Chirps from Center Ice

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Getting on a bit of a roll here.

The Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins won their third straight game at home, defeating the suddenly slumping Hartford Wolf Pack 4-2 Saturday night in Wilkes-Barre.

Special teams carried the day for the Penguins, who did all of their scoring in the first period with a shorthanded goal and a power play goal. They held the Wolf Pack to just 8 shots through the two periods before Hartford nudged a little closer, but not too close to the point to where it may become uncomfortable.

Hershey Sunday and a chance to sweep the week.

Here’s how they lined up:

Hartford didn’t post lines and never does.

Lineup Notes: Vinnie Hinostroza went up Thursday, Corey Andonovski came back. That was it, D pairings stayed the same.

First Period: A blitzkrieg for the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins.

Valtteri Puustinen receives a nice stretch pass and doesn’t miss for a 1-0 Penguins lead.

I don’t know if Puustinen reads the blog (please don’t) but ever since I said he should be scratched, he’s responded with goals.

Penguins go on the penalty kill and Joona Koppanen skates in all alone and scores a shorthanded goal.

Jonathan Gruden on a hack and whack job and the rout was on.

And then Rem Pitlick scores a power play goal for the cherry on top.

Now I was expecting Hartford starting goaltender Dylan Garland to get the yank but Kris Knoblauch stayed with him. After the Pitlick goal, Garland shut it down from there.

I really thought that had the Penguins scored a fifth, Garand’s night would have been over.

Second Period: Seemed at times a bit tamer, which I think played more in favor for Hartford and less so for the Penguins.

Jack Rathbone and Xavier Ouellet cross wires and Turner Elson scores to put the Wolf Pack on the board.

Third Period: Hartford had a leftover penalty from the second, and Jonny Brodzinski rifles one home just :39 into the period to make the game a lot closer.

Said this at the time…

Sometimes I tweet things to set things up for the blog. If Hartford scores again, then yeah it’s a lot tigher and I use foreshadowing to set up the rest of the blog entry, If the Penguins score to make it 5-2, it’s likely an easy win for the Penguins. Either way, the tweet still stands.

Only no one scored again.

Jansen Harkins came close on a breakaway, but Dylan Garand was a completely Dylan Garand in the second and third periods then he was in the first.

Hartford had a few chances late with Garand pulled and a power play, but never got any closer.

Three Stars: 3) Ty Smith (assist) 2) Valtteri Puustinen (goal) 1) Jonath Gruden (goal)

The Good: Jump all over the opponent in the first and send them scrambling. The Penguins have not allowed the opponent to score at all in the first period so far this season. It’s a good trend, you’d like to see it continue.

The Bad: Boy oh boy, they nearly blew that one until the didn’t. Take the two points and move on.

Turning Point: Turns out that Gruden power play goal was big at the time back in the first period as it stood up as the game winning goal.

Around the Division: Charlotte shuts out Bridgeport 2-0 at home….Hershey does the same to Lehigh Valley 4-0.Lehigh Valley had eight power plays…Springfield beats what looks like a bad Providence team 5-2. The Thunderbirds scored three power play goals.

Standings: Hershey 10, Penguins, Charlotte and Hartford 8, Lehigh Valley and Springfield 6, Bridgeport 5 and Providence 4

Wheeling Update: Nailers are down big in Fort Wayne. Box here.

Video Highlights: 

Hershey Sunday at 3 in Hershey. Don’t be late. Talk to you then.

Let’s Go Pens!