Chirps from Center Ice

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Dueling shutouts by both goaltenders and back to back shutouts by Casey DeSmith, the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins win 1-0 Wednesday night against Hershey.

The Penguins have not allowed any goals to be scored at all under this new LED lighting system. I don’t know if it’s just a matter of happenstance, something or nothing, but it’s one thing to get a shutout, it’s another to get back to back ones.

Stefan Noesen’s slap shot goal in the top of the first in the shootout round was the only goal to pierce the goal line all night and the Penguins take the game and third place in the division.

Casey DeSmith opposed Pheonix Copley.

Lineups:

Lineup Notes: Thomas DiPauli returned from injury and replaced Justin Almeida. No other changes from Saturday against Syracuse.

First Period: Pens came out flying, outshooting Hershey 8-1 at one point. Hershey had two consecutive power plays, regained some of the momentum but then the Pens took it back and outshot the Bears 14-5 in the period. No one scored, though.

Second Period: Same as the first. Momentum flipped a bit, Bears hot, then the Pens and then the Bears. If I was writing this paragraph from a scratch post instead of in the second intermission, it would have instead read, “After a scoreless first and second period where a bunch of nothing or almost happened goal wise…”

Third Period: Same as the first and second. No power plays here. Back and forth, but off to…

Overtime: Pens had a three on one and flubbed a shot. Andrew Agozzino had a breakaway and had a bad shot. No. One. Was. Scoring.

Shootout: Stefan Noesen scored on a slap shot in the top of the first, everyone else missed. Casey DeSmith doesn’t allow goals even in gimmick shootout rounds.

Three Stars: 3) Pheonix Copley (29 save shutout) 2) Stefan Noesen (shootout goal) 1) Casey DeSmith (28 save shutout)

The Good: Defense looked great last weekend. It looked downright stingy tonight against Hershey and all of that offense.

The Bad: Would rather the OT or regulation win, but this category after a game like this is nitpicking.

Turning Point: Noesen’s goal in the shootout gave the Pens the 1-0 lead that, ultimately won them the contest.

Around the Division: Only other action today was a kids day game in Springfield between the Thunderbirds and Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Springfield wins 2-1 and are the third AHL team, second in the division behind Hartford, to win ten games. Certainly unexpected. Everyone else was off.

Standings: Hartford 24 – Springfield 20 – Penguins 18 – Providence 18 – Hershey 18 – Lehigh Valley 16 – Charlotte 12 – Bridgeport 11

Wheeling Update: The Nailers were off.

Video Highlights: Brief. Bears had em first. Here they are:

Back at it Friday against Springfield. Gameday setup for that will be at 3 Friday. Power Rankings Thursday at 11 first.

Let’s Go Pens!