PENGUINS WEEKLY Monday, December 10, 2007

RECENT ACTION: Friday, December 7 vs. Hershey: Tim Wallace and Chris Minard scored for the Penguins, who dropped a 5-2 decision to the Bears at the Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza. David Brown made his first American Hockey League start, stopping 25 of 30 shots in the loss.

Saturday, December 8 @ Norfolk: The Norfolk Admirals scored three times in the third period to take a 5-3 win against the Penguins at the Scope. Ryan Stone and Jeff Taffe helped the Pens overcome a pair of one-goal deficits. But the Admirals scored twice in the first nine minutes of the third frame, then added an empty net goal after Dennis Bonvie’s first tally of the season to take the win. John Curry allowed four goals on 28 shots in the loss.

UPCOMING ACTION: Friday, December 14 @ Worcester – 7:05pm: The Penguins (12-12-0-0, 24 points, fifth in East Division) travel to Worcester for their first ever meeting with the Sharks (8-10-1-2, 19 points, sixth in Atlantic Division) at the DCU Center. Worcester is led by Mike Iggulden (11+12=23) in the scoring department, while Tomas Greiss is the team’s top backstopper (6-6-1, 3.30gaa).

Saturday, December 15 @ Albany (in Glens Falls, NY) – 5:00pm: The Pens will travel to upstate New York to face the Rats (14-10-0-2, 30 points, second in East Division) at the former home of the four-time Calder Cup Champion Adirondack Red Wings. Veteran AHL center Keith Aucoin leads the Rat attack with 22 points this season, while Micahel Leighton has terrorized the league between the pipes (10-9-2, 1.97 gaa and AHL leading five shutouts). The Penguins have fallen victim to Albany twice this season, dropping a 1-0 decision on October 26 and falling 4-0 on November 17.

Sunday, December 16 @ Philadelphia – 5:05pm: The Penguins are 1-3-0-0 against the Phantoms (17-7-1-0, 35 points, first in East Division) but did win the last meeting, 4-1, on November 14. Jared Ross leads Philly and ranks tied for 17th in the league with 24 points (9+15), while Kyle Greentree (8+13=21) and Jonathan Matsumoto (9+11=20) rank fourth and sixth in rookie scoring, respectively. Add to that two of the top seven goaltenders in the league in Scott Munroe (7-2-0, 2.13gaa) and Brian Boucher (10-6-0, 2.27gaa, three shutouts), and one can see whey the Phantoms have been one of the top teams all season.

After the three-game swing, the Penguins will play six of their next seven games and nine of their next 11 games on home ice All Penguins games can be seen live via the B2 networks, and can be heard on 92.1 and 100.5 QFM, and via the Penguins website at www.wbspenguins.com.

PENGUINS DECEMBER SCHEDULE:
Dec. 21 7:05pm vs. MANCHESTER
Dec. 22 7:05pm vs. ALBANY
Dec. 26 7:05pm vs. SYRACUSE
Dec. 27 7:00pm @ Syracuse
Dec. 29 7:05pm vs. BINGHAMTON
Dec. 31 6:05pm vs. NORFOLK

PENGUINS DECEMBER SCHEDULE: TEAM LEADERS:
Goals = Jeff Taffe - 12
Assists = Tim Brent - 12
Points = Jeff Taffe - 18
PIM = Deryk Engelland - 53
Plus/Minus = James, Wallace (plus-6)
Wins = John Curry - 1
G.A.A. = John Curry – 3.01
Save % = John Curry - 890

UPCOMING PENGUINS PLAYER APPEARANCES:

Tuesday, Dec. 11 7:30-9:00pm
COORS LIGHT STAR BAR
Patte’s Sports Bar
Jonathan Filewich

Tuesday, Dec. 11 7:30-9:00pm
COORS LIGHT STAR BAR
Arcaro’s Pizza
Joe Jensen

Wednesday, Dec. 12 7:30-9:00pm
Arena Bar and Grill
Alex Goligoski

Wednesday, Dec. 12 7:30-9:00pm
COORS LIGHT APPEARANCE
Leggio’s
Dennis Bonvie

PENGUINS POINTS OF INTEREST:

NEED FOR SPEED: Jonathan Filewich won the fastest skater event at the 2007 CCM AHL All-Star Skills Competition with a time of 14.553 seconds. He bettered that mark with a time of 14.193 seconds at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Skills Competition, presented by Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep, on Sunday, December 9. Filewich edged out Chris Minard in the competition by the narrowest of margins, as Minard made the lap in 14.194 seconds.

BLAST FROM THE BLUELINE: Deryk Engelland took home the honors in the hardest shot competition, once again narrowly downing Minard. Engelland’s blast hit 96.9 miles per hour on the radar gun, to Minard’s second place shot of 96.6 miles per hour.

BONVIE CONTINUES CLIMBING: Dennis Bonvie’s appearance against Norfolk on Dec. 8 was his 837th career AHL game, leaving him two games behind Steve Kraftcheck and Ralph Keller on the league’s all-time games played list. Bonvie currently ranks 21st all-time, while Kraftcheck and Keller are tied for 19th.

The December 8th contest was also Bonvie’s 251st game with the club, and moved him into a tie with Colby Armstrong for seventh place on the team’s all-time games played list. He also netted his first goal of the season in the Norfolk game – his first goal since February 23 against the Binghamton Senators.

GREAT OFFERS FROM THE PENGUINS

Holiday Hat Trick
Want to add some rocking to their stocking this holiday season? Well the Penguins' Holiday Hat Trick ticket packages are the way to go. It's the perfect holiday gift that gives, gives and gives. Now through December 31st pick any three games through the end of the season and save up to $14.25 off the gate price! You also get a FREE Penguins hat with the purchase of each package! Call 208-PENS or stop into either Team Store location throughout the holidays and get yours today!

Movie Deal – December 21st & 22nd Games
It’s a Penguins double feature! Buy four tickets to the Friday, December 21st game vs. the Manchester Monarchs or Saturday, December 22nd game vs. the Albany River Rats and get four free movie passes to your choice of Wilkes-Barre Movies 14 or Cinemark – a more than $32.00 value! Packages are NOW available and start at just $70.00. Offer redeemable at the Penguins Team Store in the Waterfront Complex only. Movie passes based on availability. Limited time offer so hurry in soon!

Subway Friday Family Nights – All Friday Home Games
Looking to keep your love of hockey and appetite in check this season? Purchase four or more tickets to any Friday night Penguins home game (tickets start at just $14.75) and get vouchers for free Subway Fresh Fit Meals. Each Friday night one lucky Subway family will win a Pens gift and a free sub platter from Subway. Call the Pens at 208-PENS for more details!

AAA Discount – All Friday Home Games
AAA Members can purchase tickets for any Friday night game throughout the season at the a special price! Tickets start at just $15.50 each and can be purchased at the Pens Team Store in the Waterfront Complex or at the Wyoming Valley Mall location throughout the holidays! Just show your AAA card and get your discount – no minimums to buy.

Team Store – Gift Cards – Holiday’s
Give the Gift of Hockey this holiday season and all year long with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Gift Cards. Gift cards can be used to buy tickets or make the perfect gift for the hard to shop for person on your list this holiday season! Stop in to the Penguins Team Store in the Waterfront Complex or at our holiday location in the Wyoming Valley Mall and get yours today!