Chirps from Center Ice

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So they nearly blew this one. Against a last place team in Bridgeport.

Wilkes-Barre races out to a 3-0 lead, but then Bridgport scores three unanswered of their own and its a tie game, but a shot that deflects off of Jonathan Gruen with under two minutes left stands up as the game winner and Wilkes-Barre wins 4-3 in Bridgeport Saturday night.

Don’t ask how, but they have points in five straight games.

That’s good, but the pessimist in us all will lose a few minutes of sleep wondering how a last place team in the Islanders could manage to come back against the Penguins, especially from down 0-3.

Again, don’t ask how. Also, Bridgeport won’t be in last for long if they continue to play like I saw them play against the Penguins Saturday.

Here’s how they lined up, note that the Islanders didn’t post lines…

Lineup Notes: Colin White was recalled and Ryan Shea was returned to and from Pittsburgh respectively about an hour and a half before the start Saturday. Jordan Frasca was recalled from Wheeling.

As far as on ice is concerned, Taylor Fedun replaced Will Butcher on defense and the forward lines were all jumbled up.

First Period: Seemed like the Penguins played mad, because they looked it and raced out to a quick 2-0 lead on goals from Jagger Joshua and Sam Poulin on a breakaway.

Ty Smith, who helped setup the Joshua goal, took a closing hand on puck penalty and Bridgeport’s power play, which is good, threatened but didn’t score. That was the only work that Magnig Hellberg really had to do in the period.

Second Period: Corey Andonovski with an absolute dart, made it 3-0 for the Penguins.

That was in and out quicker than you can say in and out.

Then they got sloppy. Well, both teams did really, but the Penguins had a power play and you know that you miss your trigger man when you ice it on a power play like the Penguins did here.

Wilkes-Barre with a massive 1:43 kill of a five-on-three against but Magnus Hellberg killed it all off with a yeoman like effort.

Off of a fantastic penalty kill, the Penguins could not get a power play goal to go.

Then William Dufour breaks through for the Islanders and scores to make it a two goal game again.

Third Period: Reese Newkirk rifles a shot over the glove of Hellberg and it’s a one goal game.

Hell of a way to score your first AHL goal.

The Islanders were absolutely buzzing after that Newkirk goal, cycle after cycle. But the Penguins got a power play and it looked threatening, but they didn’t score.

Then Trevor Cosgrove scores his first AHL goal.

Again, a hell of a way to score your first AHL goal and also eerily similar to the goal scored in Providence last night by Reilly Walsh.

But then, Corey Andonovski, who I thought had a decent game, took a shot that Jonathan Gruden got a stick on (or just his body) and the Penguins were back out in front.

Bridgeport wasn’t able to find the equalizer.

Three Stars: 3) Trevor Cosgrove (goal) 2) Robin Salo (two assists) 1) Jonathan Gruden (goal)

The Good: Found a way to win.

The Bad: Almost found a way to lose, too.

Turning Point: Massive goal by Jonathan Gruden gets it here.

Around the Division: Utica beats a slumping Springfield team 6-3….Lehigh Valley beats Hershey in a shootout 4-3….Hartford beats Providence 3-2 in overtime and Charlotte beats Rochester 5-2 in an outdoor game at the home of the AAA Charlotte Knights.

Standings: Hershey 59 – Providence 45 – Penguins 45 – Hartford 43 – Springfield 41 – Charlotte 40 – Lehigh Valley 38 – Bridgeport 24

Wheeling Update: Nailers had a 7-2 lead at one point in the third period but their opponent, the Indy Fuel, some back for six unanswered and win 8-7. These types of loses crush hockey teams.

Video Highlights: Check the AHL VideoCenter for these.

They will remain in Bridgeport Sunday, then make their way to Springfield for the MLK Day 3 p.m. start on Monday. Talk to you then.

Let’s Go Pens!