Chirps from Center Ice

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2                                 3

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So an interesting Saturday for the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins

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The plan is to have Jarry here for the whole two weeks allowable and to have him start every game. That’s at Bridgeport this Wednesday, Hartford at home next Saturday, then a home vs. Lehigh Valley the following Wednesday. at Lehigh Valley that Friday.

Well if Saturday’s game against the Crunch was any indicator, I think Jarry will be fine, for now.

Syracuse is a BIG team. They look like a bunch of linebackers and wide receivers. They jammed up the Penguins Friday in Syracuse and shut them out. Saturday Kirk MacDonald made the necessary adjustments and the Penguins held on to win 3-2.

Here’s how they lined up:

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Lineup Notes: Raivis Ansons in for Marc Johnstone up front was the only change from Friday.

First Period: Nothing much to report here, the teams were both 0/1 on the power play.

Second Period: Wilkes-Barre gets bang bang goals from Sam Poulin and Avery Hayes on the power play and take a 2-0 lead over the Crunch who battle back to within one when Steven Santini scores off a face-off win (a theme for the Crunch all night) on a hell of a shot then Tristan Broz scores a power play goal with .4 left in regulation to make it 3-1 Penguins heading into the third.

Here’s all the goals.

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I think these next couple weeks could be big for Poulin. That was a hell of a shot.

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This was a hell of a play. Shot / pass from the point deflected in by Hayes.

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Saying Tristan Jarry, an all-star $5M a year goaltender should have stopped that is insulting to Steven Santini, who had a hell of a shot there to score the goal. Long distance, trajectory, deflection, whatever, still a hell of a shot.

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I initially thought it wasn’t going to count but after video review, the goal stood with time remaining.

Third Period: Syracuse created chaos at the net front of Jarry and Gemel Smith chipped one past the Penguins goaltender to bring the visitors back within one.

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I mean nothing you really can do there with guys buzzing all around you.

Penguins would hold on through a Syracuse too many men call late and hang on to win.

Three Stars: 3) Emil Bemström (two assists) 2) Tristan Broz (goal, assist) 1) Tristan Jarry (32 saves)

The Good: They battled all night and found a way to stay in front due to their NHL All-Star goaltender and won. Tristan Jarry was fine Saturday. This was the exact type of game that he needed, one where he was challenged a bit, especially at the end where he made a big save to preserve the win, and his team in front of him did the rest. Build off of that and see where this goes. They also scored two power play goals, which is always a bonus.

The Bad: For the love of god, win a face-off. I think next home game provided I remember, I am going to track the face-offs.

Turning Point: I kind of had a feeling that the Broz goal at the end of the second would get it here and out turns out I was right. We just didn’t know it at the time.

Around the Division: Charlotte sweeps Bridgeport with a 5-2 win….Grand Rapids beats Lehigh Valley 5-2….Hershey scores six unanswered to beat Springfield 6-2.

Standings: Herhsey 11 – Charlotte 10 – Penguins 8 – Hartford 7 – Providence and Springfield 4 – Bridgeport and Lehigh Valley 3

Wheeling Update: Nailers won a wild one in Reading 5-4. Matty De St. Phalle, Sam Houde and Logan Pietila among the ones with goals. Sergei Musharov and Mats Lindgren were sent down to Wheeling this afternoon by Coal Street. Musharov stopped 16.

Video Highlights: 

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Back at it Wednesday in Bridgeport. Power Rankings sometime Monday and I will be here again Wednesday around lunch for the Weekend Preview.

Let’s Go Pens!