Chirps from Center Ice

Everyone was aware that earlier this week that Alex Picard got called up to Pittsburgh because the defense there was banged up. Last night, defenseman Ben Lovejoy went into the boards hard in San Jose and broke his wrist. I did not think that a recall from WBS would come but it did in the form of Robert Bortuzzo getting called up this afternoon. This left things lean back on the farm with the defense basically down to six healthy bodies.

Well, tonight Brad Thiessen decided that he was still going to play lights out and did so, shutting out the high octane Bears by a score of 4-0. 

Brad Thiessen vs. Dany Sabourin. Ray Shero took in the game tonight from the WBS suite.

First Period: Fluky goal to start the game when an Alex Grant pass to Colin McDonald batted off of a Bears defensemans skate and into the net to give the Pens a 1-0 lead early. They would continue to clamp down on the Bears offense, not allowing much in the way of quality chances. Then, Joey Mormina would pinch in and stuff a goal home to put the Pens up 2-0 late in the first.

Second Period: Colin McDonald would feed Jason Williams a puck and Williams was in all alone and roofed it home via backhand. This would be the end of the night for Sabourin, who would be replaced by Braden Holtby. I don’t think Sabourin played bad. I think that head coach Mark French was trying to send a message to his team by yanking Sabourin for Holtby. It seemed to work, as WBS was only allowed two shots on goal the entire period. Later in the period however, French called his timeout and had the entire team on the ice and he was on the bench speaking to them.

Third Period: Thiessen made some big, big saves all night but none bigger it seemed robbing both Chris Bourque and Keith Aucoin much to the delight of the crowd. The Bears would get handed three straight power plays this period but were unable to cash on any of them. Late with Holtby pulled, Joey Mormina would wrist a 195-footer into the Bears open net. Mormina matched his goal scoring from all last year in this one game. Amazing!

Three Stars: 3) Colin McDonald (goal, assist, +2) 2) Joey Mormina (two goals, +2) and 1) Brad Thiessen (19 save shutout)

Around the Division: Albany blanked Norfolk 1-0 and Rochester defeated Binghamton 3-2.

Standings: With Syracuse idle, Wilkes-Barre gains points on the entire division. 1) Norfolk (15 pts.) 2) Wilkes-Barre (14 pts.) 3) Hershey (14 pts.) 4) Binghamton (11 pts.) 5) Syracuse (10 pts.)

I will start examining the Conference Standings probably by the end of this month. Never too soon to start that thought process (playoffs)

Pens travel to Binghamton tomorrow. I will be there. Expect Brad Thiessen to get the start despite it being Scott Munroe’s turn. You go with the hot hand. Gameday will be up at 3 p.m.

Let’s Go Pens!