Chirps from Center Ice

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I really wanted the Penguins to score six goals tonight. Just so that the headline “Deep Sixed — Pens WIN 6-1” could play with the puns that you see me use from time to time here on the blog. They didn’t, so the effort comes off as amateurish. But hey, this is a blog, I’m not a paid professional and couldn’t come up with anything else.

The Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins had some lineup adjustments and won tonight 5-1. After being deadlocked in a 1-1 battle with the Pirates after 40 minutes, the Pens explode for four goals, including two back to back on the power play and roll the Pirates.

Portland had scored a power play goal in ten straight games coming into tonight including four Wednesday in Binghamton. While they did have some chances to score, the Wilkes-Barre penalty kill did not allow any tonight.

Eric Hartzell vs. Mark Visentin

Lineup Changes: Essentially Spencer Machacek for Paul Thompson and Andrew Ebbett for Denver Manderson up front. Harrison Ruopp played on defense while Nick D’Agostino took warmups but was the scratch.

First Period: Penguins pressure in the Pirates end all period and finally get a goal on the one timer from Carter Rowney in the final minute to put the Pens ahead 1-0.

The new look power play lines were Zlobin, Drazenovic, Ebbett and Kostopoulos with Despres on the first unit and Machacek centering Zlobin and Torquato with Mikkelson and Samuelsson on the blue line.

Second Period: More of the same for the Pens, who just couldn’t capitalize on their chances and had the better of the power plays. But, a blown assignment by Despres and Drazenovic allow Jordan Martinook to skate from center ice in to score an ugly shorthanded goal for the Pens to give up to tie the game at 1 all.

In hindsight, that goal was a turning point. If the Pens lose, it’s pointed at as a culmination of frustration of recent efforts by Wilkes-Barre. But there was no time to think about that because it was time for the…

Third Period: Wilkes-Barre had left over power play time from a penalty late in the second and wasted no time.

No I mean, literally, they wasted no time.

Ebbett at :20. The power play streak is over. 2-1 Wilkes-Barre.

Machacek pumps one home in close in a narrow slot :50 later at 1:10. 3-1 Wilkes-Barre.

Andrew Ebbett 2:43 later at 3:53. 4-1 Pens.

For good measure, Tom Kostopoulos pumps a shot in from between the circles off a face-off win at 8:47 for a power play goal. Back to back power play goals.

So it felt like the Penguins of a few months ago. Stay relevant to the third period, then just overwhelm your opponent with goal after goal after goal.

Portland had no answer, and the Penguins, who do play well with a lead hold on for the win.

Three Stars: 3) Spencer Machacek (goal, +1) 2) Tom Kostopoulos (goal, assist, even) 1) Andrew Ebbett (two goals, assist, even)

Around the Division: Binghamton had the night off. Norfolk gets a late goal in the third period and hang on to win 1-0 over the Hartford Wolf Pack down in Virginia. Hershey loses 4-1 to Rochester and Syracuse loses 4-2 to Springfield.

Standings: Binghamton 61 — Penguins 58 — Norfolk 58 — Hershey 54 — Syracuse 43

Conference: 1) MCH (67) 2) SPR (65) 3) BNG (61) 4) WBS (58) 5) NOR (58) 6) STJ (57) 7) ALB (55) 8) PRO (55)

Wheeling Update: The Nailers were off.

SendToNews Highlights: Are here for your viewing enjoyment.

Adirondack is in tomorrow. They did not play tonight, so they will be the fresher of the daisies on the sidewalk. Gameday for that will be up at 3 p.m. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go work on my puns.

Let’s Go Pens!