Chirps from Center Ice

Pens needed to respond to the 9-5 whooping Charlotte put on them Sunday and they did in grand fashion tonight winning 6-4. They nearly let the game slip away in the second period though. More on that in a minute.

John Curry vs. Justin Pogge. Dustin Jeffrey was back from Pittsburgh, so Carl Sneep was the scratch along with Ryan Schnell. Jesse Boulerice served his last game on suspension and will be available Friday.

First Period: Pens came out flying. Maybe too much, as Brett Sterling was in the box serving a roughing call none other than Dustin Jeffrey scored shorthanded to make it 1-0. Then right after that, Ryan Craig scored and it was 2-0. Then, the Pens would find themselves shorthanded again having to kill off 1:04 of a 5 on 3 penalty. Andrew Hutchinson would interfere with a Checker then Brain Strait would get called on a bush league cross check. Brett Carson needed little time from the point to make it 2-1. The Pens responded right back, however and Joey Mormina would fire a shot from the point that Dustin Jeffrey would deflect while getting cross checked in the back. Soon thereafter, Tim Wallace would chase Justin Pogge with a garbage rebound.

Eric Tangradi was apparently slashed later in the period behind the Charlotte net and referee David Banfield didn’t see it. Eric said something to Banfield that he didn’t like and gave Tangradi an unsportsmanlike penalty. Well, Oskar Osala made the Pens pay to make it 4-2 after one period.

Second Period: John Hynes apparently had enough of Eric Tangradi’s antics and benched him the whole second period. Meanwhile, Riley Nash and Jerome Samson scored for Charlotte to tie the game at 4.

Thoughts this period: The power play is seriously a huge concern going forward for this team. Right after the Samson goal, Brad Herauf of the Checkers said something to the Pens bench Banfield didn’t like and sat him in the box for unsportsmanlike conduct. Pens couldn’t do anything with it. That single period alone was the worst period we have had all season being well rested and healthy.

Third Period: Old Penguin teams play not to lose and are defeated something like 5-4 or 6-4. Not this team. Jon Matsumoto would sit for slashing and none other than the Captain, Ryan Craig would score to make it 5-4. Then after a face off win late Tim Wallace would score again to make it 6-4 and put the game finally out of reach.

Three Stars: Tim Wallace, Dustin Jeffrey, Ryan Craig.

Thoughts: I said when it was 4-1 that the game was far, far from over. Turns out I was right. Three hat trick watches tonight with Craig, Jeffrey and Wallace all with two goals apiece. The Pens designated me the “Red Robin Season Ticket Holder of the Game.” I got a hat and a gift certificate to Red Robin. Thanks Pens!

Around the Division: Norfolk lost to Manchester 4-2. Adirondack beat Binghamton 4-3. Houston beat Syracuse in overtime 4-3. Hershey’s game with Springfield was postponed until tomorrow because of snow.

Standings: Huge opportunity for Norfolk to step up and get close but they cannot and are now behind Wilkes-Barre by 13 points. 70-57. Hershey is third but can, with a win tomorrow, draw to a tie with Norfolk. They have 55 points. Charlotte has 55 points. Binghamton squanders a chance to get closer to the Bears and are still in fifth with 51 points. Albany is a distant sixth with 39 points. Syracuse has 38 points in seventh. Adirondack has 33 points in last.

Tomorrow and Friday: Hershey plays Springfield in the make-up game. Then they travel to Binghamton to play the Senators on Friday. Charlotte goes to Adirondack. Norfolk hosts Springfield.

Let’s Go Pens!