Chirps from Center Ice

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Hershey Bears goaltender Clay Stevenson is an AHL All-Star. His nickname is, “Mud” and he leads the AHL in every category you can think of.

Add another win, a boost to the save percentage and his league leading sixth shutout to the resumé.

Penguins lose 1-0. Looking back at this game, they didn’t really threaten Stevenson much and their power play, already struggling the way it is, ran into a wall with Stevenson and the Bears #1 penalty killing unit in the AHL.

It happens. You have to find a way to win a game like this.

On to a struggling Springfield team Sunday.

Here’s how they lined up:

Lineup Notes: Radim Zohorna is back and Jonathan Gruden came out of the lineup. The word on Gruden is he’s day to day with an upper body injury. On defense, Taylor Fedun yielded for Owen Headrick. The Penguins recalled Dillon Hamaliuk earlier in the day and they also recalled Jordan Frasca, who I think I am going to start calling yo-yo, with all of the recalls he has endured these past two weeks.

First Period: No scoring. Clay Stevenson and Joel Blomqvist are AHL All-Stars for a reason, and that was on display in an overall even first period. Both teams killed the others penalties.

Second Period: Pens had the early jump in the period, lots of pressure and the like but then find themselves on the short end of a two man advantage for the Bears for 1:12 and it was elementary after that, Hershey would go ahead 1-0 on a Ethen Frank goal.

Brief review on account of a net slightly off the moorings, but that minor issue had no bearing on the play so the goal was considered good.

Wilkes-Barre continued to be the better team at even strength I thought throughout the period but it did not rear a goal.

Third Period: Penguins continued to pressure, and with under six minutes to play had to score on a power play that they were awarded but didn’t.

Later, with Blomqvist pulled for the extra attacker the Penguins iced the puck three times and never found the equalizer.

Three Stars: 3) Lucas Johansen (no goals, no assists, no shots, I…really don’t know) 2) Ethen Frank (goal) 1) Clay Stevenson (28 saves)

The Good: Argument can be made that the Penguins were the better team at even strength against the best team in the AHL.

The Bad: The last thing you want to be is on the wrong end of a two man advantage on the road in a  scoreless game against the defending Calder Cup Champion Hershey Bears.

Turning Point: Frank’s goal gets it here. Duh.

Around the Division: Toronto beats Charlotte 5-2….Rochester thumps Springfield 7-3….Hartford shuts out Bridgeport 3-0….Lehigh Valley wins in Cleveland 4-3.

Standings: Hershey 64 – Providence 49 – Penguins 45 – Hartford 45 – Charlotte 44 – Springfield 41 – Lehigh Valley 40 – Bridgeport 26

Wheeling Update: Nailers sweep the Iowa Heartlanders in Iowa, beating them Friday and beating them again Saturday 3-1. Tanner Laderoute with a pair of goals.

Video Highlights: Bears may have them later. I may see if I can work an edit in but if not, check the AHL VideoCenter.

Back at it Sunday afternoon for the matinee against the Springfield Thunderbirds.

Let’s Go Pens!