Chirps from Center Ice

vs.

3                                    1

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Dictionary defines “providence” as timely preparation for future eventualities.

Well tonight, you can state that the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins lacked providence because the team that bears the name came in and beat them 3-1.

First home loss for the Penguins, in what would best be defined as a feckless offensive effort.

Work night. School night. Let’s get into it.

Lineup Notes: Sam Poulin, Valtteri Puustinen (both injured) out for Austin Rueschhoff and Colin Smith. Smith returns from injury. Garret Sparks was the one injured, which explains why he didn’t come out for the third Sunday in Hershey and why Taylor Gauthier was recalled. On defense, Taylor Fedun was out. Libor Hajek stayed in. I think they still have veteran issues.

First Period: Shots were 9-3 Penguins in the period. Wilkes-Barre jumps out to a 1-0 lead on a power play goal from Rem Pitlick:

But Providence hits back 90 seconds later when John Farinacci, who sounds like a Pittston Area gym teacher, tips in a shot from the point that makes it 1-1.

Second Period: Providence ratcheted up the offense and gets a goal from Vincent Areseneau which I initially thought was an own goal from Dmitri Samorukov, that made it 2-1 Bruins.

Third Period: I waited for a comeback that never came. The Penguins took their second too many men on the ice call, the third time they had such an issue in the evening but that one time they didn’t have the puck. How does that happen? Twice one game?

Turning point of the game was when the Penguins had a power play with 4:28 left to play and failed to score.

Somewhere in there Brandon Buss made a ridiculous save to keep it a one goal game for the visitors. I don’t want to say that he won the game for the Bruins, but he was a big big part.

Providence hit an empty net, which essentially sealed their fate. Jesper Boqvist scored it.

Three Stars: 3) Brandon Buss (26 saves) 2) Rem Pitlick (goal) 1) Vincent Arseneau (goal)

The Good: Optimist says they held the Bruins close, offense wasn’t there when it needed to be against a really good AHL goaltender. Also, the penalty kill went 6/6.

The Bad: They essentially have a fourth line that consists of Jagger Joshua and Marc Johnstone, who bust their ass on every shift every game, and Jonathan Gruden who does the same, but plays third and sometimes second line minutes. That’s all. Jansen Harkins has shown flashes of brilliance but the defense is out to lunch half the time. Samorukov ain’t it. Jack Rathbone I don’t think is either. Ty Smith is in the wrong system, jury is out on Hajek and Ouellet does what he can with who he’s paired with. St. Ivany has flashes. He’s young, cut him some slack.

Every team has clunkers every once in a while. This Penguins team is not championship caliber, so you are going to have more.

Maybe they get the proper coaching and accountability. Hershey is here Friday. It better come quick.

Around the Division: Hershey beats Lehigh Valley 4-3 in overtime and are 7-2. I didn’t think the Bears could somehow be better than last year, yet here we are. They are in Friday.

Standings: Hershey 14 / Hartford 10 / Charlotte / Penguins / Thunderbirds 8 / Lehigh Valley and Providence 7 / Bridgeport 5

Wheeling Update: Nailers were off.

Video Highlights: You may have to go hunt and peck for them yourselves if you are so inclined. I am off Thursday and not going to be near a computer for most of the day.

Back at it Friday against Hershey.

Let’s Go Pens!