Chirps from Center Ice

        @       

4                                         5

–

If you were out tonight and didn’t pay attention to what went on tonight in Hershey for your Penguins and saw the score, a 5-4 loss for the Penguins, you probably think that it was a close game.

You couldn’t be more wrong, actually.

After scoring the first goal, a Bobby Farnham back door tap in in the first period, the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins allow five straight goals, two on the power play, and get obliterated by the Bears who have won 12 straight at home.

Eric Hartzell left the game with either an injury, a cramp, or embarrassment in the third period, after giving up the fourth goal to Dane Byers, who crashed the net hard and appeared to kick the puck in. Initially it was waved off, but after review the goal stood.

Dustin Gazley is a stone in the shoe to the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins. This 5’9, 154 pound pipsqueak has 8 AHL goals this season. 4 of them have come against the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins. He scored on both goaltenders tonight, Hartzell and Deslauriers and loves to play against the Penguins. You can’t stop him, you can only hope to contain him.

After last night’s embarrassment in Binghamton, the Penguins made some line changes. Just the fourth line was left intact. Nick D’Agostino was in for Harrison Ruopp was the only lineup change for Coach John Hynes.

Eric Hartzell vs. Philipp Grubauer

First Period: All Penguins to start, who were rewarded with the Farnham goal. Brian Gibbons forced a turnover to Brendan Mikkelson who found Farnham cutting back door for the goal.

After the center ice face-off, all Hershey. No really. All Hershey.

Casey Welllman scored in the final minute on the power play to tie the game at one.

Second Period: Dustin Gazley scored :32 and the Bears ran away with it. Nine minutes of puck possession by the Chocolate and White. With :25 left, Ryan Potulny put in a rebound to make it 3-1 Bears.

Third Period: Pens open with early pop. Then Hartzell makes a save and goes down in a heap. Turns out it may have been a cramp or could have been more. Trainer Kyle Moore was oiut to attend to Hartzell who stayed in and got a fresh water bottle. He’s had issues this season with cramping.

Dane Byers crashes and the puck goes in. Initially the goal was waved off by referee Terry Koharski but after review the goal was allowed to stand and it was 4-1 Bears. Hartzell signaled to the bench that he was done. Enter Jeff Deslauriers. Ignoring the fights between Dane Byers and Bobby Farnham and Michael Latta and Spencer Machacek Dustin Gazley scored a power play goal that would end up being the game winner to make it 5-1 Hershey.

Pens would then get three quick goals. Nick Drazenovic even strength. Brian Gibbons on a 5-on-3 power play and Jayson Megna with Deslauriers pulled with :16 left. They never got equal.

Three Stars: 3) Casey Wellman (goal, assist, +1) 2) Dustin Gazley (two goals, +1) and 1) Dane Byers (goal, assist, +1)

Around the Division: Hide your eyes. Binghamton wins 8-0 at home against Worcester. The first shutout for the B-Sens this season. The Big B Machine is runnin’ wild on the Southern Tier….Norfolk beats Syracuse 2-1.

Standings: Binghamton 66 — Hershey 62 — Norfolk 62 — Penguins 61 — Syracuse 44

Conference: 1) MCH (73) 2) SPR (67) 3) BNG (66) 4) HER (62) 5) NOR (62) 6) WBS (61) 7) PRO (61) 8) ALB (60)

From 9 back you have St. John’s with 59 points, then Worcester with 50 at 10. Pens aren’t that bad, yet. But there are nine teams that can conceivably make playoffs at this point.

Wheeling Update: Nailers go eight rounds in a shootout with the Elmira Jackals and win 2-1. Peter Mannino stopped 26 of 27 and 2 of 8 in the shootout for first star honors.

SendToNews Highlights: Are here.

Pens can get back to second in the division tomorrow with the rematch vs. the Bears at 4:05. Gameday for this will be up at noon Sunday.

Let’s Go Pens!!!