Chirps from Center Ice

Don’t look now but that brown patch in your mirror that keeps getting bigger and bigger is the Hershey Bears, winners today 5-1 over the Manitoba Moose. The Bears held the Moose to 17 SOG and scored three times in the span of 4 minutes in the third period.

What does it mean for Wilkes-Barre? That robust 13 point lead has now shrunken to a mere 6 points. The Bears have a game in hand over the slumping Pens. The two teams meet up next Sunday in Wilkes-Barre which could very well be for first place overall.

Hershey’s schedule looks like this: @ Manchester Wednesday, @ Providence Friday, home v. Binghamton Saturday and Sunday in Wilkes-Barre.

Wilkes-Barre’s schedule looks like this: the make up game in Atlantic City tomorrow, Tuesday home vs. Manitoba, Friday in Bridgeport, Saturday home vs. Adirondack and Sunday home vs. Hershey.

On paper, it looks like WBS has the easier upcoming schedule. I am not even going to go into or break down Norfolk and Charlotte’s schedule behind the Bears.

Is it too early to panic? People I talk to say yes. Other fans in other divisions just laugh at me. Have you seen the West Division? First to seventh are separated by SIX points.

Bombulie had this post on potential AHL ringers we could see at the trade deadline. A familiar name is among them. For what it’s worth, I have been told that Ray Shero is going to do everything in his power to make sure Wilkes-Barre / Scranton wins the Calder Cup this year.

My tickets are paid for next year regardless. Go Pens.