Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins defenseman Alex Alexeyev. COURTESY OF THE WBS PENGUINS
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins defenseman Alex Alexeyev. COURTESY OF THE WBS PENGUINS
WILKES-BARRE — Every professional hockey player has aspirations of playing in the NHL, and it’s no different for Alex Alexeyev.
A 2018 first-round draft pick of the Washington Capitals, Alexeyev spent the better part of three seasons in the American Hockey League with the Hershey Bears before breaking through to the NHL beginning with the 2022-23 season.
No longer exempt from waivers, Alexeyev remained in the NHL — with injuries and a diminishing role with the Capitals culminating with a season spent largely off the ice on game nights in 2024-25.
That difficult season last year — one which saw Alexeyev appear in just eight NHL games with Washington, and another three games on an AHL conditioning loan — left Alexeyevheading into free agency without a qualifying offer from the Capitals, and in search of a better opportunity to get regular ice time and work his way back to the NHL.
On July 2, that opportunity was realized as the Pittsburgh Penguins signed the 6-foot-4 defender to a one-year contract.
While he hasn’t appeared in any NHL games with Pittsburgh this season, he’s been a great fit on the blue line with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton — returning from a 22-game injury absence from earlier this season and re-establishing himself at the professional level this year in the AHL.
“He’s a warrior out there, and he does so many things that go unnoticed,” Penguins coach Kirk MacDonald said. “I think he’s been a huge part of our group. When we didn’t have him, it was noticeable.”
One recent play in particular that did get noticed was Alexeyev’s effort on his last shift in the final minute of last Saturday’s win over Laval, which began with him blocking a shotfrom point-blank range to prevent a goal.
A subsequent shot block seconds later saw the skate blade come off of one of his skates — leaving him mostly immobile at the net-front area in the closing seconds of thegame with Laval’s goaltender pulled for the extra attacker.
Ultimately, Alexeyev and Penguins goaltender Sergei Murashov kept the puck out of the net and preserved the team’s victory.
“You know, on the ice I was screaming to him, ‘Just stand!,’” Murashov said. “He was screaming to me: ‘I’m just standing!’”
Murashov took it one step further, comparing Alexeyev’s stand on one skate to help the team to victory to Russian soldiers in a World War I battle in 1915 called “Attack of theDead Men.”
“We were defending. We were giving it everything we have, and I think we are playing for the moments like that when you are united,” Murashov said. “We feel the energy from the rink, from everybody among the fans. We feel the energy from the bench and with five guys in front of me just battling for our success.”
Though he only turned 26 in November, Alexeyev is one of the veterans on the team’s blue line this season — a steadying presence who plays quite frequently alongside rookie defender Chase Pietila.
“He’s a great teammate. He sets a great example. He’s not old — he’s 26 — but he’s been playing for a while now,” MacDonald said. “He’s a guy that’s trying to get back to the NHL, and probably deserves another opportunity. He plays great for us in his role. He knows what he is.”
At the end of the day, Alexeyev is enjoying being an every-night hockey player with a defined role — even if it’s not in the NHL right now.
“I mean, it’s a lot of fun playing games, you know, playing hockey (regularly),” Alexeyev said. “And we have really a good group of guys here, a young team, and we have a good chance to go really, really far. And, yeah, that’s a lot of fun.”
Friday’s game
Gabe Klassen and Avery Hayes each had a goal and an assist in the first period, and Rafael Harvey-Pinard added an empty-net goal late in the third period to lead the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to a 3-1 victory over Turnpike rival Lehigh Valley on Saturday night at Mohegan Arena.
The victory allowed the Penguins (42-16-6-2) to continue their dominance over the Phantoms this season, improving to 9-0-1-1 against them. The Penguins also extended their winning streak to five with six games left in the regular season.
Klassen scored his 16th of the season at 6:32 of the first period. Hayes and Finn Harding each were credited with an assist. At 13:53 of the first, Hayes scored his 23rd of the season with Atley Calvert and Klassen each getting an assist.
After a scoreless second period, Oliver Bonk scored his sixth of the season for Lehigh Valley at 18:42 of the third period to cut the deficit to 2-1. It remained that way until 19:30 when Harvey-Pinard scored his 19th of the season. Hayes was credited with his 15th assist of the season while Sergei Murashov earned his first assist.
Murashov started in goal for the Penguins and recorded 23 saves on 24 shots. The Penguins outshot Lehigh Valley, 33-24. The Penguins went 0 for 3 on the power play while Lehigh Valley was 0 for 5.
The teams met again Saturday night at the PPL Center in Allentown.