Skrbek’s Goal Gives Pens 4th Straight Victory

By MARK FITZHENRY Times Leader Sports Writer
Saturday, December 18, 1999 Page: 1B

WILKES-BARRE TWP. – Penguins defenseman Pavel Skrbek has three game-winning
goals in the past four games.

“I’m lucky,” he says.
He’s not, though. He has one of the best shots from the blue line in the
American Hockey League. His coach tells him so. His teammates tell him so. And
now he’s using it.

On Friday, his scorching power-play goal with 4:34 remaining was the
difference in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s 2-1 victory over the Albany River Rats
before 6,191 at the arena. It also helped the Pens increase their season-best
winning streak to four in front of two very important guests: Pens general
manager Craig Patrick and new Pittsburgh coach/eternal Olympic hero Herb
Brooks.

Oh yes – the four-game streak comes after the Pens won three of their first

Glenn Patrick calls him now – as the starting goalie.

Weninger, an obvious fan favorite, has allowed eight goals in those games.
He stopped 27 of 28 shots Friday, allowing only a power-play goal off a
deflection for a 1-1 tie in the second period. He is 6-5-3 on a team with
seven victories.

But Weninger is no certain starter tonight against Philadelphia, especially
if NHL demotee Jean-Sebastian Aubin is over his cough and sore throat.

“We’re finally on an extended winning streak,” Patrick said. “That’s a
tough question, how hard would it be (to sit Weninger)? Then again, we’ve got
another hot goalie who allowed six goals in four games in Pittsburgh.”

The Penguins are 7-14-5-1, one point behind Albany and Hamilton for third
place in the Empire Division.

“There’s a lot of confidence in this room right now,” defenseman Chris
Kelleher said.

The Pens won without their top defenseman, John Slaney, who is nursing a
sore groin. Slaney is a key component in the Pens’ power play, but he wasn’t
missed when the Pens’ Boris Protsenko drew an interference penalty with 5:46
left in the game to set up a man advantage.

“Boris is usually the one who gets the penalties,” Patrick cracked.

Skrbek got the game-winner, but all Pens on the ice played a role. Tyler
Wright won both faceoffs, a key in enabling the Pens to keep the puck in the
offensive zone for 1:07 of the power play’s 1:12. Defenseman Kurtis Drummond
prevented a clearing attempt from leaving the zone, so the Pens could continue
their setup.

Drummond slid a pass across to Skrbek, who faked a shot, then moved in. And
moved in. And moved in. And sung the Czech Republic national anthem. And moved
in some more, getting a skate in the right faceoff circle before whistling a
shot past Frederic Henry.

“The goalie’s got to be lucky to stop that shot,” Skrbek said.

“I’d like to see on tape why Skrbek was that open on that side twice,”
Patrick said. “Skrbek has a great shot. We’re really working on him to take
that shot. He has the best shot on the team.”