Chirps from Center Ice

Pens win tonight in Norfolk 2-1 to make the series 2-1. Game 4 tomorrow in Norfolk, VA.

Brad Thiessen vs. Dustin Tokarski

Lineup changes: John Curry backed up Thiessen. Joe Vitale and his wife welcomed their first child today. Tim Wallace was back in. For Norfolk, Blair Jones and Mattias Ritola were called up in the wake of some injuries and suspensions in Tampa Bay.

First Period: Pens would get two power play opportunities early via Johan Harju’s slashing. Pens would not be able to convert on the power play. Pens would have a ton of offensive zone time but weren’t able to crack Tokarski. Later, in the same shift, the Admirlas would hit the post which led to a Brett Sterling breakaway in which he would hit the post. Then, after an icing call and whistle, Brian Strait would throw Paul Szczechura into the boards and Szczechura would twist what looked like a leg and would need to be helped off. Brian would sit for roughing. Then, as a Norfolk power play was on, Mark Barberio would get whistled for interference on Ryan Craig and the teams would skate four on four. During this a Norfolk turnover would see Keven Veilleux score to give the Pens their first lead of the series at 1-0.

Second Period: Paul Szczechura did not come out and neither did the Captain, Chris Durno. I did not see the hit on Durno. Neither would return the rest of the game. Early, the Pens would get all sorts of chances on Tokarski but kept missing. Street missed, Potter missed, Craig missed, Veilleux missed once then on a rebound. James Wright would hook Tim Wallace and the Pens power play looked bad, bad, bad. Pens would not score. Later, Jesse Boulerice would take an absolute bonehead rough call and the Admirals would score on the power play to even the score at 1. Stefano Giliati scored the goal.

Third Period: Turnovers all across the board for Wilkes-Barre as Thiessen would deny all comers. Later there would be a scary incident as Chris Collins would get elbowed by Mathieu Roy with no call. Collins headed to the dressing room but did return. Then, Steve Wagner was high sticked by Pierre-Cedric Labrie and would bleed. This would lead to a 4:00 double minor for high sticking on Labrie. The Pens did not score on the front end of it but Head Coach John Hynes would call his time out with 2:05 left in the double minor and the Pens would finally breakthrough and score on the power play via Bryan Lerg. Huge goal. I called it on the Twitter side the turning point of the series. Meanwhile later the Pens would come in on a three on one and the puck would jump on Tim Wallace and the Pens would not score. The Pens would preserve the lead and hod on to win 2-1 after some tense moments leading up to the final whistle.

Three Stars: Dustin Tokarski (23 saves on 25 shots) Stefano Giliati (goal, even) and Bryan Lerg (game winning goal, even)

Quick turnaround as Game 4 is tomorrow from Scope. Expect Joe Vitale back and a guy like David Marshall to be scratched. With all the injuries to Norfolk, with Tampa Bay playing Pittsburgh in a Game 4 in Tampa Bay tomorrow don’t expect Blair Jones or Mattias Ritola back and the health of Chris Durno and Paul Szczechura is still in doubt. Despite all this, the Admirals flat out hung with the Penguins tonight. Tomorrow is an important game for both sides.

Elsewhere regarding the East Division teams: Hershey beat Charlotte 3-2 in Charlotte to recapture home ice in the series and take a 2-1 series lead. Game 4 in that series comes tomorrow. Binghamton lost to Manchester 6-3 despite a hat trick from Ryan Potulny. The B-Sens are on the brink of elimination trailing the series 3-1. The Monarchs can wrap up the series tomorrow in Binghamton.

Despite the win for Wilkes-Barre tonight, it is NOT a new series…yet. Lots to be decided tomorrow in Game 4.

Let’s Go Pens!