SB Nation User Blog: steelcitykid

Baby Pens Report V

steelcitykid — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:46:13 -0000

I have three games to tell you about since the last report. Chris Minard continues his scoring hot streak, and the Pens are rolling.

In the final game of the seven, yes seven, game road trip, the Baby Pens come out on the short side of a 3-2 loss vs. the Bridgeport Soundtigers. Jeff Taffe started out the scoring for the Pens 9:34 into the 1st period from Minard and Pesonen. However, WBS Pens's defensemen T.J. Kemp and Joey Mormina picked up penaltys seconds apart and Bridgeport capitlized, scoring power play goals. Score 2-1. Aaron Boogaard was involved in a scrap but, 3 minutes left in the 2nd period Bridgeport scored again with the score 3-1. Early in the 3rd Chris Minard netted his 11th goal of the year, but the Pens fall 3-2. John Curry stopped 25 of 28 shots.

On Nov. 7 the Pens returned home to face the Lowell Devils. Adam Berkhoel in net. Three seconds into the game Tim Wallace dropped the gloves against Lowell to set the tone. Chris Minard scored goal 12 and 13 in the fisrt period. The first goal assisted by Reid Cashman and Bill Thomas and 2nd by Janne Pesonen and Bill Thomas (both on power play). Ryan Stone scored his 4th of the year assisted by Luca Caputi and Tim Wallace scored the final goal of the game assisted by Jonathan Filewich and goalie Adam Berkhoel. All goals scored in the first period. Berkhoel records his second shutout, again against the Devils.

In last nights home game versus the 2nd place Hershey Bears, the Pens picked up a win. Defenseman Danny Richmond came alive picking up three assists. Dustin Jeffrey scored first with the Richmond helper. Hershey scored to tie it at 1-1. Jonathan Filewich broke the tie with a goal assisted by Taffe and Lovejoy with the score 2-1. In the second Bill Thomas scored (Richmond and Wallace) and Jeff Taffe netted a goal (Richmond and Minard) with the score now 4-1. Hershey scored two but the Pens held on for a 4-3 victory. John Curry stopped 29 of 32 shots.

Interesting stat: I read on Penguins Insider that Chris Minard (WBS) Evgeni Malkin(PIT) and Tommy Goebel (Wheeling) are all the leading scorers in all three leagues (NHL, AHL, ECHL). Interesting to say the least! Thats amazing!

Berger Cut......

steelcitykid — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 20:20:53 -0000

Berger Cut......

Punter Mitch Berger was cut....... Paul Ernster signed.

Baby Pens Report IV

steelcitykid — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 14:18:34 -0000

As you probally know Chris Minard was sent back down to Wilkes-Barre Scranton. Just to continue his dominance. This guy is on a mission, most likely to prove to everybody that he wants another chance at the big guys. And he will, in all likeliness, get called back up sometime. Now I will go to the game summaries to tell you more about him and other Pens:

Since the last report the Baby Pens have won two in a row. On Oct. 31 both Pens traveled, the Baby Pens traveled to San Antonio to take on the Rampage, the Phoenix Coyotes AHL team, and the big Pens traveled to Phoenix. Now WBS was without leading scorer Chris Minard, who got a call up from Pittsburgh. John Curry is in net for the Pens. With the Rampage on the board first the score was 1-0, but about three minutes after that, Connor James netted a shorthanded goal (assisted by Dustin Jeffrey) to make it tied 1-1. About four minutes into the 3rd period Tim Wallace, an unlikely source, made it 2-1 with his first goal of the season, off a redirected shot from Jeff Taffe. eight seconds after that Jeff Taffe scored his seventh goal of the year (unassisted). John Curry stopped 31 of 32 shots and the Pens won 3-1 and Jeff Taffe took down his former team, San Antonio.

Now last night (Nov 2nd) vs. the Houston Aeros, Chris Minard, who was reassigned earlier yesterday, continued his amazing hot streak. After a scoreless period Minard got the first goal of the game 1:10 into the second. Dustin Jeffrey and Janne Pesonen, who was also sent down yesterday, got the assists. Houston tied it 1-1 less then three minutes later. Tim Wallace tallied his second goal of the year (asisted by Taffe and Filewich) at 9:08. Minard scored again when Jeff Taffe set him up for a goal 6:40 later to make it 3-1. In the third the Aeros netted goals seconds apart to make the score even at 3-3. But none other then Chris Minard would get his third goal of the game, 24 seconds after Houston scored, to win the game. It's over, 4-3. John Curry picks up the win and Minard gets a hat-trick. Jeff Taffe has a streak of 5 games with at least two points.

Read on for player updates:

Prospect Updates: Forwards/Defensemen/Goalies

Chris Minard: He has 10 goals, 6 assists, 16 points in just 8 games. He is leading the AHL in goals and is second in points.+10, 0 penalty minutes. WBS leading scorer. Played 2 games with PIT. Do you think he wants to play in the NHL?

Janne Pesonen: 2 goals and 9 helpers in 8 games. +10, 2 PM. I hope he gets another look soon in Pittsburgh. Played 1 game with PIT.

Jeff Taffe: 7 goals, 7 assists. Part of the dynamic Minard-Pesonen line. +10 8 PM. I think the parent Pens know what they have in Taffe (grinder/ 4th liner), but he puts up points in the AHL. Hopefully some of them can transfer over to the NHL. Played 1 game with PIT.

Bill Thomas: 1 assist in 3 games. Played a few games for PIT before being sent down.

Ryan Stone: 3 goals, 4 assists, 27 penalty minutes, 9 games. When he is not scoring, he is fighting or aggitating. He has two fights through 8 games, expect more.

Connor James: 3 goals, 2 assists, +4, nine games. He is a hard-working penalty killer, who though undersized, got call-ups last year so expect to hear his name sometime this year.

Dustin Jeffrey: 1 goal and 4 assists, 9 games. He seems to be getting better and more used to AHL play. His numbers should keep going up, though probally will spend all year with WBS.

Luca Caputi: 1 goal, 1 assist. Played in all 9 games. Starting off slow, but has talent. Caputi is young, and probally will spend all year with WBS.

Jonathan Filewich: 1 goal, 1 assist, minus 4, 9 games. He is improving, slowly.

D Ben Lovejoy: 2 goals, 3 assists, 14 PM. The leader among defense. If a defenseman is needed in Pittsburgh, he will probally get a look.

D Jon D'Aversa: 5 assists. Puck moving D-man. Most likely stick in WBS all year.

D Danny Richmond: He has 3 fights, 27 penalty minutes, and seems to be very tough on defense.

Goalie John Curry: 4 games, 2-1 record. 102 saves, with 11 goals against. 3.15 GAA and 903 save %. He played bad early on but has been lights out lately.

Daivd Brown: Terrible so far; 20 min of a game. 8 saves, 4 goals against, 12.00 GAA, 667 save %. Bounced between AHL and ECHL.

Others; F Aaron Boogaard 7 games, 25 PM, 2 fights- D T.J. Kemp 7 games 4 assists-D Jean-Philippe Cote 8 games 1 goal 2 assists, 2 fights 24 PM- D Deryk Engelland 4 fights 34 PM. WBS leader in both- F Tim Wallace 2 goals/checker. F Adam Heinrich is hurt so team has played some games with 7 d-men- random thought!

Around the Rink:

Tommy Goebel: Young guy in the ECHL. He is playing for the Wheeling Nailors, the Baby Pens ECHL team, and has been lighting it up down there with16 points- 7 goals and 9 assists- in 7 games.

Nick Johnson: 7 goals, 4 assist in 7 games playing with Goebel in Wheeling. Expect one or both of them to get called up to Wilkes-Barre Scranton.

Sources- Penguins Insider; WBS official site; Pens official site

Chris Minard & Janne Pesonen sent down

steelcitykid — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 22:44:17 -0000

I have read that Chris Minard and Janne Pesonen have been sent back down to the Pens minor league system, Wilkes-Barre Scranton. Minard played in two games posting three shots and three hits. He played solid in the absence of some of the Pens and probally will get a call back up at some point this year.He is the leading scorer on WBS. Pesonen played one game and played a nice first game, was actually more defensive, and played under ten minutes. I don't know if they were sent down because WBS has some games during the Pens long break or if the parent Penguins will be healthy enough come the Oilers game. Who knows.

Pens News: Pascal Dupuis on IR

steelcitykid — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 19:29:29 -0000

I have read from various sources (Pittsburgh Trib and Pens site) that Pascal Dupuis has been placed on IR. Now this just means that he will not count against the roster until activated, so no players will need to be sent down to Wilkes-Barre since Janne Pesonen has been called-up. I guess Janne will replace Dupuis instead of Crosby like I thought. Ruslan Fedotenko might not play and Defenseman Mark Eaton will likely be a healthy scratch. I would think Sydor is playing to try and show him off to other teams, but maybe there is something here. Nothing is for sure though with any of these line changes with Michel Terrein as coach. More to come......

Baby Pens Report III

steelcitykid — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 12:58:11 -0000

In my last report I left you guys with a win at Hershey. Since then the Baby Pens have won one, lost two and now stand at 3-3-0-1. In their win, veteren goaltender Adam Berkhoel was outstanding stopping all 46 of the Lowell Devils shots and getting a 5-0 shutout win. Jeff Taffe lead the offense with two goals and remained solid on defense with a plus-3 rating. Janne Pesonen had the first assist on the Taffe goal (first goal of game) and had a goal of his own in the 3rd period. Chris Minard and Luca Caputi also scored one a piece.

In the next game, versus the Manchester Monarchs, the Baby Pens dropped a 3-2 loss, despite a late run at a comeback. The Pens were down 3-0 going into the 3rd period when defenseman Ben Lovejoy netted his 2nd goal of the year and Jeff Taffe added another, but the comeback fell short and they lost. Adam Berkhoel stopped 26 of 29 shots, Ryan Stone, Chris Minard, and Janne Pesonen added 1 assist each.

Last night vs. the Portland Pirates the WBS Pens lost once again to the score of 5-4. John Curry was in net and only stopped 17 of 21 shots. After getting off to another slow start they were down 3-0 but, midway into the 2nd David Gove scored a short-handed goal to make it 3-1. But Portland wouldn't stay quiet for long. They scored again shortly after and the late rally by Jeff Taffe and Chris Minard was shattered by Portland once again. The score was 5-3 when Taffe scored once again late in the game but it was too late. Bill Thomas had one assist and Janne Pesonen was scoreless.

The Baby Pens sit 4th in the conference with 7 points.

Read on for player-by-player updates.

Prospect update: Forwards/Defensemen (D)

Chris Minard: 7 games 7 goals and 6 assists; leading scorer

Jeff Taffe: 6 games 6 goals 3 assists we might see him back in Pittsburgh.

Janne Pesonen: 7 games 2 goals 7 assists; he will find a goal scoring touch, he is shooting, the pucks just aren't going in.

Ryan Stone: 7 games 3 goals and 3 assists 17 PM; grinder who is contributing on offense.

Connor James: 7 games 2 goals and 2 assists he is a plus 1 penalty killing ace.

Jonathan Filewich: 7 games 1 goal and minus 6 struggling to say the least.

Luca Caputi: 7 games 1 goal and 1 assist

Dustin Jeffrey: 7 games 1 goal and 2 assists

D Ben Lovejoy: 2 goals and 3 assists and 12 PM he is WBS' best defenseman.

D Jon D'Aversa: 5 assists; I haven't mentioned him much, but he has been solid at passing and is a offensive defensemen.

D Danny Richmond: 7 games 20 PM; don't know much about what he is doing just that he is defensive minded.

Others;F Aaron Boogaard 5 games 13 PM- D T.J. Kemp 5 games 4 assists-D Jean-Philippe Cote 7 games 1 goal 2 assists a few fights 20 PM- D Deryk Engelland= enforcer/defenseman.

Around the Rink:

Nathan Moon- He has 6 goals and 10 assists in 13 games for Kingston in the OHL.

Keven Veilleux- After cracking coach MT's ribs in camp he has 6 goals and 11 assists for Rimouski of the QMJHL.

Carl Sneep- In 4 games has a goal and an assist for Boston College.

Sources; WBS official site, Hockey DB

Thats all for now. Peace.

Check this hit if you haven't seen it already: Also couldn't just post a Boston hit so check out...

steelcitykid — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 23:24:21 -0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEs86l5rk74 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7aIqVYa8qk

Check this hit if you haven't seen it already:
Also couldn't just post a Boston hit so check out this Talbot bit.

Baby Pens Report II

steelcitykid — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 19:44:25 -0000

The Baby Pens recorded a 4-3 shootout loss and a 5-4 win since my last report and are now 2-1-0-1. Versus the Bridgeport Soundtigers in the shootout loss Janne Pesonen had a solid night, netting a goal and adding two assists. He was also the only one to score in the shootout. Jeff Taffe and Chris Minard were the other two to score a goal.

In the win vs. the Hershey Bears, the Pens' Chris Minard scored two goals and added an assist. Connor James had a very good night with a goal and an assist and a plus-2 rating. Ryan Stone continues to be strong with 1 goal and 1 assist with a plus-3 and a fight on the record. Pesonen had 1 assist and strictly minor leaguer D-Man J.P. Cote scored a goal. Also worth mentioning, goalie John Curry left the game with a back injury, though not serious.

Now here is a review of the major prospects so far:

Janne Pesonen- Has 6 points (1 goal and 5 assists) through 4 games and really seems to be adjusting nicely. He has a plus 5 rating and is playing a very nice defensive game as well (0 PM). The goals will come with so more time.

Jeff Taffe- A goal and 2 assists in 3 games. Ready if needed.

Chris Minard- The Baby Pens leading scorer has 8 points (5 goals and 3 assists). I think its between him or Pesonen for the first callup. He has 3 powerplay goals a plus 6 rating 0 PM. This guy seems to get it done in the minors but lack of speed might hinder his ability to score with the big boys. But if he keeps up his solid defensive game he will be fine if called up.

Connor James- Has 2 goals and 2 assists in 4 games and remains a solid penalty killer.

Ryan Stone- Has 3 goals and 2 assists. Playing very good and might bring some extra grit towards the middle of the season.

Jonathan Filewich is struggling with 1 goal and a minus 7 rating in 4 games. It is very early though.

Thats all for now, but I will bring back a lot more next week.

Baby Pens Report

steelcitykid — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 13:57:09 -0000

After the Pens very dissappointing shooting performence last night, and not to say at all that any changes will be made in terms of callups, I just wanted to let people know about some young guys in the minors.

Now I will talk about some prospects down at Wilkes-Barre. Since I can't watch any minor league Pens games from Pittsburgh, I tend to follow the Wilkes-Barre Scranton website or watch highlights from the web to keep track of the team. After the Pens 8-4 loss in the home and season openor vs. Hersey, they picked up a W vs. the Philly Phantoms last night, during about the same time the Big Pens were playing. Here is what a some prospects have done in two games since being sent down to WBS:

Janne Pesonen- probably the most highly touted guy down there, has picked up two assists and a plus 2 rating, with 3 shots. He seems to be adjusting nicely to the ice. Though,this goes for all the reviews, obviously, it is way too early to say. I would expect him to get a call-up sometime soon.

Jeff Taffe- Just sent down there, picked up two assists in his first game and will always be ready for a callup if needed.

Ryan Stone- Remember this name. He was mad about being sent down, and showed it by netting 2 goals and 1 assist in the opener. This might be a make-or-break type season for him and I expect a mid-season callup for him. I might be wrong, but he is a gritty, scrappy guy who might help later in the year.

Chris Minard- He is a sniper who has 2 goals and 2 assists so far and played about 15 games last year for the Pittsburgh Pens. He brings solid checking, and an all around game to the team. He can fill in if needed.

Connor James- I like his game, FrankD knows this. He is a speedy guy who though undersized, seems to really play hard on penalty kill and in general. He played in 13 games on seperate callups last year and actually had a goal vs. the Islanders. He has a goal and an assist so far for WBS and hopefully gets a chance wiht the big Pens.

Others: Jonathan Filewich- 1 goal in 2 games- Aaron Boogaard-9 penalty mins. might be a year away from contributing.- Ben Lovejoy- 1 goal-1 assist- most llikely first defenseman on the callup list, but hopefully not needed. Dustin Jeffrey and Luca Caputi will likely spend all year in WBS. Jeffrey has 1 goal, Caputi has 1 assist.

Now thats all I really found as of now, but like I said only two games into the minor season, way too early to tell. Some new guys may step up. I am hoping that there is no need for these guys because of injury, but its hockey and every team has a few callups during a season. Hopefully two or three of these guys can step in at some point this year for either a minor injury or just to test them out. Thoughts??? Sorry for length!

Pittsburgh Penguins acquire Mike Zigomanis

steelcitykid — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 22:43:26 -0000

The Pittsburgh Pens have aquired Mike Zigomanis in exchange for future considerations (most likely a low pick). I don't know much about Zigomanis, other then he played for Phoenix last year. Check it out.

I was wondering if they would pick any one up and they did. He is a role player-type/penelty killer I think, though I think the Pens had plenty of those down in Wilkes-Barre (Stone, James, Filewich, Minard, others) but he seems to have more experience. Any thoughts about Mike Z?

Also Jeff Taffe appears to be heading to WBS.