Chirps from Center Ice

Nothing much out of Coal Street today. They skated for over an hour at Mohegan Sun this afternoon. A big weekend looms…

…for the Penguins and Binghamton Senators, both who are at risk of not being at the top of the East Division when the zambonis make their final cuts Sunday evening across AHL rinks. The Penguins got some help with the return of Nick Drazenovic from injury Wednesday night while the Senators lose J-G Pageau and Cody Ceci to recall to Ottawa Thursday.

…for the Hershey Bears, who may see a familiar face in Michal Neuvirth in net for them Friday in Wilkes-Barre. The 2009 Calder Cup MVP was sent to Hershey today for a conditioning assignment. The Bears are a team that seems to be spinning in the right direction these days and would eagerly enjoy starting a winning streak in Wilkes-Barre.

…for the Norfolk Admirals, who get an army back from Anaheim with the returns of Alex Grant, Dave Steckel and Nolan Yonkman. They also signed Chris Collins to a PTO. Collins had been in the ECHL with the Bakersfield Condors and was their leading scorer. The Admirals are all of a sudden thin at goal however, with John Gibson’s status in question.

…the Syracuse Crunch, who are spiraling down to the AHL East Division basement and do not under any circumstances want to go there. The Crunch are as pillaged by injuries as we are, and the Crunch lineup is what it is.

…for new opponents. The Utica Comets make their debut in Wilkes-Barre Saturday night. The Comets are last in the AHL with 14 points, but have received 11 of those points on the road.

…for the AHL in general. Another outdoor game, this time the Lake Erie Monsters and the Rochester Americans at Frontier Field in Rockester, NY Friday night.

Gameday setup for the Friday evening tilt with Hershey will hit the blog Friday afternoon at 3 pm.