Chirps from Center Ice

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The offensive woes continue.

The Penguins kicked off their seven game road trip in Providence and were shutout 2-0. Michael Hutchinson makes 20 saves for the clean sheet.

Cody Wild, Steve MacIntyre and Jasyon Megna were the scratches. Tom Grace said on radio pregame that Megna was driven up today by a WBS front office staffer and didn’t make the bus trip yesterday so as not to infect the bus with the stomach bug he had.

Jeff Zatkoff vs. the aforementioned Michael Hutchinson

First Period: Could best be described as a feeling out period for the two teams. The Pens had the better of the power plays but only took three shots on goal and only allowed the P-Bruins the same amount. It would be the lowest amount of shots taken by both teams all season.

Second Period: For two teams that only play each other twice in a year, there were five fights, including four in 7:34 and 79 PIMs. Zach Sill fought Tyler Randell. Randell clipped Sill with a punch that dropped him. Colby Cohen and Paul Thompson fought after a scrum in front of Hutchinson’s net. Then Bobby Farnham fought David Warsofsky, Christiaan Minella / Kevan Miller. Pens had to penalty kill halfway through the period but dispensed of the Providence power plays. Then, Bobby Robins, the AHL’s penalty minutes leader, charges Philip Samuelsson then fights him. Robins would get a five minute major for charging. The Pens, during the extended power play, only manage a single shot on goal and the P-Bruins played “bend but not break” and killed it.

Third Period: The P-Bruins looked out for blood. Zatkoff made save after save. Alex Grant takes an interference call. Jamie Tardif feeds Craig Cunningham on the back door. Power play goal. Pens get a power play. Puck flutters just past the cage of Hutchinson. No goal. Then the Bruins continue to pressure, come in three on two and score. That would be all the offense that the P-Bruins would need. Zatkoff was pulled but the Penguins did not score a goal.

Three Stars: 3) Jamie Tardif (assist, even) 2) Michael Hutchinson (20 save shutout) 1) Craig Cunningham (goal)

Around the Division: Binghamton shuts out Connecticut at home, 3-0. Syracuse takes down St. John’s in a shootout 3-2. Hershey was dropkicked by the Norfolk Admirals in Virginia 5-1.

Standings: Syracuse 77 — Binghamton 74 — Hershey 64 — Penguins 63 — Norfolk 57

Conference: 1) SYR (77) 2) SPR (75) 3) PRO (73) 4) BNG (74) 5) POR (70) 6) HER (64) 7) WBS (63) 8) MCH (62)

SendToNews Highlights: I don’t think Providence has them.

Wheeling Update: Wheeling wins 5-2 in Trenton.

Pens travel to Portland for a 7 p.m. game against the Pirates. I will have the Gameday setup here for you at 3 p.m.

Let’s Go Pens!