CALDER CUP FINALS GAME SIX NOTES

PENS IN THE PLAYOFFS:  This is the sixth consecutive season the Penguins have made an appearance in the Calder Cup Playoffs, and the seventh time in the nine year history of the team.

The Penguins have an all-time playoff record of 56-50 in postseason competition, and have outscored their opponents 311-303.

CALDER CUP FINALS:  This marks the Penguins third trip to the Calder Cup Finals in their nine year history.  Wilkes-Barre/Scranton lost to the Saint John Flames in 2001, four games to two, and were swept by the Milwaukee Admirals in the 2004 Finals.  Current Penguins head coach Todd Richards was an assistant coach with the Milwaukee team that won the Cup in 2004.

IN GAME SIX:  The Penguins have an all-time record of 7-2 in Game Sixes, and are 2-1 in Game Sixes on the road all time.

WHEN FACING ELIMINATION:  The Penguins have a record of 13-6 in games when facing elimination in the postseason.

SUMMER HOCKEY:  Game Five, which took place on June 7, represented the latest in a season that the Penguins have played a game.  Prior to this postseason, the latest the Penguins had played was June 6.  That was the date of Game Four of the 2004 Calder Cup Finals, which the Pens dropped to the Milwaukee Admirals, 7-2, giving the Admirals their first AHL championship.

GOOSE ON THE LOOSE:  Rookie defenseman Alex Goligoski wrote his name into the record books in Game Two. The first-year pro recorded two assists in the contest, giving him 26 points for the 2008 postseason.  That total is a new record for points by a defenseman in one playoff season, surpassing former Wilkes-Barre/Scranton defenseman Chris Kelleher’s mark of 25, set during the 2001 Calder Cup Playoffs.

His 26th point also set a new team record for points in a playoff season.

A late scoring change in Game Five allowed Goligoski to tie the AHL record for points in the playoffs by a defenseman.  His assist on Connor James’ game-winner in the Pens’ 5-1 victory gave Goligoski 28 points (4+24) during the postseason, evening the mark set by Adirondack’s Mike Sillinger in 1992.

That assist also moved Goligoski past Chris Kelleher for second place on the team’s all-time assist list (Tom Kostopoulos holds down first place with 27) and moved him into seventh place on the team’s all-time points list with 28.

Goligoski had an eight-game scoring streak (3+11=14) - the longest in Penguins playoff history – snapped in Game Five against Philadelphia.

SEVEN STRAIGHT FOR BRENT (AGAIN):  Tim Brent carries a seven-game point streak (2-6-8) and a five-game assist streak (5 assists) into Game Six of the Calder Cup Finals.  Brent’s current point streak dates back to May 23 (Game Six vs. Portland), and is his second seven-game point streak of the playoffs (April 16-May 3, 7-6-13).  He also posted a five-game assist streak from April 16-25 (6 assists)

TIM TAKES 12th:  Tim Brent recorded his league-leading 12th goal of the playoffs in Game Two against the Wolves, a new team record for goals in a postseason and the fourth-highest career total in Penguins history. 

The goal was also Brent’s seventh power play tally of the postseason, setting a new single-season playoff record and moving him into third place on the team’s all-time list.  The team record is 10, held by Eric Meloche.

HOT CURRY:  Goaltender John Curry stopped 33 shots in Game Five, to record his 14th victory of the 2008 playoffs.  That win tied the team record for career wins (14 – Andy Chiodo) and set a new team mark for wins in a single postseason (13 – Rich Parent – 2001).

RICHARDS ALONE ATOP WINS LIST:  Todd Richards captured his 18th playoff victory as Penguins head coach in Game Four against the Wolves, moving him ahead of Michel Therrien for sole possession of first place on the team’s all-time playoff wins list.

CENTURY CLUB:  Alain Nasreddine also appeared in his 100th career AHL playoff game in Game Two against Chicago, joining teammate Dennis Bonvie in the 100 games club. 

The duo of Nasreddine and Bonvie has appeared in 103 and 105 career AHL playoff games, respectively, heading into Game Six.

Nasreddine appeared in his 52nd playoff game with the Penguins in Game Seven vs. Portland, moving him into sole possession of first place on the team's all-time playoff games played list.  He now leads the list with 57, while Bonvie ranks tied for ninth on the team’s all-time list at 42.  Teammates Ryan Lannon (44) and Ryan Stone (43) also rank in the team’s top 10.

FINALS FUTILITY FINALLY OVER:  The Penguins 3-2 win in Game Four against Chicago snapped a nine-game losing streak in the Calder Cup Finals, dating back to the 2001 championship round.  Wilkes-Barre/Scranton dropped Games Five and Six of the 2001 Finals against Saint John, were swept by the Milwaukee Admirals in 2004, and lost Games One through Three against the Wolves.

The league record for consecutive losses in the Calder Cup Finals is 10 games, set by New Haven (1978, 1979, 1989).

2008 PLAYOFF NOTES:

• Tim Brent set a new team record for most points in a playoff series with 11 (5+6) in the East Division Semifinals vs. Hershey. 
• Chris Minard is third with 11 goals.  Two of those have been overtime winners (Game One vs. Hershey, Game Two vs. Philadelphia).  Alexandre Mathieu is the only other player in the history of the team to record two overtime postseason goals.
• Brent and Minard have three game-winning goals this postseason.  The Penguins record for game-winning goals in a career is four, set by Toby Petersen.
• Alex Goligoski is tied for second in playoff scoring with 27 points and second with 23 assists.

BRENT BREAKS FORMER TEAM:  Tim Brent scored with 30.7 seconds remaining in regulation to give the Penguins a 3-2 win against the Portland Pirates in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Finals.  Brent played the past two seasons with Portland, before Pittsburgh acquired him from the Anaheim Ducks for Stephen Dixon last June.

JAMES MAKES QUICK WORK:  Connor James’ overtime goal against Portland in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals came 20 seconds into OT, marking the shortest overtime victory in Penguins history.  The previous best was 60:32, set on May 25, 2004 when Shane Endicott scored against Hartford in Game Five to post a 4-3 win.

STONE TAKES ANOTHER STEP UP:  Ryan Stone’s Game Two assist in Chicago was his 33rd career playoff point with the Penguins, moving him past Eric Meloche for second place on the team’s all-time scoring list.  Tom Kostopoulos ranks first all-time with 38 points.