Brandon Halverson also played a good game in net for the Crunch, turning away all 22 shots sent his way for his second shutout in three games. He’s only allowed one goal this season.
The two teams will rematch Saturday in Wilkes-Barre.
— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) October 25, 2024
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Lineup Notes: So I said in the Weekend Preview that we didn’t think there were any injuries coming out of the Saturday game against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms…
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Add Jimmy Huntington to the list of the wounded with an upper body injury, week to week. Avery Hayes replaced him up front.
Some good news, defenseman Nate Clurman was back from his injury, replacing Mats Lindgren.
First Period: Penguins fell in an early 1-0 hole when a Boris Katchouk clearing attempt ricocheted off of a skate straight to Dylan Duke who scored at 7:55. Replay below doesn’t shot the ricochet, but this was a freak play.
The Penguins took the periods only two penalties, two cross checks, but were able to get out of them unscathed.
Rutger McGroarty had two really good looks but they were stopped by Brandon Halverson, who really wasn’t challenged much despite facing nine shots in the period.
Nick Hart noted on radio that it was the first time all season the Penguins were trailing after one period.
Second Period: Penguins had three cracks at the power play in the period but they were abject disasters. They were forechecked to death and that caused turnovers and it looked like the Crunch were the ones on the power play. No team scored.
Third Period: Best chance of the period came when Emil Bemstrom put a shot on goal, which was stopped, but then the rebound was pounced on by Justin Lee and Halverson gets over and stops that one too.
No penalties in the period. Time dwindled, Larsson vacated, and Maxim Groshev, who fought the aforementioned Lee at the end of the second period, scored an empty netter from center ice.
Three Stars: 3) Maxim Groshev (goal) 2) Dylan Duke (goal, assist) 1) Brandon Halverson (22 saves)
The Good: Rutger McGroarty looked good. But for getting beat on a fluke sequence, Filip Larsson looked good too.
The Bad: The explosive offensive juggernaut known as at the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins were no where to be located Friday, but that’s a knock on Syracuse, who put the Pens in a jar. When they leaked, Halverson was there to stymie the rest. I also didn’t like the power play, which went 0/3 on the night, all in the second period.
Turning Point: The Duke goal in the first gets it here and it’s one of those times where you don’t realize it until the game is over.
Standings: Hershey 9 – Charlotte 8 – Hartford 7 – Penguins 6 – Providence and Springfield 4 – Bridgeport and Lehigh Valley 3
Wheeling Update: Nailers were off, they are in Reading Saturday.
Video Highlights: I highly doubt regular readers of the blog will want to see these, but the Crunch will likely post these, the question is will I see them and edit them back in.
WBS News
Chirps from Center Ice 