Chirps from Center Ice

         vs.        

0                              8

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I’m in.

Last year, and the year before, the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins shutout their opponent on the last regular season game.

They were bounced by the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in the First Round the following week.

Not this year.

Not only is Lehigh Valley not going to be their first round opponent, the Penguins have a first round bye and the Phantoms were eliminated from playoff contention.

An 8-0 win over a Rochester team that needed to win in order to punch the final playoff ticket in the Calder Cup Playoffs? This game meant more to the Americans than it did to the Penguins. Sure, a 100 points on the season would have been cool, but it’s about keeping your nose clean and not getting anyone hurt or suspended.

More on that in a minute, but the Penguins absolutely curb stomped a listless Americans team that had no answer for anything that essentially nine forwards threw at them for sixty minutes.

Avery Hayes was lost due to injury in the first. I think it’s precautionary, but you be the judge here…

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Boko Imama (abuse of officials) and Tanner Howe (5 and a game for a cross check to ex-Penguin Jack Rathbone) were given game misconducts.

So it’s nine forwards and an avalanche of goals.

I’m a believer.

They finish the season with 101 points which just two other teams, Providence and Grand Rapids, can lay claim to and maybe Ontario, depending on a later game. The Penguins have been the class of the league consistently from the jump. There isn’t a team in the Eastern Conference that can touch them five on five. This was evident Saturday against Rochester.

That makes them favorites in any series.

We will know tomorrow who plays who 3 through 6 in the Atlantic, but I don’t think it matters. The Penguins will be favored until they aren’t.

I’ll put my predictions together Sunday evening and fine tune things for a debut probably Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on the schedule but if there’s one thing that they got out of me after a showing like this Saturday it’s this.

I like their damn chances.

Here are all the goals, cause why the hell not. But first, they lined up like this…

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Lineup Notes: Aidan McDonough, Gabe Klassen and Boko Imama for Aaron Huglen Daniel Russell and Ryan Miller up front. On defense it was the same as Friday, but the pairings shuffled.

I think it’s the lineup, or close to it, you see Game 1.

Okay here are the goals.

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McGroarty was FLYING all night. They go as he goes, I get the feel of.

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Power play humming or is Rochester’s penalty kill just that bad?

Avery Hayes was hit at around the 7:19 mark. Beau Halkidis and Cole MacDonald completely lost control of the game. What did I tell you about Halkidis Friday? Pair him with a guy like Morgan MacPhee and they look great. Put him in charge as head ref and you have this dogs breakfast of a penalty slop fest.

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I don’t think you get any lower of an angle there for a goal. Again, McGraorty was FEELING it.

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You get Tristan Broz running down hill and it’s curtains for the other team.

Here’s your turning point….

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Tanner Howe assessed a 5:00 major for cross checking which carries an automatic game misconduct. Rochester power play looking to get back into it. Owen Pickering just crushes what little life they had in them and it’s a runaway train after that.

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Harvey-Pinard has stayed healthy and is an underrated asset this team has that makes them dangerous.

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Koivunen too. This is a ten headed monster of a hockey team. Again, they were right there in front of me and I refused to buy in. I’m in already.

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This was at the goal that did it. Harvey-Pinard from his stomach, deflects a goal. I’m in.

The only question was whether Sergei Murashov, who seemed like a non-factor, would get a shutout.

Rochester only put two shots on him in the third. He got his shutout. 27 saves.

Three Stars: 3) Rafaël Harvey-Pinard (two goals) 2) Rutger McGroarty (two goals, assist) 1) Sergei Murashov (27 saves)

The Good: 101 points. Testament to Kirk MacDonald and his coaching strategy. He pressed the right buttons, the team stayed overall healthy and they have a bye. Shutout their opponent on the final regular season game is a cherry on top of an almost perfect regular season.

The Bad: Beside the health of Avery Hayes, my percentages with predictions suck, but we will talk to you Tuesday or Wednesday with them anyway. Blind guesses are Four, Five, Six and Five. Caveat Emptor.

Around the Division: Providence does not set the AHL record for best ever regular season team after Utica beat them 4-2. Utica is done at 71 points, tied with Rochester now who head to Hershey Sunday. The Amerks need just one point to claim the final spot. If not, then Utica gets in. Hershey loses 2-1 to Bridgeport dropping the Bears to the sixth spot. They cannot catch Bridgeport at fourth and that means the Islanders are locked in at four. Springfield is also done, winning 4-3 over Hartford. Hershey needs a point to bump Springfield to the six. More on this tomorrow. I may pop in with a Sunday blog.

Lehigh Valley shutout Charlotte 2-0 in other action.

Standings: Providence 110 – Penguins 101 – Charlotte 91 – Bridgeport 76 – Springfield 72 – Hershey 71 – Lehigh Valley 68 – Hartford 60

Wheeling Update: The Nailers lose 4-3 to the Indy Fuel. The Nailers, much like the Penguins, didn’t have anything else to play for this weekend. Kelly Cup Playoffs start next week.

Video Highlights: 

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Talk to you soon. Maybe Sunday. If not, early next week with the Calder Cup Playoff Prediction.

Let’s Go Pens!

         vs.        

1                              4

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So they dressed as good a lineup I think that you will see save for one or two guys and beat Bridgeport 4-1 in the franchises final regular season meeting but I don’t think that was the headline of the evening.

It’s the play of Joel Blomqvist.

Now the sixth win in a row for Blomqvist, and Kirk MacDonald I think has some real decisions ahead of him. Who starts Game 1 of the Atlantic Division Semifinals in a few weeks? A case can be made for both Blomqvist or Sergei Murashov. I think it will be Murashov but I have more confidence in Blomqvist, if that makes any sense.

All the heavy hitters for Wilkes-Barre scored Friday. Avery Hayes on the power play, Ville Koivunen, Finn Harding and a returning from injury Tristan Broz.

Blomqvist stopped 25 shots.

Here’s how they lined up. Bridgeport didn’t post lines. I hope Hamilton next year does.

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Lineup Notes: Aidan McDonough, Gabe Klassen, Raivis Ansons, Atley Calvert and Boko Imama were out for a returning Tristan Broz (injury) Rutger McGroarty, Avery Hayes, Rafaël Harvey-Pinard, Ville Koivunen and Joona Koppanen (NHL recalls) as they went back to 12 forwards / 6 defensemen. On defense Alex Alexeyev, Broten Sabo, Quinn Beauchesne and Scooter Brickey came out for Phil Kemp, Owen Pickering and Sebastian Aho.

First Period: Out of the gate they took two penalties, but navigated them clean. Finn Harding made a move around a guy and scored to put them on the board at 8:27, then Avery Hayes scored a power play goal on a full five on three called against the Islanders for two separate penalties that happened concurrently and then Ville Koivunen scored with :18 left in the period to make it 3-0.

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Second Period: There was a proposal during a stoppage and I am coming around to the belief that these are staged. They have to be. You are proposing to your girlfriend in an arena / ballpark full of strangers for attention, when it really should be about her and her only. I for one, just don’t know.

Anyway, future AHL Hall of Famer and Bridgeport legend Chris Terry stabbed one across the line in an overall sleepy period for both teams as the Islanders got on the board.

(no GIF here, heard the social media team was packing up for the move to Canada)

Third Period: Tristan Broz scored in his return that made it 4-1 and that means free coffee!

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No penalties after the first period. Beau Halkidis sometimes makes it about him but Morgan MacPhee is a good ref, so it’s a great pairing. Halkidis will be here Saturday.

Three Stars: 3) Joel Blomqvist (25 saves) 2) Tristan Broz (goal, assist) 1) Ville Koivunen (goal, two assists)

The Good: I don’t know if it was a message sent, but the Islanders are a favorite I think in my book to make it out of the first round, and it’s possible that they see the Penguins again at some point.

The Bad: I didn’t like the Broz penalty just :15 in and the Aho hold a few minutes after that. I’m waffling on how far I think the Penguins go in the playoffs. 5 on 5 there’s not a team in the AHL that can touch them, at least over here in the East. I’ll get into the numbers probably Sunday, but if you get into a special teams battle with this team you can beat them. It’s the same thing all the time with this team but I suppose if you boat race your opponent to the tune of three goals in the first, a lot of the warts are covered up.

Turning Point: I think the Koivunen goal gets it here.

Around the Division: Hartford comes back and beats playoff bound Springfield 7-5….Utica beats a resting Providence Bruins team 4-1. The Comets must win out and Rochester must lose out for the final playoff spot in the North Division. That means Rochester’s playoffs start tomorrow in Wilkes-Barre, if they already didn’t start tonight at home in Cleveland (where they lost 2-1) so get ready. The Penguins want 101 also. No, not the amount of players that have played for them this season (although it seems) but 101 points, which is what they can max out at.

Standings: Providence 110 – Penguins 99 – Charlotte 91 – Bridgeport 74 – Hershey 71 – Springfield 70 – Lehigh Valley 66 – Hartford 60

Wheeling Update: The Nailers lost 5-2 in Toledo.

Video Highlights: 

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More tomorrow for the regular season finale then the real fun begins.

Let’s Go Pens!

         vs.        

5                             1

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You had a desperate Hershey Bears team that received reinforcements and still hadn’t punched a playoff ticket against a Wilkes-Barre / Scranton team that has nothing to play for as a second seed in the Atlantic Division.

One team dressed an experienced team that needed to win to maintain a playoff hope and another team that dressed three kids making their AHL debuts.

Results typical, Penguins lose 5-1.

I mean it was competitive to start with the Penguins outskating the Bears at times in the first, a fluke goal late gave Hershey a 1-0 lead going into the second period.

There, just :19 in, the Bears are awarded a power play which they cash in on and then before you know it, they add a third to turn it into a run away.

Atley Calvert scored the lone goal for the Penguins, Hershey added two empty net goals to make the score seem bigger than it seemed.

That’s essentially it. I’ll give you the lineups and then the goals that mattered and then I’m out of here

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Lineup Notes: Forwards Rafael Harvey-Pinard, Avery Hayes, Ville Koivunen, Joona Koppanen and Rutger McGroarty were reassigned earlier in the day but obviously didn’t play. Sergei Murashov was named to the 2025 AHL All-Rookie team. Coal Street signed another Michigan State Spartan to an ATO, Brady Peddle, who is a Pittsburgh draft pick. Kyle Dubas loves Sparty and some B1G hockey players.

From last game, Harvey-Pinard and Nolan Renwick out at forward. Ryan Miller made his pro debut off Aaron Huglen at center. On defense it’s Broten Sabo and Quinn Beauchesne (pro debuts) and Scooter Brickey in for Owen Pickering and Sebastian Aho.

Here’s the goals…

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Refs took a long look on replay but ruled it good.

Here was a fantastic save from Clay Stevenson in the first period of a scoreless game.

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Not shown, but lineman Tommy George came to collect the puck from Stevenson and Stevenson forced him to give him dap on a great save. I thought it was hilarious.

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The Strome goal here is your turning point. No coming back from three against this Bears lineup with this Penguins lineup.

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Not for a lack of effort, but the Penguins limited Herhsey to just five shots in the third.

(two were empty netters)

The Good: No one got hurt.

Around the Division: Springfield pounds Lehigh Valley 7-1 and with this, eliminates the Phantoms from the playoffs. Springfield and Hershey are your two final playoff teams from the Atlantic Division. Bridgeport beat Hartford 5-2 in other action.

Standings: Providence 110 – Wilkes-Barre 97 – Charlotte 91 – Bridgeport 74 – Hershey 71 – Springfield 70 – Lehigh Valley 66 – Hartford 58

Wheeling Update: The Nailers were off.

Video Highlights: 

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More Friday after the Islanders drop by. Look for an even more inexperienced lineup, if I had to guess.

I don’t think anyone got hurt, so it’s a win in the end.

Let’s Go Pens!

           vs.          

1                                 4

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I changed the blog headline at the last second because I wanted to tell you here in the open that the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins have locked up second place in the Atlantic Division and will avoid the First Round and instead enjoy a bye.

That’s because the Hershey Bears did the Penguins a solid and defeated the Charlotte Checkers 2-1 in regulation earlier in the day and no matter what happened Saturday night in Wilkes-Barre, the bye was the Penguins.

“House Money” was the operating headline here but I didn’t think that stuck given the circumstances of the game needing to be played, so we went with the fun, punny, ‘bye Felicia’ headline.

Oh, the Penguins defeated the Cleveland Monsters 4-1 behind a pair of Aidan McDonough goals.

I again ask, where the hell would we be without Aidan McDonough?

Here’s how they lined up:

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Lineup Notes: Pittsburgh didn’t have anything to play for so they decided to call up Rutger McGroarty, Joona Koppanen and Ville Koivunen because they are playing with house money locked into the second seed in the Metropolitan Division. Coal Street recalled Nolan Renwick earlier in the day and he, Zach Gallant and a returning Aaron Huglen were in up front and Alex Alexeyev was in for Phil Kemp on defense.

First Period: Daniel Russell leads a two on one with Atley Clavert, puts a shot on net he knows will be redirected to Calvert and it’s Calvert who score to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead.

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(journalistic integrity denies me the right to call them the Gandy Dancers. come on, I give you terrible pun headlines, ain’t that enough?)

Second Period: Highlight of the period was Joel Blomqvist stopping a Tate Singleton breakaway clean I hope is in the highlight package below.

The teams traded two power plays a side.

Third Period: The Penguins got a bit of a scare when Sebastian Aho was called for a double minor for high sticking but the Penguins penalty kill was able to get out of it clean.

No, seriously, where the hell would we be without Aidan McDonough?

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Big goal. Why?

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This was less than a minute later.

Aidan McDonough said watch this…

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:58 later to be exact.

So after nearly fifty minutes of nothing offensively but for one goal, it’s three goals in the span of 1:50.

With time dwindling, Zach Sawchenko was vacated from the net and Tanner Howe scored an empty net goal, fire up the coffee pots!

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Three Stars: 3) Joel Blomqvist (25 saves) 2) Atley Calvert (goal, assist) 1) Aidan McDonough (two goals)

The Good: Nice tidy win against a playoff bound Cleveland team. Wilkes-Barre was at about 80% strength, 75% depending on who you talk to, and handled a playoff bound Cleveland Monsters team.

The Bad: Would like to see them get a shutout for one of their goaltenders in one of the next two games. Just not the last game, that’s been a bad omen the last two seasons.

Turning Point: Pick either the 4:00 kill on the Aho high stick to start the third or the McDonough power play goal that made it 3-1.

Around the Division: I don’t think the rest it matters since they are cemented in the two seed. Play the dame kids the rest of the season and keep healthy!

Here’s the Saturday night scoreboard with of course ten minutes left to play in the third at 9:40 on a Saturday night.

Standings: Doesn’t matter, Penguins are locked in the two seed with 97 points and have three more games to play. They can max at 103. Getting 100+ points would be sweet.

Here’s the standings board if you are so interested.

Wheeling Update: Nailers with a big win in Reading.

Video Highlights: That Blomqvist save I talked about above is at the :50 mark below.

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Three games left, play your kids!

More this coming Wednesday when Hershey stops in.

Let’s Go Pens!

          @          

5                            6

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At one point in this contest, the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins were up 5-2 in the third period.

But three unanswered goals by the Bridgeport Islanders with relentless pressure sees the team get to overtime where Pierrick Dubé scores with left to play to give the Islanders a 6-5 overtime win.

Ex-Hershey Bear in a Bear-ish market. Had fellow Islander Ethan Bear scored the overtime winner it would have been “Bear Market” as your headline. Let me explain…

Here’s how they lined up first though  – Bridgeport didn’t post lines.

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Lineup Notes: Wilkes-Barre recalled Maxim Pavlenko Thursday morning but neither he nor Taylor Gauthier appeared in the game as Pittsburgh sent Sergei Murashov back in time to start. As the graphic stated, Daniel Russell and Mikhaïl Ilyin both made their AHL debuts.

Aaron Huglen, fresh off his hat trick Sunday in Allentown, is week to week with a lower body injury. My spies advise me he’s in a walking boot. He joins Melvin Fernstrom and Tritan Broz in the week to week category, but Broz is practicing in red. Chase Pietila for Alex Alexeyev on defense.

First Period: Daylan Kuefler outmuscles Chase Pietila and scores just 92 seconds into the game and the Islanders were off and running.

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Penguins settled, held the Islanders without a shot for a bit and then Daniel Russell puts a shot on net that Finn Harding tips in for a goal at 6:22 and it’s a tie game.

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Second Period: Penguins net a weird goal from Tanner Howe. Howe rainbows a shot over 6’8 goaltender Henrik Tikkanen for the Islanders and it goes in.

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Indeed.

:59 later, Gabe Klassen scores on a nice tic tac goal from Ville Koivunen and it’s a 3-1 Penguins lead now.

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Guys like Klassen and Aidan McDonough are the parts that make this Penguins engine go.

But then the Islanders would respond with a goal. Marshall Warren throws a shot at the net and Victor Eklund scored his first AHL goal that brings Bridgeport back to within one.

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But then Harrison Brunicke scores his fist regular season pro goal (he had a playoff goal last year) while the teams were at 4-on-4 that re-establishes the two goal Penguins lead.

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Couple things, I’m bearish on the Penguins chances in the postseason because they went 0/3 on the power play to this point. In a close game like this and the power plays just rolling into you, they gotta make these count.

Third Period: Hot start for Wilkes-Barre as Atley Calvert scores less than two minutes in and it’s a 5-2 Penguins lead.

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But :35 later, Joey Larson. scores to make it 5-3.

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I’m not going to bury Harrison Brunicke because he scored a goal in the contest, but you are a hockey player and not a traffic cop. What’s with the pointing? Cover the guy in front!

Turning point of the game here as Boko Imama crushes Sean Day into the boards and is ejected from the contest and the Islanders are given a 5:00 major power play.

Liam Foudy scores a power play goal with :13 left in it to bring the Islanders to one.

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At this point it was a holding on for the Penguins as the Islanders had all the momentum a team could have, and it’s a mere formality at this point.

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Damn.

Overtime: Bridgeport had all the possession time and it’s Pierrick Dubé scoring the goal to give the Islanders a ninth straight home win.

(Islanders stopped short of posting a GIF here)

Double damn.

Three Stars: 3) Daylan Kuefer (goal, assist) 2) Gabe Klassen (goal, assist) 1) Pierrick Dubé (goal, assist)

The Good: They are getting painstakingly close to wrapping up the first round bye, but now need a win Saturday and help from Hershey to beat the Charlotte Checkers in order to do it. If not, it’s three cracks next week. As for tonight? They scored five goals and that’s usually enough to carry them to a win.

The Bad: Besides handing Providence the Atlantic Division Championship with the OT loss, they could have put the game away if they would have scored on one of the early power plays in the game and didn’t. I’m starting to gather data and look at trends of the teams that have qualified for the playoffs, including the Penguins, but I am very, very bearish on this Wilkes-Barre team. This win for Bridgeport solidifies them as a solid playoff favorite and could get them home ice in the First Round. It was a playoff like atmosphere in Bridgeport and the Penguins didn’t win the game and on top of that coughed up a three goal lead in the third period. That’s not a Calder Cup contending team by any stretch of the imagination.

Turning Point: The Imama 5:00 major started the snowball down the hill for the Islanders and the rest was history.

Around the Division: They all watched us. No really, there were no other AHL games anywhere.

Standings: Providence 104 – Penguins 95 – Charlotte 89 – Bridgeport 70 – Hershey 67 – Springfield 66 – Lehigh Valley 62 – Hartford 56

Wheeling Update: The Nailers were off.

Video Highlights: 

They are off Friday and back Saturday as they reincarnate into the Steamtown Gandy Dancers. Train puns? Sure, why not!

Let’s Go Pens!