Penguins Newsletter

PENS OPEN PLAYOFFS WITH OT WIN AGAINST HERSHEY

HERSHEY, PA – The playoffs are a time to suck it up, step up and perform. And Chris Minard stuck to that formula perfectly on Wednesday night.

The Penguins’ leading goal scorer during the regular season, Minard blasted a puck past goaltender Frederic Cassivi 4:52 into overtime to lead the Penguins to a 2-1 win against the Hershey Bears in Game One of the East Division Semifinals at the Giant Center. Games Two and Three take place in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday and Sunday.

The fact that Minard was even on the ice for the extra session was remarkable. He tumbled into the boards with less than five minutes to go in regulation, and skated off the ice in obvious pain, clutching his shoulder as he headed down the runway to the Penguins’ locker room.

“I was a little worried when he left the ice there in the third period…My first thought was we were going to lose him for the series,” said head coach Todd Richards. “From what I understand he pinched a nerve in his shoulder. They worked on it a little bit getting ready for the overtime.

WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON PENGUINS vs. HERSHEY BEARS

EAST DIVISION SEMIFINALS

Game 1 Wednesday, April 16 @ Giant Center Pens Win, 2-1

Game 2 (A)

Saturday, April 19 @ Wachovia Arena 7:05pm

Game 3 (B) Sunday, April 20 @ Wachovia Arena 5:05pm

Game 4 Wednesday, April 23 @ Giant Center 7:00pm

*Game 5 (C) Friday, April 25 @ Wachovia Arena 7:05pm

*Game 6 Saturday, April 26 @ Giant Center 7:00pm

*Game 7 (D) Sunday, April 27 @ Wachovia Arena 5:05pm

* = if necessary

LUCA CAPUTI JOINS PENGUINS

WILKES-BARRE, PA – The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins have signed left wing Luca Caputi to an amateur tryout contract, it was announced on Wednesday.

Caputi, 19, recently completed his junior season with the Niagara IceDogs of the Ontario Hockey League. The 6-3, 185 pound native of Toronto finished fourth in the OHL with 111 points and third with 51 goals. He also added 17 points (8+9) in 10 postseason games with the IceDogs.

For his career, Caputi recorded 185 points (86+99) in 214 games. He was selected by Pittsburgh in the fourth round (111th overall) of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft

PENGUINS END OF SEASON AWARDS ANNOUNCED

The Penguins announced their annual award winners prior to last Saturday’s game against the Norfolk Admirals.

MEDIA AWARD – Ben Lovejoy

STAR OF THE YEAR – Kurtis McLean

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR – John Curry

COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD – Ryan Lannon

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER – Alex Goligoski

MOST VALUABLE DEFENSEMAN – Alain Nasreddine

HERB BROOKS MEMORIAL AWARD – Connor James

FAN FAVORITE – Dennis Bonvie

PENGUIN AWARD – Nathan Smith

LEADING SCORER – Tim Brent

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER – Tim Brent

2007-08 YEAR IN REVIEW

The 2007-08 regular season proved to be another success for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, who recorded their third consecutive 100 point season, captured their second division championship in three years, and qualified for the Calder Cup Playoffs for the sixth consecutive season.

The following notes give a look at some of the high points of the recently completed regular season:

300: The Penguins posted the 300th win in franchise history with a 3-2 decision at Hamilton on November 28. Ironically, it was in Hamilton that the Pens recorded their first win back on November 10, 1999.

ROAD WINS RECORD: The Penguins finished the season with 25-13-0-2 record away from the Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza, setting a new team mark for road victories in a season (previously 23 by the 2005-06 and 2006-07 squads). The 25 road wins were tied for second most in the league this season (Providence – 28; Hartford – 25), while the 52 road points were third (Providence – 59; Hartford – 56).

NINE IN A ROW – TIMES TWO: The Penguins posted a pair of nine-game win streaks during the 2007-08 regular season, tying the team mark set at the start of the 2005-06 campaign (October 5-29). Wilkes-Barre/Scranton reeled off nine wins in a row between December 15 and January 2, and again from March 2 through March 19.

oursportscentral.com