Chirps from Center Ice

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Anthony Peters hasn’t played in a meaningful hockey game in about three weeks, so you couldn’t fault him if he was rusty coming into the tail end of a three in three weekend on the road against a team that beat the Penguins on Friday night at home.

But Peters closed the door on the already eliminated Bridgeport Sound Tigers, and the Penguins, bolstered by a 4-0 start at the end of the first, win 5-2 to hold onto second place in the Atlantic Division with three games to play in the regular season. Peters stopped 41 of 43 shots.

Peters opposed Eamon McAdam.

Lines were…

Garrett Wilson – J-S Dea – Daniel Sprong
Adam Johnson – Gage Quinney – Ryan Haggerty
Patrick McGrath – Jarrett Burton – Christian Thomas
Joseph Cramarossa – Teddy Blueger – Tom Kostopoulos

Andrey Pedan – Lukas Bengtsson
Chris Summers – Kevin Czuczman
Jarred Tinordi – Zach Trotman

Anthony Peters – Tristan Jarry

Lineup Notes: Anthony Peters first start in goal for the Pens since March 18, McGrath’s first action since February 17. Tom Sestito was out for McGrath. Tristan Jarry backed up Peters.

First Period: Much like Saturday night against Binghamton, the Penguins jumped out to a 4-0 lead.

Adam Johnson on a power play scored his first of the period.

Stepped into the high slot and let it rip into the top corner.

Johnson, 1:17 later, chases down a puck, gets it to the point for a shot then collects the rebound and scores to double the Penguins lead.

Tom Kostopoulos caused a turnover and fed Christian Thomas for a goal that made it 3-0.

Bridgeport called a time out. It didn’t seem to help.

Zach Trotman put a shot on net and Pat McGrath tipped dit home to make it 4-0.

An all out blitzkrieg to finish out the weekend three in three. But, there were two more full periods to play.

Second Period: Kristers Gudlevskis led the Sound Tigers out for the second period and took over for Eamon McAdam, and it was the kick in the pants that the Sound Tigers needed to get something going.

Slight problem though, they didn’t execute.

Bridgeport had a long spell of 5-on-3 power play to work with, yet only registered about two shots on net and spent the other time passing and chasing the cleared pucks sent in their end.

John Stevens scored to break up the Anthony Peters would be shutout bid after a turnover at just past half way, and Bridgeport led the Penguins in shots 17-5 in the period, so the Penguins had a three goal lead to defend heading into the…

Third Period: Anthony Peters remained strong in net for the Penguins, making saves swimming in the crease. Gage Quinney scored a goal when. shot from the point rebounded right to Quinney for the put in which made it 5-1.

Penguins fell asleep defensively and Steve Bernier hacked and whacked at a puck and scored to bring the Sound Tigers to within three.

But three would be as far as Bridgeport got. A quick moving period the rest of the way and the penguins would hold on to win.

Three Stars: 3) Gage Quinney (goal, assist, +2) 2) Anthony Peters (41 saves on 43 shots) 1) Adam Johnson (two goals, +1)

Around the Division: Charlotte continues to tear it up, they beat Hershey 3-1 today…Lehigh Valley wins the Atlantic Division Championship with a 6-3 win over a slumping Providence Bruins team…Springfield shutout Hartford 2-0.

Standings: Lehigh Valley (100 points, division winners) — Penguins (94 points, 3 games remaining) — Providence (91 points (3 games left) — Charlotte (92 points, two games left) — Bridgeport, Hartford, Springfield, Hershey.

Wheeling Update: The Nailers season ended yesterday, I expect a caravan of players headed to Coal Street this week.

Video Highlights:

Check back here Monday for the AHL Power Rankings at 4.

Let’s Go Pens!