Chirps from Center Ice

@

4                                  5

–

The Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins took a 4-1 deficit and manufactured a point out of a Hartford Wolf Pack team that has five games in hand on them. Hartford wins 5-4 in overtime.

It’s technically a three game losing streak, their longest of the season, but they gritted a point out of a game where at time it looked like hope was lost.

I think it shows the tenacity of the team to pick themselves up and get themselves something positive.

I don’t want to call Saturday in Allentown must win, but you want to head into the All-Star Break with a win.

Here’s how they lined up… Hartford didn’t post lines.

Lineup Notes: Xavier Ouellet for Jack St. Ivany was the only line up change.

First Period: It didn’t take them long to score the last time these two teams met, and it didn’t take them long to score on Friday.

That’s Joona Koppanen scooping up a blocked Xavier Ouellet shot and scoring it to give Wilkes-Barre an early 1-0 lead.

But then bodies started to pile up in front of Magnus Hellberg and Adam Sykora tipped in a shot past Hellberg to tie the score.

Vinnie Hinostrioza split two defensemen and had a good look, Valtteri Puustinen hit a post. The Penguins were the better team I thought.

Second Period: Penguins take back to back icings and Alex Belzile scores on a play similar to Joona Koppanen from the first period; initial shot blocked to Belzile who scores to give the Wolf Pack a 2-1 lead.

Then Hartford scores again when Matthew Robertson finished a four on two with guys in black standing around.

And then Brennan Othmann scored :07 into a Hartford power play to make it 4-1.

I know that half the team is standing around and sleepwalking through the game, but it’s two shots over the glove now. The Penguins are not getting reliable goaltending from their backup of late.

Peter Abbandonato scored to cut the lead back to two and there was a little bit of a push.

Third Period: That Abbandonato goal was foreshadowing, because they got two gritty goals and outshot the home team 18-7.

Vinnie Hinostroza on a deflection of a Jack Rathbone shot. One thing I will say about Rathbone was that it looked like he was shot out of a cannon all game and was everywhere.

Penguins didn’t have a power play goal in this game but I liked the setups on the two that they had in the game, here in the third period. On one of them Domingue robbed Radim Zohorna point blank.

With Hellberg pulled, the Penguins did find an equalizer when Vinnie Hinostroza scored his second of the game that tied the game at four.

Overtime: 

That’s Brett Berard scoring a goal that wins the game for the home team. He essentially takes on the entire team and wires a shot past Hellberg to win it.

Nothing you could do there. Guy was shot out of a cannon. Great shot. Take the point and move on.

Three Stars: 3) Alex Belzile (goal, assist) 2) Vinnie Hinostroza (two goals) 1) Brett Berard (game winning goal)

The Good: Good point to put in tour pocket and get out of there with.

The Bad: Power play went 3 for 39 in January and was 0 for 2 Friday. They got a goal that got them to overtime, but there’s a 2-1 loss on the horizon where they get two third power plays and don’t score.

Turning Point: The Berard game winner gets it here as any game winning overtime winner would.

Around the Division: Springfield’s woes continue, losing 5-1 to the Bridgeport Islanders….Providence beats Charlotte 4-2….Lehigh Valley beats Hershey 4-1.

Standings: Hershey 72 – Providence 59 – Penguins 52 – Hartford 51 – Charlotte 46 – Springfield 45 – Lehigh Valley 43 – Bridgeport 31

Wheeling Update: Nailers race out to a 4-0 lead and hang on to win 4-3. Taylor Gauthier picks up another win, barely.

Video Highlights: AHL VideoCenter I think is your best bet.

Back at it Saturday in Allentown against the Phantoms.

Let’s Go Pens!