Chirps from Center Ice

Pens win in their 1,000th regular season game in team history by a score of 4-1. In the existence of the team, only the Providence Bruins have never changed their name or affiliate. What stability.

Some roster moves were made before the game with Ryan Schnell reassigned to Wheeling and Jason Williams called up to Pittsburgh (where he was a scratch tonight vs. Montreal) Here, Philip Samuelsson and Nick Petersen were scratched. Only Samuelsson took warmups.

Brad Thiessen vs. Jeff Zatkoff

First Period: Pens with the patented give up a goal in the first minute, this time Patrick Mullen through a screen to put the Monarchs up 1-0. But then, the very next shift, Ben Street scores to tie things on a goal Zatkoff would have loved to have back. Then, Paul Thompson sets up Colin McDonald with a drop pass off of the board that McDonald rifled home to put the Pens up 2-1. Later, Steve MacIntyre would blindside J.D. Watt. Watt would be fine and do the same thing to Cody Wild the next shift. Referee Graham Skilliter would rule interference on Watt and the Pens would get a power play. In the ensuing power play, Alex Grant would ferret a pass to Colin McDonald from the low circle McDonald would snipe home. Really a postage stamp goal as there was little space. This would chase Zatkoff and Martin Jones would come in and settle things a bit. Manchester would pressure the remainder of the period but Thiessen held strong. Finally Robert Bortuzzo would fire a shot from the point which would rebound to Zach Sill which Sill would put in to put the score at 4-1 Penguins. Despite being outshot this period 15-12 by the Monarchs, the Pens would get four goals and Thiessen looked strong.

Second Period: Teams would trade power plays and both goalies would make good saves on chances from both sides.

Third Period: Thiessen made a diving save on a Linden Vey rebound bid from a point shot by a Manchester defenseman. Not to be out done, Martin Jones would deny Colin McDonald the hat trick bid with a pad save. Bryan Lerg had a goal disallowed by deflecting it i on a high stick. Ryan Craig went town to block a shot and took the full force of one. He seemed fine but honestly I don’t remember if he took a shift after or not. Ben Street was hauled down on a breakaway and was awarded a penalty shot. He did not score.

Three Stars: 3) Brad Thiessen (29 saves on 30 shots) 2) Bryan Lerg (goal, +1) and 1) Colin McDonald (two goals, +1)

Around the Division: Great night for the Pens with Hershey losing 4-3 in Binghamton and Syracuse beating Norfolk 6-3 in Central New York.

Standings: Bears with 55 points. Penguins and Admirals tied with 51 points. Crunch have 41 and the Senators have 36 points.

Conference: 1-HER (55) 2-StJ (52) 3-CT (45) 4-WBS (51) 5-NOR (51) 6-WOR (45) 7-POR (45) 8-ADK (44)

The pesky Crunch are now the opponents for tomorrow at home and Sunday in Syracuse. The Crunch are simply on fire right now playing great hockey. The Pens are 0-for in televised games locally. Tomorrow night is a sellout as well. Would be a tremendous statement if the Pens could not only beat the Crunch tomorrow, but beat them handily. Gameday up at 3 p.m. here on the blog Saturday afternoon.

Here is to 1,000 more games with a Calder Cup somewhere in between!

Let’s Go Pens!