Faceoff Factor

WBS Pens Weekly Report - 4/11

Eric Politowski | WBS "Baby" Penguins

Apr 11, 09:41 PM | Hype this story!

Welcome to the newest Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins weekly report. With only one game remaining in the regular season, the Baby Pens find themselves once again playoff bound. Here’s a look back at the week that was.

GAME RECAPS:

The Pens started off the week on the road, playing the Hershey Bears. The Bears showed their class and respect to current Penguin and ex-Bear, RW Dennis Bonvie by playing a video tribute on their jumbo-tron, and by giving out Bonvie posters. G Dave Brown was in net for the Pens to give starting goalie John Curry a rest. This ended up being a close, fought-out battle with the Pens winning by a final score of 4-3 in overtime. C Dave Gove netted his game winning 19th goal of the season in the overtime period.

Three days later, the Baby Pens were headed home to the Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre, to take on the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The Sound Tigers don’t even know what a Sound Tiger is. It panned out to be another close game, but this time the Pens fell in overtime with the final score of 4-3. The Pens battled their way back after trailing 3-0 in the 3rd period, and tied it on a goal by RW Jean-Michel Daoust, but couldn’t put the Tigers back in their cages. G John Curry let in 4 goals on 29 shots, and C Dave Gove picked up his 20th goal of the season. The trade that sent F Joe Jensen to the Albany River Rats for Gove has undeniably favored the Pens.

Finally, the Pens were back in Albany tonight to take on the River Rats. The game ended in another 4-3 victory for the Pens. C Dave Gove shined for the Pens by registering his 21st and 22nd goal of the season, along with an assist. C Ryan Stone also had 2 assists and a fight against Albany’s Mike Angelidis.

TRANSACTIONS:

Since their ECHL affiliate, the Wheeling Nailers, didn’t make the playoffs, the Pens decided to bulk up some roster spots. Not to mention, there has been a few prospect signings. The following players have been promoted to WBS this week.

RW Aaron Boogaard, younger brother of the Minnesota Wild’s tough guy Derek Boogaard, has been promoted to WBS. Boogaard has played only 2 games for the Baby Pens this year, one in which he squared off with one of the toughest fighters in the league, the Sound Tigers’ Kip Brennan. Many believe Boogaard will be a legitimate heavyweight fighter for the Pittsburgh Penguins one day if he can pick up his game.

D Jon D’Aversa has also been called up. D’Aversa played nearly 30 games with the Pens this season, putting up a good plus-minus rating of +3.

RW Kyle Rank has found this way back as well. Rank has played in 25 games for WBS this year.

LW Ned Havern is back up too. Havern has faired decently with his limited experience, by putting up 9 points (3 G, 6 A) in 33 games with the Pens this season.

The Pens have agreed to terms with prospect RW Nick Johnson. Johnson has already played 2 games for Wilkes-Barre this week, toting up his first career AHL assist. Johnson is a graduate from Dartmouth College where he posted 35 points in 32 games in the NCAA.

G Kristofer Westblom has been signed and called up. Westblom will stay with the Pens for the remainder of the 2008 season, as the third string goalie behind John Curry and Dave Brown. This year in the WHL, Westblom posted a record of 25-14-3, with a 2.86 GAA, and a save percentage of .890. All three goalies on the WBS team are rookies.

LW Luca Caputi would have probably joined the club to venture through the playoffs with the Pens, but with Caputi’s Ice Dogs on the verge of losing the series, he tallied a hat trick and an assist to lead his team to an 8-3 victory. Caputi finished 4th in the OHL in regular season scoring, putting up an incredible 111 points (51 G, 60 A) in 66 games played. Caputi will also drop the gloves three or four times a year if it means protecting himself or sticking up for his teammates. Better keep an eye on this kid.

HOT/NOT:

C Dave Gove has led his Penguins squad to two wins out of the past three games this week, in which he has accounted for a total of 4 goals as well as an assist.

D Alex Goligoski has played great this week, tallying 5 assists in the past 3 games while managing to keep the puck out of the net behind him.

D Mark Ardelan has also played tremendous since returning from injury. Ardelan has a goal and an assist in the past 3 games.

C Connor James has been as cold as ice for the Pens, having not found the scoresheet in the past 6 games.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE:

Saturday, 4/12 vs. Norfolk Admirals, 7:05

The Pens finish the regular season at home with Dennis Bonvie’s last stand. Stay tuned for a solid recap with pictures and videos from this one.