Chirps from Center Ice

It’s one of those games you wish you can put in a big bottle and take to a science lab and just duplicate 51 more times this season. A 3-0 Penguins shutout this time on home ice.

John Curry v. Jeff Frazee.

Carl Sneep was back in the lineup tonight as was Nick Johnson. As a result Bryan Lerg and Joey Mormina were scratched. Joey Haddad skated as the extra forward in warmups.

First period: A quick Nick Palmieri hook quickly converted into a wide open net for Andrew Hutchinson and a quick 1-0 Wilkes-Barre lead. Super-pest Louis Robitaille skated tonight for the Devils and took a slashing penalty right after. Keven Veilleux had a neat pass on the power play but it did not connect with Captain Ryan Craig. Then the Devils had the chance on the man advantage with Brian Strait off for holding. During the PK, Ryan Craig intercepted a pass and sprung Dustin Jeffrey on a breakaway and he buried it on Frazee to make it 2-0. Dustin is tied for the league lead in shorties. Then late in the period, Jeff Frazee was stung by a shot. He rode out the period but did not return. Geoff Walker and Louis Robitaille fought. Walker skated for Manchester last year so maybe there is history somewhere between the two. Who knows.

First period intermission found yours truly on the ice for a shoot and score type thing. I am right-handed, but used a left-handed stick. Here’s why: The guy I went up against I beat last year in the intermission puck race during the Black and Gold game. I figured I would let him use the right-handed stick. I lost by one goal, missing from the right face off dot and the blue line but cashing in from center ice.

Second period: Dave Caruso came in relief of Frazee. I did not spot Jeff on Albany’s bench second or third periods. This is not good for the Devils because Mike McKenna is on recall to parent New Jersey and Caruso is a call up from the ECHL Trenton Devils. Anyway, Carl Sneep and Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond fought. Leblond is a true heavyweight and has an impressive fight card. He manhandled Sneep, but Carl did that to send a message to the coaching staff that he does not want to be scratched and fears no one or nothing. Louis was back to his antics again, this time goading Jesse Boulerice into an interference call. Curry was on his game tonight, especially in the second when the Devils were flying all over the place.

Third period: Chris Collins stays out while his line changes and chases a puck in deep. For his efforts, he stuffs in a goal to virtually put the game out of reach. That pretty much was it for the third period. Pens sat on the lead while Albany really couldn’t establish anything. What they did muster was sent away by John Curry who was just on a different planet tonight.

Late in the third I spotted Brett Sterling go hard into the side boards with the massive Alexander Urbom. Great pickup by Dylan Harrison or @CxJamesx9 on Twitter who tweeted that The Ticket was in some pain. Trainer Patrick Steidle never attended to him once that I saw but I did see some grimacing in his face after the final whistle.

Stars were Andrew Hutchinson, John Curry and Dustin Jeffrey in that order. I thought Curry deserved first star honors.

Elsewhere around the East, Hershey lost to Worcester 3-2 despite outgunning the Sharks by more than a 2 to 1 margin, 43-21. Bears PxP man John Walton tweeted that the Bears were having a closed-door meeting, as called by coach Mark French. I am not going to editorialize Hershey’s problems. They still remain a dangerous, dangerous team. Charlotte got revenge on Norfolk from the other night when the Admirals handed the Checkers a 7-3 drubbing on Monday. This time Zac Dalpe scores :11 apart in the third to push the Checkers past the Admirals 4-3. What a way to lose. Hamilton beat Adirondack 3-2.

Standings wise, Wilkes-Barre is 15-3 and has 30 points in first. Charlotte has 25 in second. Norfolk has 24 in third. Hershey among all their turmoil is in fourth with 21 points. Bingo is idle tonight they have 21 points and are in fifth. Albany is sixth with 16, Syracuse the same points in seventh and Adirondack has 8 good for last.

The Pens are off to Binghamton tomorrow for the Thanksgiving Day game up there. 37 years they have played hockey on Thanksgiving in Bingo. I will not be in attendance. I also will be in New Jersey tomorrow with family so there is a likelihood that I may not tweet at least the first part of the game. Senators beat writer Joy Lindsay will be at the game and live-tweeting. Follow her now at @PSBJoyOnTheSens.