Chirps from Center Ice

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Finally, a result that renders a positive.

Pens get three goals in the first from goal scorers and go on and roll the Binghamton Senators 4-2. 

Well, not exactly roll. The score was 3-0 at one point. Binghamton chipped to make it 3-2 before the Pens got a power play goal late to extend it to 4-2.

Wait, what? A power play goal?!?! What planet am I on.

That kind of night.

Jeff Zatkoff vs. Nathan Lawson. Robert Bortuzzo, sent down for conditioning, was in the lineup. Christiaan Minella took warmups but was scratched.

First Period: Lots of hits to open the game, as would be expected when these two teams play. Pens would get a power play and not score on it. Then, Pens first line of Kolarik, Smith and Holzapfel take the ice, cycle a puck. Holzapfel passes to Kolarik who one times it, rebound kicks to Smith who bangs it home. Off the ensuing faceoff, the Pens nearly get another one. Finally, Two bang-bang goals from Kolarik in the slot then Thompson off a wrister that Lawson could have had.

3-0 after one period. There was talk before the game and in the papers in the morning of a strong start. Message sent, message received.

Second Period: Bit of a down period. Pens would get extended five on three but not score one. Late, Pens lose a faceoff, Corey Cowick stick lifts Joey Mormina, gets Zatkoff out of position and backhands it home to put the B-Sens on the board at 3-1. You could see from the body language of the B-Sens that they were not out of it.

Third Period: The B-Sens weren’t out of it. They hustled and set up shop in the offensive zone. Hugh Jessiman scores from the blue line. Uh oh. 3-2 Pens. You could feel it slipping. But, the Penguins played disciplined hockey, were beneficiaries of two straight power plays, one they scored on when an Alex Grant point shot deflected off of Brian Gibbons and had a “bend but not break” mentality that won them the hockey game.

Three Stars: 3) Trevor Smith (goal, +2) 2) Paul Thomspon (goal, +1) 1) Chad Kolarik (goal, assist, +2)

Kolarik had seven of the teams 34 shots. Thompson five. Robert Bortuzzo was a +2.

Around the Division: Norfolk and Hershey were off, Syracuse lost in Rochester in new head coach Rob Zettler’s debut 1-0 to the Americans. The shots on goal that game was 38-14 Crunch.

Standings: Syracuse 86 — Binghamton 84 — Penguins 73 — Hershey 71 — Norfolk 67

Conference: 1) SYR (86) 2) PRO (85) 3) SPR (83) 4) BNG (84) 5) POR (73) 6) WBS (73) 7) CT (72) 8) HER (71)

Wheeling Update: The Nailers have been eliminated from the playoffs and are playing out the string. They hosted the Elmira Jackals and won 6-2. Keven Veilleux scored a goal and had an assist. Newly signed 2009 Pittsburgh draft pick Alex Velischek had two assists. Nailers wrap up their season on Saturday.

SendToNews Highlights: Here they are.

Penguins most likely practice tomorrow. I may have a photoblog for you here from Monday with other newsier items. Providence is in Friday. That will be a Grade A test for the Pens.

Let’s Go Pens!