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By STEVE SEMBRAT [email protected]
Saturday, October 12, 2002 Page: 1B
WILKES-BARRE TWP. – One game in, and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s season already
has a different feel than the previous one.
Impressive what one victory can do.
Coming off the first victory in a regular-season opener, the Penguins go
for two in a row tonight when they play host to Hershey at 7:05 at First Union
Arena.
The potential Wilkes-Barre/Scranton possesses was evident Thursday in a 5-3
victory at home against the St. John’s Maple Leafs. The Penguins scored four
power play goals and added an empty-netter to win a fast-paced, hard-hitting
game in front of the 61st consecutive regular-season sold-out crowd at the
arena.
“It’s only one game, but we can carry that on from here,” said Penguins
defenseman Ross Lupaschuk. “We believe we can win and that’s what we didn’t
have last year.”
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton lost its previous openers, including 6-4 to the Leafs
in its debut last season. After dropping the season opener last October, the
Penguins went five games before getting their first victory. Things didn’t get
much better after that – they finished 20-44-13-3 and missed the playoffs.
“Getting that first win is huge,” said Wilkes-Barre/Scranton goalie
Robbie Tallas. “The pressure builds, and it built for us last year. The focus
became getting a win rather than playing our game. Now we can focus on playing
our game and playing well.”
Part of the buzz after Thursday’s victory centered on just how good a team
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton defeated. While it’s true St. John’s replaced a lot of
players from its 2001-02 roster, the changes appeared to be for the better.
“What a lot of guys may not realize is how good of a team (St. John’s)
is,” Tallas said. “That’s one of the top teams in the league. It’s one game,
but our young guys have to know that we beat a great team.”
Hershey figures to be a quality team as well.
The Bears, who went 6-4-2 against the Penguins last season, are comparable
to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in that they have a mix of new talent and familiar
faces. Standout Phil Sauve returns in goal for the Bears, right wing Brian
Willsie is back after spending all of last season with the parent Colorado
Avalanche, and veteran center Mark Freer joins the Hershey lineup. It’s a
combination that should sound familiar to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton fans.
Penguins third-year pro Sebastien Caron is the go-to goalie, as is the case
with Sauve. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton forwards Milan Kraft, Kris Beech and Toby
Petersen are back in the minors after being NHL regulars, as is the case with
Willsie. Penguins defenseman Francois Leroux brings a voice of experience to
the locker room, as is the case with Freer.
The difference in the two teams heading into this contest is that the
Penguins have their first win, something that added a little zip to their step
during a Friday morning workout at the arena.
“You look at practice, guys were relaxed and out there flying,” Tallas
said. “We’re looking forward to the next game.”
So is Hershey, which is playing its season opener, and the significance of
it can be discerned by the Bears’ preparations for it.
While Hershey usually comes to town by bus on the day of the game, the team
was in town on Friday, practiced at the First Union Arena during the
afternoon, and spent the night here.
And why not? The outcome of the series between the Penguins and the Bears
has been a barometer to the season.
Hershey won the season series between the two teams in 1999-2000 (7-3) and
last season, and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton missed the playoffs both time, while
Hershey went deep into the playoffs.
The Penguins held a 7-3 edge during the regular-season in 2000-01, and
later swept the Bears in the Western Conference finals to advance to the
finals of the Calder Cup playoffs.
So even though these teams play nine more times this season, getting an
early jump is important, just as getting a season-opening win was for the
Penguins.
“It sets the tone for the rest of the year,” Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
defenseman Brooks Orpik said of the victory over St. John’s. “It keeps the
good attitude going.”
TODAY’S GAME
Hershey Bears (0-0-0-0) at
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (1-0-0-0)
FACEOFF: 7:05 p.m., First Union Arena, Wilkes-Barre Township.
TICKETS: There were about 250 left as of Thursday according to the team.
Tickets may be purchased at the arena box office and Ticketmaster locations.
TV/RADIO: The game will be telecast on Adelphia Cable Channel 63. The
radio broadcast is on Oldies 92 and 100 FM, and can be accessed over the
Internet at the team’s Web site (www.wbspenguins.com).
THE SERIES: Hershey leads the all-time, regular-season series between the
two teams, 16-14-2.