lehigh Valley is going to give the Penguins fits just on sheer volume, as they meet 12 times this season. Charlotte may be a good team, but they haven’t beaten anyone of substance yet, beating a winless Wild team and a middling Springfield side. But they are the defending Eastern Conference Champions and need to be taken seriously. How confident are you if the Pens go down 3-0 against the Checkers as you were say against Bridgeport? I know I am not.
Who’s in goal?
It surprised many when Sergei Murashov got the start Saturday, after starting Friday. There’s a case if you want to do that again to go Filip Larsson Wednesday, since he was in net when the Pens and Phantoms last met, and then go Murashov on back to back nights in Charlotte. If not, then I think they go Larsson – Murashov – Larsson.
Kolosov for the Phantoms Wednesday is my guess with Cooper Black and Kirill Gerasimyuk for the Checkers, but Black got both starts against Iowa, so your guess on this is as good as mine. I’d like to think that a little stiffer competition is coming to town for Geordie Kinnear’s group, so play your hands carefully.
Who’s Running the Show?
Liam Maaskant and Rob Hennessey have the midweek assignment in Wilkes-Barre with Jud Ritter and Tommy George working the lines.
This weekend in Charlotte has Beau Halkidis and Sydney Harris on the referee job with Anthony Lapointe and Quinn Schafer working the lines. Same crew Saturday as per usual in Charlotte with Jake Rennert tagging in for Quinn Schafer on the line.
Looking Ahead…
How are we talking November already? Penguins host the Providence Bruins next Wednesday, the Bridgeport Islanders on Friday and then travel to Utica on All Saint’s Day which kicks off four straight against North Division competition, but let’s save that for next week.
Give us a bold prediction…
The Penguins sweep the Checkers in North Carolina by an aggregate of 12-4.
Comments Off on Weekend Preview – Heaven’s On Fire!
Posted by nafsnep on October 17, 2025
A perfect 2-0 start last week for the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins has the Penguins sitting at the top of the Atlantic Division after the first weekend of play.
Miles to go, 70 more games to play. Two more road games this weekend in Hartford and Bridgeport. Let’s get into it!
Music to Set the Mood…
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You may as well just pencil me in with the Hair Nation staples at this point.
Also, rest in peace Ace Frehley.
A Quote…
The secret of getting ahead is getting started.
— Mark Twain
I forgot the quote last week. I will try and do better the next time.
Not only do the Penguins lead the Atlantic Division, they lead the entire league. Sustainable? Maybe, but it’s a good start at getting ahead. Just don’t ask me to calculate their magic number.
The Setup…
A road game with the Hartford Wolf Pack, with the Penguins reciprocating the home opener festivities for the Wolf Pack then a trip to an a new look Bridgeport Islanders.
Last weekend the Penguins beat the Wolf Pack Saturday at the home opener 2-1. After going down early, the Penguins come back and ride Sergei Murashov to 23 saves, get goals from Valtteri Puustinen and Owen Pickering and win. Then Sunday in Allentown it was the Tristan Broz Show, where Broz gets a pair of goals and an assist while Filip Larsson stops 26. Two power play goals scored by the Penguins.
Hartford played just one game and lost to the Penguins. Bridgeport loses a nail biter in overtime Saturday at home against Providence and then stomp the Belleville Senators 6-2 on Sunday. They will host Providence in a rematch Friday.
Records
Penguins lead the Atlantic Division with a 2-0 start and 4 points. Hartford has an 0-1 record with 0 points and Bridgeport has 3 points with a 1-0-1 record.
The Rest of those Rascals…
I am adding this in this year because I shelved the Power Rankings this season. Too much work for me to put together and too few people read them. They just never turned numbers for me and weeks would go where I would force myself to write a bunch of stuff on teams the Pens never played that people would never read. It ain’t worth it, so in this spot I’ll give a quick rundown of the Atlantic Division teams not mentioned previously this week in order of division placement.
Providence: Bruins are also off to a 2-0 start and look as good as advertised. There may be a lot of black and yellow at the top of the Atlantic between the P-Bruins and Penguins. After visiting Bridgeport, the Bruins host Hartford Saturday.
Lehigh Valley: Phantoms are 1-1 after a win against the Belleville Senators Saturday and a loss to the Penguins on Sunday. Lehigh Valley is off to Cleveland for a Friday / Saturday tilt against the Monsters.
Charlotte: After looking good beating Springfield last Saturday, the defending Eastern Conference Champions are 1-1 after losing 6-3 to Providence on Sunday. They host the Iowa Wild who are looking for their first win of the season, this weekend.
Hershey: The Bears are also looking for their first win of the season and are 0-1-1 after getting swept at home by the Syracuse Crunch. Herhsey hosts Springfield for a pair this Saturday and Sunday.
Springfield: The Thunderbirds played one game this past weekend and lost to the Checkers and will be looking for their first win this weekend in Hershey in a pair of games.
Who’s Up? Who’s Down? Who’s Out?
David Breazeale and Maxim Pavlenko were sent to Wheeling Friday.
Ville Koivunen was sent back from Pittsburgh Saturday and played Sunday in Lehigh Valley. Rutger McGroarty is still working his way back from injury with Pittsburgh and isn’t a guarantee he’ll be in the AHL, depending on what they do with Ben Kindel.
Nolan Renwick was sent to Wheeling on Wednesday.
Scooter Brickey and Taylor Gauthier have week to week lower body injuries.
What can we learn about the Penguins this week?
Early returns are we have a good team on our hands, but I don’t think the full potential has been reached yet. To expect it this early into the season is silly, I know, but it should be interesting to see how they do this weekend.
Hartford is a good team based on their speed. They will be amped up after a weeks worth of film and practice and itching to exact revenge on the Penguins in their home opener. There’s no reason to believe that the Pens don’t go down big on Friday. But there is reason to believe that they won’t because they are too well coached and way too talented.
The thought has to be in the back of your mind, though.
Bridgeport is a new look team as well and may give the Penguins fits as well. It shouldn’t be seen as a weekend where the Penguins can half ass through a game and pull a rabbit out of their arse and win.
So they need to be careful. These points here in October also count the same in March.
Who’s in Goal?
No reason to believe they change anything. It should be Murashov Friday and Larsson Saturday.
Dylan Garand and Parker Gahagen for the opposition is my guess.
Who’s Running the Show?
Riley Brace and Matt Mannella have the assignment Friday with Luke Pye and Brent Colby on the lines.
Mike Sullivan and Cole MacDonald have the enforcement duties Saturday with Dylan Lewis and Patrick Dapuzzo on the lines Saturday.
Mannella and MacDonald are new referees. Brace is okay, I think Sullivan sucks and gets overmatched at times.
Looking Ahead…
Wednesday at home against the Phantoms, then a trip south for a Friday / Saturday matchup against the Charlotte Checkers.
Give us a bold prediction…
One of the Penguins will win AHL Player of the Week Award for next week.
Comments Off on Weekend Preview – Into The Fire…
Posted by nafsnep on October 10, 2025
Back at it in year fifteen of this blog are we for another year of blogging up the local hockey team. Thanks for coming along for the ride.
Off the hop, I think they will be a competitive team this season. With Pittsburgh likely in full on tank mode that leaves the farm club to ripen on the vine a bit and improve on last years fourth place standing to get even better. Will they? I think so. They should contend early for the top spot in the new look Atlantic Division. More on that in a bit.
Music to Set the Mood…
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This past summer at my pool I got tired of the same 75 or so songs on Yacht Rock Radio. Don’t get me wrong, I love me some Doobie Brothers, Michael McDonald and some Rupert Holmes, but it got to be a drag being hearing the same songs in the pool every afternoon all summer.
So on a whim, I skimmed through SiriusXM’s lineup of channels while going for a hair cut of all things. Beyond my other favorites of Classic Rewind and Vinyl, SiriusXMU and First Wave, I landed on Hair Nation. There were a few songs on there that caught my ear and I couldn’t get enough. Christopher Cross, Linda Ronstadt and Robbie Dupree were replaced by Poison, Ratt and the band above, Dokken. I was rockin’ with Dokken all August long with Keith Roth on Hair Nation.
I miss summer.
Anyway.
The Setup
Friday off, then they get going for a home opener against Hartford and then a Sunday road game in Allentown. Everyone should be in tip top shape and raring to go.
Top to bottom from last seasons finish, here’s a quick preview of where I think they should be this season.
Hershey: Average to below average team. Todd Nelson is an assistant with Pittsburgh now and Derek King is at the helm for the 13 time champs. He’s a coach who is good with youth and the Bears will be just that. Inexperienced, but still the Bears.
Charlotte: Above average. The Eastern Conference Champs will be looking to get back to the Calder Cup Finals again.
Providence: Above average. The Bruins always give teams fits and are a juggernaut. No reason to believe any of that stops this season.
Penguins: Above average. If the Penguins don’t go further then they did in the past two seasons, then it will just be more of the same until it isn’t anymore. I expect them to contend all season.
Lehigh Valley: Above average to average. The Phantoms are much like the Penguins with a group of hungry kids looking to graduate. The Pens and Phantoms play 12 times this season and you better get ready for wars.
Springfield: Average to below average. I don’t think they signed anyone of significance.
Hartford: Below average. Same story here. They will start hot and fizzle. New York thinks they can contend so who knows.
Bridgeport: Above average. This isn’t saying much because the only way to go is up for the league’s worst team last year, but they overhauled everything and got better on paper. They are a prove it team to me for now.
Don’t ask me to pick the two teams which don’t make playoffs. It’s a fools errand.
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Records
Everyone is starting 0-0. Lehigh Valley hosts Belleville Saturday.
Who’s Up? Who’s Down? Who’s Out?
Sergei Murashov and Owen Pickering are names to watch to start the season in the AHL. Rutger McGroarty is working his way off an injury and is up. This is normally the most busiest place during the Winter months in this space, so keep a lookout. Avery Hayes and Trisan Broz had good NHL camps but are starting the season here. Don’t get used to them for long.
What can we learn about the Penguins this week?
They will contend, that is for sure. Murashov should be your number one in goal. Pittsburgh has a decision to make when Joel Blomqvist heals up because they aren’t carrying Blomqvist, Arturs Silovs and Tristan Jarry. A Penguins goaltender or goaltenders is being traded. No way you risk losing Silovs on waivers. Jarry’s contract is an albatross, so what happens? Your guess is as good as mine.
But it’s Murashov’s net for now.
Owen Pickering should be too good to play at this level and guys like Broz and Hayes should be chomping at the bit to get back to an NHL lifestyle. Raphael Harvey-Pinard and Alex Alexeyev will be looking for good first impressions also.
They should beat Hartford and then it’s a measuring stick with Lehigh Valley over Pennsylvania dominance and who could conceivably be at the head of the Atlantic Division table after the first weekend of the season.
All of the Penguins nine games this month are against Atlantic Division competition, so it’s prime time to start hot and get the rest of the division behind you before the real grind starts and the recalls and injuries inevitably occur.
Who’s in Goal?
I think you have to start Sergei Murashov Saturday and then let Taylor Gauthier or Maxim Pavlenko take the start in Lehigh Valley or, just start Murashov in both contests. That would make more sense but you don’t know when the evaluation process ends.
For Hartford and Lehigh Valley, Dylan Garand and possibly Carson Bjarnason for the competition.
Who’s Running the Show?
Damian Figueira and Patrick Hanrahan have the opening night assignment with Shawn Oliver and Richard Jondo on the lines Saturday night.
Sunday in Allentown, Mathieu Menniti and Austin O’Rourke are in charge with Oliver. making the PA Turnpike trip to meet up with Patrick Dapuzzo to work the lines.
Looking Ahead…
Friday night in Hartford and then Saturday night in Bridgeport for the first road trip of the season.
Give us a bold prediction…
They win both games with the power play yet to score a goal.
Comments Off on Weekend Preview – Let’s Go Back…
Posted by nafsnep on April 16, 2025
It’s the final Weekend Preview of the season and we are going back to the playoffs. The Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins have a lot to play for still as they still gun for the first round bye.
Music to Set the Mood…
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This has been an earwig for me for the past week. So catchy and apropos. Shut the Top 40 garbage off and listen to real music.
Also, let’s go back to playoffs and stay a while.
The Setup
It’s the proverbial stone in the shoe Providence Bruins this Wednesday at home, then the final regular season road trip to Hershey on Friday before closing out they regular season with a home match against the Cleveland Monsters.
The Penguins had a 2-0 lead coming into the third period Friday which was erased by the visiting Hershey Bears in the first five minutes where the Bears would. go on to win 4-2.
The Penguins dominated the Springfield Thunderbirds the next night at home, winning 4-1 and dominating the shots on goal, 44-23.
Then Wilkes-Barre handled business in Bridgeport to close out the last three in three of the season winning 5-2.
For the Bruins, they beat Hartford 6-2 Friday and won against Belleville 3-2 in overtime Saturday.
Hershey lost to Lehigh Valley 5-1 after their Friday meet with the Pens. The Bears will host a Syracuse team which has not clinched a playoff berth yet on Wednesday.
Cleveland split with the Toronto Marlies in a home and home weekend series. The Monsters will be in Rochester Wednesday and Lehigh Valley on Friday.
Records
The Penguins are 39-22-7-1 and on 86 points in third in the Atlantic Division.
Providence has the same number of points and in fourth in the Atlantic with a 39-23-5-3 record.
Hershey leads the Atlantic with a 43-19-6-1 record, on 93 points.
Cleveland sits fourth in the North with a 35-23-5-6 record on 81 points.
Check Your Surroundings
Wilkes-Barre cannot win the division, but can finish as high as second. Charlotte holds that seeding presently.
The Checkers are in Hartford Wednesday before closing out their regular season in Springfield Friday and Saturday. They are 41-22-3-3 with 88 points.
Joona Koppanen, Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen are in Pittsburgh. McGroarty could be back this season, provided the Penguins are still around. My guess is 4-6 weeks. Vasily Ponomarev and Valtteri Puustinen are also up.
Emil Bemstrom was sent back last weekend.
Gabe Klassen, Matty De St. Phalle and Logan Pietila are up from Wheeling.
Goaltender Taylor Gauthier was recalled Monday and they sent Sergei Murashov and Jack Beck to Wheeling.
Joona Koppanen cleared waivers Tuesday but was not immediately re-assigned.
Pittsburgh’s season ends this Thursday, so expect a ton of roster shuffling on the wires this Friday with guys coming back from Pittsburgh and going down to Wheeling.
The Nailers start their seven game series with the Norfolk Admirals this Wednesday, with Games 1 and 2 Wednesday and Thursday in Norfolk, then Game 3 not till the following Wednesday. That series is weird because it’s a 2-5 setup, with games 5, 6 and 7 (if needed) being played all in Wheeling.
What can we learn about the Penguins this week?
They are going to get help, but will that help arrive in time for a First Round series against the Springfield Thunderbirds or a second round matchup against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms possibly? None of the bodies in Pittsburgh will be around Wednesday against a Providence team they can’t beat at home to save their arse.
Suffice to say, the Wednesday game against the Bruins is the biggest game of the season for them.
Now, they can lose, hope that Charlotte loses, but then the Bruins would need to lose against the Bridgeport Islanders in their final game Saturday and that won’t happen because the Bruins have only lost once against the Islanders all year.
Again, in my opinion, Wednesday night’s game against the Bruins is probably the most important game for Wilkes-Barre in the last five years, maybe more.
Who’s in Goal?
Up until Monday afternoon it was an interesting conundrum. Whoever gets the start is probably your Game 1 starter when playoffs do begin. Is it Joel Blomqvist or Sergei Murashov? Well, for the time being, it’s Joel Blomqvist.
They dominated Springfield Saturday when Blomqvist was in net and won big. But Murashov also won, albeit against a terrible Bridgeport team who tested him, Sunday. But Wheeling gets going in their Kelly Cup Playoffs this week and they can use him to help them get deep.
Figure Blomqvist – Larsson and then possibly Taylor Gauthier if there isn’t anything left to play for Saturday. If there still is, figure Blomqvist.
Brandon Bussi – Garin Bjorklund – Jet Greaves is my shot in the dark for the opposition.
Wait. What? They really reassigned Murashov to Wheeling?
They want him in high leverage situations. They want a healthy Joel Blomqvist in high leverage situations also. Since the AHL rulebook does not allow you to play two goaltenders at the same time, Murashov was moved to Wheeling to assist the Nailers in their Kelly Cup pursuit. Make no bones, has nothing to prove at the ECHL level any longer, but this is the die which has been cast. It isn’t a knock on Murashov. He doesn’t develop in a ball cap operating a door at the bench during the Calder Cup Playoffs. He will do well and develop helping the Nailers go deep in the Kelly Cup Playoffs.
Who’s Running the Show?
Patrick Hanrahan and Rob Hennessey are the refs assigned to Wednesday’s matchup with J.P. Waleski and Chandler Yakimowicz on the lines.
Friday sees Graedy Hamilton and Chad Ingalls as the referees in Hershey with Jeremy Faucher and Tommy George on the lines.
Hamilton will make the trek up I-81 to meet up with Ben Betker Saturday in Wilkes-Barre with Ryan Jackson and J.P. Waleski on the lines for the regular season finale against Cleveland.
Looking Ahead…
We don’t know yet. Seeding and likely a playoff opponent and schedule will be out Saturday night at the conclusion of the Monsters / Penguins game. Or will it? Will the Penguins have locked up a bye?
Give us a bold prediction…
Get ready for another three game first round series with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, buddy.
Comments Off on Weekend Preview – A Town Called Malice…
Posted by nafsnep on April 11, 2025
Let’s just jump in this pool already.
Music to Set the Mood…
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A Quote…
Better stop dreaming of the quiet life ‘Cause it’s the one we’ll never know And quit running for the runaway bus ‘Cause those rosy days are few And stop apologising For the things you’ve never done ‘Cause time is short And life is cruel But it’s up to us to change This town called Malice
— The Jam
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Six games left, three game losing streak, window for first place in the division closing rapidly, the second seed and the bye getting away from you and your top prospect injured Tuesday in the NHL and done for the rest of the year.
April in Wilkes-Barre? A Town Called Malice you say?
Groundhog Day. Real ones know.
The Setup
Oh boy. A home game with Hershey Friday and another one with Springfield Saturday then a road trip to Bridgeport Sunday to complete the final three in three of the season.
The Penguins were swept in Cleveland an aggregate 10-1. The offense dried up despite getting Emil Bemstrom back from Pittsburgh, but the penalty kill was 3/11 while the power play was 1/6. Special teams can kill you most nights, and in Cleveland it did.
Hershey got right, because of course they did, after being swept by Utica a fortnight ago and beat Lehigh Valley and swept Hartford, essentially killing the Wolf Pack’s playoff chances.
Springfield qualified for the Calder Cup Playoffs despite losing 4-2 to Rochester, 5-2 to Utica and shutting out Lehigh Valley 1-0 in overtime.
Bridgeport has only won four times at home and will have an all time bad season. They have been out of it for months.
Records
The Penguins are 37-21-7-1 and on 82 points in fourth in the Atlantic.
Hershey is 42-18-6-1, on 91 points and lead the Atlantic.
Springfield is 34-28-2-4 and on 74 points in fifth.
Bridgeport is 15-46-4-3, on 37 points and last in the league.
Check Your Surroundings
Charlotte, in second with 86 points, have played one more game then the Penguins, host Utica Saturday and Sunday.
Providence, in third with 82 points have two more games then the Penguins, is in Hartford Friday and host Belleville Saturday. They will be in Wilkes-Barre this coming Wednesday.
ATO Season
Coal Street added a trio of players on Monday, defenseman David Breazeale and forwards Aaron Huglen and Zach Urdahl. Only Breazeale out of the press release from Coal Street joins the team immediately on the Amateur Tryout Agreement.
Who’s Up? Who’s Down? Who’s Out?
Matt Nieto went up Tuesday, Kyle Jackson went to Wheeling Sunday, Joona Koppanen, Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen are in Pittsburgh.
In the wake of that news, Pittsburgh recalled Emil Bemstrom, Vasily Ponomarev and Valtteri Puustinen. I ma assuming these recalls are for the remainder of Pittsburgh’s season, which incudes Friday at New Jersey, Sunday at home vs. Boston and Thursday at home in the finale against Washington.
Coal Street responded by recalling Gabe Klassen Wednesday, Mathieu De St. Phalle and Logan Pietila on Thursday.
What can we learn about the Penguins this week?
I said last week that the time to make a move was last weekend. They scored one goal and were embarrassed by a team dressed up like pierogis.
Now they host their biggest rival at home with the teams going it looks like in the wrong direction. On top of that, they lack direction. Who is the leader of this team? Who can you rely on for a goal when you need one? Who can shut down the other teams best line?
You have those answers if you are a Bears fan. You know two out of three if you live in Charlotte. I blog about this god damn team and I can’t give you a straight answer.
They have to find a way. They clinched and rested on their laurels. Job isn’t done, though. They need to transition into playoff mode now if they want to creep back into a bye in the first round. They aren’t out of that by any stretch, but their current run of form isn’t promising.
It doesn’t help that they were insulated in part by injuries to the NHL club for a large stretch but now it seems half the team is in Pittsburgh for the final three meaningless games in Pittsburgh’s season while the AHL club is attempting to jockey for a first round bye for playoffs.
Who’s in Goal?
Murashov – Larsson – Murashov should be the rotation. The Bears can’t beat Sergei Murashov and they bring out the best in him. It’s a crime if anyone else other then Murashov isn’t out of the gates first at around 6:20.
Where will you be at 6:20 on Friday?
I will be in Lancaster for the weekend at the first camping trip taking in Noah at Sight and Sound Theater for a 7 p.m. showing. These things are planned months in advance. The weather isn’t going to the best, and this is the last time I am camping in April.
Who else is in goal?
Clay Stevenson for the Bears, Colten Ellis for the Thunderbirds and it doesn’t matter for the Islanders. If the Penguins can’t beat the Islanders you probably don’t have to worry about me going camping in May (Knoebel’s around Memorial Day) and missing another Penguins game because they won’t be around at that time.
Who’s Running the Show?
Chris Rumble and Mathieu Menniti are the referees Friday with Jud Ritter and J.P. Waleski on the lines.
Rumble stays in Wilkes-Barre, Mason Riley tags in for Menniti and Tyler Loftus and Chander Yakimowicz are the linesmen Saturday.
Koletrane Wilson and Rob Hennessey have the assignment Sunday in Bridgeport, Shawn Oliver and Cameron Carlson have the lines.
Looking Ahead….
They close the books on the 2024-25 AHL season with a home game Wednesday against Providence, a Friday road trip in Hershey and a Saturday home game against Cleveland.
Give us a bold prediction…
I am expecting an elephant in the Noah show, since it’s an Old Testament tale about animals on an ark. I am not going to see an elephant.
WBS News
Chirps from Center Ice 