DETROIT -- Pittsburgh defenseman prospect Alex Goligoski of Grand Rapids set an American Hockey League playoff record Monday.
No real surprise there, given Goligoski's big-time offensive talents.
Except that he wasn't in a game when he broke the record.
Or even in the American Hockey League, for that matter.
A scoring change by the league office resulted in Goligoski being awarded an assist on Wilkes-Barre-Scranton's first goal in its 4-2 loss to Chicago in Game 2 of the Calder Cup final Sunday.
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That became his 26th point -- four goals, 22 assists -- this spring, breaking the record of 25 for a defenseman set by former Penguins minor leaguer Chris Kelleher in 2001.
The real twist is that Goligoski got the point a few hours after participating in the Penguins' morning skate before Game 5 of the Stanley Cup final against Detroit on Tuesday night at Joe Louis Arena. Pittsburgh won 4-3 in triple overtime.
Goligoski was brought up on emergency recall Sunday after rookie Kris Letang left the team to attend the funeral of Vancouver defenseman Luc Bourdon in New Brunswick. Although Letang was back before game time, the Penguins wanted to make sure they had a defenseman on hand in case Letang was delayed.
The promotion cost Goligoski what would have been a day off, but he didn't seem to mind.
"It's definitely better coming up here and being part of what these guys are going through," he said.
Wlkes-Barre-Scranton trails Chicago 2-0 in the Calder Cup final, but Goligoski said he remains confident, particularly with the next three games scheduled for Wilkes-Barre.
"Going home, we'll have a little more intensity, and I think that's what we need right now," he said. "We've been a good home team all year. I don't think winning three at home is at all out of the question."
Especially if Goligoski's teammates can perform at the level he reached in Games 1 and 2. Wilkes-Barre-Scranton has six goals in those games; Goligoski scored one and assisted on the other five.
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Goligoski will tie an AHL record for playoff points by a rookie if he earns two more. Longtime NHL forward Mike Sillinger set the mark with 28 while playing for Adirondack in 1992.
