Chirps from Center Ice

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I don’t think that, in any of the five power plays the Charlotte Checkers had in this game, a 4-1 Penguins win, that the home team was ever really troubled by being down a man.

Charlotte went 0-for-5 on the power play and that is what cost them this game in my opinion.

The two team do it all again Saturday, an hour earlier.

A goal and an assist for Colin White and 30 saves for Joel Blomqvist in this one as well.

Here’s how they lined up:

Lineup Notes: First on ice, Matt Filipe was in for Raivis Ansons, who you can add to the injured list and Xavier Ouellet was in for Taylor Fedun in the vet for vet swap. The Pens recalled Taylor Gauthier because Magnus Hellberg and Garret Sparks are ill. They also recalled Dillon Hamaliuk, who skated as the extra. With Ty Smith playing for Team Canada in the Spengler Cup, good to have spare defensemen if you need them.

First Period: Penguins manage only four shots in the period, but one of them goes in when Corey Andonovski forces a turnover which finds its way to Will Butcher who scores to give the Penguins the early 1-0 lead.

Second Period: Just :59 in and Alex Nyalnder scores to make it two for the Penguins.

Then Blomqvist was interfered with, goes down. Because there’s an unwritten rule that you can’t smash the goalie like that, there was a bit of a fracas. Ref Beau Halkidis, who makes a living flying by the seat of his pants everywhere he goes, lets the interference go and overcorrects when the team steps up to defend the honor of their goaltender. He puts Charlotte on the power play. Good thing that the power play for Charlotte was 💩 otherwise it would have been a different game.

Penguins get a power play of their own and cash on it when Colin White takes a deflection of a shot from the point for a 3-0 Penguins lead.

Third Period: Question, as the period wore on, was whether the team would get Blomqvist his first AHL shutout or not.

No.

Lucas Carlsson with about the best individual effort you will see, busts up the bid.

Good lord someone put a body on the guy.

Matt Filipe would score an empty net goal to make if 4-1. They should never take him out of the lineup again.

Three Stars: 3) Joel Blomqvist (30 saves) 2) Peter Abbandonato (two assists) 1) Colin White (goal, assist)

The Good: 5 for 5 on the kill is good. 5 for 5 on the kill when it wins you the hockey game is even better.

The Bad: No, seriously, put a body on Carlsson next time.

Turning Point: White’s power play goal that made it 3-0 served the same purpose as when Hershey went up 3-0 on the Pens Wednesday. 2-0 is doable, 3-0 is impossible with the way both games went. Nice to be on the better end of this one.

Around the Division: Providence handles Utica 5-2….Hershey beats Rochester 4-2 because of course….Bridgeport coughs up a three goal lead in the third but survives Springfield 6-5 in overtime.

Standings: Hershey 52 – Providence and Springfield 36 – Penguins and Hartford 35 – Charlotte and Lehigh Valley 31 – Bridgeport 20

How tight is this division minus Hershey, man?

Wheeling Update: Nailers were off.

Video Highlights: 

Back at it Saturday against this same team. More then.

Let’s Go Pens!