Chirps from Center Ice

 vs.

5                               6

–

So I was thinking about this win the drive home.

The Pens have played the Bridgeport Islanders twice in a two week span and also played the Syracuse Crunch in that same two week span. They beat the Islanders with 9 goals two weeks ago and  6 goals tonight. 15 goals total. They don’t score a single goal in two games in two games against Syracuse. Go figure.

Pens win 6-5 and, as the headline says, by the skin of their teeth. They had a 6-3 lead then hold on to win 6-5.

Magic number to clinch is 7. I think. Math was never my strong suit.

Tommy Nappier is going to be the guy around these parts. Tristan Jarry is week to week.

Nappier opposed Corey Schneider

They lined up like this:

Bridgeport didn’t post lines.

Lineup Notes: Jordy Bellerive and Jamie Devane out, Anthony Angello and Felix Robert in up front. Will Reilly for Colin Swoyer on defense.

First Period: Bridgeport scores on their first two shots of the game. Simon Holmstrom and Michael Dal Colle score.

Hot start by the Islanders, but the Pens have been in these waters before.

Felix Robert should be a lineup regular. After a move like this, he has to be.

What a pass, what a shot, what a play.

Later, Filip Hallander deflected a shot off of Schneider and it was tied.

No GIF of this one.

Second Period: Valtteri Puustinen on a snipe and the Pens lead 3-2.

Mitch Reinke gets a baffling goal. Corey Schneider makes a glove save, the puck pops out of his glove, goes up in the air and then goes behind him and in the net for a 4-2 Penguins lead.

Just a terrible, awful blunder by Schneider. I would have pulled him if I were Brent Thompson, especially after that gaffe. Islanders in a battle for their playoff life, and you let in a boffo goal like that.

Penguins penalty kill used to be reliable, and Louis Domingue may have a hand in that, but Chris Terry, who is developing into a Penguins killer, scores far dot to make it a one goal game again.

Michael Chaput scores a power play goal, Sam Poulin tries The Michigan, Drew O’Connor scores and the Pens give up another power play goal and it’s 6-4 heading into the third. Here’s all what I just mentioned…

Third Period: A note about the officiating. Justin Kea didn’t have a very good game in my estimation, officiating the scoreboard vs. the action on the ice. A minor infractor would be a penalty on the Penguins, while a blatant foul by the Islanders goes uncalled.

Paul LaDue brings the Islanders to within one.

Puff out your cheeks moments for the Penguins, but they hold on as even with an empty net, the Islanders would not find the equalizer.

Three Stars: Valtteri Puustinen (goal, assist) 2) Drew O’Connor (goal, assist) 1) Juuso Riikola (four assists)

The Good: Too much fun and gun for me but it was nice to see the offense come to life.

The Bad: Domingue is going to be gone a while guys, hafta figure out the penalty kill. You aren’t scoring six goals every night.

Turning Point: The O’Connor goal was one at the time made it a bit of a laugher, but was just enough to get the Pens across the line first.

Around the Division: None of the other games mattered. It’s late. Hershey was off.

Standings: Hershey with 76 points in fourth; Pens in fifth with 74 and a game in hand. Pens have enough of a cushion I think on sixth place Bridgeport who only have two games left.

Wheeling Update: The Nailers lose 5-0 to Fort Wayne.

Video Highlights: Will probably go up when this does.

Happy Easter. Let’s Go Pens!