Comments Off on Weekend Preview – Turkeys
Posted by nafsnep on November 26, 2025
The Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins enter Thanksgiving week leading the Atlantic Division and take on the last team they have yet to face twice this week. Who? It’s the Hershey Bears.
Music to Set the Mood…
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Not that kind of Turkeys!
A Quote…
Thanksgiving Day. Let us all give humble, hearty, and sincere thanks now, but the turkeys.
— Mark Twain
Twain? Again!?!?
The Setup…
Two with Hershey in Hershey, Wednesday and Saturday, and a Black Friday home date with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
Penguins laid a turkey egg in Hartford, couldn’t get out of their own way and lost 5-2 then went into Providence, a place that hasn’t been kind to them against a team that gives them fits and a first period unassisted shorthanded Rutger McGroarty goal was all they needed. Joel Blomqvist made 27 saves.
The Bears split a pair in Cleveland and will host Laval Sunday.
Lehigh Valley beat Rochester at home on Wednesday, lost in Providence and then beat Hartford. After the Pens Friday, the Phantoms will host Laval.
Records
The Penguins lead the division with a 13-4-1 record and 27 points.
Lehigh Valley is third, with a 11-5-1-1 record and 24 points.
Hershey is fourth with a 10-5-1 record and 21 points.
The Rest of Those Rascals Turkeys…
Providence beat the Phantoms Friday then lost to the Penguins. They sit second with a 13-3 record good for 26 points and are in Toronto Wednesday then Belleville for a pair this weekend.
Charlotte has been out of conference for the past four games. They spent the weekend in Grand Rapids and took three out of four points from the Griffins, including handing Grand Rapids their first regulation loss Friday. They return home to host Toronto for a pair. They are fifth in the division with a 9-4-2- record and 20 points.
Then the drop off…
Bridgeport visited the North Division with a loss in Rochester Friday and then a loss in Syracuse. They will play a home and home with the Thunderbirds this weekend and have a 6-9-1-1 record good for 14 points and sixth in the Atlantic.
Hartford, in the midst of a six game home stand, beat the Pens and lost to the Phantoms. They wrap the homestand with a Thanksgiving Eve game with the Thunderbirds before heading to Cleveland the weekend for a pair. They sit seventh in the division with a 5-8-4 record and 14 points.
Springfield had one game this weekend, a 2-0 shutout of the Utica Comets and close out November with a stop in Hartford Wednesday and then the home and home with the Islanders. They are last in the Atlantic with a 3-10-2-1 record and 9 points.
Who’s Up? Who’s Down? Who’s Out?
Avery Hayes returned from injury and played in both games last weekend.
Lots of news this week though.
Tristan Broz was recalled Monday and will make his NHL debut this week. Philip Tomasino was re-assigned to the AHL after clearing waivers.
Harrison Brunicke and Jack St. Ivany were sent down for conditioning stints. They last 14 days.
Because the Pens have a glut of defensemen, two really good ones in Wilkes-Barre were elbowed down to the ECHL. Finn Harding and Scooter Brickey were sent down this week. Wheeling is a very good ECHL team that just got better.
Sam Poulin was re-assigned Tuesday afternoon to the AHL, arguably their pound for pound best player.
What can we learn about the Penguins this week?
They can hang with Providence, beat Lehigh Valley, Charlotte, play tight with Bridgeport, can beat Hartford and Springfield.
What we don’t know yet is how they fare against Hershey, their biggest rival.
The Bears are young. The Bears lost a lot in the offseason. The Bears don’t rebuild, they reload. It’s going to be an interesting week to see how the Penguins are against the Hershey Bears.
One would expect either a close game like with Providence or perhaps running them off the ice like we saw in flashed last season and in parts this season. If they fall down multiple goals like they did against Bridgeport a few weeks ago, do they muster five goals in the third against Hershey on the road? I can see it, but I wouldn’t expect it.
So what? You don’t want to get too amped for a November game, but it’s two points all the same. Expect a tight game and for the Penguins to be placed in a position to win the games this week when the third period rolls around.
Who’s in Goal?
Filip Larson figuratively has to get a game, which one? I’ll select Lehigh Valley Friday and say Joel Blomqvist gets both games against the Bears.
I’d expect Clay Stevenson for the Bears in both contests and Aleksei Kolosov for the Phantoms.
Who’s Running the Show?
Mike Campbell and Andrew Bell have the Wednesday assignment in Hershey with J.P. Waleski and John Rey on the lines.
Mike Campbell will be sticking around and will work the Friday game with Will Kelly. Jud Ritter and Dylan Lewis will work the lines.
Kelly will follow them down to Hershey and will be joined by Jordan Deckard. Tommy George and Kevin Briganti will work the lines.
Looking Ahead…
December. Oof.
The start of a really busy month for the Penguins who have the same two opponents, Phantoms at home next Friday, Bears on the road Saturday. Twelve games for the Penguins this month.
Give us a bold prediction…
Penguins and Bruins will continue to play leapfrog but the Pens need to be careful, Belleville is a good but not great team and the Bruins are there for a pair this weekend. One slip and the Pens are probably looking up at the Bruins (or Phantoms or Bears) in no time.
Joel Blomqvist made 27 saves but really wasn’t tested. The Penguins were structurally better in comparison to Hartford on Friday, but you would think that a battle between the two best teams in the Eastern Conference would render a more exiting result. Who knows.
Here’s the McGroarty goal.
MCGROARTY SHORTY 🚨
For every shorthanded goal we score, Borland and Borland will donate $250 to the Penguins GOALS foundation. This is shorty #3 on the year! pic.twitter.com/TNDBeOvRCu
McGroarty for Matty De St. Phalle was the only lineup change. I would have thought there would have been some tinkering with defense after last night but Kirk MacDonald knew what he was doing.
The McGroarty goal came from nothing, he got a step, then another step then boom he was behind the defender and boom, he scored a goal.
The rest of the game seemed like a long feeling out period. I want to say that the Penguins had the better of the chances.
Feistiness picked up in the third period with Matt Poitras not making a lot of friends on the Penguins side. Zach Gallant and Colin Feliz fought and then later Gallant took a matching roughing penalty with Frederic Brunet.
Three Stars: 3) Valtteri Puustinen (7 shots) 2) Rutger McGroarty (goal) 1) Joel Blomqvist (27 saves)
The Good: They go back to the top of the Atlantic off of a solid performance by their goaltender. They may be a good team.
The Bad: Let’s just move on from this. I normally use this space to complain about the feed in Providence but it was clear and an enjoyable watch.
Turning Point: The McGroarty goal seemed innocuous at the time, but was the sole amount of offense in the entire 60 minute affair.
Comments Off on Cat Got Your Tung? — Pens LOSE 5-2
Posted by nafsnep on November 21, 2025
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This game sucked.
Wilkes-Barre / Scranton was in control from the start but Hartford Wolf Pack goaltender Callum Tung settled in under the barrage of first period shots and the Wolf pack capitalized on turnovers from the Penguins, used that momentum to tip the game in their favor and skate away with a 5-2 win Friday night.
I guess every team in the AHL is allowed a clunker now and then and this one certainly was.
Here’s how they lined up. The Wolf Pack didn’t post a line graphic.
Lineup Notes: Scheduled absent day for Rutger McGroarty per the team, Avery Hayes returned after a six game absence. Gabe Klassen also slotted back in up front. Sebastian Aho for Scooter Brickey on defense.
First Period: Penguins outshoot the Wolf Pack 22-6, yet the score was tied after one.
A turnover by Alex Alexyev sees ex-Penguin Derrick Pouliot score his first goal as a member of the Wolf Pack and it was Hartford that was out to a quick 1-0 lead…
The Penguins have controlled the game to this point from top to bottom, but it’s two bone head defensive giveaways that had the Wolf Pack on level terms.
Bad to worse, Anton Blidh scores a tip in in front and the Wolf Pack shockingly go ahead 3-2.
The classic wolf celly from Anton. The first pro point for Coop.
Third Period: The Penguins made a push in the first half of the period, but Tung held firm and then Hartford iced the game away with a Brett Berard goal on a rebound in front that doubled the Wolf Pack lead.
Three Stars: 3) Anton Blidh (goal, assist) 2) Callum Tung (31 saves) 1) Derrick Pouliot (goal, two assists)
The Good: Have to love the start. 22 shots in the first period so they came ready to play.
The Bad: They were in the game and in control, but the turnovers defensively tipped momentum to Hartford and they played too tentatively after that. It’s hard to win when you are down a goal and playing not to lose when you are losing.
Turning Point: The Berard goal in the third iced it away. Figure if the Penguins tie it at three, they at least get a point or maybe win. That. never happened.
Comments Off on Weekend Preview – Don’t Lie to Me!
Posted by nafsnep on November 21, 2025
The Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins swept the week last week and lead the Atlantic Division over the Providence Bruins by a point. But, are they truly elite?
Music to set the Mood…
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In keeping with the Hair Nation vibes and the greatest of them all, Dokken poses a good statement. Are the Penguins good? Don’t lie to me!
A Quote…
If you tell the truth you don’t have to remember anything. — Mark Twain
I have to dust off the Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn books from the bookshelf and start being a bookworm again.
The Setup
They beat a middling maybe not as good as we thought they were Bridgeport team last Wednesday in a school day game via shootout then exploded for five third period goals in a romp of the Islanders on Friday. They toyed with a really dysfunctional Springfield Thunderbirds team on Saturday.
Are they good? Beating mid teams like Bridgeport and the Thunderbirds would say yes, but they have Providence this Saturday who only have two losses all season. The Pens lost to Providence clean a few weeks ago.
They play Hartford Friday, who hasn’t been good either.
Recently Hartford lost last Wednesday in overtime in Providence, then clean at home to Rochester and Laval and needed overtime to beat Springfield Tuesday morning.
Providence may be asking the same question on whether they are good this week, needing overtime to beat a last place Utica team Saturday and then getting shutout at home against Laval Sunday. The Bruins host the Phantoms Friday.
Records
Wilkes-Barre is 12-3-1 with 25 points good for first in the Atlantic, Eastern Conference and tied with the Colorado Eagles for best overall team in the entire League.
Providence is 12-2, good for 24 points and sit second in the Atlantic.
Hartford is 4-7-4 and have 12 points in seventh in the Atlantic.
The Rest of those Rascals…
Gave you Providence’s and Hartford’s docket and record above. Hartford will host Lehigh Valley Saturday.
Lehigh Valley have a 10-4-1-1 record and have 22 points in third and played a three in three last weekend with a big win over Springfield Friday, then were swept by Hershey but earned an OT loser point Sunday. They played Rochester Wednesday and beat the Amerks (something the Pens couldn’t do a few weeks ago) and then are in Providence Friday and Hartford Saturday.
Hershey started their three in three weekend last Friday in Syracuse and took down the North Division leading Crunch 2-1 then swept the Phantoms. They are in Cleveland this weekend and played the Monsters yesterday and won. They have another date with the Monsters Saturday and have a 10-4-1- records good for 21 points and fourth place in the Atlantic.
Hershey has won five straight and don’t look now, the Big Bear Machine is heating up.
Charlotte swept the Iowa Wild in Des Moines last weekend and one of those were a shutout. There are a lot of teams in this division that think they are good, Charlotte is one of them but I haven’t been impressed with their body of work beating a sixth place in the Central Division Iowa Wild team. Their mettle will be tested when they play a Grand Rapids Griffins team which has yet to sustain a regulation loss so far Friday and Saturday in Michigan. The Checkers have a 8-4-1 record with 17 points good for fifth in the Atlantic.
Here’s the drop-off of teams that, in my opinion, aren’t good and you don’t need an 80’s hairband to ask you not to lie them.
Bridgeport, after getting smoked by Wilkes-Barre in two games returned home and lost to Rochester on Saturday. They are in Rochester Friday then Syracuse on Saturday. They have a 5-8-1-1 record, good for 12 points and sixth in the Atlantic.
Hartford, whom I gave you above are next. The Wolf Pack host Lehigh Valley Saturday.
Springfield has a 2-10-2-1 record for seven points and in dead last in the Atlantic. They lost to Laval last Wednesday, Lehigh Valley Friday, the Pens on Saturday and then in overtime to the Wolf Pack on Tuesday. They host Utica Friday in a battle of dead last in their division teams.
Who’s Up? Who’s Down? Who’s Out?
Joel Blomqvist and Rutger McGroarty returned Saturday and made an instant impact. Blomqvist picked up the win and McGroarty scored a goal.
Max Pavlenko and Jaxon Castor returned to Wheeling.
Sam Poulin was recalled in the wake of Ville Koivunen going week to week with a lower body injury after getting injured in practice over in Sweden.
Philip Tomasino was waived, cleared waivers and is eligible for assignment to the AHL.
Sebastian Aho came off injured reserve, Taylor Gauthier did too and was assigned to the Wheeling Nailers.
No word on Avery Hayes, who is still considered day to day.
Harrison Brunicke may exploit a loophole and come to the AHL on a conditioning stint because he’s missed so many games in the NHL and the rules allow for same. It would make sense and would likely benefit all parties.
Hey, Cap!
So I like to listen to the WBS Penguins Podcast on my walks during the week on my lunch break. Mathieu De St. Phalle was the guest this week and casually dropped that this guy was named captain of the team at practice on Wednesday.
Makes total sense. Kemp, “gets it” at this level and will make a fine captain and has my full and unabashed support. Mazel Mazel!
What can we learn about the Penguins this week?
Things are so in flux in the AHL, as they are, so the real question of, “are they good” changes from week to week.
I think they handle Hartford and play Providence tight and it comes down to bounces. It’s just that simple. Are they good? Yeah, I think so because you aren’t expecting them to have their heads kicked in like you would if you are a Springfield Thunderbirds fan. They will play teams like Providence tight and beat teams like Hartford like they are supposed to.
I like the fact that Kirk MacDonald isn’t tinkering with the lineup. Play the guys you are supposed to play and work in B-level players like Gabe Klassen and Raivis Ansons in here and there.
Who’s in Goal?
MacDonald is foolish if he sends Blomquvist out of the tunnel first Friday. You have to have him start Saturday in Providence. That means Filip Larsson gets the start Friday in Hartford.
Talyn Boyko for the Wolf Pack and Michael DiPietro for the Bruins are my educated guesses for the goaltending opposition.
Who’s Running the Show?
It’s about time that AHL Head of Officiating Riley Yerkovich assigned Jim Curtin to a Penguins game. He’s one of the best the League has and he will be paired with Samuel Heidemann Friday in Hartford with Dylan Blujus and Kevin Briganti on the lines.
Mike Sullivan and Nick Isaacson get the Providence job Saturday with Dmitrii Antipin and Michael Tarquinio on the lines. All this referee repetition and we can’t get Curtin in back to back games? Come on!
Well, I guess I can’t have it both ways.
Looking Ahead…
Get ready for a pair with Hershey, buddy. The Pens are in Hershey on Thanksgiving Eve, host Lehigh Valley Friday then right back down I-81 for another meeting with the 13ears.
Give us a bold prediction…
They will get some daylight and win both games and open a small lead on the rest of the division heading into Thanksgiving week.
I am not a big analytic guy, but that post has over 24,000 views. Give the people what they want!
The casuals loved it.
The rest of us sickos loves this 3-1 Penguins win over the Springfield Thunderbirds. Like two ships passing in the night going different directions, the Penguins started on time Saturday night (unlike Friday) and teed off on last place Springfield to a tune of a 2-0 lead at the end of the first period. Bolstered by the Boko Imama / Kale Kessy heavyweight fight, in addition to Imama scoring a tip in front in the first, the Penguins were off to the races.
Gotta hand it to Kale Kessy. The guy is overmatched in height and weight but not heart. The man stands in there and takes on the toughest opponents all the time.
Anyway, here’s how they lined up.
The @ThunderbirdsAHL lineup in Wilkes-Barre against the Penguins:
Lineup Notes: Oh yeah, burying the lede here, Joel Blomqvist and Rutger McGroarty were activated off of injured reserve and in the lineup. Other changes include Scooter Brickey for Sebastian Aho on defense, McGroarty and Raivis Ansons for Matty De St. Phalle and Gabe Klassen.
First Period: Kind of gave it away in the open, relentless pressure by the Penguins to start, Raivis Ansons slams one home at 2:20 after the Pensuins hemmed in Springfield for an extended amount of time to make it 1-0…
See above for what happened next. It is rare anymore to see two dudes fight anymore and even rarer to see two dudes who actually know how to fight as well.
Second Period: They let off or something seemed off. Again, you can get away with it I think against teams like Springfield and Bridgeport. I don’t know you about Hershey and definitely not Providence.
This despite Rutger McGroarty scoring just 66 seconds into the period.
Third Period: Springfield played a better period but didn’t score despite lots of pressure, where they outshot the Penguins 12-4. Good defense by the Penguins and better goaltending by Joel Blomqvist keeps the Thunderbirds off the scoresheet.
Three Stars: 3) Joel Blomqvist (23 saves) 2) Rutger McGroarty (goal) 1) Boko Imama (goal, fight)
The Good: They are beating teams they should beat and amassing points.
The Bad: Sometimes the way they play teams they are beating isn’t good and I am concerned that when they play a better team they may not have as much success. Last week against Rochester comes to mind.
The Bad, Redux: They have one power play goal in the last 23 tries I thought I heard Nick Hart mention postgame. That isn’t good!
Turning Point: Pens had a kill around the five minute mark of the third period with Springfield pressuring and got the kill from there. If the Thunderbirds scored, I am not so sure the outcome would have been the same.
Standings: Penguins 25 – Providence 24 – Lehigh Valley 19 – Charlotte and Hershey 17 – Bridgeport 12 – Hartford 10 – Springfield 6
Wheeling Update: Nailers beat the Maine Mariners 4-1. Mike Posma with two more goals against Maine. Long live the Portland Pirates.
Video Highlights: Not up yet, if I see them later I may edit them in, if not, AHL VideoCenter will have them for you.
They are off till next Friday which is nice because it gives you a break from the weekday games. Have a great week and we will talk next week for the Weekend Preview.
Lineup Notes: There were none. They went with the same pairings and lines from Wednesday in Bridgeport. Of note, Daniel Laatsch joined Avery Hayes and Taylor Gauthier on the injured list.
First Period: They didn’t start on time.
Normally when you start your fourth line it provides a spark that sets the tone for the rest of the game.
The opposite happened. A penalty in the first minute of the game.
Cam Berg sweeps in a puck in the crease with Maxim Pavlenko facing the opposite direction and the Islanders were off to a 1-0 lead.
Pathetic first period of hockey. They were disjointed and not crisp at all.
Second Period: It started to click a bit with some early pressure but an Alex Jeffries shot is blocked but caroms right back to him for a 2-0 Islanders lead.
This was after the Penguins had back to back power play tries in an attempt to shift momentum to their side.
Third Period: Comeback on.
A Phil Kemp put on Parker Gahagen is stopped by the Islander goaltender but right to Tristan Broz who cleans up the mess and puts the Penguins on the board.
Head Coach Rocky Thompson calls time out to trying to and settle his troops. It worked, in part, because Andrej Šustr puts a pass on a zipline to Adam Beckman for a goal that re-establishes Bridgeport’s lead.
They looked like ass for forty minutes, seemingly flip a switch and explode for five goals.
Living on the edge, but you take them anyway you can get them.
Three Stars: 3) Sebastian Aho (goal, assist) 2) Tristan Broz (goal, assist) 1) Phil Kemp (two goals, assist)
The Good: To reiterate, they looked lost to start the game, explode for five like nothing in the third and win the game.
The Bad: How do you come back from this if you are Bridgeport? What a way to lose.
Turning Point: The McDonough goal to tie it up gets it here. It seems weird, but there’s no coming back from that if you are the Islanders because the Penguins kept picking themselves off the mat.
Comments Off on Extra Credit – Pens WIN 5-4 (SO)
Posted by nafsnep on November 12, 2025
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A back and forth affair on Wednesday morning saw the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins outdo the Bridgeport Islanders 5-4 in a shootout in front of 8,577 people, most of them school aged children.
The kids got their monies worth as it was a see-saw affair that went to the very end.
Here’s how the Penguins lined up. The Islanders didn’t post lines:
Sebastian Aho’s back in the lineup for this matchup against his old club
Lineup Notes: So as I suspected, Filip Larsson was recalled to Pittsburgh to serve as the third goalie while the team is in Sweden for the weekend. No official recall was made.
As the graphic above indicated, Sebastian Aho made his return from injury. No other changes to the forward lines. Daniel Laatsch sat for Aho.
First Period: Islanders score on the first shot of the game at 1:16 as Cole McWard scored through a moving screen to give Bridgeport an early lead.
Sam Poulin loves playing against the Islanders as he is their kryptonite. He scored his first of two in the morning with this rebound shot that tied the game for the Penguins.
Second Period: Both teams started on time with four goals but the second period saw no scoring. The most interesting thing that happened was Chase Pietila called for a roughing penalty where he removed his opponents helmet in a pushing and shoving match. Apparently, you can’t do that anymore.
Third Period: Alex Alexeyev had his second chance effort land in the net for a goal :39 into the period to give the Penguins a 3-2 lead.
I didn’t like Bridgeport’s counterpunching in the game Because they answered right back to tie the game at three with this seemingly harmless shot that went in off the stick of Isiah George.
Full disclosure, I have never stopped a hockey puck in my life, much less in a competitive game, so take my opinions with a grain of salt.
Sam Poulin would get his second of the contest with just over three minutes left to play in regulation and you thought that this would be enough to win the game…
With Marcus Högberg pulled for an extra attacker, Joey Larson would tip a shot past Pavlenko that would even the game at four a piece with :38 left.
(just trust me here as there is no GIF of the goal)
That meant detention for the kids in attendance the game went to…
Overtime: Solved nothing. Possession by both sides but both goaltenders were up to the challenges faced.
Shootout: Sam Poulin, Aaron Huglen, Valtteri Puustinen and Rafaël Harvey-Pinard scored, but Alex Jeffries in the bottom of the fifth couldn’t and the Pens skated away with the extra point.
Three Stars: 3) Sam Poulin (two goals) 2) Isiah George (goal, assist) 1) Rafaël Harvey-Pinard (shootout game winning goal)
The Good: They started on time and battled a scrappy team at an odd hour of the day and came away with two points.
The Bad: Seems like they are a step ahead of this Bridgeport team after seeing them four times so far this season but for some reason the Islanders always stay step for step and give them headaches. There are a lot of teams out there that are better than Bridgeport currently that play the Penguins.
Turning Point: The shootout goal from Harvey-Pinard gets it here I suppose.
Around the Division: A lot of games early today surprisingly. Springfield bests Laval 3-1 in the other game in the division this early Wednesday afternoon. Providence hosts Hartford later this evening.
Standings: The Penguins will go a point clear of Providence 21-20, but the P-Bruins have a chance to do something about that later Wednesday evening.
Wheeling Update: Surprisingly a lot of ECHL games going on Wednesday afternoon also, none involving the Nailers though who host Maine on Friday.
Video Highlights: VideoCenter will have them up soon I suppose.
These two teams rematch Friday at the more conventional time of 7:05 p.m. in Wilkes-Barre.
WBS News
Chirps from Center Ice 