Chirps from Center Ice

A gritty hard-fought game this afternoon in Wilkes-Barre saw the Penguins win 2-1. All the goals came from fourth liners on both sides.

Brad Thiessen v. Robin Lehner this afternoon.

First period saw Geoff Kinrade for Bingo score first. This was set up by a Steve Wagner failed clearing attempt. Steve’s been in a rut recently. Used to be a rock on D now it’s more iffy play. Later in the period a Derek Smith failed clearing attempt found Zach Sill’s blade for a 1-1 tie. Bingo really made a push to make the score more than what it was and just put the score out of reach after a long three in three weekend for both teams, as evidenced by the 16-7 shots on goal advantage for the Sens.

Second period, lots of back and forth action. Jeff Smith was the referee again and there were times he could have called something, but he gets it’s a man’s game and let the boys play. Jesse Boulerice of all people scored what would end up the game winning goal after a cycle behind Lehner’s net.

In the third period Bingo would press but not crack Brad Thiessen. About halfway in the period Brad was behind his net and Jim O’Brien had an empty cage to shoot at but Steve Wagner rectified his recent spotty defensive play of late to keep the score 2-1. Both teams would trade penalties but nothing doing and it was all she wrote. WBS improves to 14-3.

Couple of notes: Eric Tangradi had a really great game with a lot of scoring opportunities. Great work by the fourth line guys tonight, as Chris Collins, Zach Sill and Jesse Boulerice were stars three thru one. Another game WBS gets outshot and another game WBS wins while being outshot. A win finally on home ice to break the streak of three straight losses at home.

Could be trouble: Kyle M. (@ovifan8) reported on his Twitter feed that of all people, Chris Bourque was in the building tonight to watch the Bears and Hartford Wolf Pack tonight, a game Hershey would win 4-3. Nothing official from beat writer Tim Leone, the Bears or John Walton’s respective twitter feeds so take it for what it is worth. Washington owns Bourque’s Europe rights until December. He’d have to report there then get sent down, have to clear waivers, the whole bit. I don’t know if he would qualify as a veteran or not.

In the balance of East Division action, Syracuse coughed up three goals in :52 to lose to the Rochester Americans 5-4. This angers Chairman How’s Glorious Army. As it should.

Standings wise we look like this: WBS has 28 points good for first. Idle Charlotte has 23 good for second. Norfolk has 22 for third. Hershey, fourth at 21 points. Bingo has 21 points too but the first tiebreak is wins so they are in fifth. Albany and Syracuse have 16 a piece for sixth and seventh respectively and the Phantoms have 8 points good for last place.

J’ever wonder whatever became of Patrick Maroon? You know, the exiled Adirondack Phantoms forward who was basically thrown off the team a few weeks ago with no reason given? He was traded to Anaheim today, along with David Laliberte. In return, the Phantoms get Danny Syvret and Rob Bordson. Tim McManus has all you need over at his blog.

Just a note: I will be in New Jersey the better part of the afternoon on Thanksgiving and will probably not be able to tweet some, if not all of the Thanksgiving game between Wilkes-Barre and Binghamton in Binghamton. Joy Lindsay from the Press Sun and Bulletin in Binghamton live tweets every B-Sens game and will be tweeting this one as well. Lend her a follow, won’t you?

Multi-year season ticket holder meet and greet is tomorrow. If anything of substance happens there or if anything goofy starts with this Bourque to Hershey noise (which is all it is because it isn’t, as of 8 pm Sunday night confirmed) check me out here tomorrow afternoon. You can always follow along on Twitter too. Don’t forget you can always e-mail me too.

Let’s Go Pens!