Chirps from Center Ice

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I guess it’s better than nothing.

A 3-2 Lehigh Valley overtime loss Saturday in Wilkes-Barre, where the Penguins had the lead coming into the third period, lost it and Lehigh Valley forces overtime. It didn’t take long as Adam Brooks ended it just :37 into the overtime frame.

7 points off of 6th and the final spot in the Atlantic for playoffs and 4 points off of 7th, held by Sunday’s opponent Hartford, who were shutout 4-0 in Springfield in the only game that matters for the Penguins. Bridgeport was off.

Here’s how they lined up…

Lineup Notes: Tommy Nappier and Chris Ortiz were recalled earlier in the day. Nappier will be heading back as Dustin Tokarski was re-assigned by Pittsburgh this evening. Lukas Svejkovsky out, Nathan Legare back in.

First Period: Two big stops on two different shooters by Taylor Gauthier and then seconds later Drake Caggiula was in all alone on a breakaway and scored giving the Penguins a 1-0 lead.

But then Lehigh Valley answers right back with a goal from Garrett Wilson. Wilson was looking for someone in front and instead his pass goes off of a Penguin defender instead and in.

Bad team. Bad luck. Bad break. St. Ivany, I think in case you are wondering.

Second Period: Josh Maniscalco scores a power play goal in a similar way that Garrett Wilson scored in the first, off a defender.

I suppose they all count the same.

Third Period: One second left on a power play for the Phantoms and they score via Artem Anisimov goal to tie the game at two.

That goal breaks a streak of 25 straight penalty kills by Wilkes-Barre.

Ty Glover and Filip Hållander led a two on one and Hållander wasn’t able to finish.

I think at the end of the period Lehigh Valley wanted to preserve at least a point. The Penguins in flashes showed some push but were in the same boat.

Overtime: Face-off win by Artem Anisimov and then…

Three Stars: 3) Artem Anisimov (goal, assist) 2) Drake Caggiula (goal) 1) Adam Brooks (goal, assist)

The Good: There’s no consistency with this team. Explain how they can run into Allentown on the third game of a three in three and eat a rested Phantoms team alive like they did last Sunday then blow a third period lead (typical) then in overtime? I guess you can say there’s consistency in that they always bow the lead and find a way to lose.

The Bad: They let an extremely average and likely one and done in playoffs Phantoms team back in the game in the third period and let them take the extra point they were so desperately chasing.

Turning Point: Going to give it to Anisimov’s goal that tied the game back in the third. It was a feckless effort by the home team after that.

Bridgeport is off the rest of the weekend and have 68 points with 9 games left. Hartford, out of a playoff spot, have 65 points with 9 games left. The Penguins have 10 games left, a head to head with Hartford Sunday and 61 points.

Video Highlights: 

More Sunday night after Hartford.

Let’s Go Pens!