Chirps from Center Ice

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Say what you want, the Pens were tired.

Syracuse has played only its second game in the past nine days. The Penguins have played four games in the last seven games with two of those seven being elimination games.

If I tell you, Sunday night at 11 p.m. that the series would be tied heading back to Wilkes-Barre, do you hug me or punch me?

Actually, don’t answer that.

The Penguins lose Game 2 tonight 3-2 and continue their futility in the second game on the road, now 3-13 in Game 2s on opponents ice.

Game 3 is Wednesday in Wilkes-Barre.

Brad Thiessen vs. Cedrick Desjardins — no lineup changes either way for either team.

First Period: Blitzkrieg period by the Crunch, who outshot the Penguins 15-1 and went up 1-0 on the scoreboard on a Dan Sexton power play goal.

Second Period: More pressure by the Crunch. Matt Taormina scores a goal in a pile to make it 2-0 Crunch. I think shots were 22-2 Crunch at this point. Then, Philip Samuelsson was hooked and the Pens were on the power play. Joey Mormina wastes no time. 2-1 Crunch. Riley Holzapfel nearly tied the game but fanned on an open net. 

For some reason, the Syracuse Crunch became very frustrated with the Penguins, as they would take silly penalty after silly penalty. The Pens would get a power play again.

Hold your horses. The Crunch have the most shorthanded goals this postseason. Dimitry Korobov lights the lamp to make it 3-1 Crunch. Truly a backbreaking gaol for the Penguins and likely the turning point in the game. 

More frustration though by the Crunch, as Tyler Johnson butt ends Joey Mormina and gets an automatic 4:00 double minor. However, at the end of the second, Brian Gibbons would take a penalty.

Third Period: Tyler Johnson and Chad Kolarik go knee on knee. Kolarik returns. Johnson does not. Possible game changer in the series, especially if Johnson’s injury is serious as he is an important part of what the Crunch are about.

Riley Holzapfel scores a goal late. That would be all the offense the Penguins would muster. 

Three Stars: 3) Dan Sexton (goal, even) 2) Dmitry Korobov (goal, even) and 1) Ondrej Palat (assist, +2)

Syracuse looked frustrated despite dominating the Penguins. Desjardins has been pedestrian thus far. The Pens looked worn down. Again, I am running to Wednesday with a series split. What is the status with Tyler Johnson’s knee? Expect a dogfight Wednesday in Wilkes-Barre.

Let’s Go Pens!!!