Chirps from Center Ice

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Penguins take 3 out of a possible 6 points out of the Midwest trip through Grand Rapids, Rockford and Milwaukee to kick off their meat grinder month of March that put them on the road all over the place. They still have to visit Charlotte later this month and have just played 3 of 16 games in this month.

A 3-2 shootout loss to the Milwaukee Admirals, who sweep the weekend. But that’s in the Western Conference and those points given away to the IceHogs and Admirals of the world are Iowa and Chicago’s problem.

Penguins comeback in Grand Rapids and win. They do the same late in the third period, late in the final minute with the goalie pulled to force overtime on a Sunday, to get these three points. Another step towards locking up a playoff spot but with Lehigh Valley on the tear that the Phantoms are on, Wilkes-Barre may be playing for second place.

Who knows. After getting points in 16 straight games, Utica has lost the last six in regulation. It’s a weird league. It’s not over till it’s over.

Anthony Peters opposed Anders Lindback.

Lines were…

Adam Johnson – J-S Dea – Christian Thomas
Garrett Wilson – Gage Quinney – Tom Kostopoulos
Jarrett Burton – Josh Jooris – Joseph Cramarossa
Thomas Di Pauli – Teddy Blueger – Daniel Sprong

Chris Summers – Ethan Prow
Kevin Schulze – Kevin Czuczman
Jeff Taylor – Jarred Tinordi

Anthony Peters – Etienne Marcoux

Lineup Notes: Jarrett Burton for Tom Sestito was the only change.

First Period: Penguins would outshoot the Admirals 20-5 in the period, but Milwaukee would strike first shorthanded after a bonehead pass by Daniel Sprong across his own blue line that created a turnover that saw Freddy Gaudreay score to give the Admirals a 1-0 lead.

But eventually with the amount of rubber Lindback was facing, one had to get in, right?

Ethan Prow made sure.

Nice setup here. Prow received a pass off the near wall, waited, waited and waited and sniped home a goal that pulled the Penguins even.

Second Period: Milwaukee outshoots the Penguins by a 2-to-1 margin this period despite the Penguins with a ton of offensive zone time. An Anthony Richard shot from the slot deflects off of Thomas DiPauli and into the top corner of the net that gives the Admirals the lead heading into the….

Third Period: Pens had an early power play. Kevin Czuczman missed an empty net wide. Milwaukee turned the tables on the Penguins. After getting outshot 20-5 in the first period, the Admirals were outshooting the Penguins 15-9.

Time dwindled, and this time with the net vacated, the Penguins were able to find the equalizer. This time Josh Jooris scored his first with the Penguins with this fine display of hand / eye coordination.

This came in the final minute.

Overtime: Peters made a big save second into overtime, then Wilkes-Barre came at Lindberg in waves.

A nice setup for Daniel Sprong, missed.

Josh Jooris with the same hack and whack that tied the game for his side, nope.

Shootout: Justin Kirkland and Christian Thomas scored in round one, no one scored in rounds two and three, and then Anthony Richard scored here to give the Admirals the extra point before Garrett Wilson couldn’t score to extend the round…

Three Stars: Frederick Gaudreau (goal, +1) 2) Anthony Richard (goal, shootout winning goal, assist, +2) and 1) Anders Lindback (38 saves on 40 shots)

Around the Division: Springfield shuts out Providence 2-0…Lehigh Valley beats Hershey in a shootout 3-2…Charlotte beats Hartford 4-3. Bridgeport was off.

Standings: Lehigh Valley (.692 percentage points) — Penguins (.643) — Providence (.629) — Charlotte (.575) — Bridgeport (.552) — Hartford (.492) — Springfield (.492) — Hershey (.475)

Wheeling Update: Nailers were off.

Video Highlights: 

Pens are leaving Milwaukee tonight. I don’t know if they are flying back tonight or tomorrow. Next game is Friday in Binghamton.

Power Rankings Monday at 4. Check them out then.

Let’s Go Pens!