Chirps from Center Ice

           vs.          

2                                 7

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I suppose you can say that when it rains it pours.

But when it doesn’t rain, man.

A seven goal eruption for the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins in an extremely testy game between the two sides and a 7-2 win over the visiting Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Saturday night. In a game where there were nine goal scored and the highlights already up, I m going to run those here now:

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Oh, and in case you are wondering about the headline. I wore the allegedly cursed Ethan Prow Christmas sweater again but mixed it up with the Penguins 5K hat that I got for running this summer in (finished third in my age group and medaled, thanks) and apparently it broke the jinx. Do I wear it again when these two teams meet next Friday?

Here’s how they lined up:

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Lineup Notes: The Penguins lineup graphic was wrong. Sam Poulin did not dress in the game. He took warmups I was told but was a late scratch for Justin Lee. The Penguins went with 11 forwards and 7 defensemen.

Otherwise, as it stated, Sebastian Aho returned from injury as did Avery Hayes. Nate Clurman returned also and Boris Katchouk was in also. Boko Imama and Jonathan Gruden up front, Mats Lindgren all were out from Wednesday.

First Period: Wilkes-Barre scores two power play goals in the period from Emil Bemström and Tristan Broz and they were off and running. Those goals should be in the highlights package above.

Second Period: Boris Katchouk scored shorthanded to make it 3-0 off a nice feed from Marc Johnstone in the neutral zone.

Then Massimo Rizzo scored on the power play for the Phantoms. Here’s where you thought that the next goal would be huge.

The Penguins get that goal when a Joona Koppanen shot rings Parker Gahagen’s goal post but drops in front of March Johnstone who sweeps it in and it’s a 4-1 lead.

Seconds later, Corey Andonovski tips in a Mac Hollowell shot and it was 5-1.

It was at this point that the game was getting out of hand for the Phantoms who then started taking post whistle liberties. These two teams don’t respect one another at all. The Penguins and Bears respect each other to some extent. Lehigh Valley and Wilkes-Barre do not, in my opinion.

But it was a good thing that the AHL assigned one of its best referees, Jim Curtain, to handle the ensuing mess.

Third Period: Brandon Furry scores his first goal of the season shorthanded. Two shorthanded goals in the game, one for each team.

But soon after, Avery Hayes scores in his return from injury and it’s 6-2.

Jim Curtain said goodbye to the following players at the following times:

– Garrett Wilson and Filip Kral at 10:36
– Hunter McDonald, Mac Hollowell and Rutger McGroarty at 11:08
– Zayde Wisdom (from the bench) at 11:17

Six players, three a side. That’s how you prevent stuff from bubbling over.

Ville Koivunen scores a power play goal to kick the extra point, and then this happens:

Yes, that’s head coach Kirk MacDonald and Ian Laperriere getting into a verbal jousting match.

Laperriere has been out of his depth at this level for years. How he keeps getting brought back year after year is beyond me. Having to go up against Todd Nelson in Hershey and now Kirk MacDonald 12 times a year has to suck for the guy, but he had his team tied in points with MacDonald’s Penguins.

Anyway, a Saturday crowd of casuals loved it.

Three Stars: 3) Boris Katchouk (goal, two assists) 2) Corey Andonovski (goal, assist) 1) Emil Bemström (goal, two assists)

The Good: Nice to see them take the yardstick out and beat the crap out of a rival.

The Bad: Out of all those penalty minutes, 132 minutes in total, no one was credited with a fighting major.

Turning Point: The Andonovski goal that put the lead back to four gets it here. Lehigh Valley was out of it and yo could see that with all the pushing and shoving.

Around the Division: Hershey has company at the top, it would seem after a 7-3 loss to the Toronto Marlies. Oh great, another in state rival is going to be surly when the Penguins drop by Sunday…Charlotte beats Bridgeport. 6-2….Springfield loses in Belleville 5-2….Hartford trips up Providence 4-2.

Standings: Hershey 39 – Charlotte 35 – Providence 33 – Penguins 31 – Hartford and Lehigh Valley 29 – Springfield 27 – Bridgeport 14

Wheeling Update: Nailers had their long winning streak stopped in Toledo Friday but start a new one Saturday after a 5-2 win over the Walleye. Sergei Murashov stopped 34. Sam Houde had a pair of goals. Matty De St. Phalle had two assists.

Video Highlights: Pay attention! I gave them to you above!

Back at it Sunday night against the Bears.

Let’s Go Pens!