Chirps from Center Ice

Wilkes-Barre runs the road winning record to nine straight with a gritty game in Hartford, a 3-2 overtime win. This win streak eclipses the one set by the Pens in October-November and is currently the longest this season. They go for ten tomorrow in Binghamton.

Don’t look now, but the WBS power play is on fire. All three goals scored on the power play. Indeed, even strength goals are for plugs.

Brad Thiessen vs. Chad Johnson. Same lineup as Wednesday but for Carl Sneep back from injury for Philip Samuelsson.

First Period: I guess when the Pens don’t give up the first goal in the first minute they do well, right? Brandon DeFazio was injured early and did not return. No penalty was called on the play. As soon as that happened, Tommy Grant took a cross checking penalty and the Pens went on the power play. Eric Tangradi centered a pass to Ryan Craig who tapped it in past Johnson to put the Pens up 1-0. Very late, the Whale buzzed but did not score.

Second Period: Sean Avery got a gift when Carl Sneep, who was rusty in his first game back from injury, fell down in the neutral zone which led to an Avery breakaway and a goal for the pest. Trailing, Joey Mormina dove and tried to knock the puck away. After Avery scored he sucker punched Mormina and received a four minute double minor and a game misconduct. After he was available, he was benched by head coach Ken Gernander. Late, Thiessen robbed Jonathan Audy-Marchessault to keep it level at one while the Whale were on a five-on-three power play.

Third Period: Things really got messy as referee Jean Hebert had a very active whistle. This was before Audy-Marchessault scored when Thiessen thought he had the puck covered. Right after, Brendan Bell sat for a hook and Robert Bortuzzo wasted no time and fired one home to even things at two. Back to Hebert, he assessed a five minute boarding penalty to Steve MacIntyre which put the Whale on a five minute major power play. Andre Deveaux soon after took a rough and things went 4 on 4. Then, Bryan Lerg was called for a slash. Pens had to kill off ~1:53 of 5 on 3. Then a goal mouth scrum by Theissen and more penalties. Pens killed it all and got a late power play but could not cash and we’d go to…

Overtime: Carl Sneep was tripped by Ryan Bourque late. Jason Williams unloaded a slapshot from the point which Johnson never saw and the Pens skated away with the extra point.

Three Stars: 3) Jonathan Audy-Marchessault (goal, +1) 2) Chad Johnson (37 saves on 40 shots) 1) Jason Williams (goal, assist, -1)

Around the Division: The Hershey Bears have lost four in a row. This time, to the Norfolk Admirals in an intense 2-1 game. Syracuse blanked Rochester 4-0. Iiro Tarkki had a 31 save shutout. Binghamton beat Albany 3-2 despite being outshot by the Devils 40-24.

Standings: Pens have a three point cushion on Hershey and Norfolk, 58 points to 55 for both the Bears and Admirals. The Bears will have a game in hand at the All-Star break. Syracuse has 43 points and Binghamton 40.

Conference: 1-StJ (58) 2-WBS (58) 3-BRI (47) 4-HER (55) 5-NOR (55) 6-MCH (50) 7-WOR (48) 8-POR (47)

Wow. Connecticut starts the night third in the conference. With an OT loss and a Bridgeport regulation win, they nosedive out of a playoff spot.

I will not be making the trip to Binghamton tomorrow, rather electing to spend time in New Jersey with family and simply shuffling to Atlantic City for the All-Star festivities Sunday morning. Gameday will be up here at three as always and the tweets will come at you from the Garden State.

Let’s Go Pens!