The Penguins are already locked into the Calder Cup playoffs, but want to earn a bye in the first round. This is the 21st appearance for the Pens in 26 years.
WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — The Penguins are tightening their skates here at the end of the regular season.
They’ve spent most of the season in the top two spots in the Atlantic Division – and with five of their remaining seven games at home, it’ll prove to be an important stretch for the club.
The Penguins have won each of their last four games, including two at home over the weekend.
They defeated Lehigh Valley on Sunday, 5-1, and have two more games with the rival Phantom’s this upcoming Friday and Saturday.
“We’ve played them lots this season, so, we know what we’re going to get,” said Tanner Howe. “We got to show our best this weekend and, you know, these are two big wins for us, so, we got to come ready to play,” said Howe.
Howe helped the team to a victory over the Phantoms on Sunday, accumulating four points in that game.
Even though the Pens have had the Phantom’s number this season (and last), they know not to overlook them.
Securing a first-round bye for the Calder Cup Playoffs would get the team past the best-of-three to begin the playoff.
The team remembers all too well how hot they were to end the regular season last year – only to get thwarted out of the playoffs by the Phantoms.
“We’ve learned that enough of what can happen in a best-of-three series and one bad game and your season’s done,” said head coach, Kirk MacDonald. “We got games we need to win here over the next three weeks and we’re looking forward to the challenge,” said MacDonald.
Let’s get a history lesson on the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins playoff appearances from Nick Hart, the team’s Director of Communications. This will be the 21st time in 26 years the Pens are in the Calder Cup playoffs.
“This team takes pride in being a club that’s going to succeed in the regular season and have a crack at the Calder Cup year over year, season after season,” Hart said.
The Penguins have appeared in 3 Calder Cup Finals. In 2001, they lost to the St. John’s Flames. Then in 2004, Milwaukee Admirals swept the series in four games. 2008 was the last time the Pens were in the running for the Cup, but lost to the Chicago Wolves.
RELATED: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Calder Cup Playoff History Beginning In 2000-2001
The playoff format has changed since then and so has the competition.
“But there’s so many teams that get condensed around the top that are stocked with AHL veterans, high profile prospects. You can go up and down the list, the American League, say the last 10 years, and you’ll have half the league that kind of fits that mold, which just makes it all the harder to be the team that survives a marathon playoffs.”
18 seasons is a long time and the Pens hope this is the season to snap that streak.
“This is a team that does have that hunger, has that desire, and furthermore, they know what it would mean to this area if this is the team that finally gets them to win that Calder Cup. They can feel it in the locker room.”
The Penguins hope that home ice advantage at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza helps them out through the next 5 of the 7 games of the regular season.