Chirps from Center Ice

Real quick postgamer out of me tonight because I have work in the morning. Eric Tangradi had a break out game tonight with the first hat trick of the season for WBS in a 5-1 romp over the Toronto Marlies.

John Curry vs. Jussi Rynnas this evening. Geoff Walker was the scratch as Keven Veilleux was back in the lineup.

First period: Tangradi got the party started at 1:17 when he went five-hole on Rynnas. I didn’t realize at the time but Wilkes-Barre really dominated the Marlies tonight in all aspects of the game. At 7:54 of the first Jess Boulerice scored from the high slot to make it 2-0 and, at the time, the shots on goal were 15-3 in favor of the Penguins. Later, Brett Sterling scored a goal which should be on the AHL highlight reels for the rest of the season. A shot blocker-side of Rynnas which struck his water bottle and sent it flying. Not just that, but the top came off! With 3:58 left to play in the game, Wilkes-Barre already put 20 shots on Rynnas. As soon as I noticed that, Justin Hodgson for the Marlies scored to give the Marlies life. That goal was due to yet another defensive breakdown by Steve Wagner. The worst possible time for the Penguins and the best possible time for the Marlies. Brett Sterling went to the box for tripping and the Pens and their 16th ranked penalty kill disposed of it and the period would end 3-1, with a 20-8 shots advantage for WBS.

Second period: Ben Scrivens would relieve Rynnas in goal. Tangradi again at 6:46. Joe Vitale dispossessed a Marlie defenseman and went down on a 2 on 1 with Eric and the Big Dog buried it. Later in the period Darryl Boyce for Toronto would sit on a rough and Eric Tangradi would cause the lids to fly in Wilkes-Barre with a power play, hat trick goal. The period would end with the Pens leading the shot category by a 31-14 advantage.

Third period: No scoring. No penalties. Toronto had a bevy of opportunities to score, missing wide open net after wide open net. Other than the 5-1 lead, an otherwise boring period of hockey.

Joe Vitale, Brett Sterling and Eric Tangradi were +3 tonight and were your three stars in that order. Vitale is near the top of the league in +/- so I will have to see tomorrow where he shakes out. Dustin Jeffrey’s goal and point streak ended. It appears Toronto focused on him tonight and forgot about the rest of the Penguins. This is depth in action friends: Tangradi a four point night (3-1-4), Sterling a three point night (1-2-3). Vitale three assists.

Ex-Penguins Luca Caputi and Danny Richmond were pointless tonight. Caputi registered one shot on goal.

Around the East: Norfolk scores three goals in the third to tie the score at three only to lose in overtime to the Crunch 4-3. Hershey beat Albany 3-2. Referee Chris Brown’s arm got a workout tonight as there were 71 PIMs in that game.

Standings: With the win, WBS improves to 21-4 and 42 points, good for 1st in the division and conference. Overall tops by five points over the West Division leading San Antonio Rampage. Norfolk picks up the losers point with the OT loss to the Crunch, I think they overlooked Syracuse tonight for the meeting this weekend versus Wilkes-Barre / Scranton. Hershey is all of a sudden relevant again (when weren’t they?) in third with 31 points. Charlotte is idle with the same 31 points and sit fourth. Bingo is eight points back in fifth with 23 points. Albany has 22 points in sixth, Syracuse seventh with 22 points and Adirondack has been stuck on 8 points.

Travel day for the team tomorrow to Norfolk. Likely no updates from Bombulie or any other entity. I’ll try to think of something creative, but if not check us out here Friday afternoon for the Gameday post for Norfolk.

Let’s Go Pens!