TAFFE'S HAT TRICK HELPS PLANETUSA TO RECORD SETTING WIN

WORCESTER, MA - Jeff Taffe didn’t take home Most Valuable Player honors from the 2009 AHL All-Star Game, presented by Charter Communications.  But he definitely threw his name in the ‘hat’.

The Penguins forward picked up three goals and assisted on two others, as his PlanetUSA team posted a 14-11 win over the Canadian on Monday night at the DCU Center in Worcester.

It was the highest scoring game in AHL All-Star history, and saw the PlanetUSA squad score a record nine times in a period.

Philadelphia’s Jared Ross captured the individual award with seven points (1+6), but Taffe’s performance was just as instrumental in the win.  His third goal tied the game at 11-11 with 5:42 to play, and he assisted on Grant Potulny’s empty net tally to put the game out of reach at 13-11.

Potulny (2+4) did his part in the win as well, while Corey Locke (4+1) set a new record for goals in the losing effort. Canadian teammate Teddy Purcell had five assists as well.