Chirps from Center Ice

Penguins get bit in Hershey by a goal they think should not have counted that did not get replay and a goal that they scored that replay took away. They lose 3-2.

Penguins really looked aggressive in the first half of the game then gradually ran out of gas in the second half of the contest which is to be expected when you play three games in under three days.

Dany Sabourin vs. Jeff Zatkoff – Brian Dumoulin and Joe Morrow were back in for the Pens.

First Period: A lot of high flying, intense hockey with both clubs getting chances. Zatkoff really was sharp this period keeping what normally are sure Bears goals on backhand plays out of his net.

Second Period: :14 in, Mike Carman backhands one in on Zatkoff. So, ideally, 38/2 = 14. Pens get scored on in two games at :38 of the first period, then at :14 of the second period in the third. Numbers are fun!* Then something strange where Alex Grant was playing forward on a fourth line. Then Zach Hamill comes in while the Bears were shorthanded and scored, it appeared as if the puck clanked off a crossbar and back out, but referee Darcy Burchell was right on top of the play and signaled goal immediately and did not go to video replay. Right after that, Adam Payerl got his first of the year to cut the deficit to 2-1.

Third Period: Philippe Dupuis looked to have scored, but the puck was kicked in. The referees did use replay in this instance and overturned the goal call on the ice. Bombulie noted that Dupuis kicked the puck into Sabourin’s pads then whacked at the pads and then the puck went in. Later, Ryan Stoa scored on the only shot of the period for the Bears to put the game at 3-1. Later, Trevor Smith cross checked Tomas Kundratek into the bend wall and was assessed a 5:00 penalty for cross checking and thrown out of the game on a game misconduct. Kundratek returned to the game almost instantly, so I am not anticipating a suspension of any kind. Tangradi cut the deficit to 3-2 when he fit the puck in between Sabourin and the post in a very tight space. Pens pull Zatkoff but never found the equalizer.

Three Stars: 3) Cameron Schilling (assist, +2) 2) Zach Hamill (goal, +2) and 1) Ryan Stoa (goal, +1)

I can’t really offer much dissection on this game being its the tail end of a three in three for both teams, and the first of 12 meetings. Allowing the high octane Bears offense just 16 shots on goal and 1 in the third period is something you take every day of the week.

Around the Division: Norfolk beats St. John’s in Newfoundland 2-0. Binghamton loses to Manchester 4-0 and Syracuse lost to Adirondack 4-3 in overtime.

Standings: Norfolk 10 — Syracuse 10 — Hershey 7 — Binghamton 7 — Penguins 4

Wheeling was off tonight.

Penguins back at it Friday in New Hampshire.

Hurricane Sandy is churning off of the DelMarVa coast, gunning for just about all of the entire AHL Eastern Conference cities. Please stay safe!

* – who am I kidding?