Chirps from Center Ice

Penguins get three goals in the first period, two from Paul Thompson and hang on to win 3-2 tonight in Norfolk. Norfolk had enjoyed the AHL’s best third period goal differential at +18.

Prior to the game, Simon Despres was called up to Pittsburgh but was hurt and Eric P from the Wilkes-Blog tweeted this postgame:

Damn.

Anyway, pressing matters on the farm. Cody Chupp, Ryan Schnell and Peter Merth were in. Nick Petersen was the lone healthy scratch. Personnel wise, Joey Mormina is on this trip. So too, Scott Munroe. Tom Grace said on radio that the Pens will practice tomorrow in Norfolk then bus to Philadelphia where they will fly out of Thursday morning to St. John’s, Newfoundland. They will not return to Wilkes-Barre / Scranton till at least Monday. He further went on to say that if Scott Munroe has a good prcatice we may see him at some point this coming weekend. For now, it was…

Brad Thiessen vs. Dustin Tokarski

First Period: Paul Thompson would find a puck in front and put it in the right top corner over Tokarski to put the Pens up 1-0. Then, :16 later after a Ryan Schnell and Eric Neilson fight, Thompson would score again to put the Pens up 2-0. Late, with Evan Oberg in the box for a trip, Ben Street would score on a nice wrist shot predated by an aggressive Wilkes-Barre forecheck.

Second Period: :53 in, ex-WBS Penguin Michel Ouellet would find the back of the net to put the Pens on the board. Norfolk would then build momentum but Thiessen shut the door the rest of the period, which was highlighted by Alex Grant dropping the aforementioned Ouellet with a right hand.

Third Period: Penguins would generate early chances, but a Radko Gudas point shot would elude Thiessen. Wonky shot by Gudas. Replay showed the puck hop over Thiessen’s pad to imply a deflection with traffic in front. Midway thorough this period Grace mentioned that the Penguins looked “nervous.” I mentioned in the game tweets that you can’t play not to lose. Especially against Norfolk. This theory would be tested, as the Pens would take two unnecessary delay of game calls in succession but the Pens killed both. Late, with Tokarski pulled, the Admirals were unable to find the equalizer and the Pens hung on fo the much needed win.

Pens win fifth straight on the road and 14th overall away from Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.

Three Stars: 3) Radko Gudas (goal, +1) 2) Ben Street (goal, assist, +1) and 1) Paul Thompson (two goals, +2)

Around the Division: No one else skated.

Standings: Hershey is idle with 49 points. Admirals and Penguins are tied in points with 45 points. Syracuse and Binghamton are tied in points as well for fourth and fifth respectively with 34 points between them.

Conference: 1) HER (49) 2-StJ (47) 3-CT (44) 4-NOR (45) 5-WBS (45) 6-MCH (44) 7-WOR (41) 8-ALB (39)

Probably won’t have much in the way of a blog update tomorrow or Friday with a travel day. If there’s call up I’ll have it here on the blog. Pens are off Friday, so we may be scarce content wise here on the blog but Twitter is the best way to stay on top of the minutiae.

Let’s Go Pens!