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Blog Details
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Back / Forward |
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In Decent Shape With 9 To Go
 by rjw8625 » Sat Jan 12, 2008 4:11 pm
Currently playing EHM
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This sim saw us qualify for the playoffs and prepare our team for the stretch run. Goaltending issues may or may not have been addressed, but more on that later. We went 6-3 this time around, largely beating the teams we were supposed to beat along with an unlikely upset of Bridgeport using our 3rd string goaltender.
March 10th vs. Bridgeport
Losing 4-3 to Bridgeport on the road isn't so bad when you've set up what I call a "cap gun" game. The meaning is that many veteran regulars have depleted energy playing back to back nights, so I give them a rest and go into the 2nd game with much less firepower. Bridgeport certainly took advantage of this and outhustled us. Jonathan Filewich (21), Libor Pivko (17), and Peter Metcalf (1) scored goals for the visitors. Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers (21-12-4) stopped 30 of 34 shots. The Sound Tigers outshot the Penguins 34-22 and converted 3 of 8 powerplays against us. We were 1 for 5 on the powerplay ourselves.
On March 11th, our most recent 2 year contract offer to Joey MacDonald was rejected ending all hope of acquiring this dominant goaltender permanently.
March 14th vs. Grand Rapids
Poor goaltending returned to plague the Pens in this matchup with the Western Conference Griffins. Drouin-Deslauriers (21-13-4) was yanked after allowing 5 goals on just 13 shots. Rejean Beauchemin replaced him and stopped all 12 shots he faced. The Penguins could only muster 3 goals in defeat for the second straight game. Scoring were Micki DuPont (10), Jeff Campbell (21), and Daniel Carcillo (29). The Penguins outshot Grand Rapids 30-25 and converted 3 of 9 powerplays. We were 4 for 5 on the penalty kill.
We received excellent news on the defensive front as Bryce Lampman was cleared to practice and play after the game. Peter Metcalf's tryout contract was terminated.
March 11th vs. Philadelphia
Lampman (5) didn't waste any time making himself a force on the blue line in a 6-3 win over Philadelphia. His goal paired with 3 assists made him the leading scorer in the game. Beachemin (3-1-0) picked up the win by stopping 17 of 20 shots. Also scoring for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton were Cam Paddock (6), Mitch Maunu (10), Stephen Dixon (6), Campbell (22), and Rob Hisey (7). The Penguins outshot the Phantoms 48-20 and converted 1 of 13 powerplays. We were 2 for 2 on the penalty kill.
#38 - Bryce Lampman
March 17th vs. Worcester
The good feeling cultivated in the Philadelphia game did not carry over as the Penguin offense was largely shutdown in 4-2 loss to the Sharks. A pretty defensive game in general, poor goaltending and the penalty kill unit did us in once again. Drouin-Desluariers (21-14-4) stopped only 23 of 27. Phil Hartman (11) and Petr Freiberg (19) represented the only offense for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The Sharks outshot the Pens 27-18 and converted 3 of 11 powerplays. We were 0 for 3 on powerplays of our own.
March 18th vs. Binghamton
Despite winning this one, almost blowing a 3-1, 4-2, and 5-3 leads provided the catalyst for a change. Beauchemin (4-1-0) got the win despite allowing 4 goals on 31 shots. Goals by largely 3rd and 4th liners Ryan Stone (9), Tyler Kennedy (7), Hisey (8), Paddock (7), and Filewich (22) made this one a win for the working class hockey player. The Penguins outshot the Senators by the narrowest of margins 32-31 and converted 0 of 2 powerplays. We were an atrocious 5 for 8 on the penalty kill.
After the game we took the advice of a friend who plays EHM with the AHL and looked up goaltender Chris Madden. We found him playing for Huntsville in the SPHL where we unearthed a bug in the game. All starting goaltenders and star forwards in the SPHL have incredible statistics. Seemingly contradictory, make sure you scout any SPHL players and pay close attention to their ratings before employing them. Madden was offered our standard 2 week tryout contract.
#30 - Chris Madden
March 23rd vs. Albany
Madden's debut with our club was not without its shaky moments, namely him allowing the first shot he faced to go in just 1:07 into the game. We were able to match that goal with Paddock's 8th and the next Albany goal with Filewich's 23rd. With 8:56 to go, Marty Murray (19) put the Penguins on top for the first time. Unfortunately for Madden and Pens, Albany was able to tie the game with 3:16 left. Regulaton and overtime ended with the score tied at three and Madden having made 20 saves. He would allow less goals in the shootout as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton was able to pick up a point on their likely first round playoff opponents. The Penguins outshot Albany 38-27 and converted 1 of 4 powerplays. We were 7 for 7 on the penalty kill.
This win against Albany made it official, the 2007-2008 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins were playoff bound. Now to tune up the squad for a potential run through the Eastern Conference.
March 24th vs. Bridgeport
The first test would be a "cap gun" game against the first place team in the division with Rejean Beauchemin (5-1-0) in net, guaranteed loss, right? Instead what happened was some unlikely contributors digging an early hole for the visiting Sound Tigers. Les Haggett (16) got the Pens on the board five minutes and fifty-five seconds in. Murray (20) followed that up just 9 seconds later. After an early second period goal by Bridgeport, Gerry Burke (3) and Campbell (23) extended the lead. Taking the foot off the gas with puck pressure and tempo reductions proved to be the wrong move as Bridgeport battled back to a 4-3 deficit. Carcillo's 30th goal of the year would prove to be the play of the game however as he crashed the net on a sloppy exchange behind the Bridgeport goaltender and slammed home a shorthanded goal. This goal proved to be critical as Justin Mapletoft would score for the Sound Tigers just 44 seconds later. Beauchemin's 26 saves would hold up over the final 10 minutes of the game and 6,838 went home happy. The Penguins outshot Bridgeort 39-30 and converted 2 of 9 powerplays. We were 5 for 7 on the penalty kill.
March 25th vs. Binghamton
For the second straight time, Madden (2-0-0) would allow the first shot he saw go in, but win the game. He only stopped 16 of 19, but the Penguin offense was too much for a defensively poor Binghamton team. Defensemen and the 4th line would account for 5 of our 6 goals as Hartman (12), Hisey (9), Jassen Cullimore (5), Kennedy (8), Kris Letang (2), and Campbell (24) scored for the good guys. The Penguins outshot Binghamton 49-19, but converted 0 of 9 powerplays. We were 2 for 3 on the penalty kill.
After the game it was announced that the Hershey Bears had clinched the final open Eastern Division playoff spot.
March 28th vs. Norfolk
This time Madden (3-0-0) wouldn't allow the first shot he faced to beat him. In fact, he'd only allow 2 of 20 to do so and the Penguins rolled in Norfolk 4-2. Powerplay goals by Carcillo (31) and Haggett (17) were the highlight of the evening. Murray (21) and Andrei Nikolishin (12), a stranger to the score sheet lately, also flexed their scoring muscles. The Penguins outshot Norfolk 30-20 and converted 2 of 11 powerplays. We were 5 for 5 on the penalty kill.
Something I haven't written about yet but bears mentioning is that with increased offense and the fact that my leading point scorer is under an AHL contract, I am beginning to feel a financial squeeze due to bonuses. Case in point, Jeff Campbell. He has collected an additional $18,000 for scoring over 20 goals, 35 assists, 60 points, and 5 powerplay goals making his effective contract $72,000. He can still earn $1,800 for 5 shorthanded goals. He currently has 0 however.
#55 - Jeff Campbell
The remaining schedule could not look more favorable for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Of the 9 games remaining, only one (Hershey) is against a team with a winning record. We play Toronto (who is mismanaging their team due to veteran constraints) twice, Binghamton twice, and Philadelphia three times in addition to a visit from the last place (but dangerous w their goalie) Manchester Monarchs. A decision on whether to sign Chris Madden will be made after his appearance against Hershey on the 1st.
LEAGUE REPORT (03/30/2008):
Now at the 71 games played mark, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at 40-24-7 is tied for second place with Albany (40-23-7) who has played one fewer game. Fading first place Bridgeport (52-18-2) still leads us both by 19 points. Hershey (39-27-6) rounds out the four eastern playoff teams 3 points out of a three way tie for 2nd.
Other Division Leaders:
Atlantic - Springfield (39-24-6) 84 Points
North - Rochester (63-7-3) 129 Points
West - Chicago (48-14-8) 104 Points
TEAM LEADERS (Active):
Goals: Daniel Carcillo - 31
Assists: Jeff Campbell - 43
Points: Jeff Campbell - 67
+/-: Jeff Campbell - +20
PIM: Daniel Carcillo - 214
Shots: Daniel Carcillo - 205
Shot Pct: Libor Pivko - 25.8%
Rating (skater): Jassen Cullimore - 8.46
Daniel Carcillo is tied for 21st in the AHL in goals.
Jeff Campbell is 20th in the AHL in assists.
Jassen Cullimore is 30th in the AHL in average rating with an 8.18 amassed in both Norfolk and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
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Deficiencies Adequately Characterized
by rjw8625 » Fri Jan 11, 2008 1:30 am
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This 9 game sim told me a lot about the team but also a lot about the main competition in the upcoming playoffs. The bulk of it took place during the main trade season in the NHL and the balance of power in the East division shifted in a few significant directions. Game descriptions may be a little vanilla this time around. I am working on getting a finalized roster and playing Bridgeport as I write. Also, at the end of the season, expect a "Where are they now?" post covering the 2007-2008 season of each 2006-2007 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguin.
February 23rd vs. Norfolk
Another game with Norfolk is always an encouraging way to open a sim session. This one would prove to be no different as a Daniel Carcillo (21,22,23) hat trick powered the Penguins to a 4-2 victory. Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers (18-10-4) made 24 saves in 26 chances. Petr Freiberg scored his 15th goal of the year. The Penguins outshot Norfolk 39-26 and converted 3 of 10 powerplays. We were 4 for 5 on the penalty kill.
#13 - Daniel Carcillo
After the game it was reported that the Boston Bruins rejected the Stanislav Neckar/Chara, but the Buffalo Sabres stepped up and acquired the solid veteran blueliner for a 2nd Round Draft Pick. Neckar will report to the Rochester Americans where he will bolster what is already the league's best team by a wide margin. Gio Flamminio was recalled from Wheeling to take his place on the roster.
February 24th vs. Norfolk
Funny thing happened to Norfolk overnight. For this game, they dressed three defensemen making their debut along with goaltender Tyler Weiman, previously of Albany. One of the new defensemen, Justin Van Ballegooie, was a member of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for 2 preseason games before being released by Edmonton. A tense battle ensued that saw new tryout goaltender Joey MacDonald (0-1-0) make 36 saves for naught in a frustrating 1-0 loss. The Penguins were outshot by Norfolk 37-21 and converted 0 of 5 powerplays. On a positive note, we were 10 for 10 on the penalty kill.
February 25th vs. Binghamton
As luck would have it, we'd catch Binghamton in pretty dire straits as goaltender Jeff Glass allowed 7 goals before exiting in a 8-4 whitewash. This game would be all positive except for the atrocious play of our seemingly improving penalty kill that allowed Binghamton to turn a 5-1 laugher into a tense 5-4 affair for five and a half minutes. Drouin-Deslauriers (19-10-4) made 24 saves in 26 chances to pick up the win. Goal scorers included: Jonathan Filewich (17), Ryan Stone (8), Mitch Maunu (9), Libor Pivko (14), Phil Hartman (9), Marty Murray (15), and Rob Hisey (5,6). The Penguins outshot Binghamton 46-25 and converted 3 of 8 powerplays. We were a dismal 1 for 4 on the penalty kill.
February 28th vs. Norfolk
Acknowledging that Norfolk had suddenly become no longer the meat and potatoes of our soft schedule, we sent the statistically superior MacDonald (0-2-0) back out to mind the net. This one would prove to be a lesson in frustration for another reason, MacDonald only stopped 15 of 19. Goals by Jeff Campbell (18), Hartman (10), and Murray (16) were wasted as we were unable to overcome a late 4-2 deficit. The Penguins outshot Norfolk 36-19 and converted 2 of 14 powerplays. We were 1 for 2 on the penalty kill.
March 2nd vs. Hershey
This one was a tie until early in the 3rd when Hershey stopped holding back and blew the doors off Drouin-Deslauriers (19-11-4) who finished with only 22 saves in the 5-2 loss. Goals were scored by Carcillo (24) and Pivko (15). The Penguins outshot Hershey 40-27 and converted a putrid 0 of 11 powerplays. We were 6 for 8 on the penalty kill, again subpar.
After the game Paul Bissonnette was recalled from Wheeling and tryout offers were extended to two defensemen scouted as part of a strategy to bolster my goaltending through better checking and defense. The two defensemen were Peter Metcalf on the free agent list and Tim Songin of the Laredo Bucks of the CHL.
March 3rd vs. Binghamton
A reversal of fortune began with this game in Binghamton won 5-1. MacDonald (1-2-0) got his first Penguin victory and the penalty kill regained its form. Five different Penguins scored goals, Stephen Dixon (5), Pivko (16), Freiberg (16), Carcillo (25), and Talbot. Mac faced 23 shots with only one blemish. The Penguins outshot Binghamton 37-23 and converted 2 of 8 powerplays. We were 8 for 8 on the penalty kill, a huge improvement.
After the game Gio Flamminio was returned to Wheeling.
March 4th vs. Philadelphia
What could have been described as an utter disaster was saved by having Joey MacDonald on the roster. After Drouin-Deslauriers gave up the WORST GOAL EVER (click for screenshot, Methot is about to take that rebound and shoot) and two others in less than 4 minutes, turning a comfortable 5-2 lead into a nightmarish tie, Mac made 4 saves in regulation and OT and then captained our first shootout win of the season. Campbell (19,20), Carcillo (26), Jassen Cullimore (4), and Cam Paddock (5) scored the regulation goals for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The Penguins outshot Philadelphia 42-29 and converted 1 of 7 powerplays. We were 5 for 7 on the penalty kill.
Noting that this would be MacDonald's last game on the tryout contract, he was offered a $74K salary and $14K signing bonus to stay. He snubbed that offer as he's looking for a deal w total money in the $200K range. We countered with a $65.5K for 2 years deal with $14K bonus. Also Songin and Metcalf reported for their 2 week tryout. They will wear numbers 43 and 44 respectively.
March 7th vs. Hershey
This encounter with the mighty Grizzly was aided by the goaltending selection of Jason McConnell over Cassivi. Penguin sharpshooters blistered him for 5 goals while Drouin-Deslauriers notched an improbable shutout, his 5th of year on 23 shots. The first star of the game was Filewich (18,19,20) and deservedly so. His hat trick coupled with goals by Tyler Kennedy (4), and Carcillo (27) would be way too much for Hershey to handle on a night their offense disappeared. The Penguins outshot Hershey 43-23 and converted 2 of 9 powerplays. We were 5 for 5 on the penalty kill.
#17 - Jonathan Filewich
March 9th vs. Bridgeport
A quick glance at the Bridgeport schedule revealed that the formidable Sound Tigers had lost 5 of their previous 6 games, all to mediocre Atlantic Division opponents. It appeared the promotions of Mackie and Sekera were having an adverse effect on the club. Backup goalie Jiri Petr would start this one but not finish it on a wild night that saw 9 powerplay goals scored. The Penguins fell behind early 3-0 after one period before Murray's 17th and Kennedy's 5th got them back in the game. Bridgeport would extend their lead to 4-2 midway through the 2nd and 5-2 early in the 3rd. At this point Drouin-Deslauriers was pulled after stopping just 15 of the 20 shots he faced. Enter Rejean Beauchemin (2-1-0). Beauchemin would stop all 5 shots he faced while his Bridgeport counterparts began to stop nothing. Les Haggett (15), who amassed six points, a team record, in the ensuing onslaught scored on the powerplay to reduce the deficit. From there Bridgeport took penalty after penalty and we converted chance after chance. Murray (18) scored on a feed from Haggett. Freiberg (17,18) scored consecutively to tie it and take the lead. Carcillo (28) added insurance late and Kennedy added his 6th just 12 seconds later. When it was over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton escaped with an 8-5 win, the highest scoring game in sim history. The Penguins outshot Bridgeport 35-25 and converted an astonishing 6 of 11 powerplays. We were a miserable 5 for 8 on the penalty kill.
#28 - Les Haggett
If we are unable to sign MacDonald or any other suitable goaltender, we may have to ride it out with Drouin-Deslauriers and Beauchemin. If that's the case we will do everything in our power to bolster the defense corps. One thing that may help is the return of Bryce Lampman from injury as he's been day-to-day for some time now. Something that is puzzling is the poor play of Paul Bissonnette this year who was a standout on last year's team.
Scanning the league's Last 10 Games ratings, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is a more than respectable 3rd at 7-3-0 behind Rochester at 9-1-0 (who else?) and suprising Albany at 9-0-1. Other divisional playoff teams Bridgeport and Hershey were an encouraging 4-6-0 and 3-6-1 respectively.
LEAGUE REPORT (03/10/2008):
Now at the 62 games played mark, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at 34-21-7 is alone in second place just ahead of two challengers. Fading first place Bridgeport (49-16-1) still leads us by 24 points. Third place Albany (34-20-6) has played two fewer games and trails us by 1. Also fading Hershey (31-25-6) rounds out the four eastern playoff teams 6 points behind Albany.
Other Division Leaders:
Atlantic - Springfield (36-22-5) 77 Points
North - Rochester (56-6-1) 113 Points
West - Chicago (40-12-7) 87 Points
TEAM LEADERS (Active):
Goals: Daniel Carcillo - 28
Assists: Jeff Campbell - 36
Points: Jeff Campbell - 56
+/-: Jeff Campbell - +20
PIM: Daniel Carcillo - 161
Shots: Jeff Campbell - 186
Shot Pct: Libor Pivko - 26.2%
Rating (skater): Jassen Cullimore - 8.50
Daniel Carcillo is 29th in the AHL in goals.
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Assessing a Course of Action
by rjw8625 » Tue Jan 08, 2008 3:43 am
Currently watching CSI
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This sim was longer than any previous ones, 11 games, as I try to size up my squad, the rest of the league, player options, and my tactical changes. Since changing to man-to-man defensive tactics, the Penguins are 11-4-1, a marked improvement, though losses are still virtually guaranteed to upper-echelon opponents.
January 24th vs. Albany
Another trip to Albany was fruitful for the Penguins as they came away with their 5th shutout of the season. Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers (13-8-3) stopped 21 shots and Marty Murray (12), Daniel Carcillo (17), and Ryan Stone (6) scorched the twine.
On the 25th Rejean Beauchemin was signed by Pittsburgh and assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton after being recently released by the Minnesota Wild organization. Since he was listed as not in game shape, it was decided Miguel Beaudry would stick around for two more games and split the weekend goaltending duties with Drouin-Deslauriers.
#35 - Rejean Beauchemin
January 26th vs. Manchester
Our first meeting of the year with Manchester did not go as well as planned. Drouin-Deslauriers (13-9-3) was victimized for four goals on the same 21 shots and over 50 minutes of gametime went by before the Pens could solve Manchester's Jason LaBarbera. Les Haggett's 12th of the year was the only occasion for celebration as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton was 0 for 7 on the powerplay.
January 27th vs. Syracuse
The recurrence of goaltending woes continued to manifest itself in this disaster of a game. Despite getting goals from Murray (13), Stephen Dixon (3), Micki DuPont (7), and Petr Freiberg (12), the Penguins were beat down despite outshooting Syracuse 39-24. Beaudry (2-4-0) was crunched (no pun intended) to the tune of 7 goals on those 24 shots and immediately sent to Wheeling afterward.
As if to add insult to injury, or possibly injury to insult, defenseman Kris Letang was injured the following day in practice. On the 1st of September, Jassen Cullimore represented Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (really Norfolk I'd imagine) in the AHL All-Star Game in Grand Rapids. PlanetUSA wailed on the Canadian stars 8-2 during the game with Rochester's Drew Stafford scoring four goals.
February 2nd vs. Philadelphia
Despite playing an inferior opponent, the Penguins were forced to come from behind in each of the first two periods before blowing a one-goal lead in the 3rd. A change in powerplay tactics to a 'funnel' system made the difference as Jeff Campbell (13) broke a 3-3 tie with a minute forty-three to go. Haggett (13) piled on with an empty netter 6 seconds later to seal it. Drouin-Deslauriers (14-9-3) made 23 saves and Cullimore scored his first two Wilkes-Barre/Scranton goals in the victory. Maxime Talbot added his 8th for the visitors to tie it at 2.
February 4th vs. Lowell
Returning home to the cheers of 6,875, the Penguins did not disappoint. Seven different skaters scored goals on an insane 61 shots on goal during the 7-4 triumph. Drouin-Deslauriers (15-9-3) was credited with the win despite turning in one of his poorer efforts, only 16 saves. The list of scorers in no particular order (chronological): Jonathan Filewich (16), Campbell (14), Dixon (4), Freiberg (13), Andrei Nikolishin (10), Cullimore (3), and Phil Hartman (8).
February 7th vs. Syracuse
A second straight home game was not much of a boost as Drouin-Deslauriers (15-10-3) laid another egg, allowing four first period goals. On the edge of being pulled, he shaped up and didn't allow another one. It wouldn't matter as the Penguins wouldn't score a goal despite throwing 32 shots on net. It was the second time on the season that Wilkes-Barre/Scranton suffered the ignominy of a shutout.
On the 8th, the Penguins shopped Talbot to Chicago, offering the center along with two draft picks for highly sought after defenseman Jason Smith. On the 9th the deal was rejected by Chicago.
February 10th vs. Norfolk
Beauchemin (1-0-0) finally saw his first action against last-place Norfolk despite still not being in game shape. Allowing a shorthanded goal 11:11 in didn't do much to gain favor with the organization, but he was able to shake off the early jitters and turn a respectable 22 save effort in a 6-2 victory. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton trailed 2-1 after 1, but owned the 2nd and early 3rd periods at Scope Arena. Haggett's 14th tied it at one 19 seconds after Norfolk took the lead. Mitch Maunu (7) scored the game tying goal and Carcillo (18) the game winner. Nikolishin (11), Stone (7), and DuPont (8) added the insurance.
February 11th vs. Albany
Six times this season Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has clawed their way to 65 minute ties. Six times they have been embarrased in the ensuing shootout. Count this one among the embarrassments. Drouin-Deslauriers (15-10-4) played an excellent game in regulation, stopping 27 of 28 shots and keeping the Penguins in the game with many huge saves late. 4th liner Rob Hisey (4) was the unlikely source of our only offense as he teamed with the rest of the 4th line youngsters on the game tying goal with 5:09 seconds left in the 2nd period.
After the game the notable news that the Rochester Americans had already qualified for the playoffs by virtue of their 25th straight victory came to my GM mailbox.
February 16th vs. Norfolk
An ominous tone was set early in this one as Drouin-Deslauriers (16-10-4) allowed a goal a preposterous nine seconds into the game. He wouldn't allow another one in the final 59 minutes and 51 seconds. 17 saves and 3 Penguin goals later Wilkes-Barre/Scranton was victorious. DuPont (9) was able to equalize the score on the powerplay before the end of the first period. Carcillo (19) gave the Penguins a lead they'd never relinquish late in the second before a Campbell (14) powerplay marker early in the third effectively put the game out of reach.
February 17th vs. Bridgeport
Resting many regulars including Murray, Nikolishin, and Cullimore backfired in this one against first place Bridgeport. Beauchemin (1-1-0) was victimized for 5 goals on only 10 shots before he was lifted for Drouin-Deslauriers who stopped 8 of 9. Carcillo became the first Penguin to score 20 goals and Stanislav Neckar's 2nd goal of the year represented the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton scoring.
After this debacle it was decided that we'd try to find to a quality AHL goaltender and offer a two-week tryout contract for the time being. We settled on Joey MacDonald. MacDonald, in real life, is a goaltender for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and has NHL experience with the Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins.
#31 - Joey MacDonald
February 21st vs. Springfield
Playing a first place club is always a good measure of your squad. Springfield is not much of a first place team however. Repaying the Falcons for a 5-3 defeat on October 29th, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton put together a 5-3 victory of their own. Drouin-Deslauriers improved to 17-10-4 on the year making 18 saves in the process. Freiberg (14) and Campbell (15) staked the Pens to a 2-0 lead. Springfield answered with two of their own before Campbell (16) responded with his second powerplay goal of the game with just 20 seconds left in the 2nd. Springfield would answer this as well, but Murray (14) would convert a Freiberg pass into a game winner with Maunu (8) adding an empty netter late.
After the game it was announced that Bridgeport had become the 2nd team to clinch a berth in the Calder Cup playoffs. On the 23rd, three different trade scenarios involving veteran defenseman Stanislav Neckar were floated on the wire. Neckar and 3 draft picks would go to Chicago for Jason Smith. Neckar would be sent to the Sabres for only a 2nd Round selection. Finally, Neckar and 2 picks could be headed to Boston for imposing defenseman Zdeno Chara.
As we enter a stretch of 3 games in 3 nights, MacDonald will certainly make his Wilkes-Barre/Scranton debut. Looking around the league, its interesting that Bridgeport's Peter Mackie, 2nd in the league in points with 84 and #1 with a 9.16 average rating, is up with the Islanders. Certainly a plus to the rest of the East division.
LEAGUE REPORT (02/23/2008):
Now at the 53 games played mark, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at 28-18-1 is in a dogfight as far as Eastern division playoff seeding goes. We have basically given up on catching first place Bridgeport (47-10-1) who leads us by a whopping 32 points. Second place Hershey (30-20-6) has played 3 more games to build their 3 point lead on the Pens and Albany (29-20-6), who leads us by 1 point, has played two more contests.
Other Division Leaders:
Atlantic - Springfield (32-20-5) 69 Points
North - Rochester (50-6-1) 101 Points
West - Chicago (38-11-5) 81 Points
TEAM LEADERS (Active):
Goals: Daniel Carcillo - 20
Assists: Jeff Campbell - 28
Points: Jeff Campbell - 45
+/-: Jeff Campbell - +16
PIM: Daniel Carcillo - 140
Shots: Jeff Campbell - 158
Shot Pct: Libor Pivko - 26.0%
Rating (skater): Jassen Cullimore - 8.27
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The Answer?
by rjw8625 » Sat Jan 05, 2008 4:34 am
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This may be the sim that I point to where I finally settled on a system that works best for this group of players and they were able to turn the corner. Some minor tactical changes including the lowering of shot frequency to improve quality of scoring chances and shifting to a 'diamond' power play may have contributed, but I feel the major difference was switching from zonal to man defensive coverage to reduce the number of quality scoring chances for the opponent on our inexperienced goalies.
January 5th vs. Grand Rapids
What looked like a game the Penguins would coast to victory in devolved late into an all-out scramble. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton carried a 4-1 lead into the last five minutes of the game. Grand Rapids trimmed that lead to only a one-goal advantage by the time the clock read 3:19. Ryan Stone's (5) empty netter looked like it would seal the deal, yet the Griffins scored again just 18 seconds later. Daniel Carcillo's (12) empty netter did in fact slam the door with 36 seconds left. Andy Franck (7-2-3) played well early, but finished with 27 saves on 31 shots. Jonathan Filewich (11,12), Mitch Maunu (6), and Andrei Nikolishin (7) scored the early goals for the Penguins.
January 6th vs. Hershey
The last game before the major fundamental shifts. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton let a two goal lead turn into a two goal deficit before rallying in the 3rd to force overtime. Facing a 4 on 3 penalty kill, Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers (8-8-3) let in the game winner, the 5th goal scored against him on the night (31 shots). Libor Pivko (11) and Jeff Campbell (11) scored the early goals for the Penguins while Kris Letang (1) and Carcillo (13) scored the late ones. The loss came despite a 38-31 edge in shots. Special teams were a big factor. Hershey converted 3 of 9 powerplays while Wilkes-Barre/Scranton converted none of its 3 chances.
On the 8th, depth players Tyler Kennedy and Gio Flamminio were sent to Wheeling. Recalled to take their place were highly rated defenseman Paul Bissonnette and rookie right wing Sean O'Connor. On the 11th a potential trade came down the pipe involving parent Edmonton and the Rangers. The deal would have sent Stanislav Neckar to New York for Marek Malik. It was rejected on the 12th.
#2 - Paul Bissonnette
January 12th vs. Binghamton
The first contest in which shot selection was emphasized on both ends of the ice was a smashing success. Franck (8-2-3) stopped 18 of 19 in a 5-1 Penguin victory over Binghamton. The power play was still inefficient, going 0 for 9, but 36 shots lit up the Senator goalie on the night. The shutout was lost with 5:42 to play, but Marty Murray (8,9) answered that goal just 17 seconds later to restore the four goal lead built on the backs of Micki DuPont (6), Nikolishin (8), and Neckar (1).
January 13th vs. Hartford
The next day, it was Drouin-Deslauriers' (9-8-3) chance to turn in a good performance against a Hartford team poised to make the playoffs. He didn' disappoint, stopping 23 of 25 in a 3-2 Penguin win. All goals in this one were scored in the first two periods, so the pressure was squarely on the goaltenders for the final twenty minutes. Les Haggett (11) got things started for the home team. Pivko's 12th of the year broke a 1-1 tie and Carcillo 14th, and 3rd in 4 games, broke the 2-2 deadlock.
January 15th vs. Toronto
Positives and negatives came from this spirited 5-3 Penguin victory at Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto. The positives involved the Pens winning another close game late with a tie-breaking goal. The negatives involved Franck tearing his MCL and being lost for 8 months on the first shot he faced in the contest. Drouin-Desluariers (10-8-3) filled in admirably, saving 18 out of 21 Marlie-propelled missiles, but the big story after this one was the loss of Pittsburgh's emerging young goaltender. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton scored a powerplay goal in their 3rd straight contest as Murray's (10) game winner with 5:35 to go was of that variety. Pivko (13) added an empty-netter with :24 left to go along with regulation even-strength goals by Filewich (13), O'Connor (1), and Campbell (12).
After the game, Franck joined Bryce Lampman on injured reserve. Speaking of Lampman, a replacement landed on our doorstep in the person of one Jassen Cullimore. The veteran Cullimore came to the Pittsburgh organization via trade with Chicago. 4th and 5th Round Draft Picks were sent in the other direction. Cullimore had inexplicably playing in Norfolk (the Blackhawks could use his help!), and had amassed an average rating of 8.00 despite being -18 in plus/minus. This tells me he's playing in front of some lousy goaltending on a lousy team. Jassen is a welcome addition to our youthful defense corps without Lampman.
#15 - Jassen Cullimore
January 17th vs. Hershey
A likely playoff preview played out in front of 7,120 pairs of eyes at the Wachovia Arena Thursday night. Penguins partisans watched their boys skate out to a 3-1 lead less than halfway through the game and then watched them hang on for dear life as Hershey made it a game with a goal when only 1:07 remained in the contest. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton powerplay once again was inert and the penalty kill mediocre, but early goals from Filewich (14), Carcillo (15), and Nikolishin (9) stood up in the victory. Drouin-Deslauriers (11-8-3) made 21 saves as he recorded his 3rd straight victory.
January 20th vs. Toronto
The finale of a largely positive sim was a departure from other game storylines. This time, the Penguins overcame a deficit after one period to win 3-2. Murray's 11th tied the game just 4 minutes and 16 seconds into the 2nd period. Coach Mullen and the boys would have to wait a lot longer than that for the game-winner, but Carcillo (16) eventually obliged, scoring his 5th goal in his last 7 games. The first Penguin goal was a powerplay marker early in the first period by Filewich (14) who also showed some life this sim. Drouin-Deslauriers (12-8-3) won his fourth in a row by standing up to 23 shots and allowing only two goals.
After the game Tyler Kennedy was recalled from Wheeling as he'd scored 6 goals and assisted on 5 others in just 6 games of ECHL action. O'Connor, who had scored only 1 goal during his 5 game AHL stint was sent back down for seasoning.
LEAGUE REPORT (01/24/2008):
Now at the 42 games played mark, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at 22-14-6 is creeping toward second place. We prohibitively trail first place Bridgeport (36-9-1) by a whopping 23 points. Second place Hershey (24-16-3) and Albany (20-16-4), occupy the other East Division playoff spots.
Other Division Leaders:
Atlantic - Springfield (24-16-5) 53 Points
North - Rochester (39-5-1) 79 Points
West - Chicago (30-8-5) 65 Points
TEAM LEADERS (Active):
Goals: Daniel Carcillo - 16
Assists: Jeff Campbell - 22
Points: Jeff Campbell - 34
+/-: Cambell, Lampman - +13
PIM: Daniel Carcillo - 117
Shots: Jeff Campbell - 121
Shot Pct: Libor Pivko - 30.2%
Rating (skater): Andrei Nikolishin - 8.18
Andrei Nikolishin is 30th in the league in average rating.
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Back in the Tank
by rjw8625 » Wed Jan 02, 2008 12:03 am
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This sim can be characterized as a return to our old ways. Spotty goaltending and frustrating performance on the powerplay completely erased all of the good feeling that came from the last sim.
December 16th vs. Syracuse
This one was tense midway into the 2nd Period before Syracuse scored twice in 16 seconds to blow the doors off the wagon. Libor Pivko (9,10) scored his second goal of the game with 2:09 remaining to make it close, but a Crunch empty net goal with 45 seconds left sealed the deal. Miguel Beaudry (2-3-0) was making the start for the injured Andy Franck. Beaudry would be sent to Wheeling on the 21st despite stopping 26 of 29 shots faced. The Penguins went 0-6 on the powerplay in this one, a key contributing factor in the defeat.
December 22nd vs. Hershey
The name of this one was frustration. Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers (7-7-2) allowed only 2 goals to Hershey, but his counterpart Frederic Cassivi stood on his head in repelling an utter siege of the net by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. 42 times the Penguins attempted to push a puck past Cassivi and each time they were denied. Once again the Penguins were 0-6 on the powerplay.
December 23rd vs. Syracuse
Yet another close game with Crunch got away late. Jonathan Filewich, just back from injury, scored his 9th of the year early in the 2nd to give the Pens a 1-0 lead. A minute and a half later, Andrei Nikolishin was denied on a penalty shot. This inability to put away Syracuse would cost Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the long run as the Crunch would tie the game six minutes later. With 11:12 left in the 3rd, Penguin-killer Starkov scored his 3rd goal in the two recent games on a complete giveaway by Andy Franck (6-2-1). 57 seconds after that, Syracuse would be ones teaching the Penguins how to finish as they extended their lead to two goals before tacking on another late. Franck made his first appearance since coming back from injury and stopped 24 of 28. Not to sound like a broken record, but the Penguins were 0-6 on the power play, making them 0-18 in their last 3 games.
December 26th vs. Toronto
Games against the Marlies this year generally have featured a lot of offense. This was no exception. Drouin-Desluariers (7-8-2) had to lifted after allowing 5 goals on 17 shots, yet somehow the Penguins were still in this one early in the third period when it was tied at 4. Down 3-0 late in the first, Les Haggett fired home his 10th of the year. Wade Belak would answer for the Marlies to extend the lead to 4-1 after one. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton would then go on a bit of a run, socring the next three goals. Filewich's (10) second in two nights, coupled with Mitch Maunu's 5th and Petr Freiberg's 11th gave a sellout crowd reason to believe the Penguins would eventually overcome Toronto. It wasn't to be. Franck only stopped 5 of 7 in relief and the Marlies walked away 7-4 winners. The powerplay improved somewhat in this one as the Pens converted 3 out of 11 chances.
#17 - Jonathan Filewich
December 29th vs. Syracuse
Another week, another game against the Crunch, this time at the Onondaga County War Memorial. Syracuse held a commanding 2-0 lead in this one into the 2nd period before Daniel Carcillo (9,10) scored two of the next 3 goals in the game to make it a manageable 3-2 deficit after two. Nikolishin would play the hero in the 3rd scoring a shorthanded goal to tie the game and assure the Penguins of at least one point for the first time in 5 games. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's continued struggles on the powerplay (1-12) hurt them in both regulation and overtime as they outshot Syracuse 48-25. As has become the norm, the opposition was victorious in the shootout as goaltender is the biggest weakness on the club. Franck (6-2-2) played decent in regulation/overtime stopping 19 pucks on net.
December 30th vs. Philadelphia
As I look forward, looking for breaks in the schedule, I see a lot of games against Norfolk in February and Philadelphia in April. Why is this good news? It seems like all I have to do is roll the dots out there to beat the Phantoms and this game was no exception. Wilkes/Barre-Scranton held a four goal lead before the first period had ended and held on for a 5-3 win at the Spectrum. Drouin-Desluariers (8-8-2) was sharp enough, stopping 18 of 21 and Phil Hartman (6,7) who is really an unfaked version of Alex Goligoski was the unlikely offensive star of the game for the Pens. Cam Paddock (4), who was recently criticized in the media, got on the board as well as Micki DuPont (5) and Carcillo (11). The only negative to come out of this one was a major injury to top defenseman Bryce Lampman. A partial ACL tear is going to keep him out for 3 months. Lampman was leading the team in +/- and his veteran presence will be sorely missed. We are now down to 5 veterans, which makes lineup making much easier, but I'd rather be retaining my best blueliner.
#38 - Bryce Lampman
December 31st vs. Grand Rapids
The two games we've played against a decent Grand Rapids team have given me reason to be cautiously optimistic. While this one wasn't a big win, in fact a shootout loss, we have played excellent team defense against the Griffins in both contests. Andy Franck (6-2-3) stopped 21 of 22 real shots before succumbing in the shootout as usual. Nikolishin was Mister Clutch once again, scoring a third period goal to tie the game at 1 and send it to the overtime. Problematic was the 0-9 performance on the powerplay and the fact that Grand Rapids' only goal came shorthanded courtesy of ex-Penguin Tyler Spurgeon.
On January 1st a 2 week tryout contract was extended to Taylor Williams of the Illinois Lightning in the All-America League. Williams had the best looking numbers of any defenseman on my shortlist with 18 points in 36 games. He will try to add a spark in filling the gap created by Lampman's injury while possibly sharing time with Kris Letang. Williams was a training camp invite who wore #65.
#65 - Taylor Williams
On January 2nd, the Minnesota Wild offered a trade to our parent club the Pittsburgh Penguins. In it, they would send Bouchard and Derek Boogaard for Maxime Talbot. On January 5th, the offer was rejected.
LEAGUE REPORT (01/05/2008):
Now at the 35 games played mark, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at 16-14-5 has now fallen to 3rd place trailing first place Bridgeport (27-9-1) by a whopping 18 points. Second place Hershey (20-11-2) and Albany (16-13-4), occupy the other East Division playoff spots.
Other Division Leaders:
Atlantic - Springfield (21-11-4) 46 Points
North - Rochester (34-5-1) 69 Points
West - Chicago (25-6-4) 54 Points
TEAM LEADERS (Active):
Goals: Carcillo, Freiberg - 11
Assists: Jeff Campbell - 18
Points: Jeff Campbell - 28
+/-: Bryce Lampman - +13
PIM: Daniel Carcillo - 95
Shots: Jeff Campbell - 103
Shot Pct: Libor Pivko - 27.8%
Rating (skater): Andrei Nikolishin - 8.13
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