Chirps from Center Ice

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I think I have reused this headline before.

Penguins lose 5-0 in Hartford Friday night. Their old habits from last year bubbled up and the game got out of hand quick on them.

They lost puck battles, their offensive “threats” were taking liberties with the puck, which led to goals for the other team.

Say it with me now, it’s only the third game of the season. It’s only the third game of the season. It’s only the third game of the…

…you get it.

Here’s how they lined up…

(Hartford didn’t and doesn’t post lines)

Lineup Notes: Sam Poulin was out, day to day with something. I didn’t catch what was likely a very detailed description of the injury from Nick Hart pregame. Liens were jumbled from last weekend in Charlotte. Pittsburgh recalled Radim Zohorna and sent down Jansen Harkins, who wasn’t in the lineup Friday…Alex Nylander was back in as was Jagger Joshua. On defense, Jack Rathbone made his WBS debut, Xavier Ouellet was back in. Justin Lee was out. Mark Friedman was traded, as you know from this week.

First Period: Hartford’s power play carried them to a pair of wins last weekend, but in the first period Friday, it didn’t do anything for them as they had two power plays in the opening period but didn’t score. The Penguins seemed to get some jump out of those penalty kills in what was a bit of a feisty period by current AHL standards, as there were two fights in the period. Corey Andonovski and Taylor Fedun fought.

Second Period: Penguins had a pair of power plays in the period but didn’t score on them and that brings them to 0/11 to start the season on the man advantage.

Hartford would score a pair of goals at even strength (they didn’t get a power play in the period) when Brett Berard would score a fluky goal.

Pinballing puck, fluttering a bit, Berard takes a poke at it and high sticks Xavier Ouellet in the process (no call on that) and Hartford is on the board first.

Later, Wolf Pack captain Jonny Brodzinski scores a goal scorers goal which extends the home teams lead to 2-0.

It was Brodzinski’s 300th AHL game, as well.

A lot of things wrong on that play. Colin White shoving Alex Nylander, who never plays any defense, trying to encourage him to either a) get the hell out of his way or b) play defense, was something there and Avery Hayes trying to break up the pass was an effort, but a miss and Brodzinski with all the time and space he needs, didn’t miss.

Last years habits creeping into this years team. Great.

Third Period: A two goal deficit is usually nothing for a team to overcome.

But when you have bad habits, they usually die hard.

Riley Nash beats Jack St. Ivany to a race to the net and catches a pass for an easy tap in and it’s 3-0.

The wheels straight up fell off from there.

Hartford won every puck battle. Pens were one and done when they entered their offensive zone. The bad habits quickly rubbed off on the newcomer Jack Rathbone, who gets beat in a race by Adam Edstrom who had a good chance which was denied by Hellberg.

Has Kyle Dubas kept his receipts?

It’s only the third game of the season…It’s only the third game of the season….

Anyway.

Under 5 to play with the game slipping out of control and there are five black jerseys watching a player shoot.

Alex Nylander didn’t have a great game. A homer backhand chance from the crease went about 15 feet wide. Then, he tries a cross ice pass to a team mate with the Penguins having an empty net and Connor Mackey intercepts it for an easy empty net goal and a 5-0 lead.

The Hartford fans wouldn’t stop throwing stuff on the ice, so the bench was given a delay of game penalty. Referees Jackson Kozari and Chris Waterstradt weren’t messing around.

But the Penguins couldn’t score on the power play that ensued, even getting a 5-on-3 when the WolfPack scored another empty netter that made it 5-0.

When it rains, it pours.

0/13 on the power play to start the season by the way.

Three Stars: 3) Riley Nash (goal, assist) 2) Brett Berard (goal, assist) 1) Louis Domingue (35 save shutout)

The Good: You tell me. 🤷‍♂️

The Bad: Nyalnder doesn’t play defense and thinks he’s superman out there. Cure your vet problem by benching this bum. Series clinching goals against Hershey be damned.

Turning Point (hey I remembered this time!): The Riley Nash goal made everything worse, putting the game out of reach for Wilkes-Barre.

Around the Division: Hershey beats Providence 3-2 in Rhode Island….Lehigh Valley thumps Springfield 5-2. Charlotte and Bridgeport were off.

Standings: Hartford 6, Lehigh Valley and Hershey 4, Providence 3, Charlotte, Springfield, Penguins, Bridgeport 2.

Wheeling Update: Nailers open their season Saturday in Cincinnati.

Video Highlights: If they post them, I’ll work in an edit.

Back at it Saturday when they host Springfield. Hopefully it goes a bit better then this flaming disaster in the Connecticut capital.

Let’s Go Pens!