Chirps from Center Ice

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The Hartford Wolf Pack don’t lose in regulation on home ice this season. They had one regulation loss coming in to Wednesday’s matchup with the Penguins.

Until tonight.

Two goals by Pierre-Olivier Joseph, 25 saves by Casey DeSmith and the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins defeat the Hartford Wolf Pack 2-1 on Wednesday to move into a tie with the idle Providence Bruins for fourth in the Atlantic Division with 58 points. Those two teams meet Friday in Rhode Island.

DeSmith opposed Adam Huska.

Lineup: 

Lineup Notes: 

I didn’t catch Nick Hart’s pregame show because Wednesday is garbage night so I don’t have anything for you on Chase Bergeror Kevin Czuczman. Assume upper body, day to day.

First Period: They played 19:58 of inert hockey with a ton of icings, smattered with a quick pace and really needed it in contrast to getting scored on in every period last weekend against Hershey and Lehigh Valley until P-O Joseph had a shot blocked but he followed the puck and wound up and scored with 1.6 seconds left in the period to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead.

Second Period: Wolf Pack come out and score early on in the period when they swarmed the goal and Ryan Dmowski was the last guy to throw it on net and it went in.

Teams traded some bullheaded power plays. Lucchini chucked a puck over the glass for a Hartford power play that was bad and Huska interfered with Lucchini behind his net for a Penguins power play which was worse.

P-O Joseph or Brandon Hawkins scored when Joseph shot the puck and Hawkins either deflected the puck or didn’t. Hawkins was first through the tap line but the off ice guys gave the goal to Joseph.

Third Period: They needed a quiet period given the score line and got one. Navigated through some penalty trouble, limited chances against and held on. With Huska pulled, Hartford never found the equalizer.

Three Stars: 3) Ryan Dmowski (goal) 2) Casey DeSmith (25 saves) 1) P-O Joseph (two goals)

The Good: They needed a quiet, you can say a boring affair and got one.

The Bad: Giving up one goal and winning is nitpicking in this department.

Turning Point: Joseph’s or Hawkins goal that gave the Penguins the lead for good was all that DeSmith and the Penguins defense needed as they took it from there.

Around the Division: Charlotte continue to win, their fifth in a row, as they sweep the Rochester Americans at home and win 5-2 in the divisions only action of the night.

Standings: Hershey 67 — Hartford 64 — Charlotte 61 — Providence and the Penguins 58 — Springfield 54 — Lehigh Valley 48 — Bridgeport 41

Wheeling Update: The Nailers were off.

I’ll look in the morning for video highlights. There really weren’t many. A DeSmith save here, a post hit there. The videos above should fill it all in for you.

They head to Providence for a huge matchup with playoff implications this Friday. I’m looking forward to that. Gameday setup is yours Friday at 3, but for anything breaking beforehand.

Let’s Go Pens!