Chirps from Center Ice

Since October, it has been easy live tweeting games and blogging. It is a simple when you are the leagues best team. It is easy interacting with other AHL fans from around the league when their team isn’t doing so well. I have to say that it is a tad difficult for me now having no journalistic experience.

But one thing I will never do is panic. There is no sense. Think about it. I am not getting paid to do this. I don’t think anyone who frequents the blog is getting paid to either. There isn’t any sense in panicking. Why? You’ll drive yourself nuts.

Pens fell in an 0-2 hole losing 2-0 tonight.

Brad Thiessen vs. Dustin Tokarski – no lineup changes for the Pens.

First Period: Keven Veilleux would get whistled for roughing just :08 into the game. Pens would kill it. Right after that a Corey Potter point shot would dribble to the red line and then die and the Admirals would sweep it away. Power play was a problem this period as the Pens would get handed another one as James Wright would get whistled for hooking. The Admirals would kill it. Later, the Pens would have to kill off a 1:09 of a 5 on 3 with Joey Mormina in the box with Chris Collins. Pens would kill it set up by a Robert Bortuzzo huge block. Then, Brett Sterling and Nick Petersen came in two on none and did not score.

Second Period: Corey Potter giveaway would lead to him high sticking. Mathieu Roy would ring a post. Pens would have open ice with a 4×4 with Brett Sterling in the box for interference on the goaltender and Mark Barberio in the box for a hook. Geoff Walker would come in with Joe Vitale on a 2 on 1 and fail to score. Then they would crash the net and Joey Mormina tried to snipe and Tokarski held the fort. Later, Ryan Craig had all day. Doesn’t score. Then Brett Sterling would jump in two on none with the Captain. No dice. Dustin Tokarski has played superb hockey. To make the case even stronger, Tokarski had a diving glove save on a Steve Wagner offering. Then, with :08 left, Paul Szczechura doesn’t give up on a play and makes it 1-0.

Second Period Intermission Thoughts: Lowest point of the year, if we don’t win the series. Sucked the life right out of the team. Norfolk can’t keep it up all series, can it? We just didn’t all of a sudden forget how to play, did we?

Third Period: Bryan Lerg had a chance on the doorstep of Tokarski and was denied. Another Pens breakdown defensively nearly led to a Norfolk goal. Norfolk blocked a ton of shots tonight. Pens would press, press and press but not score. They would pull Thiessen and of all people Marc-Antoine Pouliot would bury the empty netter from the blue line. Game. Set. Match.

Three Stars: Brad Thiessen (25 saves on 26 shots), Paul Szczechura (game winning goal, +1) and Dustin Tokarski (27 save shutout)

This nugget from the League gives Pens fans everywhere hope:

http://twitter.com/#!/TheAHL/status/59435564017000448

More from League observer and good friend Patrick Williams:

http://twitter.com/#!/AHLReport/status/59435561429114880

http://twitter.com/#!/AHLReport/status/59435910382620672

Bombulie’s postgamer rings true.

Game Three is Tuesday and a virtual must win.

It ain’t over till it’s over — Yogi Berra

Go Pens.