Wilkes Weekly: Murashov Bounces Back
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins had a challenging week, facing the same opponent, Charlotte, in two games, and managing to even the score. The team faced a 5-1 defeat in both matches.
Nick Hart, from WBSPenguins.com, provides the details.
On Friday, January 9, the Penguins secured a 5-1 victory over Charlotte, snapping a three-game losing streak. Tristan Broz was a standout performer, contributing four points. His linemates, Atley Calvert and Valtteri Puustinen, also recorded a goal and an assist each. Sergei Murashov made 21 saves, showcasing his resilience.
However, the following day, the Checkers reversed the script, winning 5-1 at home. Ryan Graves scored the Penguins' lone goal on the power play, with assists from Ville Koivunen and Valtteri Puustinen. This result highlighted the team's vulnerability.
The recent performance of Sergei Murashov has been a topic of discussion. After his two worst outings of the season, Murashov allowed a season-high five goals in consecutive games against Charlotte and Syracuse. Prior to this, he had only conceded a maximum of three goals in a game and kept two or fewer goals in 12 out of 14 games. This setback serves as a learning curve for the young goalie, emphasizing the need for experience in the minor leagues.
The team's dynamics have also been intriguing. Rafael Harvey-Pinard was called up to Pittsburgh, only to be replaced by Tristan Broz, who then recorded a four-point game. This created a yo-yo effect on the AHL roster, with players coming and going. Caleb Jones is on a conditioning stint, Ville Koivunen is back in the AHL with one assist in two games, and Ryan Graves has been recalled to Pittsburgh. Matt Dumba remains a constant presence.
As a result, the Penguins' offense has been a collective effort. No player has scored more than 11 goals, with nine players reaching at least six goals. This season has seen some surprising and unexpected performances, such as the departure of Danton Heinen.
Valtteri Puustinen has been a consistent performer, maintaining his position in the team since the 2021-22 season. He is now closing in on scoring records in franchise history, with 170 points. Second place is held by Tomas Surovy and Toby Petersen, with 177 points. Puustinen's potential to become the second most productive WBS Penguin is intriguing, considering the long-standing dominance of Tom Kostopolous.
Despite the fluctuations, the Penguins remain in second place in the division. This week, they face a crucial game at Providence, followed by a home weekend against Hartford, the last-place team. The team aims to secure more points and maintain their position.
