Chirps from Center Ice

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Sometimes it’s nice to watch a game and know that the issue is never in doubt. This was one of those games.

A 5-1 walloping of the Belleville Senators by the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins. The power play went 3/6, Rem Pitlick scored again and Joel Blomqvist was sharp as a tack. Not much more you could ask for in this one.

Here’s how they lined up:

Lineup Notes: Jonathan Gruden and Marc Johnstone were back for Lukas Svejkovsky, who they went to Wheeling earlier in the week and Raivis Ansons. On defense, Ryan Shea made his WBS debut and Will Butcher was back in for Taylor Fedun and Xavier Ouellet.

First Period: They didn’t waste any time, scoring at the expiration of an early power play when Jonathan Gruden scored to open the scoring for Wilkes-Barre.

Colin White doubled the Penguins lead with this nice shot.

Penguins seemed to be in control from the jump.

Second Period: Before you could say Bay of Quinte, the  Penguins were down two men for 1:56 and Max Guenette blasted home a one timer to put the B-Sens on the board and broke up any prospective Joel Blomqist shutout bid.

But the Penguins answered right back on a power play when, guess who, Rem Pitlick scored a power play goal to re-establish the two goal lead for the Penguins.

That’s points in nine straight games for Rem Pitlick.

Sam Poulin added yet another power play goal for Wilkes-Barre when he scored to make it a 4-1 lead for the Penguins.

Third Period: Sam Poulin scores on the back end of a 4:00 double minor for his second of the game for the third power play goal scored for the Penguins in the game.

Penguins didn’t let off at all in the period, outshooting the Senators 13-4 in the period.

Three Stars: Max Guenette (goal) 2) Colin White (goal, assist) 1) Sam Poulin (two goals)

The Good: A better team in the Penguins should wallop a last place team like Belleville. The Senators seemed directionless, and the Penguins made them pay. It was good to see.

The Bad: I’m nitpicking, but they gift wrapped Belleville nearly two minutes of a two man advantage and lost a shutout bid for their goaltender.

Turning Point: Poulin’s first goal, that made it 4-1 at the time, erased any hope of Belleville mounting anything close to a comeback in this one.

Around the Division: Just one other game on this Thursday, Lehigh Valley beats Charlotte in overtime down in North Carolina 3-2.

Standings: Hershey 44 – Hartford 35 – Penguins 31 – Providence and Springfield 30 – Charlotte 29 – Lehigh Valley 28 – Bridgeport 15

Wheeling Update: The Nailers were off.

Video Highlights: Check the AHL Video Center for them if you really want them.

Back at it Friday in Laval.

Let’s Go Pens!