Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has lost some key forwards to call up or injury at different points throughout the season, requiring everyone else to step up and contribute in their absence.
Anthony Angello saw an elevated role this weekend, stepping into the first-line right wing spot previously occupied by Stefan Noesen and Joseph Blandisi, and he delivered.
The Penguins entered Saturday's game in Cleveland on a five-game losing streak, a skid that didn't see much life from the offense. Angello, now a second-year pro, gave the Penguins an early spark with the lone first-period goal, his seventh goal of the season:
"I saw an opportunity to come in with speed, and I was able to beat the defender wide and get a shot on net," Angello told me of his goal this week. "It happened to on over the goalie's pad."
Midway through the second period, Angello scored his second goal of the game and eighth of the season:
Wilkes-Barre won the game 3-1, ending the skid.
"It felt good to get two points as a team," Angello said. "We needed that win to get back on track, and it felt good to have goals to contribute that way as well. It's a confidence-builder, not only for me but for the team as a whole. We had lost a few games in a row, it was nice to get a win."
Angello also led the team with five shots on goal in Saturday's game, a single-game career high for him this season. That was a conscious decision by him in an effort to elevate his game.
"I had a shooting mentality, to go in and do what I could to help the team win," he said. "We were short numbers, some guys were called up, some guys were injured, some guys were sick. Kind of cliche, but you can't score if you don't shoot. I figured that as long as I put the puck on net, good things will happen."
After this week, Angello's point totals are at eight goals and two assists through 28 games. That's a slightly higher goal pace than last season's mark of 16 goals in 65 games, but he's seeing fewer assists than last season's pace of 13 in those 65 games. While the points are huge, consistently "playing the right way" (to borrow a Mike Sullivan favorite) and having a good two-way game are things that will help Angello take the next step.
"I'm trying to find my way to be consistent," he said. "That doesn't necessarily mean points, but having consistent play. Playing hard, playing physical, having attention to detail. Doing the little things right."
One thing Angello can do to help in that regard is to work on his puck possession, and that's been a focus of his this season -- protecting the puck down low.
"I think it's definitely helping my game, finding a way to play big, possess the puck, and create more offense," he said.
One way Angello has been able to do that is to just get physically stronger in his lower-body. He's already a big presence at 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, and over the summer he said he focused on shifting his center of gravity lower, to help him be stronger on pucks.
When I spoke to Angello last season, he said he "100 percent" believed he was ready for a call up, and that's still his mindset this season. He hasn't gotten his shot yet, but he thought it was encouraging to see how much Pittsburgh was willing to not only recall a lot of different forwards this season, but give them significant roles. He'll continue to grow in Wilkes-Barre and be ready for when his time comes.
"It was cool seeing everyone get called up, and when the guys get called up, they're doing well," he said. "I'm doing my best to develop and get better and help the team win here, and earn my call up."
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THE ROSTER MOVES
• Forward Joseph Blandisi was recalled by Pittsburgh on Dec. 12 ... then re-assigned back to Wilkes-Barre the next day ... then recalled again the day after that.
THE INJURIES
• Forward Ben Sexton has been dealing with an upper-body injury since camp.
• Forward Kasper Bjorkqvist is out until May after undergoing knee surgery, effectively ending his season. He last played on Oct. 19.
• Forward Adam Johnson was struck by a puck on Dec. 6 and hasn't played since
• Defenseman Zach Trotman left the game early on Dec. 13 after being hit up high. He has a head injury and there is no timetable for his return.
• Forward Sam Miletic left the game early on Dec. 14 after a hit.
THE GAMES
• Dec. 11: at Rochester, 4-2 loss
The Americans took a 2-0 lead after Curtis Lazar's first period goal and Jean-Sebastien Dea's second period goal.
The Americans extended the lead to 3-0 with a goal from Andrew Oglevie 12:43 into the third period. The Penguins pulled Casey DeSmith for the extra attacker with about six minutes remaining in the game, and Rochester's C.J. Smith scored into the empty net. Back at five-on-five after the goal, Jan Drozg scored his first AHL goal 19 seconds later. With DeSmith pulled for the extra attacker again, Sam Miletic scored his sixth goal of the season with 1:56 remaining. The rally stopped there.
David Warsofsky led with four shots on goal as the Penguins were outshot 30-22.
DeSmith took the loss with 26 saves on 29 shots.
The Penguins went 0-for-2 on the power play and 4-for-4 on the penalty kill
• Dec. 13: at Cleveland, 4-0 loss
The Monsters scored a goal through each of the three periods, then sealed the win with an empty net goal in the final minute.
Warsofsky again led the Penguins in shots as they were outshot 30-23.
DeSmith took the loss with 26 saves on 29 shots.
The Penguins went 0-for-6 on the power play and 6-for-7 on the penalty kill.
• Dec. 14: at Cleveland, 3-1 win
Angello scored the lone goal of the first period, then scored his second of the game and eighth of the season at 8:40 of the second period. The Monsters' Dillon Simpson scored a power play goal at 14:25 to cut the Penguins' lead to one.
Thomas Di Pauli scored an empty net goal, his fourth goal of the year, in the third period to seal the win.
Angello led with five shots on goal as the Penguins outshot the Monsters, 29-28.
Dustin Tokarski earned the win with 27 saves on 28 shots.
The Penguins went 0-for-2 on the power play and 3-for-4 on the penalty kill.
THE LEADERS
• Goals: Noesen, 14 in 22 games
• Assists: Warsofsky, 14 in 25 games
• Points: Agozzino, 24 in 27 games
• Save percentage: Tokarski, .947 in five games
• Goals-against average: Tokarski, 1.39 in five games
THE COMBINATIONS
Sam Miletic -- Andrew Agozzino -- Anthony Angello
Jake Lucchini -- Oula Palve -- Thomas Di Pauli
Graham Knott -- Jordy Bellerive -- Ryan Haggerty
Andreas Martinsen -- Chase Berger -- Jan Drozg
David Warsofsky — Jon Lizotte
Pierre-Olivier Joseph — Zach Trotman
Niclas Almari — Macoy Erkamps
THE STANDINGS
• After this week, the Penguins’ record is 14-10-3-1, fourth in the eight-team Atlantic Division.
• The power play sits at 19.1 percent, 12th in the 31-team league. The penalty kill is operating at 80.2 percent overall, 23rd in the league.
THE SCHEDULE
• The Penguins will have three games this week. They'll host the Providence Bruins (18-9-1-2) on Wednesday and Friday, then visit the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (10-15-3-1) on Saturday.
GOALS OF THE WEEK
Drozg's goal was his first in the AHL in just this third game this season:
Miletic knocked in a rebound:
THE PODCAST
• Matt Abt joined Nick Hart on the podcast:
WILKES-BARRE FUN THING
Angello and Berger read to kids about actual penguins:
