Chirps from Center Ice

Pens win tonight 4-2 to even the series, reclaim home ice and force a Game 6 in Wilkes-Barre Saturday night. But before that a crucial Game 5 will be had on Friday night from Scope. Someone is returning back to Wilkes-Barre on the brink of elimination.

Brad Thiessen vs. Dustin Tokarski

Lineup Changes: Joe Vitale returned from Wilkes-Barre after the birth of his daughter. David Marshall was scratched. For Norfolk, they rolled NINE defensemen tonight as Mattias Ritola, Blair Jones (recall to Tampa Bay) and Paul Szczechura and Chris Durno were injury scratches. Mike Angelidis took warmups but was a scratch.

First Period: Jesse Boulerice boarded Vladimir Mihalik which led to Joe Vitale getting 2 minutes for boarding and 2 for roughing and Boulerice 5 for fighting. In the scrum, Jesse Boulerice and Radko Gudas fought so Gudas got 5 for fighting. This was all at :18 in. Mihalik went to the dressing room for something but did ultimately return. Pens would kill it then Corey Potter would score on an NHL-caliber snipe to put the Pens up 1-0. Then, Potter would get whistled for holding, would lip off to the refs and get an unsportsmanlike penalty and the Pens would have to kill off a 4:00 penalty. They would succeed. Huge kill. Later, an inability to clear the puck in the defensive zone would lead to a Johan Harju goal which tied the game.

Second Period: After the Pens failed to score on a carryover power play from the first period (a Mathieu Roy board) Brian Strait would score to make it 2-1 Pens as the puck would deflect off of a Norfolk skate. This was after Norfolk would carry the mail pretty much since they scored in the first. Big goal and potentially a back-breaking goal for Norfolk. Later, Norfolk would score on a lucky bounce which would be like, their 100th of the game so far via Marc-Andre Pouliot. Then, the Pens would get a power play when Ben Street was high sticked by Radko Gudas. Ryan Craig would score the power play goal and the Pens would take a 3-2 lead into the locker room.

Third Period: Pens would protect the lead. Some stressful moments would ensue as the Pens would endure another failed clear as Zach Sill would be in the box for a delay of game call. Pens would kill it. Sill would actually leave the game with trainer patrick Steidle with a probable cut as radio described that he left quick. May have been a cut. Then, the AHL Live feed would cut out on me and during the fracas to get a radio feed, Joe Vitale would score a goal to put the Pens up 4-2. That would be all the Pens would need as the game would end.

Series is now tied 2-2 heading into an off day Thursday and a pivotal Game 5 Friday night from Scope. Someone is returning back to Wilkes-Barre Saturday night on the brink.

I gotta say something. I never panicked when the Pens were down 0-2. Meanwhile lots of fans were saying to me “see you next year” – I told everyone I could talk to that I would see them Saturday. Please believe people. Please believe.

Three Stars: Corey Potter (goal, assist, +1) Marc-Antoine Pouliot (goal, assist, +1) and Ryan Craig (game winning goal, +1)

Game 5 is Friday like we said. Check me out on Twitter for the latest regarding moves made on the Norfolk side with guys returning to the lineup from injury or recall for Norfolk.

East Division happenings: Charlotte evened up their series with Hershey via a 3-2 win. Binghamton survives in overtime winning 5-4 via a Kaspars Daugavins snipe to keep the B-Sens alive in their series with Manchester as that series shifts back to New Hampshire. Everyone listed here in this paragraph, Wilkes-Barre included, plays again Friday night.

Day off tomorrow. It’s now a best of three series. Let’s Go Penguins!!!