Series – 2 GP
W L OTL Pts.
1 1 0 2
 
Series – 2 GP
Pts. W L OTL
2 1 1 0

7:00 at Giant Center
TV: AHLLive.com
Probable Goalies: Curry (WBS), Neuvirth (Her)
 

Inside The Game
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins ride a three game winning streak into Hershey tonight, and oppose the offensively minded, first-place Bears.

The Penguins power play is clicking very well right now, as they maintain the 5th best PP in the AHL. Tonight should be an interesting special teams battle, as the Bears have the 4th best penalty killing unit.

Number one prospect Eric Tangradi is starting to get his feet wet, tallying 2 goals and 1 fight in his last 2 games played.

Keven Veilleux continues to impress himself, with 2 goals and 2 fights in his last 3 games.

Recently promoted defenseman Lane Caffaro has 2 fights in as many games, as does noted heavyweight Wade Brookbank.

Zach Sill is starting to solidify himself in the line-up on a more regular basis, with his overall solid play as well as scoring his first AHL goal two nights ago.

Luca Caputi has been the Penguins best player so far this season, and he continues to get better every game. One of Caputis’ weaknesses I mentioned from his rookie season was that he wasn’t playing with enough grit. Well this season, things have changed as he is finishing all of his checks and stirring things up. He has 2 goals and 2 assists in his last 2 games.

Ryan Bayda also continues to make a case for himself, leading the team in goals with 8, and playing a physical brand of hockey every night.

Rookie goaltender Brad Thiessen picked up his first career win last night against the Albany River Rats.

With Ben Lovejoy, Deryk Engelland, and Mark Letestu called up to the NHL, the Baby Pens will look to continue their recent success with a "depleted" line-up. Chris Conner was recently demoted from the NHL, and should be in the WB/S line-up tonight.

In ECHL news, the Wheeling Nailers defeated the Johnstown Chiefs last night by a final score of 4-3. Casey Pierro-Zabotel scored his 1st of the season to tie the game up with only minutes remaining in the third period, and Joey Haddad scored his 5th of the season in overtime to seal the win. Alex Grant assisted on the game winning goal.


Projected Lines…

  • Caputi – W. Smith – Conner
  • Bayda – Jeffrey – Veilleux
  • Brookbank – Vitale – Wallace
  • Boogaard – Sill – Boulerice
     
  • Strait – Guenin
  • Lee – Bortuzzo
  • Caffaro – D’Aversa
     
  • Curry
  • Thiessen
   
Standings
  GP W L OT Pts Division Conference League
Penguins 14 8 4 2 18 2, East 4, Eastern 9, AHL
Bears 16 11 5 0 22 1, East 1, Eastern 3, AHL
                 
Team Statistics
  GF GA PP% PK% Home Away L 10 Streak
Penguins 38 30 20.7 86.2 4-3 4-1-2 6-2-2 3 wins
Bears 57 34 13.5 91.8 4-2 7-3-0 7-3-0 3 wins
                 
Team Leaders
  Stat Penguins   Stat Bears
Goals 8 Bayda Goals 8 Giroux
Assists 14 Jeffrey Assists 13 Giroux
Points 15 Jeffrey Points 21 Giroux
+/- +9 Bayda +/- +12 Alzner
PIMs
39 BrookbankPIMs
42 Amadio
Fights 6 Boogaard Fights 6 Amadio
Wins 7 Curry Wins 5 Neuvirth
GAA 1.97 Curry GAA 2.50 Neuvirth
*Called up to NHL
 
Injuries
Penguins Injury / Note Status
Berkhoel
Johnson
 Knee
Ankle
 Conditioning stint in Wheeling
Doubtful
Bears Injury Status
G. McNeill Undisclosed Doubtful
 
Note: Info up-to-date as of 7:05 pm, Saturday, November 14, 2009.