Saturday, April 30, 2011

THIESSEN BECOMES FIFTH PENS GOALTENDER TO POST PLAYOFF SHUTOUT

Brad Thiessen made 34 saves for his first career playoff shutout, while Ryan Craig tallied a goal and an assist to help the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins even the East Division Finals with a 3-0 victory over the Charlotte Checkers on Saturday night at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.

Special teams were the deciding factor on Thursday night, and the same held true in the first period of Game Two as it featured very little full-strength hockey.  But this time, both goaltenders Thiessen and Charlotte’s Mike Murphy stood up to the task and turned aside every shot.  The Checkers outshot the Penguins 16-12 in the opening frame.

After Murphy made a highlight-reel glove save on Andrew Hutchinson after the halfway point of the second, and after the Penguins killed off the Checkers’ fifth power play of the game, the hosts finally cashed in for the first goal.  Rookie Paul Thompson made a play on the right half wall by backhanding a saucer pass to the right point.  Corey Potter let a slap shot fly that bounced off of Murphy and into the slot, where Sterling jumped on the puck and fired it into the empty right half of the net at 15:17.

Early in the third period, after the Penguins killed off a Charlotte four-on-three advantage, Chris Collins picked up a puck near the top of the left circle and fired a shot through Craig’s legs and cleanly past a screened Murphy at 2:22 to give the Penguins a 2-0 lead.  Keven Veilleux earned the other assist.

Craig then iced the victory with an empty-net tally with 43 seconds remaining in the contest.

The Penguins ended the night 0-for-5 on the power play and 7-for-7 on the penalty kill.

Thiessen improved to 5-3 in the postseason, while Murphy dropped to 4-2 while making 28 saves.

The series will now shift to North Carolina for the next three games, with Game Three facing off on Monday, May 2 at 7:00 pm at Time Warner Cable Arena.  If necessary, Game Six will be played back at Mohegan Sun Arena on Saturday, May 7 at 7:05 pm.  Individual tickets are on sale at the Mohegan Sun Arena box office, through any TicketMaster outlet, online at ticketmaster.com, or by calling 1-800-745-3000.

Ticket packages for the 2011 Calder Cup Playoffs are also currently available through the Penguins’ ticket offices by calling (570) 208-PENS.

NOTES:  G Brad Thiessen became the fifth Penguins goaltender to record a clean sheet in the postseason, joining Andy Chiodo (4), Dany Sabourin (1), Rich Parent (1) and John Curry (1)… LW Tim Wallace appeared in his 50th career playoff game with the Penguins… The Penguins scratched defensemen Viktor Ekbom and Philip Samuelsson, forwards Andy Bathgate, Jesse Boulerice, Nick Petersen and Ryan Schnell, and goaltender Alexander Pechurskiy… The Checkers kept the same lineup from Thursday and scratched defensemen Ethan Graham, Rasmus Rissanen and Bobby Sanguinetti, forwards Mike McKenzie, Cedric McNicoll, Matthew Pistilli and Jared Staal, and goaltender Bobby Goepfert.

LET'S ZAM THIS!

SEEN SATURDAY NIGHT

AVENGING PENGUINS

Avenged Sevenfold stopped by the arena last night to play a show, and left a little message in the Penguins locker room for everyone.  Here's hoping the Pens can rock the Checkers tonight!

Friday, April 29, 2011

Thursday, April 28, 2011

CHECKERS TAKE GAME ONE OF EAST DIVISION FINALS

Jonathan Matsumoto scored a pair of power-play goals to pace the Charlotte Checkers to a 3-2 victory in Game One of the East Division Finals on Thursday night at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.

Charlotte goaltender Mike Murphy gave the Penguins their first power play opportunity just 1:55 into the game when he played the puck behind the goal line in the right corner, but the Penguins were unable to cash in. 

The teams played the first half of the period with tight defense, and Charlotte’s portion later forced the Penguins into a neutral zone turnover.  Zac Dalpe picked up the puck, skated in from the left point and took a snap shot that sailed through a screen and past Brad Thiessen at 15:10.

The Penguins then tied up the game in the second period, a play started by a Keven Veilleux steal in the neutral zone.  Veilleux turned up ice, put on a burst of speed down the left wing, and centered for a driving Geoff Walker who had a tap-in to beat Murphy at 4:29.

But moments later, successive penalties to Joe Vitale and Tim Wallace led to a two-man advantage for Charlotte.  Ryan Craig and Robert Bortuzzo made two important clears to allow Vitale to return, but a quick seam pass from Casey Borer found Jon Matsumoto at the bottom of the right circle.  Matsumoto one-timed the puck along the ice, beating Thiessen at 7:18 on a five-on-four advantage and giving the Checkers a 2-1 lead.

Matsumoto tallied his second power play goal at 5:03 of the third period by lifting a puck over the outstretched pad of Thiessen, giving Charlotte a 3-1 lead.

The Penguins then cut back into the lead when Andrew Hutchinson made a long headman pass for Tim Wallace.  The puck deflected to the side boards away from Wallace, but the winger managed to hurry a backhand centering pass that found a wide-open Brett Sterling.  Sterling deposited a wrist shot past the blocker of Murphy at 6:26 for his first goal of the postseason, but the Penguins could get no closer.

Thiessen falls to 4-3 on the season, making 16 saves.  Murphy improves to 4-1 with 28 stops.  The Penguins ended the night 2-for-8 on the power play and 4-for-6 on the penalty kill.

Game Two of the East Division Finals will be played on Saturday, April 30 at 7:05 pm.  Individual tickets are on sale at the Mohegan Sun Arena box office, through any TicketMaster outlet, online at ticketmaster.com, or by calling 1-800-745-3000.

Ticket packages for the 2011 Calder Cup Playoffs are also currently available through the Penguins’ ticket offices by calling (570) 208-PENS.

EAST DIVISION FINALS, GAME ONE - PENS vs. CHECKERS TONIGHT!

Fans, grab your white garb, come down to the Arena at root on your Pens as they begin the East Division Finals against the Charlotte Checkers tonight at 7:05 pm.


Great seats are available!


Game two will be played on Saturday, April 30 at 7:05 pm.


Before you head down, visit the Penguins' home page and check out the game notes, featuring a preview of the series and some stats from the East Division Semifinals against the Norfolk Admirals.


LET'S DO THIS!


CLICK HERE TO GO TO TONIGHT'S GAME NOTES

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

PENGUINS SIGN DEFENSEMAN PHILIP SAMUELSSON TO AMATEUR TRYOUT CONTRACT

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins have signed defenseman Philip Samuelsson to an amateur tryout contract, it was announced on Wednesday.

Samuelsson, 19, has played the past two years with Boston College (HE), winning the National Championship with the Eagles in 2009-10 as a freshman.  That season, Samuelsson tallied 14 points (1+13) and a plus-15 rating in 42 contests. The 6-foot-3, 198-pound native of Leksand, Sweden completed his sophomore campaign this year with 16 points (4+12) and a plus-17 rating in 39 games.

Samuelsson spent a portion 2008-09 with the United States National Under-18 Team, appearing in 13 games and recording four assists.  He spent the majority of that season with the Chicago Steel (USHL), picking up 22 assists in 54 games.

Samuelsson, the son of former Pittsburgh Penguins’ defenseman and two-time Stanley Cup Champion Ulf Samuelsson, was selected by Pittsburgh in the second round (61st overall) in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

PENGUINS AND POLAR BEARS

DO IT!

Photobucket

SEEN AT COAL STREET

Here's how one fan is showing support for the Pens in the playoffs.  Great job.  Let's Do This! 

THE STERLING AND SUE SHOW?

Pens forward Brett Sterling stopped by the Rocky and Sue Show this morning to talk playoff hockey.  A big thanks to Rocky, Sue and Lissa for having him in and for all the support this season.  LET'S DO THIS!

(By the way, check out the Times Leader Pens Cheer Poster hanging up in the background.  Nice job guys!)


Tuesday, April 26, 2011

PENGUINS PLAYERS HIT THE AIRWAVES WEDNESDAY

Fans, be sure to tune in to Webster & Nancy on the WILK Network (or on Fox 56 TV) tomorrow morning from 7:45-8:00 a.m. as Ben Street makes an appearance to talk about the Penguins' advancing to the East Division Finals.  A "surprise guest" will also be joining Rocky and Sue with Lissa tomorrow morning at 8:10 a.m... tune in and you might win playoff tickets!

TIMES LEADER LET'S DO THIS POSTER

Pens fans, get one of these super cool Penguins LET'S DO THIS cheer poster in Wednesday's edition of the Times Leader.  Hang them in your office, your car window, your home or anywhere else to show your support for the Pens Whiteout!

A big thanks to the Times Leader for helping to spread the word!  LET'S DO THIS!

PENS PRACTICE - TUESDAY MORNING

The guys are back on the ice preparing for Charlotte.

YOU CAN'T SPELL WHITEOUT WITHOUT A W(BRE)

WBRE's Collin Riccobon supports the Whiteout.  You should too!

EAST DIVISION FINALS SCHEDULE


WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – Due to the Hershey Bears’ loss at home on Sunday, it was determined today that the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins will face the Charlotte Checkers in the East Division Finals.

The Penguins will host Games One and Two of the East Division Finals on Thursday, April 28 and Saturday, April 30 at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza. Faceoff for both games is set for 7:05 pm. Here is the complete schedule for the East Division Finals:

Game 1 – Thu., Apr. 28 – Charlotte at W-B/Scranton, 7:05 pm – Mohegan Sun Arena
Game 2 – Sat., Apr. 30 – Charlotte at W-B/Scranton, 7:05 pm – Mohegan Sun Arena
Game 3 – Mon., May 2 – W-B/Scranton at Charlotte, 7:00 pm – Time Warner Cable Arena
Game 4 – Wed., May 4 – W-B/Scranton at Charlotte, 7:00 pm – Time Warner Cable Arena
*Game 5 – Fri., May 6 – W-B/Scranton at Charlotte, 7:00 pm – Time Warner Cable Arena
*Game 6 – Sat., May 7 – Charlotte at W-B/Scranton, 7:05 pm – Mohegan Sun Arena
*Game 7 – Mon., May 9 – Charlotte at W-B/Scranton, 7:05 pm – Mohegan Sun Arena
*If necessary

Tickets for Games 1 and 2 of the East Division Finals are on sale now through all TicketMaster locations, online at www.ticketmaster.com and by phone at 800-745-3000.

Penguins season ticket holders can purchase seats directly through the team’s offices by calling 208-7367.

EAST DIVISION SEMIS - GAME SIX HIGHLIGHTS

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT

Former Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins great and current Toronto Maple Leaf Colby Armstrong stopped by the Mohegan Sun Arena on Saturday night to show his support for the whiteout.  

You can get your official Penguins Whiteout t-shirt (modeled here by Army) by visiting the Penguins team store inside the arena during any home playoff game, at the Penguins Pro Shop inside the Ice Rink at Coal Street, or via the Penguins online store.

PENS PLAYOFF MEMORIES - April 25, 2005

TUX AROUND TOWN

LET'S DO THIS - Intro Video

LET'S DO THIS

Fans, welcome to the LET'S DO THIS playoff blog.  Consider this your vault for all things related to the Penguins playoff run.  We'll be adding new content daily, so be sure to check back often.