Gudas Night, Pens Beat Crunch 5-3

The Penguins have won four games in a row and seven of their last eight with a 5-3 win over the Syracuse Crunch tonight.

It was Jeff Zatkoff vs. Dustin Tokarski in net. Zatkoff stopped 23 of 26 shots for the win, his 8th of November. Tokarski stopped 31 of 35 in the loss.

For the Penguins, Joey Mormina, Joe Morrow and Alex Grant were scratched on defense. Zach Sill was the lone forward scratch. Sill was expected to return to the lineup tonight but didn't take the warmup skate tonight. I have a hunch he returns tomorrow night.

A weird play 3 minutes into the game led the the Penguins first goal. Pascal Dupuis seemed to beat Tokarski with a backhander but the goal was waved off. Trevor Smith quickly got to the loose puck and gave the Pens a 1-0 lead. Dylan Reese got the lone assist.

The Crunch tied it late in the first period before Beau Bennett took over in the 2nd period. Bennett sniped Tokarski with a fake and shot to the top right corner. Holzapfel and Peters got the assists.

Brian Dumoulin got his first goal as a pro late in the period while on the power play to give the Pens a 3-1 lead.

Bennett was at it again in the third period, springing Holzapfel to a breakaway goal that seemed to put the game out of reach with 10:36 to play. But the Crunch battled back, scoring two goals and making it a 4-3 game in the final minutes.

Trevor Smith buried an empty net goal against his former team and the Penguins held on for the 5-3 win.

Wednesday's WBS UPDATE 11/28

The Penguins did something a little different today at the Coal Street Rink. They broke the team in half and had two practice sessions.  They worked on some defensive zone breakouts and other shooting drills. Both sessions ended with some 2-on-2 work and were fun to watch.

The first group consisted of the veterans, while rookies and second year players were on the ice for the second session. Zach Sill and Keven Veilleux skated in both sessions. 

I talked to head coach John Hynes after practice about the different look at practice today...

Penguins Practice UPDATE 11/27

A picture of Sill I took at the Penguins annual Development Scrimmage back in July.

The Penguins had a light skate today at the Coal Street Rink, after a successful three-win week capped by a 5-4 shootout win in Atlantic City on Sunday. Something I didn't touch on in the recap of the game, but the Penguins improved to 3-0 in shootouts this season. The Devils dropped to 0-5 in the shootout.

The Penguins worked on some 4-on-4 stuff this morning and headed off the ice after about an hour. The news of the day is that Zach Sill was skating in a regular practice jersey. He told a few fans on his way off the ice that he's hoping to return to the lineup this weekend.

The Penguins practice at Coal Street again tomorrow and Thursday so check back often for more updates on the team.

Be sure to follow our updates on Facebook, Twitter and now Instagram as well!

Penguins Roll Dice, Win in Shootout

Jayson Megna scored the lone goal in the 5th round of the shootout, and Brad Thiessen shut the door on Jacob Josefeson to preserve the shootout win today in Atlantic City.

The story of this game for the Penguins, besides their inability to score on the power play, was the play of the 4th line. Tom Kuhnhackl scored his first two goals as a pro and added an assist. His second goal tied the game at four in the third period. Brian Gibbons added a goal and two assists. Jayson Megna also added two helpers.

Brad Thiessen got the start in net against Keith Kinkaid. Dylan Reese and Alex Grant replaced Joe Morrow and Brian Strait on the blue line. Tom Kuhnhackl and Brian Gibbons were in for Keven Veilleux and Dominik Uher up front.

The Devils took a 1-0 lead about halfway through the period before two goals by the WBS 4th line of Jayson Megna, Brian Gibbons and Tom Kuhnhackl turned the tides for the Pens. Kuhnhackl tied the game with his first goal as a pro and set up Gibbons moments later to give the Pens a 2-1 lead.

After a Devils power play goal tied the game at 2, Trevor Smith scored as time expired in the first period to give the Pens a 3-2 lead heading into the dressing rooms. Reese and Benn Ferriero got the assists, as the Penguins moved the puck around in the waning moments on a delayed penalty call against the Devils.

Much like last night in Wilkes-Barre, the Pens were outplayed for the most part  in the middle frame. Adam Henrique tied the game at 3 for the Devils with his 5th goal of the season. 

Two Goal Third Period Lifts Pens

The Penguins came out tonight with a strong performance and beat what I think is one of the better teams the Pens will play this season in the Toronto Marlies.

All the scoring took place in the third period.  The Marlies got on the board first but a tying goal from Simon Despres under three minutes later gave you the sense that the Penguins were going to find a way to get two points tonight.

Beau Bennett was sent flying into the WBS team bench and drew a power play for the Penguins with 3:49 to play, and Riley Holzapfel buried a shot through a nice screen set by Paul Thompson half way through the power play to give the Pens the 2-1 lead.

A great hockey game in Wilkes-Barre tonight despite no scoring through the first 46:56. Good end to end action and a great job by both team's defensemen, being very active by joining the rush and playing well in their own zone to keep it a low scoring affair.

It was Jeff Zatkoff vs. Ben Scrivens in net tonight. Zatkoff stopped 31 of 32 shots he faced for the win. Scrivens played well, stopping 23 of 25. Joey Mormina took Dylan Reese's spot in the lineup on the blue line. Dominik Uher replaced Steve MacIntyre. 

Penguins bus down to Atlantic City tonight for tomorrow's game at Boardwalk Hall. I'll be heading down in the morning. Stay tuned for live coverage of WBS Penguins hockey right here and keep up with live in-game updates on our Twitter feed!

Pens Feast on Bears 11/21

The Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins came into the Giant Center and take care of the Hershey Bears tonight in route to a big 4-0 win. Jeff Zatkoff picks up his third shutout of the season.

The Penguins took control in the middle frame, scoring two power play goals in 61 seconds, and finished off the Bears in the third period with two more tallies.

It was Jeff Zatkoff vs. Braden Holtby in net tonight. Alex Grant was in for Brian Dumoulin. Jayson Megna was in for Tom Kuhnhackl.

A lot was talked about before the game about what a Connecticut writer said on an ahl talk radio show the night before. That an "anonymous source told him" John Hynes had placed a $200 bounty on Bears defensemen Steve Olesky. Hynes strongly denied the accusation when Pens beat writer Jonathan Bombulie talked to him on the matter.

Now to the game itself. After a scoreless first period which displayed good end to end action with not many stoppages in play, the Penguins cashed in on back-to-back power play chances in the second period.

First Beau Bennett's attempted pass to Trevor Smith banked in off a Bears defenseman and past Holtby 4:28 into the middle frame. Just 61 seconds later, Simon Despres wristed a point shot past Holtby to make it 2-0 Penguins.

The Penguins held the Bears to just one third period shot and doubled their lead. Benn Ferriero scored his first goal of the season with a shorthanded breakaway goal and Warren Peters tallied his second of the season late in the game to wrap up the scoring.

Things got heated later in the period. Steve MacIntyre took care of Matt Clackson in a spirited fight. MacIntyre was ejected. It appears the only bounty of the night was on Bobby Farnham's back as he was hit up high several times, drawing power plays for his team.

Tuesday Practice UPDATE 11/20

The Penguins practiced at Coal Street Rink today and for the first time in awhile (maybe the first time this season), every player on the active roster skated in at least some capacity.

After missing yesterday's practice, Brian Strait practiced in a regular jersey today. Initially he wasn't paired with his usual partner in crime on the blue line, Robert Bortuzzo, but by the end of the session he stepped in with the top units and looked ready to play.

I talked to head coach John Hynes about seeing everyone skating and he said it's a good thing to have everyone back. A subtle way of saying Strait is ready to return to the lineup?

With the exception of Zach Sill, who told fans as he was leaving the ice today that he will be back in "a few weeks", everyone is a go for tomorrow night's game against the Hershey Bears.

Same lines as yesterday's practice up front. Take special notice of that 4th line if indeed all three make the lineup tomorrow night.

Dupuis - Smith - Tangradi
Ferriero - Megna - Holzapfel
Thompson - Peters - Bennett
MacIntyre - Farnham - Veilleux
Gibbons - Uher - Kuhnhackl
Sill

Bortuzzo - Despres/Strait
Reese - Morrow
Dumoulin - Samuelsson
Mormina - Grant

Monday's WBS Practice UPDATE 11/19

The Penguins were back at it this morning at the Coal Street Rink in Wilkes-Barre. They rematch the Hershey Bears down at the Giant Center on Wednesday. Check back tomorrow for another update from practice.

Some news and notes from practice today:

• Zach Sill (hand) skated in practice today with the red, no-contact jersey. He has to get some practices in with full contact before you will see Sill back in the WBS lineup. I'd say its a week to week prognosis at this point.

• Jayson Megna skated in a regular practice jersey and appears ready to return to the lineup. I'll have an update on him after tomorrow's practice.

• Brian Strait did not practice today. I saw him walking around in the hallways and such towards the end of practice. I would say he's day-to-day. I'll ask Hynes for the latest on Strait tomorrow as well.

The Penguins had some new line combinations with the return of Megna:

Dupuis - Smith - Tangradi
Bennett - Peters - Thompson
Holzapfel - Megna - Ferriero
Farnham - Veilleux - MacIntyre
Gibbons - Uher - Sill

Despres - Bortuzzo
Reese - Morrow
Samuelsson - Dumoulin
Grant - Mormina

Zatkoff - Thiessen

Penguins Fall 4-1 to Bears

Garrett Mitchell scored twice for the Bears, one on a penalty shot and one that needed to be reviewed to count, and Hershey takes care of the Penguins by a final score of 4-1. Trevor Smith scored the lone WBS goal in the second period.

Despite the loss, the Penguins are 8-3 in their last 11 games after that 0-4 start. They won't have to wait long for the rematch either.

Brad Thiessen got the start in net for the Penguins against Braden Holtby and the Bears. Keven Veilleux and Philip Samuelsson replaced Steve MacIntyre and Brain Strait. Brian Gibbons was again the 13th forward and healthy scratch.

The Bears got on the board first when Beau Bennett's pass to the point was tipped and stolen by Garrett Mitchell. Mitchell came in on a shorthanded breakaway and was hauled down by Brian Dumoulin and granted a penalty shot. Mitchell beat Thiesseen with a backhand to forehand move to the glove side.

Things got heated early in the second period when Matt Clackson and Joe Morrow got tangled up along the Bears bench. Clackson immediately dropped his gloves and began throwing punches to a rather defenseless Morrow and that caught the attention of the Penguins bench. Just 35 seconds after that scrum, Bobby Farnham chased Jeff Taffe up and down the ice and made him drop his gloves.

The Penguins tied the game at one midway through the second period while on a power play. Eric Tangradi received a stretch pass and spread out the defense, finding Beau Bennett who sent a cross ice pass to Trevor Smith. Smith buried one past Hotlby at 8:10 to even things at one.

The Bears responded late in the middle frame, when Mitchell's backhander snuck in under the crossbar. The ref initially ruled no goal but it was overturned after the goal was reviewed. Mitchell's 2nd of the game gave the Bears a 2-1 lead.

The dagger in the side came in the final moments of the second period. With Morrow in the box for tripping, the Bears power play struck gold with .4 seconds left in the period. Tomas Kundratek tapped home a rebound and sent the Giant Center into a frenzy. The goal gave the Bears a two goal lead they would never look back on heading into the third period.

The Penguins had their chances in the final period but were unable to get anything past Holtby. Boyd Kane added an empty net goal with 30.3 left to seal the deal. But the excitement didn't end after the final seconds ticked off the clock at Giant Center.

A pair of fights broke out at the final horn featuring Bobby Farnham and Dominik Uher against Steve Olesky and Kevin Marhsall respectively, leaving some bad blood on the ice for the next time these two teams play. Oh yeah, they rematch at the Giant Center on Wednesday!

Tangradi 3 - Bridgeport 1

After going five games without a goal, Eric Tangradi provided all the offense the Pens would need tonight. He scored his 7^th, 8^th and 9^th goals of the season, all on the power play, as the Penguins closed out their five game homestand with a 3-1 win over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

All three of Tangradi's goals came from the same area: from a few feet out from the net. This is exactly what he needs to do. Be that power forward that is a force around the net. 

Tangradi's linemates Benn Ferriero and Trevor Smith added two assists each, while Brian Dumoulin and Beau Bennett also picked up assists tonight.

Jeff Zatkoff gave up a goal on the first shot he faced but went on to stop 19 of 20 shots. He's the clear number one goalie now, starting eight of the last nine games. It will be interesting to see who the Penguins put between the pipes tomorrow in Hershey.

Brian Gibbons was a healthy scratch for the second game in a row. Keven Veilleux did not play tonight. Bobby Farnham replaced him in the lineup. Brian Strait was back in after a one game absence. Philip Samuelsson was scratched to make room on the blue line.

Pens Down Falcons 2-1

The Penguins leaned on two 2nd period goals from Beau Bennett and survived a late Springfield attack in the third period in route to a 2-1 win tonight over the league's top team.

I was raving about the play of a newly formed 2nd line that featured Tom Kuhnhackl, Riley Holzapfel and Bennett in the first period. They were getting chances and looked to be on tonight. That rang true in the second period.

The first of Bennett's two goals was a beautiful tic-tac-toe passing play between the three aforementioned forwards. Bennett had an empty net to shoot at as Curtis McElhinney was way out of positon. Bennett fired it home and gave the Pens a 1-0 lead.

Later in the period, Kuhnhackl got a loose puck in the corner and fed Bennett in front with a great pass. Bennett's initial shot was stopped, but he found the rebound and netted his third goal of the season to give the Pens a 2-0 lead. Dylan Reese added an assist, while Holzpafel assisted on both goals.
 
Jeff Zatkoff was 103 seconds away from his 3rd shutout of the season before Tomas Kubalik ended it on a tip in goal from a point shot.

Bridgeport comes to town on Friday and the Pens travel to Hershey for a Saturday night match with the Bears. Highland Park Hockey is the place to be to keep you up to date with all the action this weekend!

Pens vs. Falcons: Battle of the Birds 11/14

The Penguins continue their homestand tonight against the red hot Springfield Falcons. The Penguins lost 4-2 to the Falcons up in Springfield back on October 19th and look to even the season series as fans welcome back former captain Ryan Craig as a member of the visiting team.

Projected Starters in Net

WBS Jeff Zatkoff (4-5-0, 2.01 GAA, .927 SV%, 2 SO)
SPR Curtis McElhinney (8-1-1, 1.29 GAA, .955 SV%, 4 SO)

Quick Stats

Last meeting: October 19th, 2012, Pens lost 4-2 in the second game of the season at the Mass Mutual Center in Springfield. I was invited to the Falcons press box for my first regular season AHL media credential!

Springfield Falcons, 11 games played, 8-1-0-2, 18 points, 1st Northest Division
WBS Penguins, 12 games played, 6-6-0-0, 12 points, 4th East Division

Leading Scorers
For WBS: Paul Thompson (6G,3A), Beau Bennett (1G,6A), Benn Ferriero (0G,7A), Eric Tangradi (6G,0A)
For SPR: Jonathan Audy-Marchessault (5G,8A), Cam Atkinson (4G,8A), Nick Drazenovic (6G,5A)

For the Falcons...
The Falcons are loaded up front with NHL talent at the forward position, along with talented young players such as JAM, Atkinson, Johansen and Calvert. They have rode the hot glove in Curtis McElhinney as he has got the start in net in all but one game this season.

For the Penguins...
Keven Veilleux should be making his long awaited season debut with the Pens tonight. After a nearly 14 month layoff from hockey, Veilleux has the potential to be a difference maker for this team. The big IF is obviously his ability to stay healthy the rest of this year.

Monday's WBS Practice UPDATE 11/12

The Penguins were back at it this morning at the Coal Street Rink in Wilkes-Barre.

Missing from practice was Zach Sill (hand). He's not expected back until next month.

Jayson Megna skated with the team today but in a red no-contact jersey. He left the ice about halfway through the Penguins practice session. His status for Wednesday night's game is questionable.

With Megna's lower body injury preventing him from fully participating in practice, nobody was re-assigned to Wheeling as of noon. Possible candidates including Tom Kuhnhackl, Dominik Uher and Bobby Farnham all practiced today.

Keven Veilleux practiced with the Penguins after a brief conditioning stint with the ECHL's Wheeling Nailers. He practiced in full and should be ready for Wednesday night to make his long anticipated season debut.

The Penguins practice again tomorrow before welcoming former captain Ryan Craig and the Springfield Falcons on Wednesday night. I'll be at practice again tomorrow for all the latest. Follow along on Twitter with the official feed of Highland Park Hockey. Over the 1,000 followers mark and 11 AHL teams now follow as well. Why aren't you? Let's shoot for 1,500 by the All-Star Break!

Pens Prevail in Shootout 11/10

After letting a 3-0 lead slip away, the Penguins managed to pick up two points in the shootout. Brad Thiessen picked up the win, getting his first start since October 26th. Thiessen was especially impressive in the opening period.

The Penguins got it going 13:08 into the first period. Riley Holzapfel scored his second goal in as many nights. Paul Thompson and Joe Morrow got the assists.

Just 1:23 later Trevor Smith scored his first of two goals on the night, after a streaking Beau Bennett found Smith open in front of the Pirates goal. Benn Ferriero assisted on the play also. Smith made it 3-0 with an unassisted tally with 2:36 left in the opening frame.

But the Pirates battled back, scoring two goals in the second period and tying the game 3:39 into the third. Nobody could find the deciding goal in regulation so it went to overtime.

Dylan Reese took a slashing minor as the final horn sounded so the Pens had to kill off a 4x3 power play to start the OT. Ferriero and Eric Tangradi scored in the shootout and Thiessen stopped all four Pirates shooters to preserve the win.

Penguins Fall 3-1 to Bears

After a scoreless first period, the Hershey Bears broke open the game in the middle frame. They capitalized on two power play goals, including one 5-on-3 powerplay, and held off a shooting gallery from the Penguins. Add an empty net goal with 1.1 left for the 3-1 final.

Riley Holzapfel broke Braden Holtby's shutout bid with 9:11 to play, but the Penguins were unable to find an equalizer.

Pens Prepare For Bears 11/9

The Penguins practiced today in preparation for their East Division showdown with the rival Hershey Bears.

Jayson Megna is out of the lineup for at least this weekend. We had mentioned Sunday in Bridgeport that he appeared to have tweaked something, though he finished the game. He practiced Tuesday at Coal Street but didn't take warmups on Wednesday. Megna didn't practice today either.

Dominik Uher was also missing from practice, which leads me to believe the front 12 will stay the same. On defense, Samuelsson replaced Morrow on Wednesday. Morrow missed Tuesday because of personal reasons but took the warmups Wednesday and was the late scratch on the blue line.

Expect the goaltending matchup to feature Jeff Zatkoff for the Penguins against the Bears' Braden Holtby. Zatkoff is 3-0 in November, posting a 0.98 GAA and a 0.971 SV% including two shutouts. Bears co-coach Mark French said Holtby is scheduled to start Friday. This according to Bears beat writer Tim Leone.

You have had Tangradi's five game goal scoring streak, Thompson's natural hat trick and Zatkoff's shutouts and it seems like most of the talk has been about  newcomer Bobby Farnham. Farnham impressed many with an in-your-face style of play and can be a spark plug. A true agitator/pest that I'm excited to see play against the Bears tomorrow.

Veilleux Nearing Return to AHL 11/8

Veilleux played in Wheeling (ECHL) last night. He is expected back in WBS by Sunday per head coach John Hynes.

I spoke with Wheeling Nailers beat writer Shawn Rine last night and asked for his insights on some familiar names for Penguins fans.

On Keven Veilleux and how he looked his first time playing in a hockey game that meant something since the 2010-11 Calder Cup Playoffs: 

"As expected, Veilleux man among boys. Showing great patience and vision. Would like to see him shoot it once in a while, though."

Injuries have plagued Veilleux's career thus far, but the 6-5, 225 pound forward can play in a lot of different roles and can play up and down the lineup. It's a big "if" but I believe a healthy Veilleux can be a difference maker for this team. 

Rine's take on defenseman Carl Sneep, who is losing a numbers game with all the healthy defensemen the Penguins currently have. I have no doubts that Sneep can play at the AHL.

"Sneep has been solid with a pair of primary helpers, the second one a beauty. He's the real deal back there."

I also asked about Adam Payerl. After watching him play in Western New York, through the preseason and even into the regular season, I really thought he was going to stick with the Penguins full-time. Payerl brought some grit and toughness, dropping the gloves with Hershey's Matt Clackson. He also scored a goal, was physical and hustled every shift he was on the ice.

"Payerl also what I expected. He's an energy guy that needs work on hands and finishing. But is extremely hard worker going to tough areas."

 

Kuhnhackl in the 8th - Pens Win

After 65 minutes of scoreless hockey, the Pens and Sens headed to a shootout. Who would've thought they needed three extra rounds to decide a winner. Tom Kuhnhackl scored in the 8th round and Zatkoff made a stop on Binghamton's 8th shooter to seal the 1-0 victory. Paul Thompson and Trevor Smith also scored in the shootout.

A goaltenders duel between Jeff Zatkoff and Robin Lehner. Both goalies are credited with a shutout, while Zatkoff picks up the win (his 4th of the season). That's Zatkoff's 2nd shutout of the season in just the Penguins' 10th game of the season. I think it's becoming more clear who has emerged as the #1 goalie for the time being.

Things got hectic in the third period. The newest Penguin, Bobby Farnham, took a few slashes from Lehner and decided to make contact with the Senators' goalie, causing a pretty big scrum behind Lehner's net. Farnham was cut and despite bleeding from his forehead, he still chirped everyone on the Binghamton bench on his way off the ice to get stitched up by Patrick Steidle. Farnham returned later in the third period and finished the game.

Really liked the energy the new guy brought tonight. Farnham skated on the WBS 4th line with Kuhnhackl and Steve MacIntyre. He took Jayson Megna's spot in the lineup. Megna didn't take the warmups and although he practiced with the team yesterday, I have a feeling he's not quite 100% from the ankle injury that held him out of the team's first eight games.

Penguins are back at it on home ice Friday as they welcome the Hershey Bears into town. 

Tuesday Practice UPDATE 11/6

After a two win weekend, the Penguins got back at it this morning at the Coal Street Rink.

Missing from practice today were Joe Morrow and Dominik Uher. Head coach John Hynes labeled their absence from practice as personal days. So they are not on their way to Wheeling, nor are they injured.

Zach Sill made an appearance on the ice today but only with a stick and gloves. Sill helped the coaches run drills at practice today.

The Penguins open up a five game homestand starting tomorrow when the Binghamton Senators come into town.

Lines I jotted down today at practice:

Tangradi - Smith - Ferriero
Dupuis - Holzapfel - Bennett
Gibbons - Peters - Thompson
Kuhnhackl - Megna - MacIntyre

Strait - Bortuzzo
Reese - Samuelsson
Dumoulin - Despres
Mormina - Grant

Zatkoff - Thiessen

Thompson Leads Pens to 5-3 Win

The Penguins came into Bridgeport this afternoon and took care of business, beating the Sound Tigers 5-3 and are now 4-1 in their last five games. Dylan Reese scored against his former team in the first period. Paul Thompson tallied a natural hat trick in the second. Brian Gibbons put the icing on the cake with a third period goal. Jeff Zatkoff stopped 37 shots for the win.

Dylan Reese returned to Bridgeport for the first time since playing with the Sound Tigers last season and gave his new team a 1-0 lead 4:58 into the game on a nice set up from Phillipe Dupuis. Brian Dumoulin continues to rack up the assists on the power play as he got the secondary assist.

The Sound Tigers tied it up midway through the first period before Paul Thompson broke open the game in the middle frame with a natural hat trick. 

Thompson's first goal was due in large part to his hustle. Brian Gibbons chipped a puck up ice and into the offensive zone where Thompson skated in and fired a shot to the top corner of Poulin's net. Brian Dumoulin set up Thompson for his second goal, while Robert Bortuzzo assisted on Thompson's third goal of the period. 

The Sound Tigers scored early in the third period to make it 4-2 but Brian Gibbons quickly made it a 5-2 game, using his speed and finishing off the play with a backhand goal.

Hats Off to Zatkoff, Pens Win 3-0

Jeff Zatkoff returned to Manchester in the visiting locker room with the Penguins tonight and stole the spotlight, stopping all 33 shots he faced in route to a 3-0 victory tonight for WBS. The Pens improve to 3-5 on the season and are now 3-1 in their last four. The Monarchs are handed just their second loss of the season.

Jeff Zatkoff got the start in net for the Penguins against his former team, the Manchester Monarchs. Zatkoff spent the past three seasons with the Monarchs before joining the Pens organization as a free agent this past offseason.

After a scoreless first period which saw both teams get chances, the Penguins took advantage on the power play in the middle frame.

Benn Ferriero's point shot was blocked but he got to the loose puck and fed Trevor Smith in the slot. Smith's shot was stopped by Monarchs goaltender Martin Jones but Eric Tangradi pounced on the rebound and made it a 1-0 lead for the Pens. That was Tangradi's 6th goal of the season and his 5th straight game with a goal. Smith and Ferriero got the assists 3:42 into the period.

Dylan Reese gave the Pens a 2-0 lead about five minutes later when his point shot beat Jones to the top shelf. Another power play goal for the Pens after a nice series of passes and good puck movement by the power play unit. Brian Dumoulin and Phillipe Dupuis got the assists.

The Monarchs came out and tried to get something going in the third period but Zatkoff shut the door and Paul Thompson added an empty netter to preserve the win.