Chirps from Center Ice

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Brian Gibbons had 30 points in 70 games last year for the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins.

He has 11 so far after just 6 games this season.

Aided by a four point performance by Gibbons Sunday afternoon in Manchester, the Penguins defeated the Monarchs 4-3 in overtime and are off to a 6-0 start.

Tops in the East Division? Check.

Tops in the Eastern Conference? Check.

Tops in the entire American Hockey League? Checkmate.

Jeff Deslauriers vs. J-F Berube

Tom Kostopoulous did not play today for the Penguins. He’s day-to-day with a “lower body” injury. Simon Despres was apparently dinged up Friday against Adirondack. Despres played last night in Worcester and took warmups in Manchester but was scratched in favor of Nick D’Agostino.

First Period: Gibbons had a hand in all the scoring plays for the Penguins. He got his party started by scoring a goal on the power play from a ridiculous angle from below the goal line to give the Pens a 1-0 lead.

Penguins had several chances to blow the game wide open in the first, but Manchester hug around and scored a goal late in the period to tie the game at one. Sean Backman finished off a two-on-one to bring the Monarchs even.

Second Period: The whole “Brian Gibbons assisted or scored a goal for the Penguins and the Monarchs would respond later in the period” theme continued. Gibbons this time broke out of the penalty box and hit Andrew Ebbett cutting to the net to put the Pens up 2-1.

Despite getting a power play goal in the first period, the Penguins did not look good future power plays. Two consecutive man advantages for Wilkes-Barre reared more chances for Manchester than it did the Penguins.

Andrew Bodnarchuk rifled home a one timer to bring the Monarchs level with the Penguins again late.

Third Period: Mike Carman, in his second straight game, forechecked the Monarchs forwards and defenseman all afternoon long. His efforts led to Gibbons’ second goal. Gibbons stole the puck and wired home a wrister to put the Penguins up 3-2.

Late, a puck skips Zach Sill’s stick. Manchester breaks out and Nick Deslauriers slams home a rebound of a Jordan Weal blast to even the game again. Manchester wasn’t going away, having been in overtime six times prior to this game.

Overtime: It took just :22 seconds. Brian Gibbons and Brendan Mikkelson 2-on-1, Gibbons cross ice pass to Mikkelson who seals it.

Three Stars: 3) Brendan Mikkelson (goal, assist, +2) 2) Andrew Bodnarchuk (goal, even) and 1) Brian Gibbons (two goals, two assists, +3)

Around the Division: Binghamton was in Bridgeport and beat the Sound Tigers 6-5 in overtime. That one was a barn burner. The Sound Tigers were down 3-0 at one point in the first.

Standings: Penguins 12 — Binghamton 8 — Norfolk 8 — Syracuse 5 — Hershey 3

Conference: 1) WBS (12) 2) HFD (11) 3) MCH (11) 4) SPR (10) 5) BNG (8) 6) NOR (8) 7) ALB (7) 8) PRO (6)

Wheeling Update: The Nailers were off. They are back at it Saturday in Toledo.

SendToNews Highlights: Here they are for your viewing enjoyment.

If Gibbons had found his way onto the scoresheet Saturday in Worcester, a strong case would need to be made for AHL Player of the Week. We’ll see. I’d be pleasantly surprised if he was named. Normally the League announces the nomination Monday afternoon.

Monday afternoon will also be when the Week 3 AHL Power Rankings will publish. It probably a fair speculation to say that one of the two teams involved in this game today will be at the top. Stay tuned.

Let’s Go Pens!!!