Chirps from Center Ice

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Apologies in advance for any editing / formatting errors, tonight was a work night home game and this game recap was done largely on my phone.

In a game of utmost importance for the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins, against an opponent they will see the most here as the regular season winds down, there was a sense of urgency on the ice.

It belonged to the visitors tonight.

A 3-1 Lehigh Valley win. The Phantoms came in 3-6-1 in their last ten games but you’d never know that by watching because they totally dominated pace of play. The Penguins were flat all night, played on their heels and looked either totally uninterested in competing tonight or wholly unprepared.

My opinion? A combination of both. No excuse to play like that against a Phantoms team who is the model of inconsistency this season.

There’s more to it, but it’s a work night game and I gotta hurry here.

Tristan Jarry opposed Alex Lyon.

Lines were:

Lineup Notes: D pairings shook up. The graphic is wrong, Ben Sexton was out and Linus Ölund was in.

First Period: Penguins were on their heels for a large part of the period. They had a goal called back when Kevin Czuczman was called for charging when he trucked Lyon in his crease:

Connor Bunnaman would score on the ensuing power play.

Quick shot beats Jarry after Bunnaman digs the puck out of his skates.

Penguins had some late pressure to close out the period, but didn’t score.

Second Period: Collateral damage for the Pens who lost a defenseman (Chris Wideman) and a forward (Ryan Scarfo) to injury at some point early in the period. Their goalie however, was sharp. This despite getting scored on when Pascal Laberge scored his first goal of the season to put the Phantoms back ahead after Adam Johnson scored to tie the game at one.

Here is Johnson’s goal. Phantoms got sloppy and the Pens made them pay.

And Laberge:

Despite the score line, Tristan Jarry was dialed in and the sole reason that the Penguins faced just a one goal deficit heading into the….

Third Period: Pens had a great power play to open the frame, had some looks but couldn’t score. Game went on, time came off the clock and Wilkes-Barre got caught standing around in their own end when Byron Froese tapped in a puck that made it 3-1 Phantoms.

Pens pulled Jarry for the extra attacker with two minutes left but it didn’t help – Kevin Czuczman took a tripping penalty.

Three Stars: 3) Alex Lyon (27 saves on 28 shots) 2) Mikhail Vorobyev (two assists) 1) Pascal Laberge (goal)

The Good: Adam Johnson has seven goals against the Phantoms.

The Bad: Power play failed them again and whether or not they were prepared leaves much to be answered.

Turning Point: Laberge’s goal right after Johnson’s game the Phantoms the edge in a game where the Penguins were flat out dull.

Tom found out information on Wideman and Scarfo postgame:

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Around the Division: They all watched us.

Standings: Charlotte 83 — Bridgeport — 77 — Hershey 68 — Providence 67 — Lehigh Valley 64 — Penguins 62 — Springfield 59 — Hartford 57

Wheeling Update: Nailers were in Fort Wayne and made a game of it with Trevor Yates’ hat trick, but lost 6-5.

If Coal Street runs a video highlight package, I will run it here.

Pens are back at it Friday at home against Hartford. Gameday setup runs here Friday at 3.

Let’s Go Pens!