Wilkes-Barre/Scranton heads back home this weekend after a road trip that delivered three wins in four games, and the Penguins are doing it with offense pouring out in bunches.
The split at Cleveland was a clean example of how quickly things can swing. On Friday, Oct.
16, Avery Hayes needed just 58 seconds to open the scoring, only for the Monsters to answer right back. Hayes struck again to restore the lead for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, but Cleveland evened it before the second intermission, then took over in the third and finished the game with an empty-net goal.
The rematch on Saturday, Oct. 17 looked nothing like the opener. The Penguins won 6-3 in a penalty-heavy game, cashing in on four of eight power-play chances.
Hugh McGing got his first goal in Black and Gold early, Hayes added his third goal of the weekend, and Melvin Fernström and Rutger McGroarty scored in the second period. Mikhail Ilyin piled up four points on the day, finishing with one goal and three assists, before McGroarty closed the door with a second man-advantage goal with 11.7 seconds left.
That offense has been a season-long theme. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is tied for second in the AHL at 4.17 goals per game and leads the league with 35.2 shots on goal per game.
The Penguins have also jumped on teams early, scoring in the first three minutes of a period 10 times already. Hayes and McGroarty sit tied at nine points apiece, good for a seven-way tie for seventh in the league, while McGroarty’s 30 shots on goal rank second in the AHL.
Hayes has recorded at least one point in all six of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s games this season, and dating back to last year, he has 20 goals and 31 points over his last 23 AHL games.
Belleville comes to Mohegan Arena on Friday, Oct. 23 for its only visit of the season, and it lands on the Penguins’ first 28/22 News Fan Control Friday of the year. The night includes $2 draft beers from 6:00-7:30 p.m. courtesy of Coors Light, free admission for children 12 and under with the purchase of an adult ticket, and postgame player autographs presented by Northeast Music Center.
Hartford follows on Saturday, Oct. 24, marking the third meeting between the Penguins and Wolf Pack this season. They have already split the first two, and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has had the better of the matchup under Kirk MacDonald, going 11-3-0-0 with a 56-25 goal differential.
The Penguins also made two roster moves on Sunday, Oct. 18, with defenseman Ryan Johnson reassigned from Pittsburgh and defenseman Ilya Solovyov recalled to Pittsburgh.
In Other News...
Penguins Defensive Shuffle Says Plenty Before Next Home Stretch
The Penguins' blue line got a little more fluid this week, with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton adjusting its defensive depth while the organization continues to sort out its next stretch of games. David Breazeale, who had been with the Florida Everblades, is back in the fold after spending time in the ECHL, while the recent movement of young defensemen underscores how closely the system is being managed as schedules tighten up.
Maleek McGowan and Ryan Mast were sent back down to Florida, a reminder that these roster decisions are often about keeping players active and available rather than making any dramatic statement about their long-term standing. For Pittsburgh fans, it is another small but meaningful look at how the pipeline is being handled, especially with the minor-league calendar and upcoming team events keeping the organization busy on multiple fronts. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jackets Fans Should Watch This Penguins Trade Twist Closely
The Penguins appear to be edging toward a roster reset, and Rickard Rakell has emerged as one of the names worth watching as that shift takes shape. He is coming off an uneven season and is viewed around the league as a player whose fit may be more about the present than the future, especially with Pittsburgh looking to get younger while sorting out its next phase.
Rakell also carries a contract situation that makes any move more complicated than it might seem at first glance. He has one year left on his deal at $5 million per season, and his eight-team no-trade list gives him some control over where this might go, even as previous conversations about moving him never got off the ground. For a club trying to find value in a thin market, the challenge is whether Pittsburgh can turn a low trade value into something useful without waiting too long. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins Suddenly Face A Concerning Ben Kindel Situation
The Penguins were dealing with far more than a routine travel day after forward Ben Kindel suffered a medical episode shortly after the team plane took off from Salt Lake City, triggering an emergency landing and a trip to University of Utah Hospital. Kindel was reported to be in stable condition, conscious and alert, a relief for a team that had to absorb the kind of alarming news nobody wants to hear in the middle of a road trip.
Pittsburgh responded by making its scheduled practice optional, and there were no roster moves announced in the immediate aftermath. General manager Kyle Dubas is expected to address the media Thursday with an update on Kindels status, leaving the Penguins and their fans waiting for a clearer picture of what comes next. [Read more 🡒]