Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Beat Hartford Wolf Pack 2-1; Five Quick Thoughts

The opening night in Wilkes-Barre didn’t disappoint. The Pittsburgh Penguins’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate hosted the Hartford Wolf Pack in a measuring-stick game for both teams. For the home team, it was about proving that this team is different and better. For the Wolf Pack, it was about proving they can return to the playoffs and beat the teams that will be in the contention discussion.

The Penguins came out on top with a 2-1 win. They battled back to do so and stood out on the defensive end, especially after a forgettable first period. Here are 5 quick thoughts from the recent game.

1) The Penguins Have Another Goaltender to Watch

Sergei Murashov was great in his first start of the season, which will begin his first full season at the AHL level. The Penguins needed him to be great, and he was just that. Merashov fueled the victory with 23 saves on 24 shots. In a game that had Dylan Garand in the opposite net, he was the star and outdueled the Wolf Pack goaltender in the win.

The Penguins already have Arturs Silovs at the NHL level as a hopeful starter for the future. For a rebuilding team, they need young goaltenders to build around, and they might have one. They might have another base on the way Murashov has looked.

2) Hartford Still Struggles With The Small Things

This is a game they should have won. They set the tone and played their forechecking brand of hockey. However, like last season’s defeats, they came one goal shy of a win and ended up with no points either. It was another game that was decided by the small things, and once again, the Wolf Pack struggled in that area.

The penalties cost the Wolf Pack. They didn’t allow a goal on the man advantage but the four penalties they took killed any momentum and allowed the Penguins to find their footing. Pair that with the easy scoring chances that they failed to take advantage of, and it explains how they allowed the game to slip away.

These losses fall on the head coach, Grant Potulny, who is starting his second season behind the bench the same way his first season ended, on the losing end of a one-goal game. The Wolf Pack set the tone and forced the Penguins to pivot. Yet, they still lost. The question is whether the losses start to pile up or if this is another defeat they can shrug off and look to recover from.

3) Gabe Perreault Has A Linemate Who Will Unlock His Game

The bright spot for the Wolf Pack was their top line. The top forward prospect in the New York Rangers system is Gabe Perreault, and he found veteran Trey Fix-Wolansky for a goal in the first period. It gave the Wolf Pack a lead and, in retrospect, their only highlight of the night. Perreault is a scorer with a nose for the goal, yet his centering pass made the goal possible and stood out in the game.

Perreault is a prospect who must learn how to play in the NHL. He must play above his weight and skate well to make it to the next level. This makes Fix-Wolansky the ideal linemate for him. The veteran plays the way that the Rangers want the prospect to play. Fix-Wolansky can get the most out of Perreault and unlock his game.

4) Owen Pickering is a Prospect To Watch

In a game where the defense stood out for the Penguins, their best defense prospect led the way. Owen Pickering got the start and took on a significant role in the opening night game. He also scored the go-ahead goal to give the Penguins the victory. “Obviously, Pick’s goal was huge,” head coach Kirk MacDonald noted after the game. The 21-year-old defenseman isn’t known for his shot but it’s what made the difference.