Chirps from Center Ice

 vs.

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I think this was a matter of two teams headed in two different directions.

The Hartford Wolf Pack 2-8 in their last ten games and in full on free fall mode, are easy meat for a Wilkes-Barre / Scranton team that beat them 5-1 Wednesday night. The Penguins use the send period to explode for four goals and what looked like a tight game from the first period, turned into a runaway.

Last place Lehigh Valley is up next Friday for the Pens, then a home game Saturday in a humungous game against Bridgeport with playoff implications on the line Saturday await.

Worknight game. So let’s stop screwing around and get into it.

Keith Kinkaid opposed Louis Domingue.

Wolf Pack didn’t post a line graphic.

First Period: No scoring, Pens killed two penalties and were doubled up in shots 12-6.

Second Period: I am going to give you the goals as they happen then the GIFs to go along with the goals to keep the flow going.

Pens get a turnover and Kasper Bjorkqvist scores to put the Pens on the board first. Later, Drew O’Connor finds a pinching Will Reilly for a goal which made it 2-0. Reilly’s first goal of the season which came at a good time because it gave the Pens a two goal cushion.

It didn’t matter, because Sam Poulin scored a power play goal after two Hartford defenders lost sticks and it was 3-0. Felt like the rout was on after that goal.

It was, because as the goal from Poulin was being announced, Felix Robert pounced on a rebound and scored to make it 4-0.

Anthony Greco pulled one back for Hartford with about a minute left to get the Wolf Pack on the board. Greco’s 50th point of the season.

OK, now the GIFs in order they happened.

Third Period: Referee Michael Zyla washed out two would be goals on both sides on account of goalie interference. I have no idea what goalie interference is because every time I do, they exact same thing happens and the call is the complete opposite.

Michael Chaput scored to make it 5-1. The Pens didn’t GIF the goal. It should be in the highlight package.

Three Stars: 3) Sam Poulin (goal, assist) 2) Louis Domingue (24 saves) 1) Will Reilly (goal)

The Good: Capitalize on a slumping opponent when you need wins. I would have been very disappointed if the Penguins didn’t win this contest based off of Hartford’s current run of form.

The Bad: What the hell is it going to take to get Louis Domingue a shutout?

Turning Point: I knew it the moment I saw it. Sam Poulin’s power play goal made it 3-0, and this was the point of no return for the visitors.

Around the Division: They all watched us.

Standings: We helped the Bears tonight.

I didn’t mention Hartford as much as I should have in the Weekend Preview when I really should have. The Wolf Pack are also playing just 72 games this season, along with the Islanders. Must be a Connecticut thing.

Who plays who Friday: Hershey is in Charlotte for the weekend….Hartford hosts Belleville….Bridgeport is off, the Pens play in Allentown.

Wheeling Update: Nailers lose 4-1 in Fort Wayne.

Video Highlights: 

Let’s Go Pens!