AHL Game 43 Preview: WB/S vs. Syracuse

7:30 at Onondaga County War Memorial
TV: AHLLive.com
Probable Goalies: Thiessen (WBS), Lalande (Syr)

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Baby Penguins return to action tonight against the Syracuse Crunch. This is their first game back since the AHL All-Star break.

The Penguins had one representative for the Canadian team, leading scorer Dustin Jeffrey. He scored one goal late in the third period, and assisted on two others. He was honored by being named a starter in the game.

Due to the injuries of Max Talbot and Pascal Dupuis, Jeffrey and Nick Johnson were called up to Pittsburgh to fill in for them.

Johnson had a solid game, didn’t look out of place and as a result scored his first career NHL goal in his first game. Jeffrey, on the other hand was terrible and made bad decisions with the puck every time he had it on his stick.

As a result, rookie Casey Pierro-Zabotel makes his way up to Wilkes-Barre from the Wheeling Nailers. He was 6th among rookies in ECHL scoring.

Both Jeffrey and Johnson were re-assigned after the game.

The Penguins sit in the #10 whole in the Eastern Conference. Other than playing consistent, in-your-face hockey, the key to the Penguins success starts with improving their terrible away record.

Forwards Wyatt Smith, Chris Conner, and defenseman Nate Guenin, among others have been struggling heavily over the past few weeks.

This young team seems to be lacking an identity, which hasn’t been an issue in many years in Wilkes-Barre due to the likes of Tom Kostopolous, Colby Armstrong, Dennis Bonvie, Paul Bissonnette, etc.

On the positive side, Zach Sill is playing perhaps his best hockey of the season. He adds a physical presence that has yet to be deterred.

Finally, there was a recent article by the Times Leader (WB/S) that talked about Eric Tangradi seeking fighting advice and help from teammate Aaron Boogaard. This element needs to be included in Tangradi’s physical game. He only has one fighting major this season, and it came in the first month of the season against Portland’s Kyle Rank.

Projected Lines…

• Caputi – Smith – Conner
• Jeffrey – Letestu – Johnson
• Tangradi – Vitale – Bayda
• Wallace – Sill – Boulerice
   
• Lovejoy – Guenin
• Lee – Engelland
• Strait – Bortuzzo
   
• Thiessen
• Berkhoel