The NHL might be on pause for the Olympic break, but down in the AHL, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are still grinding through the heart of their season. After a tough 5-0 loss to the Syracuse Crunch on Saturday, WBS looked to bounce back quickly against the Cleveland Monsters on Sunday. They showed fight-coming from behind three separate times-but ultimately dropped a 4-3 overtime decision in a game that had no shortage of drama.
McGroarty’s NHL-Caliber Skillset on Display
Rutger McGroarty continues to look like a player on the brink of becoming a full-time NHLer. Just a day after being reassigned to WBS following Pittsburgh’s 5-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres, McGroarty wasted no time making an impact.
He tied the game at 1-1 in the first period, cleaning up a rebound in front after Avery Hayes fired the initial shot. It was the kind of greasy, net-front goal that coaches love to see-especially from a young player working on rounding out his game.
McGroarty's growth is hard to miss. He’s playing faster, thinking quicker, and sharpening his defensive reads. The NHL stint clearly helped him elevate his game, and it’s only a matter of time before he’s back in Pittsburgh for good.
Koivunen Capitalizes on a Gift
After Cleveland regained the lead, Ville Koivunen tied things up again late in the first period. The Monsters coughed up the puck behind their own net, and Koivunen didn’t hesitate-he buried it into a wide-open cage to make it 2-2 heading into the intermission.
Koivunen’s had a few NHL looks this season, including his first NHL goal back on December 4 against Tampa Bay. He’s been generating chances consistently, even if the puck hasn’t always bounced his way.
But the underlying numbers tell the story-he’s been on the ice for the majority of his team’s shot attempts, expected goals, and high-danger chances during his NHL time. The process is there.
Now it’s about dialing in the finer points of his game to turn those strong shifts into tangible results.
Pieniniemi’s First AHL Goal a Beauty
In the third period, it was Emil Pieniniemi’s turn to play hero. With WBS trailing 3-2, the rookie defenseman stepped into a shot from the left circle and absolutely wired it home for his first AHL goal. No doubt about that one-it was in the moment it left his stick.
Pieniniemi’s still getting his feet wet in the pro game, but this was a glimpse of the offensive upside that made him a standout with the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs last season, where he racked up 60 points. He’s already got three points in six games for WBS, and this goal could be a confidence booster as he continues adjusting to the pace and physicality of the AHL.
Avery Hayes: Doing a Bit of Everything
Avery Hayes didn’t find the scoresheet on Sunday, but he made sure his presence was felt. The forward dropped the gloves with former Penguin Zach Aston-Reese and landed a flurry of right hands before earning the takedown. Hayes has been doing it all lately-scoring, hitting, fighting-and continues to build his case as a player ready for the next level.
He recently notched a hat trick for WBS and scored twice in his NHL debut against Buffalo. That kind of production, combined with his physical edge, makes him a name to watch closely. He’s checking a lot of boxes right now.
Looking Ahead
Despite the back-to-back losses this weekend, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is still sitting in a strong position in the Atlantic Division. Their 32-13-3-2 record gives them 69 points-good for second place behind the Providence Bruins. The next team in the standings, the Charlotte Checkers, trail WBS by a hefty 14 points.
The Penguins will look to snap their mini skid on Wednesday when they face the Springfield Thunderbirds, who currently sit seventh in the division. After that, it’s a home-and-home set next weekend against the Bridgeport Islanders.
The NHL spotlight may be dimmed for now, but down in the AHL, the future of the Penguins is taking shape-one gritty, hard-fought game at a time.