Faceoff Factor

WBS Pens vs. Chicago Wolves Finals Preview

Eric Politowski | WBS "Baby" Penguins

May 27, 03:16 PM | Hype this story!

After defeating the Portland Piratess in the Eastern Conference Final series 4-3, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Baby Penguins will take on the Chicago Wolves in the AHL Calder Cup Finals.

With the parent Pittsburgh Penguins in the Stanley Cup Finals, the Pens and Baby Pens have become the first NHL/AHL affiliates to make it to their final series respectively, since the Buffalo Sabres and Rochester Americans did in 1999.

SERIES PREVIEW

The Baby Pens and Chicago Wolves haven’t faced each other this season due to the teams playing in separate conferences.

G John Curry has been strong all playoffs long. Curry has posted a record of 12-5, with a GAA of 2.47 and a save percentage of .908. Backup goaltender Dave Brown has yet to see a playoff game.

F Tim Brent has once again led the young team in points and goals. Brent is tied for 2nd in the league with 20 points. He is also 1st in the league with 11 goals.

LW Chris Minard is 2nd in the league with 10 goals. Both Minard and fellow RW Ryan Stone are tied with 15 points.

D Alex Goligoski also has 20 points. Outstanding for a defensemen come playoff time. Goligoski has 3 goals and 17 assists in this postseason.

This would also be RW Dennis Bonvie and D Alain Nasreddine’s last chance at the Calder Cup. Bonvie is retiring after this season, and Nasreddine is playing in Europe. Win it for Bones.

THE OPPOSITION

The Wolves are led by F Jason Krog. Krog led the AHL in points in the regular season and is leading the AHL in post season points with 28 points in 18 games.

You also may recognize former-Penguin, D Joel “The Answer” Kwiatkowski. The Answer, who made the AHL All-Star Team this year has put up great numbers as well, scoring 17 points in 18 games.

F Angelo Esposito was traded to the Wolves (Atlanta Thrasher’s affiliate) as most of you remember, along with a 1st round draft pick during the trade deadline that sent forwards Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis to Pittsburgh. Esposito would be playing against his former organization but he was released on his ATO contract last month.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

2008 AHL Calder Cup Finals (best-of-seven)

Game 1 – Thu., May 29 – W-B/Scranton at Chicago, 8:00

Game 2 – Sun., June 1 – W-B/Scranton at Chicago, 4:00

Game 3 – Wed., June 4 – Chicago at W-B/Scranton, 7:05

Game 4 – Fri., June 6 – Chicago at W-B/Scranton, 7:05

*Game 5 – Sat., June 7 – Chicago at W-B/Scranton, 7:05

*Game 6 – Tue., June 10 – W-B/Scranton at Chicago, 8:00

*Game 7 – Thu., June 12 – W-B/Scranton at Chicago, 8:00

*if necessary… All times Eastern