Chirps from Center Ice

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In part, I said this in the pregame Gameday setup about the Providence Bruins coming into Friday night’s affair with the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins…

The Bruins are 0-3-0-1 and 4-4-1-1 in their last ten games and are in a slump, much like the Penguins were. But both teams are good, and good teams don’t stay in slumps very long. Bruins are going to be up for this one against Wilkes-Barre.

Providence takes this one 1-0 tonight. They scored on a third period power play goal by Tommy Cross. The Bruins’ power play was 28th in the American Hockey League coming into tonight’s game, but with players like reigning MVP Kenny Agostino, Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson and Austin Czarnik on a power play, if you play with fire long enough you eventually get burned.

Anthony Peters was dialed in. No other way to put it. This is a guy that is in the AHL on a tryout contract, playing without an AHL deal anywhere. I will guarantee you that this will be rectified awful soon, either by the Penguins this season or by some other team next season.

Wilkes-Barre could have won this game, sure. But getting only seven shots in the third period to the Bruins sixteen and giving the Bruins power play after power play, eventually that good team I mentioned in my second paragraph will break through.

Eight game win streak ends. When you don’t score, you don’t win. However, I wouldn’t fret over this game. Two teams that are really good, well coached, battle to a 1-0 result. The Penguins, or any team really, win most of their games when they hold their opponent to only one goal. The Penguins just failed to score tonight and it bit them. Take solace in knowing that Anthony Peters is settling into a role of a legitimate AHL starter and the defense that the Penguins employ is one of the best in the AHL.

Lines were…

Zach Aston-Reese — Gage Quinney — Ryan Haggerty
Colin Wilson – Greg McKegg – Christian Thomas
Adam Johnson – Jarrett Burton – Colin Smith
Thomas Di Pauli – Teddy Blueger – Patrick McGrath

Andrey Pedan – Czuczman
Jarred Tinordi – Zach Trotman
Chris Summers – Frank Corrado

Anthony Peters – Charles Williams

Lineup Notes: Charles who? Charles Williams was signed by the Pens today to a PTO as Coal Street made a bevy of moves today. Williams comes to the Pens on a PTO from the Manchester Monarchs, who the Wheeling Nailers are playing today. Here were the transactions today…

Adam Morrison reported to Wheeling.

Nailers are in Manchester Friday, then Worcester Saturday and Sunday. They host Kalamazoo Wednesday, so those that were sent down may likely stay there for at least the week. I also believe that this means that Anthony Peters starts Sunday in Hartford.

Peters opposed Providence’s Zane McIntyre.

First Period: There are times in a players development when you determine whether or not that player will thrive in that role or not. There is only enough coaching that can be offered to a player; that player must go out on the ice and execute.

The player I am referring to in this instance is Anthony Peters.

The Providence Bruins put 13 shots at Peters in the first period and he denied them all. Every shot had purpose and Peters answered each. Example…

What I am getting at is that any stiff that knows how to play goal can thrive when the team beats a bunch of last place teams like Binghamton and Belleville. That is not Providence. You can rest assured that Anthony Peters can play at the AHL level, at least based off of this period. Wilkes-Barre had an early breakaway from Greg McKegg in the games first minute, but that was all the offense the Penguins could really muster, spending large chunks of play in their own end in front of Peters.

Second Period: The goaltender duel continued. Teddy Blueger was denied on a shorthanded breakaway as McIntyre stopped him with a two pad stack. Penguins would get a power play and unload a bevy of shots at McIntyre, but the Bruins netminder would deny them all. Game was a straight up goaltender duel in it’s purest form.

Third Period: Coal Street started sending GIFs out on Anthony Peters jaw dropping saves. Here are a few…

That was on Anders Bjork. Remember that one.

Another on Anders Bjork, who will most likely be having nightmares about Anthony Peters for a few days at least.

That was all of them.

Providence would score on a power play, their fifth of the game, when Tommy Cross scored to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead.

Penguins could not get a clear there and Cross took advantage.

Wilkes-Barre took a time out, but with Peters vacated for the extra attacker, could never find the equalizer.

Three Stars: Pretty straightforward. Were Anthony Peters with 42 saves on 43 shots, Zane McIntyre with a 28 save shutout and Tommy Cross with his power play goal in that order.

Around the Division: Springfield coughs up a 3-0 lead in Binghamton and loses 5-3. Their five game winning streak is kaput. Hartford takes down Utica 3-2 in overtime. Wolf Pack had a 2-0 lead at the time, Comets battle back for the extra point but fall in the extra session. Everyone else was off.

Standings: Penguins (.671 percentage points) — Providence (.641) — Lehigh Valley (.622) — Charlotte (.588) — Bridgeport (.538) — Hershey (.500) — Springfield (.465) — Hartford (.452)

Bruins play tomorrow in Bridgeport while the Penguins are off.

Wheeling Update: Nailers lose 3-2 in Manchester. Cam Brown and Reid Gardiner scored in the loss.

Pens are off Saturday, will remain in Providence tonight before bussing to Hartford Saturday afternoon. They play the Wolf Pack at 5 Sunday. Gameday setup will hit the blog Sunday at 1.

Let’s Go Pens!