Chirps from Center Ice

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Taylor Gauthier and Colin White deserved better.

With about 40 seconds left to play, Colin White blocks his second shot of the night, is hobbled again and goes back down the tunnel. Seconds later the Belleville Senators score to even the game at two.

In overtime Belleville scores to steal the extra point. Penguins lose 3-2 in overtime.

Taylor Gauthier was shelled in the third period by the B-Sens when it was 1-1. He singlehandedly kept the Penguins in the contest and was stellar.

3 points out of a possible 6 this week. They were tracking to 4. That lost point is going to come in handy come April I fear.

Here’s how they lined up:

Lineup Notes: Forward lines unchanged from Friday. Jack St. Ivany for Libor Hajek on defense.

First Period: Austin Rueschhoff scores a power play goal on a deflection of a Xavier Ouellet shot through traffic to put the Pens on the board.

Belleville was held to not many shots on goal then started to turn it on. Foreshadowing.

Second Period: Colin White blocks a shot and goes to the locker room. He returns, then goes back to the locker room. He got beat up pretty bad in the game.

Meanwhile, Angus Crookshank scores a goal off of a face-off to make it 1-1.

Problem here is that the B-Sens weren’t getting a ton of shots, but were living in the offensive zone for what seemed like an eternity. Eventually, you wear down your opponent enough and get a greasy goal.

Third Period: As I mentioned in the open, Taylor Gauthier was under bombardment.

His finest save of the period, right there.

Also, Belleville scored two other times in the game but they were waved off. First was on a high stick, second was on a tripping call.

Colin White scored a power play goal which was fitting, considering the absolute beating he took Friday.

Time dwindling, Belleville head coach David Bell pulls goaltender Leevi Merilainen for an extra attacker, uses his time out, and finds the equalizer.

Always has to be an ex-Hershey Bear.

It was then onto….

Overtime: Jack Rathbone gets caught on a two on one, tries to direct Marc Johnstone to cover Angus Crookshank, Crookshank gets the puck, shoots, shot blocked back to Jacob Larsson who scores.

Three Stars: 3) Colin White (goal) 2) Garrett Pilon (goal, assist) 1) Jacob Larsson (game winning goal)

The Good: They scored two power play goals, which you never say no to.

The Bad: I don’t want to start getting into the practice of having to learn how to close out games. They straight lost Wednesday against Providence. They scored with .5 seconds left Friday against Hershey and coughed up a lead with :34 to play Saturday against Belleville. Gotta finish!

Turning Point: Inevitably the Pilon goal which forced overtime gets it here because Belleville winning seemed like a formality after that and it was.

Around the Division: Cleveland exacts some revenge on Providence, beating them 5-4…Springfield wins in OT against Lehigh Valley 3-2….Charlotte wins 5-4 in overtime against San Diego…Hershey beats Bridgeport 3-1 and Hartford beats Utica 3-2.

Standings: Hershey 16 / Hartford 13 / Charlotte and Springfield 12 / Penguins 11 / Lehigh Valley 10 / Providence 9 / Bridgeport 5

Wheeling Update: Nailers win 3-2 in their home opener over the Reading Royals. Justin Addamo two assists.

Video Highlights: 

Home and home with Syracuse next week. Look for the Weekend Preview sometime Thursday or Friday.

Let’s Go Pens!