Chirps from Center Ice

Pens win in Norfolk tonight 4-2 to move the road record to an impeccable 7-0 and reclaim first place in the East Division with some games in hand.

Dustin Jeffrey and Steve MacIntyre were in the lineup tonight on their conditioning stints from Pittsburgh. Ryan Craig returned from knee injury. Pens had the top defense in the league against Norfolk and its top offense.

Brad Thiessen vs. Dustin Tokarski.

First Period: Eric Tangradi scored a garbage rebound goal while Norfolk’s Tyler Johnson was in the box for a hook on Simon Despres. Norfolk would then get a power play with Philip Samuelsson in the box for a cross check. The Admirals would hit the post twice but Cory Conacher would pot a goal on a similar greasy rebound type ala Tangradi a few minutes before to tie the game. Later, Tokarski would get his pocket picked by Ben Street as Dustin went behind his net to handle a puck. Then, almost right after that, Wilkes-Barre would come in 4 on 2 and Ryan Craig would just lob a puck at Tokarski which Simon Despres would slam home.

Second Period: No goals would come in this period and the Pens would clamp down on Norfolk this period by only allowing the Admirals three shots on goal. I expected a more focused effort by Norfolk but the Penguins just shut them down. Outside of the defensive clampdown the period was highlighted by a clean bodycheck by Carl Sneep which led to a linebrawl of sorts.

Third Period: Steve MacIntyre would hit Scott Jackson along the boards at center ice which Jackson took offense to. He had to fight MacIntyre in given the situation but was outmatched the entire way. MacIntyre had his way with him. Radio mentioned that since the beginning of the second period and through 37:30 since, the Admirals only took 10 shots on goal. But, the pesky Admirals would score on a Pierre-Cedric Labrie goal which went very slowly in the net. A pile of bodies in front of Thiessen kept Brad from making the save. After that, the Admirals would pull Tokarski but in doing so were not allowed into their offensive zone. Eric Tangradi would pick off a pass and lob it into the empty net to seal the 4-2 win.

Three Stars: 3) Pierre-Cedric Labrie (goal, even) 2) Simon Despres (goal, assist, +1) and 1) Ben Street (goal, two assists, +2)

Around the Division: Syracuse was idle. Hershey played Binghamton in Chocolatetown and allowed the B-Sens 15 shots and won easily 3-0.

Standings: WBS goes to the top with 18 points to Norfolk’s 17. Hershey sits in third with 16 points. Syracuse, idle, has 13 points and Binghamton 12 points.

Pens will drive overnight home then travel Friday to Hershey. Rematch Saturday at home against Norfolk.

Let’s Go Pens!

(my more mature audience may remember the acronym “LSMFT” meaning “Lucky Strike Means Fine Tobacco” – well, let this headline stand for “Lucky Seven (wins on the road) Makes For (fine) Tweeting”) Can’t fit that all in a headline and make it look good so there you go…