Chirps from Center Ice

Penguins play arguably the best game of the young season this evening getting a 26 save shutout from Brad Thiessen and playing a defensive, gritty, shutdown game getting goals from Geoff Walker and Eric Tangradi and a shorthanded empty net goal from Bryan Lerg, winning 3-0 tonight in Springfield.

Brad Thiessen vs. Manny Legace

First Period: Thiessen was in form early making saves off of set Springfield faceoff plays early. Then, Dane Byers hits Eric Tangradi in open ice. Soon after, Byers and Joey Mormina mix it up and Byers ended up with a double minor for roughing. The ensuing power play saw very little from the Penguins. Passes were received on the backhand and every time Wilkes-Barre entered the offensive zone they were dispossessed by Springfield. Penguins would not capitalize. Some good saves from both netminders late.

Second Period: Thiessen robs rookie sensation Cam Atkinson in close to start the period. Defense really clamped down despite some near misses with Dane Byers jumping in behind the defense but Thiessen made the saves. Then Legace made some saves of his own on a couple of Penguins shots, best in the sequence being a Geoff Walker shot to a Bryan Lerg rebound. Late, John Moore would sit for a cross checking call and Geoff Walker would score a power play goal to put the Pens up late.

Third Period: Quick moving first half. Brian Gibbons is quite the playmaker, beating out an icing call. Thiessen made some quality, big saves. After killing a Bryan Lerg trip, the Falcons would buzz but Eric Tangradi would score after Bryan Lerg broke away being marked by Dalton Prout for Springfield. Lerg would spin, fall and dish to Tangradi who had an open net. Springfield would pull Legace late being a man up on a power play and Bryan Lerg would score to send Wilkes-Barre away with the two points.

Three Stars: Manny Legace (20 saves on 22 shots) Bryan Lerg (goal, assist, +2) and Brad Thiessen (26 save shutout)

I think everyone who cheers for this team needed this game for the psyche.

Around the Division: Tomorrow’s opponent Hershey beat Albany 4-1 tonight in the New York capital. Norfolk beat Binghamton 7-0 allowing the defending champs 14 shots on goal while taking 53 of their own. Wow. Syracuse won in overtime 4-3 at home against Lake Erie.

Standings: Hershey 9 points, Norfolk 8 points, Syracuse 7 points, Wilkes-Barre / Scranton 6 points and Binghamton 5 points. Things are tight.

Pens bus straight to Hershey for the 7 p.m. game in Chocolatetown. Gameday will be up at 3:30 here on the blog Saturday afternoon.

Let’s Go Pens!