Chirps from Center Ice

x.

That is what everyone will see when they read the Sports Section all across America tomorrow morning when they look at the AHL Standings. That “x” signifies that the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins have clinched a playoff spot for the ninth year in a row with a 5-3 win over the Worcester Sharks this evening.

Brad Thiessen vs. Harri Sateri. There was chatter pregame as to whether Wilkes-Barre sent back Patrick Killeen. They did not. This picture tells the story.

First Period: A Wagner defensive zone turnover led to a Cam MacIntyre goal about 10 minutes in. Later, Wagner’s point shot from the blue line would rebound over to Zach Sill to tie the game. Sill has really stepped up in the absence of Johnson, Tangradi and Jeffrey. Later, Tim Wallace would get called for tripping then Dan DaSilva scored while Brad Thiessen was screened on the power play to give the Sharks a 2-1 lead.

Second Period: John McCarthy would sit for roughing and right after more rebound plague Sateri as they did all night to the stick of Brett Sterling to even the score at 2 a piece. Later, with Jon Landry and Frazer Mc:aren in the box and the Pens on a 5 on 3, Pens would win the faceoff and Corey Potter would score to make it 3-2.

Third Period: Sharks had worked a faceoff play out before the puck dropped to open the third and in doing so Sean Sullivan to the net while Robert Bortuzzo hooked him to give the Sharks a power play. The Pens would kill it but as soon as they did Keven Veilleux would get whistled for roughing and they would score to even it at 3 a piece with Tommy Wingles hack and whack. Pens would then have to kill off a 5 on 3 of their own before Veilleux took a puck off of a Shark player in the Worcester offensive zone, passed to Wallace who score to make it 4-3. Late, Worcester would pull Sateri and Wallace would score again as time would expire.

Three Stars: Corey Potter (goal, +1), Keven Veilleux (two assists, 2) and Tim Wallace (two goals, +2)

Around the Division: Portland fights back from a 3-1 deficit to win 4-3 in overtime tonight in Hershey in Braden Holtby’s return to the Bears from parent Washington. Binghamton shuts out Springfield 2-0. Barry Brust with his seventh shutout of the season for the B-Sens. The Falcons have lost 10 in a row. Ow. Albany beat Norfolk 6-5 in a shootout after being up 3-0. Syracuse beat tomorrow’s opponent the Charlotte Checkers 6-2. Justin Pogge gave up all 6 goals and was yanked in favor of Mike Murphy to start the third. Adirondack beat Toronto 3-1.

Standings: Wilkes clinches and pushes it’s lead up to 8 over Hershey 99-91. It’s a three way tie for second overall between the Bears, Pirates and Monarchs all who have 91 points a piece. The rest of the division goes, NOR 84, CHA 84, BNG 77, ALB 64, SYR 59 and ADK 58.

Tomorrow: Tonight’s opponents, the Worcester Sharks, are in Manchester. Portland is in Providence, Hershey hosts Syracuse, Binghamton is in Bridgeport.

This is what it is all about from here on in. Go Pens.