Chirps from Center Ice

          @          

6                                               4

–

Here’s a game that if the Penguins would have lost, it would have been a deserved loss.

With about 10 minutes to play in the second period, Josh Archibald picks off a D to D pass and springs Conor Sheary. Sheary breaks in and finishes on the backhand to make it 4-1. At that point, the Penguins were running away.

But the Pens forgot to take that next step in order to run, and Binghamton finally found the gas pedal. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. In soccer they call it possession time, well that’s all Binghamton had was possession time. Finally, they made it a 4-3 game thanks to two power play goals. But the time ran out in the second period, the Penguins clamped down in the third, and it was a 6-4 final tonight at the Broome County Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena.

Wilkes-Barre’s penalty kill was awful. Every power play that Binghamton had, they scored on. Largely due in part to Matt Puempel and Chris Wideman, who were a combined 3-4-7

Matt Murray vs. Andrew Hammond.

Lines were…

Scott Wilson – Andrew Ebbett – Jayson Megna
Josh Archibald – JS Dea – Tom Kostopoulos
Conor Sheary – Carter Rowney – Bryan Rust
Bobby Farnham – Dominik Uher – Tom Kuhnhackl

Brian Dumoulin – Taylor Chorney
Philip Samuelsson – Derrick Pouliot
Reid McNeill – Alex Boak

Murray – Hartzell

Lineup Notes: Beau Bennett had a planned night off in the three in three. He will likely play tomorrow vs. Syracuse….Andrew Ebbett was playing in his 300th AHL game and 500th game as a professional.

First Period: Crisp first period by both teams. Bryan Rust tipped in a Derrick Pouliot shot on the power play and Binghamton returned fire in a similar way minutes later when Patrick Mullen tipped in a Chris Wideman shot to even the score at 1.

Second Period: Pens poured it on later then got poured on late. Bryan Rust scored his second of the contest on a busted play by Binghamton, which looked like a crossed up, “hey you have that guy, no you do” play. Josh Archibald tipped in a Brian Dumoulin shot that made it 3-1, then Archibald sprung Sheary who made it 4-1.

Chris Wideman made it 4-2 on the power play. Matt Puempel made it 4-3 on another power play. Interestingly enough, all power play goals to this point scored by Binghamton came when Reid McNeill was whistled for some type of infraction.

Third Period: Penguins came out and played defense. Also, much, much more disciplined. Finally Andrew Ebbett scored on a rebound of a Jayson Megna drive to the net to make out 5-3 and give the Penguins breathing room. A big goal at the time. Carter Rowney busted in and made it 6-3 which sealed it. Binghamton pulled Hammond late and scored a power play goal when the Pens were skating with three men due to penalties. Guess who? Matt Puempel again.

Three Stars: 3) Josh Archibald (goal, assist, +2) 2) Chris Wideman (goal, three assists, -1) and 1) Bryan Rust (two goals, +1)

Around the Division: Norfolk coughed up a 4-1 lead and lost 5-4 in Syracuse….Hershey fights back from being down 2-0 and beats Hartford 4-2…Lehigh Valley was shutout in Portland 3-0.

Standings: Hershey 15 — Penguins 15 — Lehigh Valley 11 — Norfolk 10 — Binghamton 10

Conference: 1) HFD (15) 2) WOR (15) 3) HER (15) 4) BRI (15) 5) WBS (15) 6) ALB (14) 7) POR (14) 8) PRO (13)

Wheeling Update: Nailers win 4-3 in Cincinnati over the Cyclones for Clark Donatelli’s 100th win as a head coach. Zack Torquato had a goal and Matia Marcantuoni had an assist.

SendToNews Highlights: Packaged here.

Pens look for a perfect weekend when they host the Syracuse Crunch at 4:05. Gameday for this will be at noon Sunday.

Let’s Go Pens!