PENGUINS WEEKLY – 2/16/21

Penguins post their first win in wild, high-flying fashion

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (1-1-1-0) aims for revenge against Hershey on Saturday

Weekly Rewind

Thursday, Feb. 11 – PENGUINS 2 vs. Hershey 3
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton fell just short in a close game against the Hershey Bears. The Bears struck first, scoring 1:22 into the game. Penguins goalie Emil Larmi settled in after the early goal against and eventually set a new career best with 33 saves. Tim Schaller scored his first goal as a Penguin late in the opening frame, and Josh Currie ripped a man-advantage marker early in the second stanza for a 2-1 lead. Hershey responded with a power-play goal in the second period and then tacked on another power-play goal during the third to seize a 3-2 victory.

Saturday, Feb. 13 – PENGUINS 5 at Syracuse 4
The Penguins’ first road game resulted in their first win of the 2020-21 season in addition to a bushel of other firsts. Jan Drozg put the Penguins on the board 46 seconds into the contest, and thanks to goals by linemates Chase Berger and Kyle Olson, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton held a 3-1 lead at the second intermission. The third period got off to a raucous start, as the Penguins and Crunch combined for five goals in four minutes and 45 seconds. Last of those five tallies was a power-play goal by Jordy Bellerive, which ultimately stood as the game-winner. J.D. Forrest earned his first win as head coach of the Penguins while Olson and Will Reilly scored their first AHL goals, and Félix Robert and Jonathan Gruden notched their first AHL points.

The Week Ahead

Thursday, Feb. 11 – PENGUINS at Hershey
The Penguins’ lone game of the week presents the chance to start a winning streak, as well as their shot at revenge against the Bears. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is 3-0-0-1 in its first game at Hershey in the last four seasons. Mike Sgarbossa is already off to a hot start this season, producing three points (2G-1A) in his two games with Hershey. Since joining the Bears in 2018-19, Sgarbossa has racked up nine goals and 16 assists for 25 points in 20 games against the Penguins.

Ice Chips

– The last time two Penguins players scored their first pro goal in the same game was Oct. 16, 2019 vs. Binghamton (J. Almeida, K. Björkqvist).

– Dating back to last season, Jordy Bellerive has 11 goals in his last 21 games.

– Saturday marked Josh Currie’s 300^th AHL game.

– Tim Schaller tied his pro career-high with seven shots on goal on Saturday at Syracuse. It was the most shots in a game by any Penguins player this season.

– By starting in all three of the Penguins’ games thus far, goalie Emil Larmi has started in three straight games for the first time in his AHL career.

DIVISION STANDINGS

TEAM                      GP        W         L         OTL       SOL      PTS       Pts%

1. Binghamton        3           2          0           0            1             5         .833

2. Lehigh Valley      3           2          0           1             0            5         .833

3. Rochester            3           2          1            0            0           4          .667

4. Hershey               3            1         0            2             0          4          .667

5. Utica                     2           2          1            0             0           4         .667

6. PENGUINS          3           1          1            1             0            3          .500

7. Syracuse               3           1           1           1              0           3          .500

TEAM LEADERS

SKATERS                      GP         G            A          PTS

Cam Lee*                       3            0           3             3

Nick Schilkey                 3            0           3             3

Jordy Bellerive               3            2            0            2

Josh Currie                      3            2            0            2

Chase Berger                 3             1            1             2

Kyle Olson*                    3             1            1             2

Will Reilly*                      3             1            1             2

GOALIES               GP      W-L-OT      GAA       SV%       Shutouts

Emil Larmi               3          1-1-1          3.66       .893               0

* = rookie

UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE

DATE               OPPONENT      LOCATION                      TIME     

Sat, Feb. 20    Hershey             Giant Center                    1:00 p.m.

RECENT TRANSACTIONS

Fri, Feb. 12  (D) Dominic Cormier                       Released to PTO