Last Game / Last Meeting: Wednesday in Wilkes-Barre, the Penguins won 5-0. Tristan Jarry had a 20 save shutout, his fifth of the season and Dominik Simon had two goals, but on the power play.
Record: 39-21-4-1 (83 pts., 1st place Atlantic Division) — For BNG: 27-33-4-1 (59 pts., 7th place North Division)
Why you should care: Rematch from Wednesday night. The Binghamton Senators looked completely overmatched then. Will it be the same tonight? Penguins are still pursuing a playoff spot and a division championship and can’t look past this game for tomorrow’s big matchup at home against Providence.
Other Game to Watch: Providence is in Lehigh Valley tonight and the Phantoms were crushed 8-0 by the Hershey Bears Wednesday. Providence has the same task ahead of them tonight in Allentown as the Penguins have tonight in Binghamton.
Next Five Games: PRO 3/26, SPR 3/29, BRI 4/2, POR 4/3, LV 4/8
Late in the second period of this game and with the Penguins cruising 4-0, I had the thought of a tank that was running out of control downhill. That was the story of this game, a 5-0 Penguins win against the Binghamton Senators.
The Senators had come into the game winning four games in a row and were looking to slow the momentum of the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins who had just finished a weekend sweep of their bitter rivals in Hershey.
A sleepy Wednesday night game against an opponent well out of the playoff discussion. The definition of a trap game, if there ever was one.
But not tonight. The Penguins got on the board early, dominated the visitors in large portions the entire game and methodically win the hockey game to remain in first place in the Atlantic Division. Their magic number to clinch a playoff spot shrinks to 13.
Tristan Jarry opposed Chris Driedger.
Lines were…
Dominik Simon – Dustin Jeffrey – Adam Krause
Mattias Plachta – Carter Rowney – Tom Kostopoulos
Jake Guentzel – Kael Mouillierat – Josh Archibald
Tom Sestito – Jarrett Burton – J-S Dea
Tim Erixon – Steve Oleksy
Will O’Neill – Barry Goers
Niclas Andersen – Harrison Ruopp
Tristan Jarry – Franky Palazzese
Lineup Notes: Nic Andersen was back in the lineup and Reid McNeill was out sick. Jake Guentzel made his professional debut on the third line with old college buddy Josh Archibald and Kael Mouillierat. Patrick McGrath took warmups but was scratched.
First Period: Period zipped by with no penalties and few stoppages. The Pens got on the board quickly as Carter Rowney banged home his 21st goal of the season:
— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) March 24, 2016
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The Penguins then continued to dominate the offensive zone time. Harrison Ruopp connected with J-S Dea and Dea whipped home this one for a 3-0 Wilkes-Barre lead.
— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) March 24, 2016
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At this point the tank was rolling downhill, obliterating everything in its path.
In the next shift, Zack Stortini tagged Tim Erixon hard into the boards. Josh Archibald then fought Travis Ewanyk.
Third Period: Simon added his second power play goal of the night putting home a rebound of a shot by Tom Kostopoulos that iced the game away and drowned any Binghamton hopes of a comeback:
Penguins then had a power play and spent the entire time in the offensive zone but could not connect.
Tristan Jarry didn’t see many pucks in the game, so the only question would be would he collect the shutout. He was dialed in and stopped a quick developing chance by Binghamton who was looking to break up the clean sheet by the Penguins rookie netminder.
I thought that Jake Genteel had a fine debut. He has a nose for the puck, can skate, and doesn’t want you to blink or else you will miss his shot. Once he rounds into form and eases into the pro game, he should be fine.
Three Stars: 3) J-S Dea (goal, assist, +1) 2) Dominik Simon (two goals, even) and 1) Tristan Jarry (20 save shutout)
Wheeling Update: The Nailers lost 1-0 in overtime out in Fort Wayne, Indiana to the Komets.
Video highlights…
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Rematch between these to teams is Friday in Binghamton. Don’t be surprised if Franky Palazzese starts that one to keep Jarry fresh for Providence Saturday at home in a game which has bigger implications.
Last Game: Sunday in Hershey, the Penguins came back from a two goal deficit to force overtime and beat the Bears 6-5 in overtime. Will O’Neill scored the game winning overtime goal and was a +3 in the game and was named first star. For Binghamton, the B-Sens were in Utica Sunday and beat the Comets 3-2 in a shootout. Matt O’Connor stopped 46 of 48 shots and was named first star of the game for the Senators.
Last Meeting: January 5 in Wilkes-Barre, the Penguins won 4-1. Dominik Uher scored two goals and Matt Murray stopped 32 of 33.
Record: For WBS: 38-21-4-1 (81 pts., 1st place Atlantic Division) — For BNG: 27-32-4-1 (59 pts., 7th place North Division)
Why you should care: Despite their last place showing, the B-Sens come into tonights contest winners of their last four games and have taken points in their last six games. Far out of serious playoff discussion, the Binghamton Senators are not an easy point grab. The Penguins will need to match the same intensity they had against Hershey Friday and Saturday if they want to walk away winners tonight.
Comments Off on Treaty of Guent – Penguins Sign Rookie to ATO
Posted by nafsnep on March 22, 2016
A fairly significant roster move was made Tuesday morning when it was announced that the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins signed Jake Guentzel to an amateur tryout contract. (ATO)
From the release, Guentzel is a third round selection of the Pittsburgh Penguins and just finished his junior season at Nebraska-Omaha. He is foregoing his senior year and turning pro.
Here are some tweets with those familiar with Guentzel’s body of work…
Guentzel reached double digits in goal scoring in back-to-back seasons at Nebraska-Omaha, led the team with 46 points (19G-27A) this season.
Now Seth had a cheat sheet of sorts regarding Penguin prospects tabbed to come through Coal Street to begin their professional careers in Sunday’s Citizens Voice.
Guentzel was drafted by Pittsburgh in the third round, 77th overall, in the 2013 NHL draft and is currently rated the organization’s No. 6 prospect by The Hockey News. At 5-foot-10, he’s undersized, but extremely skilled. In each of his three seasons at UNO, his scoring totals have gone up, culminating with a 46-point (19G-27A) performance this season. The 46 points are the 10th most in the nation this season. Current Penguin Josh Archibald was a teammate of Guentzel’s back during the 2013-14 season.
ETA: Assuming he wants to get a taste of the AHL and the Penguins think that’s a good idea, Guentzel could be on his way to Wilkes-Barre any day now. After the Mavericks started the season on record pace, they stumbled down the stretch and finished on an eight-game skid. Don’t blame Guentzel, though. In two games during the opening round of the NCHC Tournament, he recorded two goals and two assists. The Mavericks, however, lost both games to Denver — the second in double OT.
When I had heard the news this morning, I didn’t think that Guentzel would be ready to play as soon as Wednesday against the Binghamton Senators.
I was wrong.
Guentzel is going to play tomorrow and skate with Kael Mouillierat and Josh Archibald.
Coal Street’s official blog Skating on the Susquehanna had a feature on Guentzel including his first professional media scrum and Head Coach Clark Donatelli’s thoughts on his newest player.
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In other news, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced that they have signed forward Teddy Blueger to a two year entry level contract. Blueger will join Wilkes-Barre on an ATO Tuesday. It wasn’t immediately known if Blueger will play tomorrow vs. Binghamton or not. Blueger went 11-24-35 for Minnesota State Mankato this past season, leading the team in points and game winning goals. Sounds like to me, based off of what the Pittsburgh release said and what Seth wrote about him in Sunday’s paper, that the Penguins have another blue chipper for the AHL squad for the remainder of the season.
What a weekend for the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins as compared to weekends past.
Two games with their biggest rivals looking to overtake them in a weekend with a lineup patched together by ECHL talent and some high profile trades against a Hershey Bears side firing with all cylinders driving towards a playoff spot gunning towards a twelfth Calder Cup Championship.
The Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins played the brick wall that the Hershey Bears crashed into this weekend.
A thrilling, come from behind victory by the Penguins overcoming a two goal deficit in the third period to win 6-5 in overtime. With the win, both teams are tied in games played, points and percentage points but due to the first tie breaker which is most regulation or overtime wins, the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins are again in first place in the Atlantic Division.
Gobs of video to look at in this game recap. Hit the jump if you didn’t link in direct.
Last Game / Last Meeting: Last night the Penguins won 4-1. Tristan Jarry stopped 25 of 26 shots and Dustin Jeffrey scored two goals. Riley Barber scored for Hershey in the loss.
Record: For WBS: 37-21-4-1 (79 pts., 2nd place Atlantic Division) — For HER: 35-18-3-7 (80 pts., 1st place Atlantic Division)
Why you should care: The Penguins, with a duplicate of what they did last night in Wilkes-Barre, can overtake the Bears for first in the division this evening in Hershey. It’s the Penguins with the momentum coming into this evening but the Bears will be ready.
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WBS News
