Chirps from Center Ice

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It was the penalty kill that got them tonight.

The Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins go 3-for-5 on the penalty kill. They lose 4-2. They took a 2-2 game into the third period and saw the Islanders score early and then an empty netter at the end.

It was a winnable game too because the Islanders were slumping. It’s the Penguins now who go back to square one with a pair of games down in Charlotte, NC starting this Monday.

Here’s how they lined up…

Lineup Notes: No changes to the forwards. Jon Lizotte was back after this two game absence. Taylor Fedun was out with what JD Forrest told Nick Hart with a minor lower body injury.

First Period: Seemed a bit marred by early penalties, but the Penguins were the beneficiary of a goal out of an Islanders penalty when Ty Smith scored to put Wilkes-Barre on the board:

The Penguins were 2/2 on the kill in the first.

Second Period: Penguins fund themselves in some penalty trouble and it cost them.

William Dufour scores to tie the game at one on a power play.

Penguins would get the lead back on a Sam Poulin breakaway set up by a nifty breakout.

But then Otto Koivula scored on the power play to tie the game again, this time at two to bring the Islanders even yet again with the Penguins.

Penguins, 2/2 on the penalty kill in the first period, went 0/2 in the second.

Third Period: Kyle MacLean breaks the deadlock and scores to give the Islanders the lead. Bridgeport was building a crescendo with the chances to open the period.

(sorry, no GIF of the goal here or of the Koivula goal from the second)

Penguins get back to back chances on the power play but couldn’t come up with anything to get back on even terms with the home team. They did hit four frustrating posts in the contest.

With Lindberg pulled, Parker Wotherspoon scores an empty net goal from about 180′ away.

Three Stars: 3) Kyle MacLean (goal) 2) Otto Koivula (goal, assist) 1) William Dufour (goal, assist)

The Good: I liked the start. That was about all I liked. Bridgeport is a sneaky good team.

The Bad: Obviously the penalty kill sunk them tonight. The power play didn’t help them either there late in the third.

Turning Point: Failing to score on back to back power plays there in the third. Don’t know what happens if they do, but it’s highly likely they get to overtime and at least a point. It’s a point they are going to wish they had in April.

Around the Division: The Lehigh Valley Phantoms are on a heater. They go into Providence and sweep the league leading Bruins in a weekend pair of games, tonight defeating the Bruins 3-2 in a shootout….Hershey jumps all over Hartford and beats them 6-1….Charlotte throttles Springfield 4-1.

Standings: Providence 23 – Hershey and Charlotte 20 – Bridgeport 19 – Penguins, Springfield and Lehigh Valley 15 – Hartford 12

Wheeling Update: Nailers were off.

Video Highlights: If I see them I will post them. AHL VideoCenter may be your best bet with these, they seem to have all of them.

Back at it Monday in Charlotte.

Let’s Go Pens!