Chirps from Center Ice

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I don’t want to say they are slumping, but two losses in what I thought could have been winnable games isn’t exactly good.

A 3-1 setback in Belleville Wednesday night for the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins who see their starting goaltender Filip Lindberg leave the game in the first period after making just three saves. More on him and what I saw in a bit. Mads Sogaard provided the opposition.

Here’s how they lined up…

Lineup Notes: Sam Houde and Ty Glover for Jordan Frasca and Lukas Svejkovsky up front. Whatever it was that was bothering Houde didn’t last long. Colin Swoyer was in for Jack St. Ivany.

First Period: No scoring in the period but the story coming out of the period was starting goaltender Filip Lindberg leaving the game for some mystery reason. Here’s what I saw:

– Lindberg goes into the butterfly to make a glove save from a shot from the point.
– There’s a face-off. Five seconds later the puck goes out of play.
– Brief pause. Refs then go to Lindberg, they have a cordial discussion with him and he leaves the ice. Enter Dustin Tokarski.
– Lindberg didn’t show any outward signs of a limp coming off the ice.

If I had to venture a guess, it’s a groin or some type of abdominal injury.

Before Tokarski could even break a sweat, he’s pressed into a big save.

Second Period: Jayce Hawryluk deflects a puck off of Tokarski on a Senators power play to give Belleville a 1-0 lead. Prior to this, Kyle Olson leaves the ice with an apparent injury and didn’t return for the period.

(Belleville didn’t post GIF of the goal)

Xavier Ouellet scores his second goal in as many nights to tie the game at one.

Third Period: Marred by penalties, but the Penguins had their fair share. Brennan Saulnier scores mid-slot to give the B-Sens a 2-1 seconds after a Belleville power play.

Then the Penguins get a crack on the power play and give up a penalty shot when Ridly Grieg scores to make it a 3-1 lead.

Not good. Penguins had a pair of chances to get back into the game on a power play but couldn’t, and couldn’t find any type of flow because Belleville had a pair of chances on the power play as well.

Three Stars: 3) Brennan Saulnier (goal) 2) Mads Sogaard (24 saves) 1) Ridly Grieg (goal)

The Good: I don’t have anything.

The Bad: They may have lost Lindberg to injury, Olson too, and let a sub .500 team run circles on them after withstanding the opening period rush.

Turning Point: The Grieg penalty shot that made it a two goal buffer for the Senators put the game out of reach for the visitors.

Around the Division: Hershey is the first team to 20 wins with a 4-2 win in Allentown. Yet another comeback for the Bears who are the real deal this season. Be afraid, be very afraid.

Standings: Hershey 43 – Providence 38 – Bridgeport 33 – Penguins 30 – Lehigh Valley and Charlotte 27 – Springfield 25 – Hartford 23

Wheeling Update: Nailers were off, probably getting a goalie, likely Tommy Nappier, ready to get sent up to the AHL.

Video Highlights: I’ll check to see if Belleville posts them. If I remember in the morning I may just post the link through the AHL Video Center.

Onto Laval Friday.

Let’s Go Pens!