Chirps from Center Ice

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Looking back at this game on the schedule back in August, you could point to this game and say it would be a scheduled loss for the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins.

You know, it is a stark contrast playing in Belleville, Ontario, which looked like a high school auditorium in front of maybe 500 fans Thursday night vs. Friday in Laval. They had a band, lasers, a packed house and it’s not far from Montreal. A lot of players aren’t making the trip back home to Wilkes-Barre, opting to stay in Canada for the Christmas holiday. A lot of players family were in attendance as well.

So, yeah, I guess you could say this was a scheduled loss.

A 5-2 Rocket win.

You may look at the AHL standings coming into this and see Laval at the bottom of the North Division. Well, the Rocket are not playing like a last place team. Bellville played like a last place team. This Laval team had won 3 out of their last 4 coming in to the bash with the Penguins.

Here’s how they lined up…

Lineup Notes: 200th AHL game for Magnus Hellberg.

First Period: A penalty marred first period was a harbinger of what was to come. No scoring.

Second Period: Rocket connect for three, yes, three power play goals. These all came in consecutive order but before William Trudeau scored at even strength to give the Rocket a 1-0 lead.

The Penguins would answer right back when Alex Nylander would tip in a Ty Smith shot to tie the game at one.

OK, you figure, they got theirs, that snaps the Penguins to life and they score here and then will score again at some point, right?

Right?

Wrong.

Three power play goals in a 2:57 span put the Rocket up by three goals.

Penguins second overall penalty kill looked bad, very bad, there. Shots from the point that should not be taken without interference in the form of a player wearing black.

Third Period: Wouldn’t you know it, but more shots from the slot taken unabated as Sean Farrell scores from there to extend the Rocket lead to 5-1.

Too easy.

Dmitri Samorukov or Matt Filipe would score here to make it 5-2, but this happened with close to five minutes to play in the game.

Sadly there is no three point line in hockey.

Three Stars: 3) Arber Xhekaj (goal) 2) Logan Mailloux (goal, assist) 1) Philippe Maillet (three assists)

The Good: Not going to lie, not a lot of good to come out of this.

The Bad: Three straight power play goals against was bad, man.

Turning Point: Those three straight power play goals will be keeping the coaching staff up on the trip back home Friday.

The only thing that you hope is that they rest and recover, wash this one out of their systems, regroup and get ready for Hershey Wednesday in Hershey. Huge game.

Around the Division: Bridgeport beats Hartford 5-4 in what has to be an upset….Providence doubles up Rochester 6-3….Charlotte beats Lehigh Valley 5-4 in a shootout….Hershey beats Springfield 4-3 in a shootout.

Standings: Hershey 46 – Hartford 35 – Penguins 33 – Charlotte 31 – Springfield 31 – Providence 30 – Lehigh Valley 29 – Bridgeport 17

Wheeling Update: Nailers are in Cincinnati and that game started about an hour after the Penguins. Box on that here.

Video Highlights: Watch a Christmas movie instead.

More next week when they are in Hershey.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Let’s Go Pens!