#AHL Game Preview: Tomas Vokoun Returns To The Ice With #WBSPens

The WBS Penguins are in Syracuse tonight taking on the Crunch at 7:00 p.m. ET.

With five games left in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins regular season, the team is just four points from the franchise's 12th straight berth into the Calder Cup Playoffs. The Pens can clinch a playoff spot tonight with a win combined with regulation losses from both Hershey and Norfolk.

Tonight, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (WBS) take on the Syracuse Crunch (SYR) at The OnCenter for a 7:00 p.m. ET face-off. Follow all of tonight's action live on Twitter with in-game updates on @H_P_Hockey.

The Penguins (40-23-3-5) look to rebound from Sunday's 6-2 loss to Binghamton and possibly clinch a playoff spot tonight, while the Crunch (29-30-4-7) are looking to play spoiler against those who are still in the playoff race.

Check back shortly following the conclusion of the game for a recap of events right here on Highland Park Hockey: The Town & Country Gazette's source for daily AHL coverage!


By The Numbers

WBS: 40-23-3-5 = 88 points, Second Place East Division (5th - East)
Last Ten Games: 7-3-0-0

SYR: 29-30-4-7 = 69 points, Fifth Place East Division (12th - East)
Last Ten Games: 5-4-0-1

WBS Leading Scorers: Nick Drazenovic (13G-28A), Andrew Ebbett (12G-25A), Brendan Mikkelson (8G-29A)

SYR Leading Scorers: Brett Connolly (19G-31A), Jonathan Marchessault (19G-31A), Vladislav Namestnikov (18G-27A)

Expected Starting Goaltenders

WBS - Tomas Vokoun: No Stats (First game since blood clots discovered)
SYR- Cedric Desjardins: 7-17-2, 2.79 GAA, .902 SV%, 2 SO

Again, for all the latest WBS Penguins news, updates, stats, scores and more be sure you're following Highland Park Hockey on Twitter at @H_P_Hockey.  

WBS Roster Notes

Tomas Vokoun has been re-assigned to the AHL Penguins and makes his WBS debut tonight against Syracuse in his return to the ice after blood clots were discovered.

Before the game, the Penguins announced the recall of forward Harry Zolnierczyk.

Bryan Rust will make his pro debut tonight, wearing John Curry's #36.

Forwards Andrew Ebbett and Adam Payerl were also re-assigned from Pittsburgh. For Payerl, it was his first two NHL games in his career.

Tom Kostopoulos is expected to be the team's veteran scratch. It will be the team-captain's first stint as the vet scratch.

Zach Sill has begun practicing in a regular jersey as opposed to a red no-contact jersey for injured players skating with the team at practice. Take that as a sign that Sill is still on schedule to return the final weekend of the season to get some games before the postseason.

Jeff Deslauriers is day-to-day with a lower body injury.

Penguins forward prospect Jean-Sebastien Dea has announced he's joining the AHL Penguins on what I expect will be announced as an ATO shortly.

Expected Lines

Zlobin-Ebbett-Kobasew
Machacek-Drazenovic-Payerl
Uher-Rowney-Rust
Farnham-Carman-Leblond

McNeill-Goers
Harrington-Mikkelson
Dumoulin-Ruopp

WBS Scratches: Philip Samuelsson (lower body), Zach Sill (upper body), Nick D'Agostino (healthy), Tom Kostopoulos (veteran), Conor Sheary (ATO), Matia Marcantuoni (ATO), Josh Archibald (ATO), Scott Wilson (ATO).