Chirps from Center Ice

Norfolk runs its win streak to 23 straight after defeating the Penguins 2-1 in Virginia this evening. A tweet from Michael Fornabaio, Sound Tigers beat writer and inspiration for this blog:

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I am hanging my hat on this game, as you should, that the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins ran with the Norfolk Admirals tonight. If not for six straight power plays to the Admirals we may be speaking about a streak ending. But when you hand a team with the second best power play in the American Hockey League only behind the juggernaut Hershey Bears six straight power plays, you are bound to get bit.

Norfolk scored both goals tonight on the power play tonight. Even strength, I want to say the Penguins held the edge throughout.

Scott Munroe vs. Dustin Tokarski – Jason Williams returned from his maintenance day and as a result Brandon DeFazio was scratched.

First Period: Michel Ouellet scored on a power play on a two on one. He froze Munroe looking off to the other player (didn’t catch a number) the entire down on the two on one. This was prefaced be a Penguin power play and strong puck possession.

Second Period: No shots at all for the Penguins halfway through the period. Finally, a Paul Thompson wrist shot. That opened the floodgates for the Penguins. Alex Grant would laser a shot on net that Bryan Lerg would get a piece of and past Tokarski to even things. Penguins were getting chance after chance. Coach John Hynes shook up the lines before the game. The one line which stayed intact was the Nick Petersen – Ben Street – Geoff Walker line. This line was absolute dynamite all night. They nearly scored almost every shift they were out for this period.

Third Period: Assisted by the fact that the Penguins took six straight penalties, the Admirals finally broke through when Mark Barberio hammered a shot in from the point in front of Cal O’Reilly, who had a stick break. Penguins would get late chances, with Munroe pulled, but would never find the equalizer.

Thoughts: Meaningless game in the large scope of things. Norfolk was going to get best record in the East. Penguins have the date with the Hershey Bears nearly set in stone for the playoffs in a few weeks, only issue at hand is who gets home ice. John Hynes denied his 100th AHL win. He will get another crack Friday vs. the Bears. Hershey ultimately gets a game in hand vs. the Pens out of this.

I’m rambling, so let’s tighten up.

Around the Division: They all watched us.

Standings: Norfolk 103 / Penguins 89 / Hershey 87 / Syracuse 76 / Binghamton 62

Conference: 1-NOR (103) 2-StK (90) 3-BRI (83) 4-WBS (89) 5-HER (87) 6-CT (80) 7-SYR (76) 8-MCH (76)

Pens bus home tonight, probably will have off tomorrow, practice Thursday then the Bears are in for a huge game Friday night. I’ll have what I can get between now and then with any news.

Let’s Go Pens!