Chirps from Center Ice

Here is all you need to know for tonight’s game:

John Hynes ripped the team a new one after a sub par performance versus the Connecticut Whale on Tuesday and the Pens responded with a 4-0 win tonight in Abbotsford, British Columbia this evening.

Brad Thiessen vs. Leland Irving. Nick Petersen was in the lineup for the Pens for the first time since the Albany make up game in Atlantic City. Jason DeSantis was also in as the sixth defenseman. Bombulie reported Tuesday that Carl Sneep did not make the trip. Joey Mormina and David Marshall were the healthy scratches.

First Period: Off the hop, Geoff Walker got the goal scoring going off a nice feed from Keven Veilleux who had a very good game. Then, the Pens looked like they scored again but referee Andy Thiessen (no relation to Brad) lost sight of the puck and blew the play dead. Later, Thiessen would whistle goaltender interference on Geoff Walker when it appeared that Andrew Hutchinson scored. Pens would kill it and then get a power play on a Matt Keith slash and hit two posts in the process. Later, Zach Sill would score to make it 2-0 on a nice feed from Jesse Boulerice.

Second Period: Ben Street’s work would set up a Bryan Lerg goal. Lerg dug a puck off of the far wall and wristed a shot on net that Lerg deflected. Late in the second Brett Sterling would score to make it 4-0 even strength. All four lines scored for WBS.

Third Period: Irving would be replaced by JP Lamoureux. Lamoureux would not allow a goal this period. Don’t be surprised if he gets the start tomorrow. Robert Bortuzzo and Macgregor Sharp would fight this period. Nick Petersen would have a good period keeping his feet moving and drawing a high stick call. Really liked what I saw out of him this game. Brad Thiessen would remain sharp as ever and would earn the shutout and the 4-0 win.

Three Stars: Ben Street (assist, +1, local boy from nearby Coquitlam), Zach Sill (goal, assist, +2) and Brad Thiessen (26 save shutout)

Around the Division: Hershey beat Connecticut in Hartford tonight 2-1. Norfolk absolutely destroyed Binghamton 8-3. Syracuse beat Texas in a shootout 1-0. Albany beat Adirondack 2-1.

Manchester lost to Worcester 3-1. Portland beat Springfield 5-3. The Pirates leapfrog the Monarchs 85-84 in points and the Pirates have four games in hand on ManchVegas. Manchester has played the most games in the division by at least two games over everyone else.

Standings: WBS 92, HER 85, Wilkes has 3 games in hand and will have 4 after this weekend. CHA 80, NOR 79, BNG 73, ALB 56, SYR 53, ADK 51.

Tomorrow: Hershey visits Adirondack, Binghamton visits Charlotte, Providence is in Portland and Bridgeport is in Manchester.

Rematch tomorrow in Abbotsford. Let’s Go Pens!