I wrote this as a “Case Against” the Penguins in my East Division Preview that ran Friday, part of a weeklong series where I look at each team…
Youth and inexperience. A lot of second year guys and rookies may be relied upon to carry the offensive load this season.
It showed tonight. A 5-2 loss to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms at the home opener. The Penguins aren’t historically great in the first game of the season anyhow, but to lose a game on your home ice in front of your fans to a division rival you will see 12 times this season isn’t the way they drew it up.
Jeff Zatkoff vs. Rob Zepp
Lines were…
Anton Zlobin – Nick Drazenovic – Tom Kostopoulos
Scott Wilson – Conor Sheary – Bryan Rust
Bobby Farnham – JS Dea – Jayson Megna
Pierre Leblond – Matia Marcantuoni – Dominik Uher
Brian Dumoulin – Philip Samuelsson
Taylor Chorney – Barry Goers
Reid McNeill – Harrison Ruopp
Jeff Zatkoff – Matt Murray
Scratches were Alex Boak, Tom Kuhnhackl, Adam Payerl, Nick D’Agostino. Josh Archbald was listed as injured and when introduced had a sling on his left arm.
Tom Kostopoulos is the Captain, we all knew that. Philip Samuelsson and Pierre Leblond are the alternates.
First Period: Ragged back and forth to start, both teams worked the bugs out. Finally late, on a Phantoms power play, Chris VandeVelde scored the first ever goal in Lehigh Valley Phantoms history on a rebound. The puck caromed off of bodies as it was sent towards the net from the blue line. VandeVelde found it, and stuffed it home for a 1-0 Phantoms lead.
Second Period: Zatkoff was leaving a few big rebounds to start but they didn’t end up behind him. But the Penguins fail to clear the puck out of the zone not once, but twice, and it cost them. Brandon Alderson made it 2-0 and then Mark Alt made it 3-0 not too long after.
Bryan Rust scored from just below the blue line as time expired. Referee Jamie Koharski immediately signaled goal, but then went to video review to confirm his call. You would think that this momentum would help the Pens in the…
Third Period: Nope. Nothing doing. The Penguins tried to push, but the Phantoms defense held firm. As time dwindled, the mistakes mounted and just like that, Zatkoff loses another rebound and Nick Cousins cashes for a 4-1 Phantoms lead then the Phantoms on a power play stuff home a Zatkoff rebound to make it 5-1.
Conor Sheary gets his first goal of the season with under a minute to play on a rebound Zepp just left lying there.
Thoughts: The rookies will need to learn that this isn’t juniors anymore and the cutesy dangle plays don’t work against trained professionals. The problems were all over the board tonight. Idiot penalties lead to goals for the other team or failed clears that end up in the back of the net. The problems better get fixed quick with the defending regular season Eastern Conference Champion Manchester Monarchs coming in Sunday afternoon.
Three Stars: 3) Bryan Rust (goal, +1) 2) Brandon Alderson (goal, assist, +1) 2) Chris VandeVelde (two goals, even)
Around the Division: Binghamton and Worcester play late in overtime and Worcester wins 3-2 when the sides are 3-on-3….Hershey loses a back and forth affair with Norfolk by a score of 5-4.
WBS News
Chirps from Center Ice 