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After a tumultuous couple of days for the Penguins organization, business had to continue with the issue still in doubt for the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins and their playoff seeding and chances.
They answer with a gritty, gutsy, third period comeback win in Allentown Friday night and win 3-2 and will stay ahead of the Hartford Wolf Pack for another night.
Rematch Saturday night in Wilkes-Barre with these two teams.
Here’s how they lined up:
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Lineup Notes: More trades. Magnus Hellberg was traded to Florida for Ludovic Waeber. Waeber is a goalie who did time with the Charlotte Checkers. In a corresponding move, Coal Street signed Jaxon Castor to a PTO. The thought process here is twofold. 1) You may see Taylor Gauthier get recalled and stay with Wilkes-Barre. Gauthier has been tearing up the ECHL. Let him back up Blomqvist and if need be, call up Weaber or even Garret Sparks if you have to. 2) Just have Waeber back up Blomqvist.
I am leaning more towards number two, but you have to read on to see why.
I think it is apparent that Pittsburgh is fast tracking Blomqvist for the NHL next season. He’s earned it.
Other moves were paper transactions on Valtteri Puustinen and Jonathan Gruden, making them eligible for assignment to Wilkes-Barre when Pittsburgh’s season wraps up and Joona Koppanen being assigned and playing Friday in Allentown.
On ice, Lukas Svejkovsky and Jack Rathbone were back from their respective injuries. Matt Filipe and Dillon Hamaliuk were out for Svejkovsky and Laderoute. Jack Rathbone for Owen Headrick.
Ty Smith stays in Wilkes-Barre. How? He was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes and is Carolina property. The Hurricanes do not have an AHL affiliate. The Chicago Wolves are independent, opting to go without an NHL affiliate so, for now, Smith stays put.
Whew. That’s a lot. Onto the game.
First Period: I told you in the Weekend Preview that if the Penguins wanted to have success against the Phantoms they had to score a power play goal in each game. Well, it took them four seconds, but they did score a power play goal when Austin Rueschhoff cleaned up the loose change left by a shot from Vinnie Hinostroza from the point.
Pace slowed down a bit from there as it usually does when these teams meet.
Second Period: Phantoms jump the Pens from the drop of the puck and Ty Smith and Vinnie Hinostroza get their wires crossed and Jack Rathbone tries to bail them out but the pass is picked off at center ice by Victor Mete who finds Brandon Furry who then finds a streaking Rhett Gardner who goes top corner on a post to post going Joel Blomqvist to tie the game at one.
Well past ten minutes and all the Pens had was a grip it and rip it shot from Jagger Joshua.
They picked it up a bit, but then Lehigh Valley was back on it quickly and Rhett Gardner bags his second of the period on a two man advantage for the Phantoms and it’s 2-1.
Penguins looked bad that period, out of sync and what have you.
Third Period: Needing a positive response, the Penguins get one in the form of Lukas Svejkovsky for his first of the season in the AHL on an absolute dart.
Game started to devolve a bit after that, every whistle had fisticuffs. Pens miss on a 4:00 double minor but looked good on it, credit Lehigh Valley’s penalty kill I guess.
Things settled from there and it appeared as if that they were headed to overtime and we all know the Penguins success or lack thereof in that period.
Corey Andonovski to the rescue.
A most ridiculous tip or deflection of a pass from Ryan Shea for Andonovski who has had a mercurial year. If a guy like Andonovski starts warming up, there’s no telling the heights that this team can reach.
Lehigh Valley pulled Cal Petersen for an extra attacker but ere not able to find the equalizer.
Three Stars: 3) Cal Petersen (18 saves) 2) Rhett Gardner (two goals) 1) Corey Andonovski (game winning goal)
The Good: They battled. JD Forrest pushed the right buttons and it’s a huge two points that will help them down the stretch.
The Bad: Game too close for my liking and I didn’t like that second period at all against a non playoff team.
Turning Point: The Andonovski goal is the clear and obvious choice here.
Around the Division: Hartford wins 7-4 over Providence….Charlotte beats Hershey 5-3 for the Bears third loss in a row? Bridgeport beats Springfield 4-2.
Standings: Hershey 86 – Providence 73 – Penguins 66 – Hartford 65 – Charlotte 62 – Springfield 55 – Lehigh Valley 53 – Bridgeport 45
A note, the Penguins finished last season with 66 points.
Wheeling Update: Nailers are out in Fort Wayne, Indiana. That game started late. Box here.
Back to Gauthier, he started in goal for Wheeling Friday, so the thought is Waeber may be headed to Wilkes-Barre. Who knows, though.
Video Highlights:
Back at it for the St. Patrick’s Day Celebration game against the Phantoms again in a rematch.
Let’s Go Pens!