Chirps from Center Ice

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This one felt like a playoff game.

A pair of goal from Valtteri Puustinen boost the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins to a 3-1 win over the Bridgeport Islanders on Saturday night.

It did feel like a playoff game and at some point, if they flirt at or near the cut line, all of them will be. Good to get a solid win in front of a packed house on a Saturday as we head into February. Let’s roll.

Here’s how they lined up:

Lineup Notes: One of these days I will tell you about this week I just had. Today ain’t one of those days.

First Period: Puustinen fires a near dot one timer past Jakub Skarek to put the Penguins on the board at 8:54 via a power play.

Special teams was dog 🤬 last night so it was good to see them going on the first one of the night.

Bridgeport didn’t score on their power play in the period.

Second Period: Cole Bardreau ties the game on a boffo goal and misplay by Taylor Gauthier puts the Islanders on the board at 4:32.

Why bite on something like that and put yourself out of position like that?

Ty Glover responds with his best shift in a while, keeping a puck in and then picking off an Islander and then ripping a shot for an unassisted goal to give the Penguins a 2-1 lead.

Good to see that fourth line produce for a goal.

Third Period: Penguins kept it simple, took just one penalty they navigated through fine and time starting melting away on the Islanders, who pulled Skarek and later the Penguins found Puustinen who scored his second on the empty net.

Three Stars: 3) Valtteri Puustinen (two goals) 2) Ty Glover (goal) 1) Taylor Gauthier (28 saves)

The Good: Total team effort. They got good goaltending, depth scoring and one of their better players got himself a pair.

The Bad: Boy, say what you want, goaltending is a big question mark right now. Some of what you saw tonight was insulated, big time.

Turning Point: Glover’s goal was huge.

Around the Division: Charlotte beats Rochester 5-3…Syracuse throttles Hartford 7-3…Providence subjugates Utica 5-1…Hershey stomps Lehigh Valley 7-3…Springfield beats Belleville 6-1.

Standings: Hershey 61 – Providence 57 – Charlotte 50 – Lehigh Valley 45 – Penguins 45 – Springfield 45 – Bridgeport and Hartford 43

Wheeling Update: Nailers beat Kansas City 6-2. Adam Smith, fresh from his AHL duties with the Penguins, with a goal and two assists.

Video Highlights: 

Back at it Wednesday against Springfield. Likely that I get a Weekend Preview out at you cats before then.

Let’s Go Pens!