Chirps from Center Ice

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Offense has been struggling of late for the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins.

So, how do you fix that? Trade? No. Call-ups from Wheeling? They are all here.

(points to the blue line) Up there! Up there!

The Penguins tonight win in Lewiston, Maine by a score of 4-2 with ALL of the goals scored by Penguins defensemen. Philip Samuelsson figured into every goal as well, going 1-3-4. Cartrer Rowney and Reid McNeill both notch their first points as Penguins. For McNeill, it is his first AHL regular season point.

Eric Hartzell vs. Mark Visentin

Only one lineup change for John Hynes as Denver Manderson was in for Tom Kuhnhackl. Harrison Ruopp took warmups but was scratched for the second straight night.

First Period: Much like last night, there was a penalty in the opening minute. Only this time, the call was in favor of Wilkes-Barre. Scott Harrington made quick work of the power play with this goal to put the Penguins up 1-0. Penguins all of a sudden then found themselves on the wrong end of a 5-on-3, but with some timely clears and some big saves by Hartzell, were able to kill the penalty. But then later, Eric Hartzell was beat on a bad angle shot by Brandon McMillan to tie the game at 1-1.

Second Period: Penguins open with some early jump. Then, Simon Despres and Philip Samuelsson toss the puck to each other a few time on the blue line and Despres scores through a crowd to put the Penguins up 2-1. Later, Philip Samuelsson would get on the board with this goal to put the Pens ahead 3-1.

It was nice to see the Pens jump on and ahead of the Pirates and capitalize on opportunities given.

Third Period: Penguins continue to pressure the Pirates and Simon Despres gets his second goal of the night with this blast from the point to make it 4-1 Pens. Paul Thompson would try to score a goal for the forwards tonight, but would be denied twice. Once on a shot that sails over the crossbar and another on a breakaway that hits the cross bar.

Pirates get one back on a Brandon Gormley rebound while the Pirates were on a power play.

Portland would end the period on a double minor power play, but Hartzell made the saves necessary to preserve the two goal lead and the two points in the standings.

Three Stars: 3) Brandon Gormley (goal, assist, even) 2) Simon Despres (two goals, +1) and 1) Philip Samuelsson (goal, three assists, +2)

Around the Division: Binghamton beats Syracuse in Syracuse 6-3. Hershey gets a late goal Brandon Segal, who has been on a tear lately for the Bears and get by the Bridgeport Sound Tigers 4-3 and Norfolk beats Worcester in overtime in Virginia 1-0.

Standings: Binghamton 53 — Penguins 50 — Norfolk 48 — Hershey 42 — Syracuse 40

Conference: 1) SPR (58) 2) MCH (58) 3) BNG (53) 4) ALB (51) 5) WBS (50) 6) PRO (48) 7) NOR (48) 8) STJ (43)

Saturday afternoon I watched a Western Conference game this afternoon and it was totally worth my while. I watched the Iowa Wild defeat the Lake Erie Monsters 1-0 on Warren Peters’ third period power play goal and I also watched John Curry make 45 saves, the most saves in a shutout in over three years in the AHL. I saw on Twitter that Curry was getting the start and tuned in since I have the ability to do so on AHL Live. He didn’t disappoint. Curry was like the Curry of old that Penguins fans came to know and love making some spectacular saves keeping his Wild in the game.

Wheeling Update: The Nailers were blanked in Greenville by Jason Missiaen’s (remember him with Hartford?) 40 save shutout 3-0.

SendToNews Highlights: Don’t think Portland has them. If I remember I will look again later and link in if they do.

Pens bus back to Providence tonight for a 3 p.m. start with the Bruins Sunday afternoon. Gameday for that will be up at 11 a.m.

Let’s Go Pens!!!