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!

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:

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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.

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......

Steelers Longsnapper Greg Warren was placed on IR with a torn ACL. Jared Retkofsky to replace Warren. The Steelers had Retkofsky last year to challenge Warren and cut him a few times since. Mitch Berger is questionable in my mind to play next game, hamstring. They signed a punter named Ricky Schmitt to the practice squad just in case he can't go, but I think it will heal before the game.

Also more roster news, prior to the Giants game, LB Donovan Woods was cut and Patrick Bailey was activated from the Practice Squad. Bailey recorded a tackle on Special Teams.

Up next cut Dookie!

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.

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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.

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.

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