They looked done and dusted Friday. The Rocket were up 3-1 and the shots were a crazy 27-6 in favor of the Laval Rocket.
But then the Penguins, who already scored a power play goal, scored another.
And then another to tie it.
Then a goal by a guy here on a professional tryout gives them the lead.
Then a goal after a penalty kill gives them the cushion.
Part one of the weekend test is in the clear and the Penguins pass this one with flying colors, winning 5-3.
Hershey tomorrow.
Before we start, I don’t know what’s up with the Twitter / X embeds anymore. Sometimes they work, other times they don’t. Sometimes they do and I don’t think they do and sometimes they don’t and I think they do. If they don’t, you will see the raw link. Click on it then click back. I don’t know, blame Elon!
Lineup Notes: Dan Renouf returned from injury. He replaced Justin Lee. Nikolai Knyzhov, on a PTO, sticks in the the lineup. When they make the announcement that Renouf is going to be named captain, they should also announce an AHL. contract for Knyzhov.
Forward wise, Puustinen, Ponomarev and Poulin were in for Boko Imama, Raivis Ansons and Jagger Joshua in some form or fashion.
First Period: Laval is fast. This was evidenced by the 16-5 shot advantage after twenty minutes and the 2-1 score that the Rocket had after the period.
Rocket opened the scoring on a transition by Josh Jacobs.
But the Penguins had a power play and looked really bad with it for the first half but then Ville Koivunen had a hard shot that spilled to Sam Poulin who backhanded it past Hughes to tie the game.
Thinking that the Penguins would get out of the period relatively clean, but no. Blomqvist and the aforementioned Knyzhov get their lines crossed and Penguins killer Alex Barre-Boulet scores to give the Rocket a 2-1 lead heading into intermission.
Second Period: The Rocket would score a power play goal of their own when Jared Davidson would score a power play goal that would double the Laval lead.
The shots were a boffo 27-6 in favor of the Rocket with about six minutes left in the second period but then William Trudeau takes his second penalty of the game and then Boris Katchouk scored to bring the Penguins within one.
Sign this man to an AHL standard players contract immediately.
Then the Penguins found themselves in penalty trouble when the Rocket had :27 of two man advantage. Not only did the Penguins kill it all easily, but Joona Koppanen was in the box was freed and connected to make it 5-3 Wilkes-Barre.
I mean, just when you thunk the team couldn’t impress you more, they do this.
Quite the turn of events for the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins, who, after I mentioned were being outshot 27-6, scored four unanswered goals and outshot the visitors 14-5. How the tables have turned!
Laval didn’t even bother to pull Connor Hughes for the extra attacker, and I don’t think I have ever seen that before at this level.
Three Stars: 3) Jonathan Gruden (fight) 2) Sam Poulin (goal, assist) 1) Ville Koivunen (goal, assist)
The Good: I like the tenacity of this team. Laval is really good team and quick. But when you see these teams they tend to be one dimensional. They will hit you until you hit back. The Penguins finally hit back and then Laval packed it in and it was only a matter of time.
The Bad: Were the Penguins playing rope a dope? There are better teams in the AHL than the Rocket. I think one of them they play Saturday. We will see.
Turning Point: The Knyzhov goal that put them ahead gets it here.
Standings: Hershey 32 – Penguins 21 – Charlotte 21 – Lehigh Valley 20 – Hartford 19 – Providence 18 – Springfield 17 – Bridgeport 13
Wheeling Update: The Nailers were in action earlier in the day and beat the Cincinnati Cyclones 5-1. Luke Richardson had the net for the Nailers, stopped 19. Jordan Martel had three assists. Gabe Klassen had a pair of goals.
Video Highlights:
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Hershey Saturday and that should be huge. More then.
WBS News
Chirps from Center Ice 