Chirps from Center Ice

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The Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins are a one dimensional hockey team.

Valtteri Puustinen and Alex Nylander had the goals in this 3-2 loss to Syracuse. That’s a theme. Those guys always score.

Thing is, no one else does. Puustinen and Nylander have 21 and 23 goals, respectively.

You aren’t going to win many games when you have an anemic offensive output such as this.

If or when Pittsburgh recalls Puustinen or Nylander, the goose for Wilkes-Barre will be cooked well done.

Onto the next…

Here’s how they lined up:

Lineup Notes: Ty Glover and Justin Addamo for Raivis Ansons and Jamie Devane up front and Chris Ortiz for Colin Swoyer on defense.

Ty Smith and Jonathan Gruden are, “still being evaluated” after being injured last weekend – come on guys, this is silly. It doesn’t take a week to figure out what’s wrong with a guy. Just don’t mention anything if you are going to feed us this garbage. Filip Lindberg has an upper body injury.

First Period: Every Crunch player touches the puck on a Syracuse power play and Alex Barré-Boulet scores to give the Crunch the `1-0 lead.

But then the Penguins get a chance on a power play and Drake Caggiula feeds Alex Nylander for yet another power play goal that tied the game at one.

Puff out your cheeks moment as the Crunch went on another late power play but the Penguins navigated out of it unscathed.

Second Period: Microcosm of the last couple of weeks here.

That’s a Trevor Carrick pass which goes off Jon Lizotte’s skate right to Rudolfs Balcers and in for a goal that gives Syracuse a 2-1 lead.

💆‍♂️

Later, Lucas Edmonds gets a goal after a perfect feed from Jack Finley from behind the net for a goal that gives the Crunch a two goal lead.

Wilkes-Barre / Scranton was doubled up in shots (10-5) and goals (2-0) in the period after a pretty even first period.

Third Period: Penguins score late when Alex Nylander sets up Valtteri Puustinen for an extra attacker goal that brings the Penguins to within one.

Are there any other players on this team? No one else can carry an offensive load?

Three Stars: 3) Max Legace (26 saves, 7-0 all time against the Penguins) 2) Trevor Carrick (assist) 1) Simon Ryfors (two assists)

The Good: Buddy I got nothing for ya.

The Bad: So not only are they in last place, they are losing with fluke goals now too.

Turning Point: Balcers goal snowballed things downhill for the Pens.

Around the Division: Providence beats Charlotte 6-5 in overtime. For a Friday, a light night in the Atlantic as everyone else was off.

Standings: Providence 72 – Hershey 69 – Charlotte 63 – Springfield 56 – Lehigh Valley 55 – Bridgeport 54 – Hartford 53 – Penguins 51

Wheeling Update: Nailers are hosting the Norfolk Admirals. Box here.

Video Highlights: 

Back at it Saturday against Belleville.

Let’s Go Pens! 😬