Chirps from Center Ice

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I mean, on the bright side, they held their opponent to just one goal.

But that goal, a Gage Goncalves goal in the third period, stood up as the game winning goal. Syracuse wins 1-0.

Louis Domingue deserved better.

He did everything but score a goal for Wilkes-Barre tonight. He kept the Penguins in the game early and throughout, making saves sometimes in quick repetition, to at least give his team a chance at taking a lead and running with it. It became evident as the game wore on, for obvious reasons, that whoever scored first would get the kick in the pants needed to win the hockey game.

It wasn’t the Penguins night.

I mean there really isn’t much more to this, how could there be in a game where the end result is 1-0, so let’s get through this. Domingue opposed ex-Penguin Max Lagace.

Here’s how they lined up:

Lineup Notes: I’ll just let Taylor tell it to you.

On the Bellerive scratch, Penguins head coach J.D. Forrest told Taylor the following:

Interesting, indeed.

No scoring in the first or second period. Domingue was dialed in early. Lots of power play opportunities, five a side for both clubs, but no one scored.

Gage Goncalves breaks the deadlock in the third period.

Looked in real time like it was kicked in, but in reality the puck deflected off of the skate of debutante Corey Andonovski, who played on the fourth line for the Pens and didn’t;’t look out of place I thought. Kid had some good looks throughout for someone fresh out of college playing in his first professional game.

The Pens, with Domingue pulled, were not able to find their tenth extra attacker goal of the season.

Three Stars: 3) Louis Domingue (32 saves) 2) Gage Goncalves (goal) 1) Max Lagace (25 save shutout)

The Good: They held them to one goal. Idf they do that to Utica Saturday, they probably win.

The Bad: I think the loss of Riikola hurt a little bit because the power play without him had that look again. And that particular look isn’t a good one.

Turning Point: Isn’t it obvious in a one goal game that the goal scored in said game is the turning point?

Around the Division: Bridgeport was off, Hershey lost in overtime up in Belleville 3-2. I don’t think anything else is of substance because the Penguins are chasing down fifth (Hershey) while trying to avoid seventh (Bridgeport) – Laval thumps Hartford 7-4 and last place Lehigh Valley beats first place Springfield 3-1. Figure that one out.

Standings: Fifth place Hershey with .559 percentage points, Wilkes-Barre next with .509 and idle Bridgeport with .483.

Who Plays Who Tomorrow: Hey, new segment! Hershey is in Laval Saturday, Bridgeport hosts Syracuse. This will change as the opponents that matter do.

Wheeling Update: Nailers lose in Indiana to the Indy Fuel 6-4. Sam Houde and Josh Maniscalco with goals in that one.

Video Highlights: I think I gave it to you with the Goncalves goal. That’s all you need to see, really.

Back at it Saturday against Utica.

Let’s Go Pens!