PENGUINS WEEKLY – 1/30/24
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton enters final stretch before All-Star Break
WEEKLY – Penguins (23-15-5-0) welcome Toronto to town before starting February on the road
Penguins Weekly Rewind
Wednesday, Jan. 24 – PENGUINS 4 vs. Hartford 1
Domination in all facets of the game led to a comfortable Penguins win over Hartford. Two goals in the first 3:42 set the tone for the Penguins’ offense and Joel Blomqvist’s 27-save gem kept the Wolf Pack at bay all night.
Friday, Jan. 26 – PENGUINS 4 at Lehigh Valley 3
Despite a three-goal comeback by the Phantoms, the Penguins came out on top thanks to a late-regulation game-winner from Sam Poulin. Poulin posted a Gordie Howe hat trick, scoring twice, recording an assist and dropping the gloves to fight AHL penalty minutes leader, Garrett Wilson.
Saturday, Jan. 27 – PENGUINS 2 vs. Hershey 3
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton dropped a last-second heartbreaker to Hershey. After trading goals through the first two frames, the Bears pulled ahead in the third. A tying goal with 5.9 seconds left was disallowed due to a high stick, stunning the capacity crowd at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.
The Weekly Ahead
Wednesday, Jan. 31 – PENGUINS vs. Toronto
The Marlies make their only visit of the season to NEPA, and it will be the first matchup between Penguins forward Jonathan Gruden and his father, Marlies head coach John Gruden.
Friday, Feb. 2 – PENGUINS at Hartford
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has the edge in its season series with Hartford, three wins to one, but the home team has won all four games. The home club has outscored the visitors, 15-4.
Saturday, Feb. 3 – PENGUINS at Lehigh Valley
In the first of three February matchups between these teams, the Penguins head back to Allentown for their Penguins’ final game before the All-Star break. The season series is split at one apiece with both games settled by one goal.
Ice Chips
– Eleven of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s 12 games in the New Year have been decided by one goal (6-3-2-0).
– Joel Blomqvist ranks second in the league in goals against average (2.13) and tied for fourth in save percentage (.922).
– Ty Smith is tied for sixth among AHL defensemen in points (28), fifth in power-play assists (11) and tied for fourth in shots (99).
– Alex Nylander is currently on a four-game point streak (1G-4A).
– Jesse Puljujärvi has eight points (4G-4A) in his last seven games.
– Poulin’s Gordie Howe hat trick on Friday was the 32nd in team history and the Penguins’ first since May 16, 2021 (Cam Lee).
DIVISION STANDINGS
TEAM LEADERS
* = rookie
X = not on current roster
DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME
Wed, Jan. 31 Toronto Mohegan Sun Arena 7:05 p.m.
Fri, Feb. 2 Hartford XL Center 7:00 p.m.
Sat, Feb. 3 Lehigh Valley PPL Center 7:05 p.m.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
Sun, Jan. 28 (D) John Ludvig Conditioning loan from PIT
Sun, Jan. 28 (RW) Valtteri Puustinen Reassigned from PIT
Sun, Jan. 28 (D) Ryan Shea Reassigned from PIT
Sat, Jan. 27 (LW) Dillon Hamaliuk Reassigned by PIT to WHL
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Ticket Information
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