Chirps from Center Ice

With half our team playing in Long Island tonight, Brad Thiessen kept the Sound Tigers out of the net and earned his second shutout of the week as Wilkes-Barre defeated Bridgeport 2-0.

Take nothing away from this game as far as “we can win with half our team in Pittsburgh.” No. Bridgeport has now lost seven in a row, and only dressed 17 skaters tonight.

Brad Thiessen vs. Joel Martin.

First period: Pens had to kill a Bortuzzo hook early and then later Carl Sneep came down the slot to make it 1-0. Shots on goal thru the first were 13-6 for the Penguins.

Second period: Geoff Walker had an early chance that was snuffed out by the ageless Mark Wotton, then Ben Street would score to make it 2-0. Nice assist by Tim Wallace on that one. Second half of this period, the Sopund Tigers would come alive but Thiessen would deny all callers. Shots for the period would be 8-8, but Bridgeport would get more than half of them in the last two minutes it seemed.

Third period: Before AHL commissioner David Andrews, Robin Figren would get robbed by Thiessen in close. For about 15 minutes the Sound Tigers would get chance after chance, but Thiessen would say no. Bridgeport would outshoot us 8-6 this period, but the Pens would hold on and win 2-0, getting Thiessen a 22 save shutout.

Thoughts: Again, Bridgeport is a team totally headed in the wrong direction, you can’t take much away from this. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great to get a win, let alone a shutout, but this game should hardly be a blueprint as to what to expect going forward. At least in my opinion.

Three Stars: Joel Martin (25 saves), Carl Sneep (game winning goal, +1), Brad Thiessen (22 saves, shutout)

Around the Division: Keith Aucoin a three point night, Jared DeMichiel his first win in net as the Bears keep rolling, defeating the Providence Bruins 4-3. Norfolk blanked Syracuse 3-0. Bingo did the same to Rochester, 3-0.

Standings: WBS 78, HER 70, CHA 63, NOR 63, BNG 58, SYR 42, ALB 39, ADK 37.

Tomorrow: We get Adirondack tomorrow at Mohegan. Albany is in Charlotte, Hershey hosts Binghamton and Norfolk and Syracuse rematch on Hampton Roads.

Let’s Go Pens!