Chirps from Center Ice

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If I am a Crunch fan, this is a bad loss.

I’m not a Crunch fan, I am a Penguin fan and this win was a necessity.

You are not winning this series if you are Wilkes-Barre down 0-2.

The Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins hand the Syracuse Crunch their first loss of the post season, and first loss for a Tampa Bay affiliate in playoffs since May 7, 2012 with a 4-2 win and now have home ice advantage in the series.

Two goals by Alex Grant, a goal from Trevor Smith and an unlikely goal for Christiaan Minella proved to be too much for the Crunch, who beat goaltender Brad Thiessen twice only on goals when he was screened.

The aforementioned Brad Thiessen vs. Cedrick Desjardins.

Lineup Notes: Christiaan Minella was in for Jayson Megna who, per radio, will be unlikely to play Game 2 and is questionable at best to play in the series. Bobby Farnham is off of the injured list but is is probably not going to play tomorrow. Dylan Reese did not play.

First Period: Penguins could not clear the D zone. Really dangerous moments for the Penguins in this regard. Suddenly, Alex Grant scores a goal to put the Pens up 1-0. This was the first shot on goal for the Penguins and the first time the Crunch trailed in any game in the playoffs since Game 3 of Round One in the Portland series. More dangerous D zone non-clears by the Pens. The fourth line for the Pens was huge this period and for the game overall. Then, Brendan Mikkelson scored through a screen to even the score at one.

The next shift, Radko Gudas boards a Penguin. Wilkes-Barre would set up, go tic tac toe, and Trevor Smith would push the Pens back to the lead 2-1. An answer goal to answer all answer goals.

Second Period: Joey Mormina takes a delay of game penalty. MVP Tyler Johnson picks a spot and it’s a tie game again. Warren Peters, I guess mad at the initial call on Mormina or mad that the Crunch scored, took a slashing call and the Crunch were back on the power play as soon as they dropped the puck to resume play after the Johnson goal. Pens kill it.

Remember that fourth line I was talking about earlier? They came up huge again. Dominik Uher chases a puck down into the Pens zone on a Crunch player. Christiaan Minella slaps down a clearing bid, finds himself alone with Desjardins and scores to make it 3-2 Pens. Backbreaking goal to give up for Syracuse. They’ve hemmed the Pens in their zone all night, battle back to even the score at two and let the Wilkes-Barre fourth line outwork them and score a goal.

Pens felt it, too. They were honing in on another goal. After some power play exchanges, Alex Grant steps into his second goal of the night to put the Pens up 4-2 heading into the…

Third Period: Pens played a solid defensive period. Knowing they were up two goals on an offensively dangerous Syracuse Crunch team, Wilkes-Barre took no chances defensively and rode that to a 1-0 lead in the series.

Three Stars: 3) Brendan Mikkelson (goal, +1) 2) Trevor Smith (goal, assist, +1) and 1) Alex Grant (two goals, +1)

Game 2 is right back here Sunday night in Syracuse.

Gameday for that proceeding will be up Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m.

Let’s Go Pens!