Chirps from Center Ice

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I hope that whatever fire that Coach John Hynes lit under the team tonight stays lit for a while.

Pens played like the better team and the better team won tonight, 5-3. 

Not before Worcester made it interesting late with power plays but the Pens, who tumbled from first overall on the penalty kill after letting in four power play goals by the Sharks on Wednesday, don’t let the Sharks score on the power play tonight.

Brad Thiessen vs. Harri Sateri — Chris Collins and Christiaan Minella were in for Dom Uher and Steve MacIntyre.

First Period: A determined Penguins team cycled the puck, kept their feet moving all night and the Sharks chased. The Pens get a power play. Bracken Kearns gets a shorthanded break but is denied by Thiessen. Later, the Pens get a five on three power play and Dylan Reese finishes putting the Pens on the board first. Thiessen had another big save on a 2-on-1 Sharks rush late.

Second Period: Floodgates opened for the Pens. When Chad Kolarik is on, he’s unstoppable. He scores on a power play to make it 2-0. Riley Holzapfel drove the slot, found Kolarik on the wing, pinching, and scored. Then, Joey Mormina drove one that Paul Thompson got a stick on with Warren Peters screening. 3-0 Pens. Right off the faceoff, Yanni Gourde gets one back for the Sharks streaking to the net when four Penguins were below the goal line. Thrill a minute action. Late, Chad Kolarik finds a wide open Riley Holzapfel on the left side who scores to break a 15 game goal-less streak for him to make it 4-1.

I said on the twitter call that the Pens could “coast” from here. They did, and it nearly cost them.

Third Period: James Livingston throws a puck on net just under the blue line that either surprises or handcuffs Thiessen. It’s 4-2. Another shorthanded break by Kearns, who must have had five quality chances tonight, but Thiessen stopped him. Worcester wins races. Pens coast, look flatfooted. Jon Matsumoto slides pne through bodies and its 4-3 now. Then referees Ryan Fraser and Trent Knorr, who by all accounts were quiet all game, decide to start calling penalties. Warren Peters rough with 2:15 to play. Sharks miss an open net. Sateri pulled, 6×4 for the Sharks. Thiessen dives over and stops another. Trevor Smith gets called for a slash. It’s a 6-on-4 for the Sharks now. Pens withstand the pressure. Thiessen a save through a crowd. Sharks take a penalty. Offensive zone faceoff for the Pens, Sateri was not in the net. Warren Peters wins the faceoff and shoots it into the empty net and that is your ballgame.

There are the six points that Penguins beat writer Jonathan Bombulie said the Penguins needed in this New England road trip. Still two more huge points on the line against old pal Nick Johnson and the rest of the Portland Pirates tomorrow.

Three Stars: 3) Travis Oleksuk (two assists, +2) 2) Riley Holzapfel (goal, assist, even) 1) Trevor Smith (two assists, even)

Around the Division: Norfolk beats Syracuse in a shootout, 4-3. The Admirals are coming and they are coming quick. Adirondack bests Binghamton in regulation, 3-2. The Hershey Bears were off tonight, and now have two games in hand on the Penguins.

Standings: Syracuse 80 — Binghamton 78 — Penguins 69 — Hershey 64 — Norfolk 63

Conference: 1) SYR (80) 2) SPR (77) 3) PRO (77) 4) BNG (78) 5) POR (73) 6) WBS (69) 7) ALB (65) 8) MCH (65)

Wheeling Update: The Nailers lost to the Toledo Walleye at home 5-3. Keven Veilleux had a goal.

SendToNews Highlights: Eventually they will go up. I will have them here when they do.

Pens now bus to Portland for a 7 p.m. game against the Pirates. Gameday for that will be here for you at 3 p.m.

Let’s Go Pens!