PENGUINS WEEKLY – 2/25/25

Penguins battle contrasting opponents as seven-game road stretch continues

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (28-13-6-1) takes on elite offensive, defensive teams on Wednesday, Friday

Weekly Rewind

Friday, Feb. 21 – PENGUINS 4 at Hartford 1
Three first period goals from Rutger McGroarty, Avery Hayes, and Boris Katchouk propelled the Penguins over the Wolf Pack. Marc Johnstone added an empty netter for insurance, while Filip Larsson made 26 saves for in the victory.

Saturday, Feb. 22 – PENGUINS 3 at Springfield 5
Ville Koivunen factored in on all three Penguins goals (1G-2A), but the rookie’s big night wasn’t enough to overcome a three-goal middle frame by the Thunderbirds. As a result, Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton suffered its first loss to Springfield this season.

Sunday, Feb. 23 – PENGUINS 4 at Providence 5 (OT)
The Pens erupted for four goals in the first period, including three tallies in 48 seconds. However, the Bruins chipped away at their deficit, Georgii Merkulov capped their comeback with 0.7 left in overtime for the Bruins. McGroarty, Colton Poolman, Katchouk and Emil Bemström lit the lamp for the Penguins.

The Week Ahead

Wednesday, Feb. 26 – PENGUINS at Rochester
The Penguins open a new week with a heavyweight bout. Rochester owns the best record in the East and is currently riding a three-game win streak, and ranks behind the Penguins with the second-most goals per game (3.49). Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton has not won at Blue Cross Arena since Jan. 13, 2017.

Friday, Feb. 28 – PENGUINS at Syracuse
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton continues its tour of Upstate New York with a clash against the top defensive team in the AHL. Former Penguin Derrick Pouliot tops Syracuse with 40 points (7G-33A).

Saturday, Mar. 1 – PENGUINS at Hershey
The Penguins play their seventh-straight away game, this time against a familiar foe. Pens forward Emil Bemström leads all players in the rivalry this season with 10 points (2G-8A).

Ice Chips

– Wilkes-Barre/Scranton ranks No. 1 overall in the AHL with 3.50 goals per game.

– Ville Koivunen leads all AHL rookies with 44 points (16G-28A).

– Avery Hayes has gathered 20 points (9G-11A) in his last 17 games, 66.7% of his offensive production on the season.

– Boris Katchouk scored in each of the Penguins’ games this past weekend, his second three-game goal streak this season.

– The Penguins have out-scored opponents 66-32 (+34) in first periods, the best first-period goal differential in the league.

– Colton Poolman’s first goal as a Penguin came exactly one year to the day of his last AHL goal: Feb. 23, 2024 at Manitoba.

DIVISION STANDINGS

TEAM LEADERS

* = rookie
x = not on current roster

UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE

DATE                    OPPONENT              LOCATION                                  TIME        

Wed, Feb. 26      Rochester                Blue Cross Arena                        7:05 p.m.

Fri, Feb. 28          Syracuse                 Upstate Med Univ. Arena          7:00 p.m.

Sat, Mar. 1            Hershey                  Giant Center                                 7:00 p.m.

RECENT TRANSACTIONS

DATE                  PLAYER                                                              TRANSACTION

Tue, Feb. 18      (G) Tristan Jarry                                           Reassigned by PIT

Tue, Feb. 18      (G) Joel Blomqvist                                       Recalled to PIT

Tue, Feb. 18      (RW) Emil Bemström                                  Recalled to PIT

Thu, Feb. 20     (RW) Mathieu De St. Phalle                       Recalled from WHL

Sat, Feb. 22       (RW) Emil Bemström                                  Reassigned by PIT