Penguins Prospects: P.O. Joseph’s Three Points Leads WBS to 6-0 Victory

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (9-8-1-2) snapped a three-game losing streak Sunday afternoon. A couple of Pittsburgh Penguins prospects led the farm team. Defenseman P.O. Joseph continued his hot streak and WBS shut out the Springfield Thunderbirds 6-0 at Mohegan Sun Arena.

Joseph, 22, led the WBS Penguins with a goal, two assists, and a plus-4 rating. He has six points in seven games since returning from a four-game stint with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Several Penguins prospects notched assists. Nathan Legare, Valterri Puustinen, and Filip Hallander had one helper each.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton took control early in the first period when Anthony Angello scored a short-handed goal on a rebound from Taylor Fedun’s shot. It was Angello’s first goal in just his second AHL game this season. He played 19 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins last season.

The shortie was just the beginning for the WBS Penguins. Two minutes into the second period, Félix Robert scored his sixth of the season. Six minutes later, Joseph was able to skate down the left wing and roofed the puck over Colten Ellis for a 3-0 lead WBS Penguins lead.

Joseph wasn’t done. He and Pittsburgh Penguins training camp PTO-signee Matt Bartkowski worked a give-and-go, and Bartkowski ripped a one-timer for a 4-0 lead. To wrap up the second, Joseph fed Bartkowski for another one-timer. Matt Olson deflected the shot, and the game was essentially over with a 5-0 WBS Penguins lead after 40 minutes.

In the third period, Penguins farm-hand Justin Almeida scored his first goal after leaving COVID-19 protocol. He dropped to one knee to score his first of the season.

Goalie Matt Jurisk, formerly of the ECHL’s Idaho Steelheads, made his AHL debut with 28 saves. His first AHL win and shutout.

Joseph’s three-point night marked the first multi-point game of the season; and his first since he had two assists in a 6-4 loss at Binghamton on May 5th, 2021.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is back in action on Tuesday as they host Hershey with puck drop at 7:05 pm.