Last Game: Last night in Rochester, the Penguins scored two power plays goals and won 3-2. Carter Rowney returned from injury and scored a goal and picked up and assist. For Syracuse, the Crunch beat the Toronto Marlies 5-4. Matt Taormina had two goals and an assist for first star honors.
Last Meeting: October 30 in Wilkes-Barre, the Penguins won 6-1. Kevin Porter scored a pair of goals and Casey DeSmith stopped 22 of 23 shots.
Record: For WBS: 27-7-3-0 (57 pts., 1st place Atlantic Division) — For SYR: 19-9-2-5 (45 pts., 1st place North Division)
Why you should care: Matchup of division leaders here in Central New York. Penguins have owned the Crunch so far this season and Syracuse will likely have three transactions with players either being recalled to Tampa Bay or reassigned as that has been the theme for the Crunch this season. Will the Penguins win seven in a row and remain unbeaten in 2017?
Other Game to Watch: The Lehigh Valley Phantoms crushed the Hershey Bears 6-2 last night at home. Hershey has lost five straight. The Bears get another crack at the Phantoms at Giant Center tonight.
Next Five Games: @ SYR 1/16, @ HER 1/18, @ LV 1/20, HER 1/21, SYR 1/25
Comments Off on Welcome Back, Carter — Pens WIN 3-2
Posted by nafsnep on January 13, 2017
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Going back to the narrative I led with after the Penguins beat the Toronto Marlies Wednesday night about great teams winning games, add one more category which I forgot.
Great teams win games they have no business winning.
The Rochester Americans should have won this game tonight going away. They outshot the Penguins 23-13 after two period, had seven power plays and scored first. They should have won the game tonight.
But Carter Rowney and Tom Kostopoulos had other ideas.
That’s the sixth win in a row for the Penguins, who remain unbeaten in 2017.
Tristan Jarry opposed John Muse.
Lines were…
Dominik Simon – Kevin Porter – Tom Kostopoulos
Garrett Wilson – Oskar Sundqvist – Josh Archibald
Jake Guentzel – Carter Rowney – Danny Kristo
Tom Sestito – Teddy Blueger – J-S Dea
Derrick Pouliot – Tim Erixon
Cameron Gaunce – Ethan Prow
Stuart Percy – Barry Goers
Tristan Jarry – Casey DeSmith
Lineup Notes: Carter Rowney returned from injury, his first action since November 25. Rowney missed 18 games. The Penguins went 14-3-1-0 without Rowney’s services. Chad Ruhwedel was still recovering from illness and was a healthy scratch. Other healthy scratches included Patrick McGrath, Sahir Gill, Lukas Bengtsson and Ryan Haggerty.
First Period: Rochester owned the period and jumped all over the Penguins to start, earning themselves a 1-0 lead quickly, but two power play goals put the Penguins ahead 2-1 at the end of the first.
Seconds into their first power play, Carter Rowney made up for lost time with this goal…
— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) January 14, 2017
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Mind the Penguins tweet there, that was indeed Carter Rowney’s goal.
Five seconds into another power play, Tim Erixon unleashes a shot from the blue line that Tom Kostopoulos gets a stick on to put the Penguins ahead 2-1…
— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) January 14, 2017
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Rochester was putting a lot of pucks on Jarry from all angles, firing him into awkward, nonchalant type saves. Rochester outshot the Penguins 14-6 in this first period.
Second Period: Penguins were outshot 23-13 at the end of the period, no scoring here and it was the Wilkes-Barre penalty kill that was better than the Rochester power play as it seemed like this period was largely dominated by special teams.The Amerks had three consecutive chances on the man advantage in the second period but the Penguins penalty kill really limited Rochester’s chances. Teddy Blueger will be getting some money or some free meals from Garrett Wilson at some point soon as Blueger was really good at killing penalties in this game. Wilson, to this point, took three penalties which were all hooking penalties.
Third Period: Penguins take their fourth straight penalty and Rochester finally makes them pay when ex-Penguin Cal O’Reilly picks a corner and ties the game for the Amerks.
Garrett Wilson took his fourth penalty of the game, but Josh Archibald drew his second penalty of the game and Stuart Percy scored at even strength off of this change up of a shot that put the Penguins ahead for good….
Wheeling Update: The Nailers lose 4-3 in Toledo to the Walleye. Sean Maguire took the loss, Doug Carr backed up. Christian Hilbrich, Andrew Ammon and Brett Stern scored for Wheeling.
Video highlights…
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Pens will bus east on Interstate 90 to Syracuse for a 7 o’clock start Saturday against the Crunch. Gameday setup for that will be on the blog Saturday at 3.
Last Game: Wednesday in Toronto, the Penguins manufactured yet another third period comeback and won 2-1. Tom Sestito’s goal with about three minutes left was good enough to lift the Penguins to their fifth win in a row, keeping them unbeaten in 2017. For Rochester, the Amerks hosted Hartford Wednesday and lost 3-1. Cole Schneider scored the only goal for Rochester.
Last Meeting: December 16 in Wilkes-Barre, the Pens won 4-1. Lukas Bengtsson scored his first professional goal in North America as the Penguins cruised.
Record: For WBS: 26-7-3-0 (55 pts., 1st place Atlantic Division) — For RCH: 16-20-0-1 (33 pts., 6th place North Division)
Why you should care: Penguins should easily cruise here but it’s these types of games that are perfect trap games for good teams like Wilkes-Barre. It will take a full 60 minute effort for the Penguins to keep unbeaten here in 2017.
Other Game to Watch: Hershey is in Allentown. The Bears are ready to put last weekend behind them and the Phantoms need to stay in touch with teh Penguins at the top of the division.
Next Five Games: @ SYR 1/14, @ SYR 1/16, @ HER 1/18, @ LV 1/20, HER 1/21
Defenseman Chad Ruhwedel was returned to Wilkes-Barre by Pittsburgh. It was Ruhwedel’s second recall of the season only this time he nevere appeared in any games. David Warsofsky it appears fro now has the dubious distinction of staying up on NHL recall while Brian Dumoulin recovers from his broken jaw.
I’m curious to wonder if Pittsburgh will send Warsofsky back at some point and recall another defenseman to avoid exposing him to waivers.
Out the door, you can watch the AHL All-Star Classic on TV again this year. The AHL announced details today. It will be on MyNetworkTV locally as well as other regional sports channels.
Pens are back on the ice Friday in Rochester. Gameday setup hits the blog Friday at 3.
Comments Off on Finding Ways to Win — Pens WIN 2-1
Posted by nafsnep on January 11, 2017
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The thing about great teams is that they always, no matter the circumstances, find ways to win.
They can blow out an opponent, like the Penguins did last Friday at home against the Hershey Bears.
They can go up early, lose the lead in the middle, rally and win like they did Saturday at home against Binghamton.
They can win firefights, with multiple lead changes in the third period at the tail end of a three in three and win in overtime like they did Sunday in Hershey.
They can win a goaltenders duel, like they did tonight in Toronto by a score of 2-1.
A Marlies skater playing in his fourth AHL game this season scores on a lucky shot late in the second period to open the scoring of a game largely dominated by the goaltenders. Any average AHL team starts to pack it in and take risks. Not the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins.
Jake Guentzel is the first player in the AHL to 20 goals when he pounces on a turnover and scores to tie the game at one a piece.
Later, and with only minutes left, Tom Sestito, of all people, scores again to put the Penguins ahead for good and they hold on and win.
Five wins in a row for Wilkes-Barre, unbeaten in 2017. It seems that whatever you throw at this team, fastball, curveball, changeup, screwball, slurve, eephus, knuckleball, spitter, whatever, they are parking it 20 rows deep in center field.
Tristan Jarry opposed Garret Sparks.
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 – Ryan Haggerty
Derrick Pouliot – Tim Erixon
Cameron Gaunce – Ethan Prow
Stuart Percy – Barry Goers
Tristan Jarry – Casey DeSmith
Lineup Notes: Tristan Jarry was reassigned from Pittsburgh today and David Warsofsky was recalled to Pittsburgh because the flu is going through the room up top. Jarrett Burton was sent to Wheeling earlier this week.
First Period: It was a very quick, crisp period by both teams. No penalties. Shots were 11-9 Penguins and it was Wilkes-Barre that dominated stretches of play. Garrett Sparks denied Dominik Simon twice in one shift then Tristan Jarry denied a Colin Greening shot on a three on two a few minutes later. The one thing I picked up the most in this overly uneventful period was Nick Hart on color describing the Penguins / Marlies shot chart. He described the Penguins shot chart looking like a bees nest and the Marlies shot chart looking like an umbrella.
Second Period: First half of the game was a goaltending duel between Tristan Jarry and Garrett Sparks. Sparks denied Ethan Prow in the slot, a Sundqvist one timer, then Jake Guentzel hit a post followed up by Dominik Simon.
Later, Tony Cameranesi scored his first goal of the season on a low angle turn around shot on Jarry that game then Marlies a 1-0 lead…
Four goals in the last four games for Sestito. Even me, the math idiot, can tell you that is a goal a game for a player known more for his fists than his goal scoring prowess.
Three Stars: 3) Tom Sestito (goal, +1) 2) Garrett Sparks (32 saves on 34 shots) 1) Tristan Jarry 27 saves on 28 shots)
Wheeling Update: The Nailers remain to be the stone in the shoe for the ECHL’s best Toledo Walleye. Nailers win 5-2. Sean Maguire named third star with 31 saves on 33 shots.
Video highlights…
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Pens will bus to Rochester and practice there in advance of Friday’s game with the Americans. If there is anything blog-worthy I will have something here Thursday. If not, look for the next update for the blog at 3 Friday for the Rochester Gameday setup.
Last Game: Sunday in Hershey, the Pens won in overtime against the Bears 6-5. David Warsofsky scored the game winner, to go along with another goal which helped him earn the AHL Player of the Week award. For Toronto, the Marlies hosted the Rochester Americans and lost 4-3 in overtime. Ex-Penguin Kasperi Kapanen had a pair of goals in the loss.
Last Meeting: November 11 in Wilkes-Barre, the Penguins were shutout 3-0. Antoine Bibeau had a 19 save shutout.
Record: For WBS: 25-7-3-0 (53 pts., 1st place Atlantic Division) — For TOR: 15-16-2-1 (33 pts., 4th place North Division)
Why you should care: Toronto is a different team from the last time we saw them. In their last ten games, the Marlies are 3-6-1-0 and have been trending in the wrong direction for the last month and a half. The Penguins on the other hand have remained at the top of the AHL for that time. The Penguins will need to come out strong and limit mistakes if they want to get this road trips started off on the right foot tonight.
Other Game to Watch: I like Milwaukee and Chicago out West. Two teams battling for second place in the Central Division square off tonight in Rosemont.
Next Five Games: @ RCH 1/13, @ SYR 1/14, @ SYR 1/16, @ HER 1/18, @ LV 1/20
Comments Off on Wheeling Wrap 1/10
Posted by nafsnep on January 10, 2017
Noon Tuesday and it’s time for another look at how the Wheeling Nailers did this week.
The Nailers played just two games this weekend and split them both, but took three points out of the week. Let’s take a more in depth look…
Friday, the Nailers took it to the best team in the ECHL the Toledo Walleye. The Nailers walloped the Walleye by a score of 6-0. Sean Maguire started the game for the Nailers in net and picked up his first ever shutout as a professional with a 25 save performance. Wheeling struck twice on its two power plays and got pair of goals from Garrett Meurs and Nick Sorkin. Christian Hilbrich, Tyler Currier, Jordan Kwas and Brett Stern all had two assists each.
Sunday, Wheeling hosted the Cincinnati Cyclones and lost 3-2 in overtime. The Cyclones jumped out to a 2-0 lead at the end of the first but goals in the second and third period by the Nailers endured that Wheeling would take at least three points out of the weekend and it was just that as the Cyclones scored in overtime to beat the Nailers. Sean Maguire only faced 19 shots. Gage Quinney and Garrett Meurs scored for the Nailers. Wheeling wasn’t able to score on five power plays.
With the three point week, the Nailers draw closer to the fourth place Adirondack Thunder, just two points off with 35 and a 16-12-3-0 record.
This week, the Nailers play home and homes with Toledo and Kalamazoo. They face the Walleye this Wednesday at home, then Friday in Toledo. Then, the Nailers return home for a date with the K-Wings and then load a bus bound for Michigan for a 3 p.m matinee game Sunday with the Wings.
WBS News
Chirps from Center Ice 