Penguins
Penguins Prospect Scores First Hat Trick for WBS
On Wednesday night, Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Ville Koivunen had a breakout game when he netted a hat trick against the Toronto Marlies. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL beat Toronto 6-3 at the Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto.
Koivunen, 21, is in his first full season with the Penguins organization and first professional season in North America. The Penguins acquired him as part of the haul when the team traded winger Jake Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes last March.
As a poetic bookend, former Penguins prospect turned Stanley Cup Winner Matt Murray came on in relief for Toronto later in the first period after Artur Akhtyamov suffered an injury.
Koivunen’s first two goals were against Akhtyamov.
Murray, now 30, is rebuilding his career after protracted struggles that were followed by hip surgery in the fall of 2023. He returned to the NHL earlier this season for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Koivunen’s first goal was a short-side wrister from the left dot, which gave the WBS Penguins a 1-0 lead just 1:48 into the first period.
GOAL. Ville Koivunen. 1-0 #WBSPens 1:48 into the 1st period.
WBS gets on the board with their first shot of the game, with Scooter Brickey getting the puck ahead to Boris Katchouk and Katchouk feeding Koivunen.
Koivunen zips one in for his 8th of the season. @InsideAHLHockey pic.twitter.com/kNuj1YKOsh
— Tony Androckitis* (@TonyAndrock) January 9, 2025
Koivunen scored from nearly the same spot later in the first period but went to the far post when he got another rip. Koivunen’s second goal was a perfectly placed shot.
Bullseye 🎯 pic.twitter.com/j6jZpaxwon
— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) January 9, 2025
To cap off the hat trick and complete the WBS seven-game points streak, Koivunen marked the same spot for his third and first North American hat trick. However, the third goal was sans the goalie, as Toronto pulled Murray for the extra attacker.
HATS FOR KOIVY 🧢🧢🧢 pic.twitter.com/KFrfpPAOMD
— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) January 9, 2025
Koivunen’s big night upped his total to 10 goals and 27 points in 30 games. WBS improved to an impressive 19-8-3.
Editor’s Note: The original version of the story incorrectly listed Murray as the starting goalie who gave up the first two goals.
Read This Next
Recommended
…..BRING HIM UP…..!!!
Whao!! Let’s see what he does in his next game first. Plus you bring these young kids up now they are going to be either riding the bench or eating nachos, cause you know Sully is gonna stick with his veteran players rather than inject the youth that is the Pen’s future.
Soon. Gotta free up roster spots. Those 3 young guys Koivunen, Broz, and McGroarty all deserve at least a taste of action. There is rw spot open on the 2nd line! Just gotta move someone off the roster for that to happen
I’m pulling for Murray to get back to where he was in Pittsburgh during the halcyon days of the last two Cup runs. .
I’m sure it’s only a matter of time until Sully treats him with 8:33 of TOI on the 4th line.
Until then we can enjoy players like Carter, Harkins and Nieto thrive. Looking forward to the next game of lost opportunities!
….BRING HIM UP….!!!!
Whoa!….or Whao as Chris said….I don’t like Koivunen THAT much….I had a turrets moment or something…
It will be fascinating to see how the Penguins manage those three players. I don’t see a scenario where all three are called up right now—the necessary spots for their continued development simply aren’t available unless injuries occur. With each having played only 20–30 games, I’m not sure that’s a large enough sample size at this stage. Another 15–20 games of experience would likely benefit their growth. A call-up closer to the trade deadline seems more realistic. Given the nature of the Eastern Conference, that timing wouldn’t be too late unless a couple of teams go on a hot streak… Read more »