Chirps from Center Ice

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Arnaud Durandeau loves playing against the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins.

His third goal in as many games against the Penguins stands up as the game winner in a 4-2 win for the Islanders and a sweep of the sixth place Penguins by the seventh place Islanders.

I had a commenter on Twitter tell me that they don’t have any answers for this consistently inconsistent team. I can’t disagree.

I don’t know, Pens picked up 7 of 8 points last week. This weekend? Running around like chickens with their head cut off. Sure, they ran into a gamed up Islanders team last night and tonight was the same way. Bridgeport drew first blood last night and just finished the job Saturday. It happens.

Alex D’Orio opposed Jakub Skarek.

Here’s how they lined up:

Lineup Notes: No changes.

First Period: Pens get on the board first with a wrap around shot by Drew O’Connor. He tracked a shot off the wall, wheeled around the net and stuffed it home for a 1-0 Pens lead.

But the the Islanders tie and then quickly take the lead.

Andy Andreoff, quickly becoming a stone in the shoe of the Penguins, scores to tie the game for Bridgeport.

Chris Terry led the 2×1 and Andreoff, playing in his 500th game, scored. Eight game point streak for Andreoff also.

Next, Thomas Hickey finds space at the point, fires and the puck caroms off bodies and goes in to give the Islanders a 2-1 lead.

They don’t ask how. As long as the light goes on.

Second Period: No scoring in this period but it was a better period for the Penguins who had the only power play in the frame.

Two fights broke out, Chris Terry vs. Matt Bartkowski and Kyle Olson vs. Blade Jenkins fought to draws.

Third Period: Jonathan Gruden scored to tie the game for the Penguins and you thought that the push was on.

Nice shot.

But then enter Durandeau. His shot was a rebound of a wraparound chance by Michael Dal Colle.

Oh, and in case you thought where the pun idea came from:

Indeed.

Pens had no favors special teams wise, didn’t go on the power play in the third.

Cole Bardreau with insurance, putting home the rebound of a Jeff Kubiak shot that made it 4-2.

Pens pull D’Orio and Jakub Skarek tried twice to score on the empty net. His first attempt went wide left then the second was stopped at center ice.

Three Stars: 3) Thomas Hickey (goal) 2) Andy Andreoff (goal) 1) Arnaud Durandeau (goal)

The Good: Woof.

The Bad: Can’t have essentially the same result happen to you two nights in a row.

Turning Point: As the headline indicates, Arnaud Durandeau’s goal in the third period gets the distinction.

Around the Division: They aren’t final when this goes up but Charlotte leads Lehigh Valley big, Providence the same with Springfield and Hartford also with Hershey.

Standings: The only thing that matters is that the Pens are back to .500 again. .500 may not make playoffs in this division this year.

Wheeling Update: Reading beats the Nailers 4-2. Josh Maniscalco and Tim Doherty the goal scorers there.

Providence Sunday afternoon. More then.

Let’s Go Pens!