Chirps from Center Ice

Penguins make up for scoring only one goal in two games by scoring six in sixty minutes and winning 6-1 in Binghamton.

Scott Munroe vs. Robin Lehner. I tweeted earlier in the day Munroe’s stats vs. the B-Sens vs. Thiessen’s stats vs. the B-Sens. Nick Petersen was in for Brandon DeFazio. Simon Despres is on the trip, but did not play either.

First Period: Binghamton has the AHL’s worst penalty kill. The Penguins took advantage of it by scoring early when Alex Grant did so from the blue line to put the Pens up 1-0. Then the goals came in a bang bang fashion as Ben Street would score a rebound goal and Matt Rust would score a goal on a delayed penalty. The B-Sens would answer with a one-time goal from Corey Locke when they were on a 5-on-3 to cut the deficit to 3-1.

Second Period: Alex Grant broke up an Andre Petersson breakaway chance. Defense then fails to clear twice leading in chances for the Sens but no goals. Then, on the power play again, Alex Grant would score another power play goal to make it 4-1. Geoff Walker had the screen in front of Lehner on both of Grant’s power play goals.

Third Period: Alex Picard point shot resulted in a Matt Rust tip in goal to essentially squelch any chances of a comeback by the defending champs. Teams would trade hooking penalties and Nick Petersen would score a late rebound goal in his return to make the score the final, 6-1.

Three Stars: 3) Joey Mormina (two assists, +2) 2) Matt Rust (two goals, +2) and 1) Alex Grant (two goals, +1)

I would have given a star to Nick Petersen who had a goal and two assists and was a +3 but sadly, fan bloggers don’t have a say in who is chosen.

Around the Division: Norfolk beats Syracuse at home 7-4. The Admirals are simply rolling right now. The Bears get shut out in Providence 6-0 by the Bruins.

Standings: Pens and Admirals have 67 points. Pens have the game in hand so they are slotted above the Admirals, who have more wins. Hershey has 64 points. Then Syracuse with 47 and Binghamton with 43.

Conference: St. John’s lost to the Hamilton Bulldogs in regulation tonight 4-3 so they remain at 70 points. The rest goes like this: 2-WBS (67) 3-CT (60) 4-NOR (67) 5-HER (64) 6-MCH (58) 7-BRI (55) 8-WOR (55)

Pens are in Albany tomorrow night. I had planned on going up, but the uncertainty of weather coupled by the fact that I am currently chasing my running nose and stiffing a cold, I decided to stay behind. Gameday for the affair will be up here Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.

Let’s Go Pens!