Chirps from Center Ice

Penguins go perfect for the weekend winning tonight 5-2 in what could be described as a scrambly game at times, but walk away winners regardless buoyed by a two goal game by Alex Grant. 

Brad Thiessen vs. Keith Kinkaid

Lineup Notes: Jason Williams was given what was described by Tom Grace a “maintenance” day. Grace stated that Williams should be good to go vs. Norfolk Tuesday. Brandon DeFazio was in for him. Simon Despres was reassigned from Pittsburgh, so he was in for Philip Samuelsson.

First Period: Alex Grant would score on the power play late. This was predicated by a good fifteen minutes of just messy play by the Penguins, certainly not as crisp as they were 24 hours ago in Hartford vs. the Whale. 

Second Period: Alex Grant would receive a pass from Ben Street off the wall and roofed it past Kinkaid to put the Pens up 2-0. Geoff Walker drew the secondary assist on the Grant goal, and this would be his fifth assist in the season series vs. Albany. Later, Mike Hoeffel received a drop pass and wristed one in past Thiessen to put the Devils on the board at 2-1. Then, with Brian Gibbons in the box for slashing, the Pens would try to clear the puck out of their defensive zone to no avail and Matt Taormina would score to even things at two. More scrambling, Devils come in 4-on-2 and Cody Wild ended up playing goaltender as Thiessen was down and out in denying a Dan Kelly wraparound. Late, Paul Thompson gets a drop pass from Robert Bortuzzo and scores late to put the Pens up 3-2,

Second Period Thoughts: Pens had, before the Thompson goal, eight shots on goal. They made the best of the opportunities afforded them by manufacturing goals. Albany could have put the Pens away this period for good.

Third Period: Pens had a carryover power play from the second period they worked on to open the final period and Ryan Craig made good on it by tapping in a shot from Simon Despres to put the Pens up 4-2. The rest of the period the Penguins would keep the Devils at arm length. Late, with Kinkaid pulled, Nick Petersen would get an empty net goal to seal it.

I have openly questioned the purpose of Steve MacIntyre in the past. Not anymore. Coach John Hynes put him out there late in both games this weekend to diffuse any shenanigans the opposing team may want to pull this late in the season.

Three Stars: 3) Mike Hoeffel (goal, +1) 2) Paul Thompson (goal, even) and 1) Alex Grant (two goals, +1)

Around the Division: Norfolk was off tonight. The Hershey Bears lost 3-2 to the St. John’s IceCaps by a score of 3-2. The IceCaps clinch the Atlantic Division title and a berth in the Calder Cup Playoffs and snap the Bears seven game win streak. This means that the Norfolk Admirals win the East Division as well. The Syracuse Crunch get a much needed two points by winning in Binghamton tonight in OT 2-1.

Standings: Norfolk 101 / Penguins 89 / Hershey 86 / Syracuse 76 / Binghamton 60

Conference: 1-NOR (101) 2-StJ (88) 3-BRI (81) 4-WBS (89) 5-HER (86) 6-CT (79) 7- SYR (76) 7-MCH (75)

Penguins travel home tonight and then practice Monday morning then bus to Norfolk Monday afternoon for the showdown in Norfolk Tuesday night looking to end the 22-game win streak. I think they will need to play better than they showed tonight if they want to shock the Admirals. We will see.

Let’s Go Pens!