Chirps from Center Ice

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They looked great Wednesday in the games first twenty minutes and lost the final forty. They lost that game.

They looked lost in the games first forty minutes Friday and great in the final twenty minutes. They managed to get to overtime.

This is where Jack Rathbone cooked.

Rathbone’s overtime game winning goal gives the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins a 3-2 overtime win.

Gosh these teams are a lot a like. Frustrating for both fan bases.

If you are a Springfield fan, you feel the way the Penguins fans felt on Wednesday. You had them right where you want them, let off and lost. Yeah you got a point, but the team that you are going to be tied to all season comes in, plays a great twenty minutes when it mattered most and beats you.

Best part, they get to do it all again Saturday night in Wilkes-Barre.

Here’s how they lined up:

Lineup Notes: Joona Koppanen, Justin Addamo were out. Corey Andonovski and a debuting Will Butcher went in. 300th AHL game for Alex Nylander.

First Period: Springfield didn’t play Wednesday, the Penguins scored five goals on Wednesday. The Thunderbirds had eighteen shots on goal in the period. Yes, they had two power plays in the period but still, that’s a lot of shots to give up in the first period when you only had six shots yourselves.

Second Period: Thunderbirds make it 2-0 in the period when Nathan Walker and Ryan Suzuki score. Suzuki’s came on a power play. Walker’s goal was, in my opinion, way too easy.

I’m trying to figure out who Ty Smith is engaging with behind the goal line there. Don’t know if that was his man or not, but Nathan Walker waltz down the slot and just picks a corner. Too easy.

Ryan Suzuki scored out of a brief review of a possible Penguins goal when the red light came on behind Malcolm Subban’s net. After a small review which clearly showed no goal, Ryan Suzuki came out off of the ensuing face-off and scored.

Pens had one power play through two periods and it looked alright, but obviously didn’t offer up a goal.

Third Period: Wilkes-Barre wakes up and gets a goal from Rem Pitlick to kickstart the comeback.

I am telling you if they can figure out the rest of everything else which is wrong, this power play they have hums and can straight up win them games. They get a goal here and that starts the rally.

Matt Filipe with a deflection in front and it’s tied.

Hindsight, if I am Springfield head coach Drew Bannister I call timeout here. He didn’t, the Penguins had another power play but didn’t score and it was off to…

Overtime: Penguins possessed the puck the entire overtime period and sixty-eight seconds in, Jack Rathbone ended it:

Three Stars: 3) Nathan Walker (goal, assist) 2) Magnus Hellberg (36 saves) 1) Jack Rathbone (overtime game winning goal)

The Good: We came out with torches and pitchforks for head coach J.D. Forrest on Wednesday. Good on JD Forrest for not letting off and scheming them a way to win. What they were doing in the first two periods seemingly wasn’t working, whatever changes he made (if any) won him the game.

The Bad: This formula of a bad first two periods and a miracle third is not a recipe for success.

Turning Point: Rathbone’s goal gets it here, as any Penguins game winning overtime goal would.

Around the Division: Hershey wins their eighth straight, beating Charlotte 4-2….Hartford thumps Lehigh Valley 7-3….Providence doubles up Bridgeport 6-3.

Standings: Hershey 34 – Hartford 28 – Penguins 22 – Springfield 22 – Lehigh Valley and Providence 21 – Charlotte 20 – Bridgeport 13

Wheeling Update: Nailers lose 3-2 at home to Toledo.

Video Highlights: Aren’t up yet. Bookmark the AHL’s VideoCenter instead.

More after the rematch Saturday.

Let’s Go Pens!