Chirps from Center Ice

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Chip. Chip. Chip.

That sound you hear is the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins chipping away at getting into the playoffs.

A 2-1 win in another playoff like game against the Norfolk Admirals tonight. Chuck Kobasew continues his torrid pace since his demotion to the AHL, now with a goal in each of his 6 games played since arriving in Wilkes-Barre (7-1-8) Josh Archibald scores in his second professional game as well. Starting goaltender Peter Mannino stops 19 of 20 shots as the Pens keep pace on the Binghamton Senators for the East Division lead.

The aforementioned Peter Mannino vs. John Gibson.

Lineup changes: Lots. Dominik Uher, Harry Zolnierczyk and Spencer Machacek were all back in the lineup. The veteran scratch was Nick Drazenovic. Also, Carter Rowney was back in the lineup for his first AHL action for the Pens since February 9. Philip Samuelsson was also out and is still, “yet to be evaluated” which, to me, means that he will probably go to Pittsburgh to get looked at by the doctors there. Also, Eric Hartzell and ATO D Alex Boak were sent to Wheeling yesterday. Healthies were Anton Zlobin, Harrison Ruopp and the ATOs Marcantuoni and Sheary. Obie said in pre-game that these two are on the trip.

First Period: Nice opening pop by the Pens to start. Then it screeched to a halt as Zolnierczyk took an inadvertent goaltender interference call then Brian Dumoulin would take a delay of game call :20 later to put the Pens down two men for 1:31. The Penguins would be able to kill it. Later, Josh Archibald would score his first professional goal finishing off this two one one pass from Dominik Uher to put the Pens ahead 1-0.

Second Period: Chuck Kobasew at :43. Finished off a great pass from Andrew Ebbett from the corner to give the Pens a 2-0 lead.

Penguins don’t allow the Admirals a shot on goal for the first ten minutes of the second period. Then, all of a sudden, Dave Steckel picks off a Penguin at center ice and passes to Emerson Etem. The rest is history. Etem scores to bring the Admirals within one. Penguins would then take a penalty and the Admirals would go on the power play. Luckily, Andrew Ebbett would get hooked on a shorthanded rush up ice to end the Admirals power play and put the teams at four on four.

Third Period: Norfolk opens and takes it to the Penguins to start. Mannino and the defense shut the door. The the penalty parade begins for the Penguins. A McNeill cross check and a Barry Goers trip but the Penguins would successfully kill them all.

Time dwindling on the home team, the Admirals would pull Gibson but would never find the equalizer.

Three Stars: 3) Josh Archibald (goal, +1) 2) Emerson Etem (goal, +1) and 1) Chuck Kobasew (goal, +1)

Around the Division: Binghamton, trailing St. John’s 1-0 to start the third period at home, rally for two goals and defeat the St. John’s IceCaps by a score of 2-1…. Hershey, in the same boat trailing 1-0 to open the third at home vs. Albany, enjoy the same result with a four goal explosion and win 4-1 to keep the Bears playoff hopes alive with a 4-1 win on home ice…. Syracuse beat Adirondack 6-4 and the Phantoms are the first team officially eliminated from the 2014 Calder Cup Playoffs.

The Manchester Monarchs join the Texas Stars and clinch a spot with a 5-1 pasting of the Worcester Sharks at home tonight. Grand Rapids could have been the third team to qualify, but they lost to Rockford tonight. Edit: Scratch all that. The Griffins are in, on account of some advanced mathematics by the brain trust in Springfield.

Standings: Binghamton 83 — Penguins 82 — Norfolk 77 — Hershey 74 — Syracuse 64

Conference: 1) MCH (94) 2) SPR (88) 3) BNG (83) 4) STJ (86) 5) WBS (82) 6) PRO (81) 7) ALB (79) 8) NOR (77)

Wheeling Update: The Wheeling Nailers were victorious tonight with a 5-3 win over the Toledo Walleye at home. Eric Hartzell stopped 31 of 34 and picked up the win.

SendToNews Highlights: Are here.

These two teams rematch tomorrow at Scope at 7:15. Gameday for the matchup will be here on the blog at 3:15.

Let’s Go Pens!!!