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 32^nd in team history and the Penguins’ first since May 16, 2021 (Cam Lee).

DIVISION STANDINGS

TEAM LEADERS

* = rookie
X = not on current roster

UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE

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