Chirps from Center Ice

Nothing can be said about this game, a 5-1 loss to the Binghamton Senators. Reminded me of flat soda. No pop. No fizz. Just flat. Like week old soda that sat out.

John Curry v. Barry Brust tonight. Joey Mormina was a scratch tonight and he really shouldn’t have been because Steve Wagner had a forgettable game.

Two power play goals by Binghamton in the first period tonight set the stage for a disastrous night for Wilkes-Barre. A Bortuzzo trip led to a Corey Locke goal then a Johnson hook led to a Bobby Butler goal. Butler is on a tear his rookie season.

Shots wise, WBS had the lead all night but if you just looked at who played better that last shift or block of time from whistle to whistle, Binghamton outplayed us. Strange too, because yesterday, Sens beat writer Joy Lindsay reported on her Twitter feed that practice was cancelled due to ice issues at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena yesterday. Perhaps the day off was just what the doctor ordered after getting smacked around by Rochester 6-3 on Wednesday.

Referee Ryan Fraser gave Wilkes-Barre every opportunity to make a game out of it. 0 for 6 on the power play and there is nothing to see here.

Eric Tangradi had a forgettable game. Andrew Hutchinson as well. Both played iffy games. Tangradi whiffed on a one-time on a power play in the 2nd and Andrew Hutchinson tip-tapped in the pussy willows in the same power play, in his own zone and it led to a Binghamton scoring chance. If anyone in Pittsburgh who reads this blog wonders why Eric and Andrew are here in Wilkes-Barre, look no further than this game.

I can’t make much more of a story tonight. Perhaps Jonathan Bombulie can in his postgame wrap. Bobby Butler scored two goals. He’s among the AHL rookie leaders. It’s never any good when Francis Lessard lights up the score sheet instead of the penalty sheet. He score late in the third to make it 5-1 and rub it in Wilkes-Barre’s faces.

Chris Collins got the lone Penguin goal late in the third. Roman Wick had the other Binghamton goal in the second at 35 seconds on a daft 2 on 1 with Jim O’Brien.

Brust, Locke and Butler were your three stars.

Around the division: Denis Hamel snipes for two goals and the Adirondack Phantoms cooled off the Norfolk Admirals. Hammer had the game tying and game winning goal (in overtime) as the Phantoms won 4-3. Hershey lost 3-2 to Toronto. Charlotte beat Bridgeport 6-5 and Syracuse shut out Albany 3-0. Standings wise: We are still in first with 20 points, Charlotte has 19 points, Norfolk and Binghamton have 16, Hershey and Syracuse have 15 points, Albany 12 and Binghamton 7. Not a bad night for Wilkes-Barre in the long run.

Off to Worcester tomorrow. I will be there. Booster club trip. They beat ManchVegas 3-1.

Yuck.