PENGUINS WEEKLY – 12/19/23
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton carries three consecutive wins into Canada for road trip
WEEKLY – Penguins (14-9-3-0) outscored opponents 10-3 in its three victories last week
Penguins Weekly Rewind
Wednesday, Dec. 13 – PENGUINS 4 vs. Syracuse 1
The Penguins started their week by stomping out the Crunch on home ice. Rem Pitlick potted a power-play goal late in the first period, followed by second-period strikes from Jack Rathbone, Austin Rueschhoff and Matt Filipe. Filipe’s goal was a shorthanded tally, the Penguins’ second shorty of the season.
Friday, Dec. 15 – PENGUINS 4 at Utica 1
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton snapped Utica’s four-game winning streak in style. After a scoreless first period, Will Butcher opened the scoring with his first goal as a Penguin. That was swiftly followed by Rathbone’s second tally of the week. Peter Abbandonato added a man-advantage marker in the third, then sealed things up with an empty netter by Colin White.
Saturday, Dec. 16 – PENGUINS 2 vs. Rochester 1
Alex Nylander starred in the Penguins’ nail-biting win in the Americans’ only visit of the season. Nylander set up Sam Poulin’s opening goal, as Poulin returned from an 18-game injury absence. Then Nylander scored his 100th professional goal with three minutes left in regulation to lift Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton to victory.
The Week Ahead
Thursday, Dec. 21 – PENGUINS at Belleville
The Penguins’ Canadian road trip starts in Belleville, as the Black & gold try to avenge an overtime loss on Nov. 4. The Senators are on a three-game losing streak, but they have picked up points in each of their last four home games.
Friday, Dec. 22 – PENGUINS at Laval
The last game before the holiday break is a showdown with the high-flying Rocket. The Rocket sit last in the North Division and allow the most goals against per game in the league (4.20), but they also score at a top-five rate at even strength, own the most shorthanded goals (8) and rookie star Joshua Roy.
Ice Chips
– The Penguins penalty kill ranks second in the league at 87.4% and has gone 16-for-17 (94.1%) over its last five games.
– Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has scored 37 third-period goals, most in the league.
– Rem Pitlick is on a career-best eight-game point streak, amassing nine points (3G-6A) in that time.
– Ty Smith ranks tied for fourth among defensemen with 19 points (4G-15A).
– The Penguins are 6-1-0-0 this season when Alex Nylander scores a goal. Since he was acquired in a trade on Jan. 5, 2022 the team is 24-11-2-3 (.663) when Nylander scores.
– Magnus Hellberg’s next net appearance will mark his 200th AHL game.
DIVISION STANDINGS
TEAM LEADERS
* = rookie
X = not on current roster
DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME
Thu, Dec. 21 Belleville CAA Arena 7:00 p.m.
Fri, Dec. 22 Laval Place Bell 7:00 p.m.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
Mon, Dec. 18 (D) Owen Headrick Recalled from WHL
Mon, Dec. 18 (C) Jonathan Gruden Reassigned from PIT
Mon, Dec. 18 (RW) Marc Johnstone Reassigned from PIT
Tue, Dec. 19 (RW) Lukas Svejkovsky Reassigned by PIT to WHL
Tue, Dec. 19 (RW) Tanner Laderoute Released from PTO
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Ticket Information
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