Chirps from Center Ice

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I think the writing was on the wall here.

The Providence Bruins kept shooting, and shooting and shooting at Penguins All Star goaltender Joel Blomqvist.

40 shots. You can’t pin this 3-2 overtime loss on Blomqvist.

It’s a team sport, yadda yadda. The Penguins simply didn’t do enough to generate offense to get themselves over the hump in this game.

Sure, they lead 2-0 on goals by Sam Poulin and Ty Smith, but they only managed 24 shots.

Providence is a good team. The Penguins, if they want to have any kind of success as the page turns to the second half of the season after tomorrow’s match in Bridgeport, they are going to have to find ways to close these games out.

Yes, they get the point and take the overtime loss and it’s a game they probably lose 4-1 last year. But they gotta close these games out.

Onto Bridgeport Saturday.

Here’s how they lined up…

Lineup Notes: Alex Nylander in, Colin White out. Peter Abbandonato top line up front. On defense, Jack Rathbone and Will Butcher back in for Owen Headrick and Taylor Fedun.

First Period: I had a thought that this period had a playoff like intensity. Lots of action, few penalties. I also felt that there was going to be a goal in the period and there was.

Vinnie Hinostroza, who Nick Hart on radio stated has never played in the building before (because he played primarily in the AHL’s Western Conference) opened the scoring.

Joel Blomqvist was sharp for the Penguins, stopping all 12 Bruins shot which headed his way.

Second Period: The first Penguins goal was changed to Sam Poulin, who got a piece of the Hinostroza goal on the way through.

The Penguins power play misses Rem Pitlick, because the first one they received in the second period was an abject disaster. So much so that Blomqvist had to stack two pads old school stopping Marc McLaughlin here on this stellar save.

Sam Poulin is thriving on the top line, and nearly nabbed his second goal of the night on a breakaway but ran out of room.

But Ty Smith broke through and scored for the Penguins, doubling their lead.

Felt like a heavyweight bout with these two teams. Had a feeling that the Penguins hadn’t yet been dealt Providence’s best blow.

Third Period: I’m not going to bother to try to look for the Bruins goals because the production in Providence is comical.

Reilly Walsh scored at 12:50 on a shot from the point that Blomqvist was screened on. Then Justin Brazeau scored at 18:35 on a deflection that tied it.

Penguins lost Matt Filipe who went to the locker room before the Brazeau goal that tied it.

Overtime: Ian Mitchell 1:13 into overtime ended it. The Pens had possession and a shot deflected out of play. Bruins win the face-off and Mitchell spun his magic.

Three Stars: 3) Reilly Walsh (goal) 2) Justin Brazeau (goal) 1) Ian Mitchell (overtime game winning goal)

The Good: It probably would have been a clean loss had it not been for Blomqvist.

The Bad: The Penguins power play is in a funk, going 0/2 Friday. They miss Rem Pitlick. They need to figure that out because with a power play goal tonight, it’s probably a different story.

Turning Point: The Mitchell OT GWG gets it here.

Around the Division: Rochester beats Charlotte 3-2….Springfield doubles up Syracuse 4-2….Lehigh Valley beats Hartford 4-1.

Standings: Hershey 58 – Providence 44 – Penguins Hartford and Springfield 41 – Charlotte 38 – Lehigh Valley 36 – Bridgeport 24

Wheeling Update: Nailers lose 5-2 at home to the Indy Fuel.

Video Highlights: LOL, you really think Providence knows how to edit and cut up highlights?

More Saturday after Bridgeport.

Let’s Go Pens!