Chirps from Center Ice

 vs.

2                              3

–

It’s isn’t really, but just go with it. The real translation for horse in French can be found in the slug. The slug is the last bit of the web page when you click in directly to this blog piece or, if you are on the main webpage, clicking on the headline will bring you into the page where this game story resides, if you are really interested in the true definition of French for horse.

Louis Domingue started this game, a 3-2 Penguins win over the Eastern Conference’s best Utica Comets, and has stared every game but for one, since returning from injury.

The Penguins are far and away a better team with him in goal. They hold Syracuse to just one goal Friday night (and lose 1-0) then methodically take down the Eastern Conference’s best team in Utica who has been the best team in the Conference since the start of the season.

Akira Schmid started in goal for the Comets.

Here’s how they lined up:

Lineup Notes: Jordy Bellerive and Kyle Olson in for Felix Robert and Nathan Legare.

First Period: Frederick Gauthier strips a puck and races inn and beats Domingue for a 1-0 Utica lead with about three minutes to play.

(Utica didn’t GIF any goals)

Second Period: Sam Poulin and Jordy Bellerive score about three minutes apart from one another and the Pens were all of a sudden ahead 2-1. Poulin tipped a Cam Lee shot and then Drew O’Connor setup Bellerive for his goal. Here they are:

Seemed like a complete reversal from the first, where the Penguins were controlling much of the play and had the bounces to go with it.

Third Period: They made it 3-1 with another tip of a shot, this time belonging to Chris Bigras and tipped by Filip Hallander.

Utica didn’t get any closer as time wore off the clock. Penguins took three penalties in the period so not doing themselves any favors in that regard. The Comets did cash with the goalie pulled for a late 6-on-4 goal scored by Robbie Russo, but they never were able to find the equalizer.

Three Stars: 3) Louis Domingue (26 saves) 2) Sam Poulin (goal) 1) Jordy Bellerive (goal)

The Good: Taking down the top team in the Conference should be the shot in the arm this team needs that propels them into the playoffs and beyond.

The Bad: Can’t bet taking penalties, undisciplined ones at that (high sticks) in the third period while you are defending a two goal lead against the Conference’s best team.

Turning Point: Seemed innocent at the time, but the Hallander goal in the third period gave the Penguins the breating room needed to escape with the win.

Around the Division: Hershey lost in Laval 5-1…Bridgeport thumped Syracuse 7-4. Pens will gain on Hershey and stay even with Bridgeport…Lehigh Valley sweeps Springfield with a 7-4 win…Hartford is back in the win column with a 5-2 win in Belleville, Charlotte takes down Providence 3-2 in a shootout.

Standings: Hershey in fifth at .550, or 66 points to the Pens 60. Wilkes-Barre has two games in hand. Pens with .517 percentage points in sixth. Bridgeport in seventh with .483 or 56 points. Same amount of games played as the Pens, but I think the Islanders are playing 72 this year and not 76.

Who Plays Who Tomorrow: Hershey is off till Wednesday, Bridgeport is too. More on these teams Tuesday.

Wheeling Update: Nailers win in Indiana over the Indy Fuel 4-1. Tim Doherty with a pair of goals and Justin Almeida added another. Alex D’Orio with 24 saves.

Video Highlights: 

Back Tuesday for the Weekend Preview, although I may chop it up this week, I am not sure, against Toronto Tuesday and Wednesday.

Let’s Go Pens!