Chirps from Center Ice

The Penguins advance on to the second round of the Calder Cup Playoffs on probably the most well played game on the season. They will face the Atlantic Division Champion St. John’s IceCaps in the second round.

The Penguins won the game in virtually seven seconds in the second period tonight and held on to win 2-1.

Brad Thiessen vs. Dany Sabourin – Pens Beat Writer Jonathan Bombulie had the lines that head coach John Hynes shook up:

First Period: Both goaltenders had to make ten bell saves. Hits were flying all over the place. Lots of back and forth, high flying, physical hockey. No scoring, no penalties. Shots were 9-6 WBS heading into the…

Second Period: Bryan Lerg had a wide open net that Dany Sabourin somehow got over and made a save on. Teams would trade overlapping penalties and both would get killed. Then, the following:

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Turns out, it was. Cal O’Reilly would get a centering pass from Colin McDonald he would beat Sabourin blocker side on on the back end of the power play. Then, as I was sitting down, ready to tweet the goal, Zach Sill scored :07 later. I didn’t see it, but it sounded like the goal that David Dziurzynski scored on us in the 3-1 loss to Binghamton on the last weekend of the season. Geoff Walker rimmed a puck on the zamboni door side, it kicked out and right to Sill’s stick and past Sabourin. Just a horrible series of events for the Bears there.

Third Period: With visions of Game 6 in the East Division Finals vs. the Charlotte Checkers last year, the Pens took a lead into the third period in an elimination game. Ryan Potulny scored :23 into the period. More back and forth, tension mounting with every shift. Jason Williams takes an interference call just south of 8:00 left to go in the third. The Bears weren’t able to materialize much and killed it. Head Coach Mark French called time out with under two minutes. Dany Sabourin came to the bench for the extra man but the Bears never found the equalizer.

Three Stars: 3) Cal O’Reilly (goal, even) 2) Brad Thiessen (18 saves on 19 shots) 1) Zach Sill (game winning goal, +1)

Thiessen’s finest hour to date. He was sharp when he needed to be and it could be argued won us the hockey game.

The St. John’s IceCaps await. Game 1 is Tuesday. Here is the entire schedule. Games Saturday and Sunday next weekend in Wilkes-Barre.

As far as content goes, I will have the series preview on Monday at noon. With no idea where to start in breaking it down, I now know what I am doing Sunday afternoon.

Stick with me on Twitter for the most up to date stuff and retweets of stuff from the St. John’s side.

One round down, three more to go. Celebrate!

Let’s Go Pens!