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| Keven Veilleux has arguably been one of the best forwards on the team the last month and a half. |
After a 6-3 win over Charlotte last night, a point earned tonight would clinch the number one overall seed in the Calder Cup playoffs for the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins. Their opponent, the Rochester Americans, aren't going to make the playoffs but they didn't let that stop them from beating a very good Manitoba team 4-1 last night.
Tonight's game at the Mohegan Sun Arena is sold out for a special giveaway: a Sidney Crosby bobble head doll.
The Basics
Rochester: 75 games played - 7th place North Division, 31-36-4-4, 70 points
WBS Penguins: 75 games played - 1st place East Division, 54-20-0-1, 109 points
Season Series: WBS leads 3-0
Previous 10 games - RCH: 2-6-1-1 WBS: 8-2-0-0
Players to Watch:
Rochester: Defenseman Mike Kostka leads a thin Amerks lineup with 52 points in 75 games (15G, 37A) including 10 power play goals. He's recorded 12 points (5G,7A) in his last 13 games and is clearly a diamond in the rough in Rochester. The Pens need to keep an eye on him tonight.
WBS: After a slow start riddled with injuries and a lack of ice time, Keven Veilleux has really turned around his season the last few months. After just 12 points in his first 35 games (6G, 6A) he's become a go-to scorer with the recent injuries to the forward core. In his last 28 games he's been almost a point per game producer, with 22 points (4G, 18A). The newly formed top line of Veilleux, Ryan Craig and Geoff Walker have been impressive the last month or so.
Final Thoughts
The Pens need one point to wrap up the best record in the AHL. The Amerks are well out of the playoffs. Should be an easy game tonight right? No, many guys on both rosters are potentially auditioning for a role with their respective teams for next season so while the game might not mean much in the standings, many players need to make a good last impression before the AHL season concludes next weekend.
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