Chirps from Center Ice

19 power plays.

10 for the Penguins, 9 for the Falcons.

Referee Jamie Koharski running the show.

Really can’t blame the officials for tonight’s 4-2 loss as much as you have to credit the Springfield Falcons for capitalizing on opportunity. A power play goal and a faceoff win for the Falcons give them a 2-0 lead in the first, Pens clamp down in the second allowing just 9 Springfield shots, get a power play goal from Joe Morrow and a tap in from Philippe Dupuis in the third period to even things, then defensive zone gaffes rule the day late in the third with Cam Atkinson getting a feed from Jonathan Audy-Marchessault to make it 3-2 then a Springfield three on one with Ryan Johansen scoring to make it 4-2.

That was your ballgame, in a nutshell.

Jeff Zatkoff vs. Curtis McElHinney. Dylan Reese was a late scratch. Penguins continued the trend of dressing 7 defensemen.

Zach Sill blocked a shot and wasn’t seen from the second period on. Really a tough game to watch with all the penalties. No team was really able to establish anything even strength offensively. Really boiled down to which team was able to take advantage of the others mistakes. The Penguins made more mistakes then they were able to capitalize on.

Three Stars: 3) Curtis McElhinney (29 saves on 31 shots) 2) Jonathan Audy-Marchessault (goal, two assists, +2) and 1) Cam Atkinson (game winning goal, assist, +2)

Around the Division: Syracuse beats Albany 3-2. Binghamton loses to Hershey by the same 3-2 score and the Norfolk Admirals win again, this time 5-4 in overtime helped by a Corey Elkins hat trick.

Standings: Norfolk 6 — Syracuse 5 — Binghamton 4 — Hershey 2 — Wilkes-Barre 0.

Still not going to update Conference standings yet until around maybe the fifth game or so.

Wheeling Update: The Nailers are still looking for their first win of ther season after dropping a 4-2 decision to the Elmira Jackals tonight in New York 4-2. Patrick Killeen took the loss for the Nailers stopping 24 of 28 shots. Ex-WBS Penguin Cody Wild had two assists.

Pens return home tonight for tomorrow’s home opener against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The Gameday setup will be here on the blog at 3:00 tomorrow afternoon.