Chirps from Center Ice

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Penguins cap off an eight point New England road trip in comeback fashion, winners 3-2 tonight in Portland.

A :30 sequence cost the Pens a 0-2 hole to dig out of early in the first, but thankfully they had all game to dig out of it, and dig they did.

Jeff Zatkoff vs. Chad Johnson

First Period: Pirates were all over the Pens to start the game. Chris Brown had a chance but Zatkoff saved it. Then, Andy Miele picks off a pass at the WBS blue line, skates in and scores to make it 1-0 Portland. :30 later, Boris Valabik, he of all three games played for the Pens last year, makes it 2-0 Portland. Things were unraveling quickly. Then, Brian Gibbons had a couple of chances. Gibbons for his effort was the best Penguin on the ice all night long.

Second Period: Pirates looked quick out of the gate, establishing themselves in the Penguins zone for a while before the Penguins finally clear. Penguins find themselves on a 5-on-3 power play. Local boy Brian Dumoulin scores to cut the deficit to 2-1. Then, the aforementioned Gibbons was absolutely pancaked on the boards by Max Goncherov. Goncherov got a 5:00 penalty for boarding. The Penguins had extended 5-on-3 time again. Only this time, the Pirates get the better of the chances shorthanded and Wilkes-Barre only manages one shot on goal. I said at the time that it was a turning point.

Third Period: Turns out that the 5-on-3 was a turning point. Portland could have extended its lead, that’s how bad the Pens power play looked. They didn’t. John Hynes must have said something to the team in intermission that lit a fire under them because they came out gangbusters. Joey Mormina scores even strength to tie the game at two. It would turn out to be Chris Collins’ first point back with the Pens as he would get and assist on the Mormina goal. Later, Joe Morrow shoots a puck that deflects on a rebound to Trevor Smith in the slot who scores to make it 3-2 Pens. Pens would then defend the lead after that and hold on and win.

Zatkoff faced 10 shots in the first period. He faced 13 for the remainder of the game.

Three Stars: 3) Trevor Smith (game winning goal, assist, +1) 2) Andy Miele (goal, +1)  and 1) Brian Dumoulin (goal, even)

Around the Division: Binghamton throttles Norfolk 5-1. Syracuse throttles Albany 6-2. Hershey needs overtime to beat Bridgeport 1-0.

Standings: Syracuse 82 — Binghamton 80 — Penguins 71 — Hershey 66 — Norfolk 63

Conference: 1) SYR (82) 2) PRO (79) 3) SPR (77) 4) BNG (80) 5) POR (73) 6) WBS (71) 7) HER (66) 8) CT (66)

Wheeling Update: The Nailers lost again to the Toledo Walleye, this time 3-1. Chris Barton had the lone goal for the Nailers.

SendToNews Highlights: Are here.

Pens come home for a few days before bussing to Syracuse Wednesday for a big game. I’ve conceded the division to either Syracuse or Binghamton, but if we do by some chance make playoffs, Syracuse will be in the way at some point.

Let’s Go Pens!