BISSONNETTE, JEFFREY RECALLED BY PITTSBURGH

The Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled forwards Paul Bissonnette and Dustin Jeffrey from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League (AHL), it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Ray Shero.

Bissonnette, 23, played six games for the Pittsburgh Penguins this season registering 10 penalty minutes while posting a plus or even rating in five of his six appearances.  He began the season with Pittsburgh, making his NHL debut on Oct. 4 against Ottawa at the NHL Premiere in Stockholm, Sweden.  Bissonnette leads Wilkes-Barre/Scranton with 82 penalty minutes, while recording six points (three goals, three assists) in 16 games.

The 6-2, 211-pound forward split the 2007-08 season between the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins and the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL.  Bissonnette tallied eight points (three goals, five assists) along with 146 penalty minutes in 46 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.  He also recorded 11 penalty minutes in seven playoff contests with the Penguins.  Bissonnette collected 17 points (three goals, 14 assists) and 43 penalty minutes with Wheeling before being re-called to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.  Bissonnette was drafted by the Penguins in the fourth round (121st overall) of the 2003 NHL Draft.

Jeffrey has collected 17 points (four goals, 13 assists) along with 16 penalty minutes in 30 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season.  The 20-year old forward is tied for fourth on the team with 17 points and is tied for third in assists with 13.

The Sarnia, Ontario native joined the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins after appearing in 56 games with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) last season.  He tallied 97 points (38 goals, 59 assists) along with 30 penalty minutes for the Greyhounds.  The 6-3, 199-pound forward also registered 11 points (three goals, eight assists) and 12 penalty minutes in 14 playoff contests for the Greyhounds.  Jeffrey contributed three points (two goals, one assist) in 15 playoff appearances for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Jeffrey was selected by Pittsburgh in the sixth round (171st overall) of the 2007 Entry Draft