Chirps from Center Ice

The effort is there, the scoring is not.

That is the synopsis of this very young season in a nutshell. The Penguins fired 41 shots at Whale goaltender Chad Johnson but could not find the back of the net in regulation and overtime. In the shootout the would lose the extra point to the Whale and the game 1-0.

Scott Munroe vs. Chad Johnson.

First Period: Teams traded power plays but did not score. Geoff Walker had a mini-breakaway but could not get a good shot off. Some crash the net opportunities for both teams but both goaltenders were very good. Quick moving period with the lack of a penalty whistle every minute. Shots on goal through one were 9-8 for Wilkes-Barre.

Second Period: Same as first period, both teams traded power play chances but could not convert. Couple of near misses both ways. Scary moment with Paul Thompson driving the net and needed to get helped off by trailer Patrick Steidle. He did return in the period. Both Zach Sill and Bryan Lerg would miss the net on two separate 2-on-1’s.

Third Period: Pens would get two straight power plays handed to them but could do little even to set up in their offensive zone. Then the Whale had the same thing happen to them with the two power plays handed to them in a row. They had more quality chances I felt. At some point, Ben Street went to the locker room with Steidle. I did not see the injury nor did I see him go down the tunnel.

Overtime: Pens would get a power play when Kris Newbury went to the box for tripping. This would be Newbury’s third of four penalties (he’d get whistled for a hook with :12 left in OT) but the Pens would not even able to get setup to get any decent scoring chances. To the shootout we went…

Shootout: Colin McDonald did not score and John Mitchell did in the first frame. Niko Dimitrakos scored and Andreas Thuresson did not in the second. Then Brian Gibbons and Kris Newbury scored to make it even at 2-2 in the shootout. Bryan Lerg did not score and Jonathan Audy-Marchessault scored in the fourth frame. Simon Despres did not score and the game was over.

Where would Ben Street slot into that lineup if he did not get injured? Is it a different result?

Three Stars: 3) Jonathan Audy-Marchessault (shootout game winning goal) 2) Scott Munroe (technical 23 save shutout) and 1) Chad Johnson (41 save shutout)

We were the only game in town division wise.

Standings: Hershey and Norfolk are your first weekend leaders out of the gate with 4 points each. Wilkes-Barre has a point, Binghamton is 0-2 and Syracuse has not played yet.

Pens will probably get tomorrow off then they get back at things prepping for Rochester Thursday in Western New York, Springfield and Binghamton Friday and Saturday.

FInally, I don’t think I tweeted this or blogged it, but here is what looks like the St. Patrick’s Day jersey the Pens will be donning this March:

Let’s Go Pens!