Chirps from Center Ice

Missing four of its defensemen to either recall or injury, the Pens come out and smother the Moose defensively and shutout the North Division’s top team 2-0.

Missing are Carl Sneep (injury) Joey Mormina (injury) Steve Wagner (recall) and Corey Potter (recall) yet the Pens dominated the Moose on the shot chart, 38-23.

John Curry v. Eddie Lack. Alex Grant played his first game for WBS this year back from his wrist injury suffered in preseason.

First Period: Early, the fourth line was buzzing. Always a good sign. Pens would get two chances on the power play via a Joel Perrault hold on Ryan Craig and a Ryan Parent trip. No flow on either power play, moreso first power play then second. In the second Eddie Lack was the Moose’s best PK. Pens would get chances with a Ryan Craig mini breakaway. Jesse Boulerice would sit for a hook. but Manitoba’s PP is worse then ours so that was killed easily. Then, late, Robert Bortuzzo would fire a shot on net from the blue line which was rebounded by Keven Veilleux and Geoff Walker cleaned up the mess to put the Pens up 1-0.

First Period thoughts: Really impressed with Alex Grant this period. Kid did not look out of place one iota and looked like he has played 60 games with Wilkes-Barre this season. He is going to be fun to watch.

Second Period: Pens had to kill a Ryan Craig cross check penalty from 20:00 of the first but the Moose would not register a single shot on goal. Brett Sterling rung his second off of the post, he has been snakebit of late in the goal department. You have to think the avalanche is coming and soon. Middle of the second the Pens had what radio called the “shift of the road trip” but it was more like the shift of  the year to me, boy the Pens looked sharp this period. Late, Geoff Walker would turn a puck over to Victor Oreskovich and hooked him down. Later in the penalty kill, Joe Vitale would trip a Moose and the Pens would have to kill a late 5 on 3. They would, but not before Ryan Craig and Brian Strait’s sticks would break.

Second Period thoughts: Pens imposed their will against a very good Manitoba Moose team in the second, limiting the Moose to 9 shots while firing 12 at Lack. Of note, John Hynes was the second intermission guest and, while referring to John Curry, stated that he wanted John to “give him a reason to make him play him Wednesday” – after tonight’s performance look for #36 to get the nod in the cage tomorrow in the rematch.

Third Period: David Marshall would ring a shot off the post. Later, Maintoba had the best chance in the game to tie it, but Chris Collins fed a pass to Bryan Lerg who led a 2 on 1 with Ben Street who received the Lerg pass to make it 2-0 Pens. Moose would pull Lack late but not score and the Pens would hold on for the 2-0 win.

Three Stars: Ben Street (goal, +1), John Curry (23 save shutout) and Eddie Lack (36 saves on 38 shots)

The line of Geoff Walker, Ryan Craig and Keven Veilleux has been the best line for the Pens this month combining for six goals and nine assists. Credit @TonyAndrock for the stat.

The win pushes the Pens to 95 points, seven up on Hershey for second and Manchester for the overall lead with three games in hand on both teams.

This is 5 out of a possible 6 points this road trip including two shutouts by two different goaltenders. I never get in a debate on who is better in goal, but you all have to feel blessed knowing that John Curry and Brad Thiessen are tending the nets in Wilkes-Barre. Both are very very good at what they do.

Around the Division: No one else played.

Standings: Wilkes goes 7-up on Hershey right now with three games in hand. 95 points to the Bears 88. The rest of the East shakes out this way: NOR 81, CHA 80, BNG 75, ALB 60, SYR 55, ADK 54.

Tomorrow: Rematch in Winnipeg between the Moose and Penguins. Binghamton is in Adirondack, Springfield visits Manchester and Charlotte battles Bridgeport in Connecticut.

Good things happening right now in Wilkes-Barre. With Pittsburgh not playing until Sunday, look for Corey Potter and Steve Wagner to be return to the Pens tomorrow.

Let’s Go Penguins!