Chirps from Center Ice

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Really had to commit to the bit Saturday.

That’s because for one night, the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins didn’t exist. Instead, they were the Pittston Tomatoes. So bear with me here.

The Tomatoes gritted out a 6-3 win over the visiting Laval Rocket Saturday and with the win, it marked head coach J.D. Forrest’s 100th in the AHL.

After doing everything right the night before in Rochester but running into a hot goaltender that ate everything they threw at them, the Tomatoes were able to crack Kasimir Kaskisuo, who coming into Saturday’s game against Pittston, was undefeated this season.

It will inch them closer to idle Providence and keep them ahead of fourth place Hartford for now.

Here’s how they lined up:

Lineup Notes: None. Same personnel and 11 forward / 7 defenseman setup from Friday.

First Period: Jan Mysak scored his first of the night win a deflection that put the Rocket up 1-0.

Pittston had the only power play of the period but looked good but were not able to score.

Second Period: Three goals in 94 seconds for the Tomatoes.

Max Cajkovic :26 in, followed by a low angle shot by Jagger Joshua at 1:15 and then called off by a goal from Justin Addamo at 2:00 and the Tomatoes were off to the races.

But the Rocket remained resilient and Mysak scored his second of the night when Joel Blomqvist got ran into by his own teammate.

Seemed like a thrill a minute pace in this period.

Third Period: Tomatoes would cash on the back end of a two man advantage when Jack Rathbone would find some daylight the top of the crease and rifle home a goal on the power play that reestablished Pittston’s two goal lead.

Laval made it interesting late when Xavier Simoneau scored to make it a one goal game again on this goal right here…

Which was a power play goal for the Rocket with Ty Smith in the penalty box for interference.

Pittston would net two empty net goals from Alex Nylander and Corey Andonovski to sauce the game away.

There was a very ridiculous save by Joel Blomqvist on Nathan Legare which are in the full highlight package you have to see to believe.

Three Stars: 3) Jagger Joshua (goal, assist) 2) Austin Rueschhoff (two assists) 1) Jack Rathbone (goal, assist)

The Good: Seemed like they gritted this one a bit, but the issue never seemed in doubt.

The Bad: They gritted this one out and it could have got away from them.

It didn’t though.

Turning Point: Jack Rathbone’s power play goal gets it here. Big goal at the time.

Around the Division: Springfield beats Charlotte 2-1 in overtime….Hershey does the same to Toronto only 3-2….Hartford also, but 2-1 over Bridgeport in overtime and Syracuse beat Lehigh Valley clean 2-1.

Standings: Hershey 78 – Providence – 63 – Tomatoes 59 – Hartford 55 – Charlotte 51 – Springfield 51 – Lehigh Valley 47 – Bridgeport 35

Wheeling Update: Nailers are still out in Utah and are playing their second of three with the Grizzlies. That box is here.

Video Highlights: 

Back at it Wednesday against the Phantoms when the Tomatoes morph back into the Penguins.

Let’s Go Tomatoes!