Chirps from Center Ice

       vs.       

2                                          3

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With about five minutes to play in 2-2 tie late in the third period, I thought to myself that this game that the Penguins were play ing was probably the most complete game that Wilkes-Barre has played in their sound season. You really can’t put your finger on a team until ten games into it I have always felt, but this game was a great overall game by Wilkes-Barre, who take down the Hartford Wolf Pack 3-2 in a shootout.

Casey DeSmith still has not allowed a goal at even strength. That streak is up to 117:45. The two goal scored on Casey tonight were on first period power play goals.

DeSmith opposed Alexandar Georgiev.

Lines were…

Zach Aston-Reese — J-S Dea — Tom Kostopoulos
Garrett Wilson – Gage Quinney – Daniel Sprong
Tom Sestito – Teddy Blueger – Thomas Di Pauli
Dominik Simon – Jarrett Burton – Christian Thomas

Andrey Pedan – Lukas Bengtsson
Kevin Czuczman – Kevin Spinozzi
Chris Summers – Frank Corrado

Casey DeSmith – Tristan Jarry

Lineup Notes: Freddie Tiffels and Adam Johnson yielded to Zach Aston-Reese and Jarrett Burton up front. Dylan Zink was out for Kevin Spinozzi, making his AHL debut.

First Period: Hartford didn’t take long to kick off the scoring on a power play. Frank Corrado lost his stick, a shot by Adam Tambellini deflected off of Corrado to Scott Kosmachuk far side and he put it past DeSmith for a 1-0 Hartford lead…

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The Penguins got a power play but couldn’t kick start anything and then Andrey Pedan took a tripping call and Hartford capitalized again on the man advantage going up 2-0 on this shot by Vinni Lettieri that beat a screened Casey DeSmith….

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:34 later, Gage Quinney responds…

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As Taylor mentioned, that is the third straight game where Gage Quinney has scored in. He’s coming for Sprong!

Second Period: Both teams traded power plays then Jarrett Burton put one off the post and in the tied the game for the Penguins…

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Play was really setup by this save by DeSmith on Letteri prior to the Burton goal…

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Daniel Sprong did not score in the game tonight but did look to set up his teammates several times tonight. He led a three on one and passed to Garrett Wilson but Wilson missed high, which would have gave the Penguins the lead.

Wilkes-Barre showed more aggression in the period and fought back to tie it.

Third Period: Nothing really went down notable in the third for either side. Pens had a power play they couldn’t score on. DeSmith didn’t see much rubber in the period, but he stopped the late flurry that the Wolf Pack put on him.

Overtime: Felt like Sprong was due for his goal, but it was a better save by Georgiev, in the splits, that denied him. Late, at the buzzer, Gage Quinney missed wide on a breakaway.

Shootout: Dominik Simon and Scott Kosmachuk failed to score in round one.

J-S Dea scored in round two…

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Casey DeSmith stopped Joe Whitney in the bottom of the second…

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..Daniel Sprong had a puck poke checked away from him in the top of the third by Georgiev which would have won it, so DeSmith had to come up with a save to win it.

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Ballgame.

Three Stars: 3) Alexandar Georgiev (41 saves on 43 shots) 2) Jarrett Burton (goal, +1) and 1) J-S Dea (shootout game winning goal, even)

Around the Division: The Providence Bruins get two goals in the third period to takedown the Belleville Senators 3-2 in a shootout of their own tonight….Lehigh Valley beats Binghamton in New York 4-3….Syracuse beats Springfield 4-1, the Thunderbirds are still winless to start the season at 0-6….Laval beats Bridgeport 6-3…Charlotte is shutout in Toronto 4-0 and the Hershey Bears are in the win column with a 4-2 win against the defending Calder Cup Champion Grand Rapids Griffins.

Standings: Providence 8, Lehigh Valley 11 (percentage), Charlotte and Wilkes-Barre with 8, Hartford with 7, Hershey with 3, Bridgeport with 2 and Springfield with 0.

Wheeling Update: The Nailers held their home opener tonight and won 4-2 against the Cincinnati Cyclones. Derek Army had first star honors with a goal and an assist. Cam Brown, who was in camp with Wilkes-Barre in preseason, had a goal and two assists. Colin Stevens picked up the win for the Nailers.

Power Rankings Monday at 4. If the Penguins put out highlights, I will edit them in.

Let’s Go Pens!