Chirps from Center Ice

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Lots of talk about how the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins are rebuilt and rebuilt in a good way, in a contending way.

Cast aside the 3-1 preseason record, it means nothing. The real work started Friday in Charlotte..

For the first two periods, they looked like last years team. In fact in a lot of ways it was because there wasn’t any scoring by either team.

But finally, one of their offseason acquisitions, Austin Rueschoff scored to break the deadlock.

Then Jonathan Gruden scored a little over a minute later and it looked like they were off to the races.

But no, :14 later, Charlotte scores.

Normally, last years team starts scrambling and find ways to lose but this years team (so far) didn’t, and the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins are 1-0 with a 4-2 win in Charlotte.

Here’s how they lined up…

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Lineup Notes: They have a veteran problem. They will rotate vets in and out per Nick Hart on pregame. Don’t ask me to name the veterans. They right now also don’t have any injuries as anyone who didn’t dress Friday was considered a health scratch.

First Period: I got nothing. They had to kill two penalties and went on a power play of their own which looked really good.

Second Period: Penguins had a couple power play chances but didn’t get anything out of it. Checkers think they scored but the would be goal is immediately waved off by referee Morgan MacPhee, then Colin White is stopped by Spencer Knight of Charlotte.

Seemed like a goaltending duel was brewing between Magnus Hellberg and Spencer Knight heading into the…

Third Period: I was waiting for something to develop and in less than two minutes the floodgates opened.

I gave this to you at the top of the story, scroll up in case you forgot.

Penguins couldn’t ice the game away with the benefit of two power plays, coming nearly back to back, but time remained the enemy of the home team.

Charlotte pulled Spencer Knight and Xavier Ouellet scored from his own blue line into the empty net. About :45 later, and about 15′ further back, Dmitri Samorukov scored into the same empty net to make it 4-1.

But Charlotte would score with about :08 when Ryan McAllister scored off of a shot which Nick Hart may have deflected off of a Penguin in front.

Three Stars: 3) Will Lockwood (goal) 2) Jonathan Gruden (goal) 1) Magnus Hellberg (26 saves)

The Good: After that disaster of a season last, good to start the new one on a winning side.

The Bad: Power play went 0/5. If it weren’t for the flood of goals, a game this razor thin could be won with a special teams effort.

Turning Point: The Gruden goal gave the Penguins some scant breathing room. Hellberg and the rest of the defense carried them across the way for the first win of the season.

Around the Division: Hartford clips Providence 3-2 in a shootout. Bridgeport beats Rochester 4-3 in overtime. Everyone else gets going Saturday.

Standings: Early days, Penguins are sitting atop the Division with 2 points. Springfield, Hershey and Lehigh Valley were off, they get their seasons going Saturday.

Wheeling Update: The Nailers are still in preseason.

Video Highlights: 

Penguins and Checkers Saturday at 6. More after the rematch.

Let’s Go Pens!