The Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled center Erik Christensen and defenseman Ryan Whitney from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
Christensen, 21, currently ranks third in the American Hockey League with 19 points (9g, 10a) in nine games. The CCM Vector/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Oct. 23, he also is tied for third in the league with nine goals, is tied for fourth with 10 assists, is tied for eighth with six power-play assists and is tied for ninth with a plus-7 rating.
A second-year pro from Edmonton, Christensen has a goal in each of the Penguins past five games, has a five-game point streak (5g, 8a) and a four-game assist streak (8a).
Pittsburgh’s third round choice (69th overall) in the 2002 Entry Draft had 27 points (14+13) in 77 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last season.
Whitney, 22, is currently tied for eight in the AHL with 14 points, and ranks first with three game-winning goals, tied for eighth with nine assists, tied for fourth with seven power-play assists and tied for ninth with a plus-7 rating. He also leads all defensemen with 14 points and five goals, and is tied for second among blueliners with nine assists.
The Penguins’ first-round choice (fifth overall) in the 2002 Entry Draft had a five-game point streak (4g, 5a) from Oct. 9-23.
Whitney recorded 41 points (6+35) while appearing in all 80 games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last season, ranking fourth among AHL rookies in assists and 10th in points. The Boston native finished the season seventh on the team and first among Penguins defensemen in scoring last season.
Whitney began his pro career with the Penguins during the 2004 Calder Cup Playoffs, after leading Boston University in scoring with 25 points (9+16) in 38 games. He recorded 10 points (1+9) in 20 games as the Penguins advanced to the Calder Cup Finals, placing him fourth among league defensemen and fifth among rookies in scoring.
Pittsburgh begins a five-game road trip Tuesday night against the New Jersey Devils.
