Chirps from Center Ice

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Filip Larsson was under siege in the second period of this one.

Getting outshot 15-7 in the period and watching his counterpart make saves he wasn’t supposed to be making, Larsson keeps the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins in contention and his team in front of him explodes for three goals in the third and the Penguins have points in theie seventh straight as they take down the Toronto Marlies 6-3 Wednesday night in Toronto, Ontario.

You aren’t having the best period and your goaltender keeps you in it and puts you in a position to win. That’s all you can ask for.

Alright, enough yapping. It’s Wednesday and I have work in the morning.

Here’s low they lined up:

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Lineup Notes: So the lineup graphic above is incorrect. Scooter Brickey took warmups and replaced Sebastian Aho on defense. Joona Koppanen replaced Boko Imama up front. Nikolai Knyzhov is on the trip and is considered day to day and Trisan Broz is still listed as ill. No other upgrades to the injured guys.

Hey now, you’re an All-Star: I was buried at my big boy job so missed the Wednesday afternoon announcement, but it’s Emil Bemstrom which will be the (so far) lone representative heading out to Palm Springs, California for the All-Star Classic in a few weeks.

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In case you were wondering about the rest of the players named, head here.

First Period: Oh yeah, the hockey game! They were off to a blazing start.

Ville Koivunen would score the first of his two goals in the period on the Penguins first shot of the game at 1:48 to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead.

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But then the Marlies would get even on the Penguins fairly quickly when Alex Nylander setup Nikita Grebenkin with this play here.

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It was one of those, “oh boy” plays where it’s set up so nice for the opposition and you are left hoping for the best (a save, block, etc.) and expecting the worst (a goal)

In this case, it was the worst.

Then Toronto would score again when Jacob Quillan would deflect a Mikko Kokkonen shot that would edge the Marlies ahead 2-1.

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Ville Koivunen would strike again with this shot that Nick Hart called the nicest goal that Koivunen has scored this season.

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Wilkes-Barre would strike with seconds remaining on a power play when ex-Marlie Filip Kral would score a power play goal with Rutger McGroarty setting a screen in front that would give the Penguins a 3-2 lead.

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A late development, Artur Akhtyamov would leave the game due to an apparent lower left leg injury. Enter ex-Penguin Matt Murray who you will recall, shut the Penguins out a few weeks ago in Wilkes-Barre.

Second Period: Well they didn’t score five goals in the period. The Penguins penalty kill went to work but Toronto would even the score at even strength when Fraser Minten would score at the 15 minute mark to tie the game at 3.

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I didn’t like the response by the Penguins in the period, being outshot 17-5. Matt Murray was making saves he really shouldn’t have made, stopping Sam Poulin on one and Emil Bemstrom on the other and they were taking way too many post whistle penalties.

Third Period: They had to kill a questionable Boris Katchouk hooking call, I don’t know what referees Stephen Huff and Kurtis Pare were looking at all night, but the Penguins got out of that okay and then Filip Kral scored his second of the game on the power play that gave the Penguins a 4-3 lead.

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Then, a little over a minute later the Penguins would circle the net of Matt Murray like sharks and Emil Bemstrom scored to make it 5-3 and give the Penguins some breathing room.

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Ville Koivunen into the empty net late and he has his hat trick.

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A little better period for the Penguins for obvious reasons, won a period and won a game.

Three Stars: 3) Emil Bemstrom (goal, assist) 2) Filip Kral (two goals) 1) Ville Koivunen (three goals, assist)

The Good: 5/5 on the kill, 2/4 on the power play and a hell of a goaltender which kept them in it. When you get special teams and the goaltender on the same wavelength, you get games and results like this.

The Bad: I didn’t like that second period at all against a Toronto team who are slumping and on a three game losing streak.

Turning Point: The Bemstrom goal that gave them a two goal lead gets it here because you had a sense the way it was going that Toronto was going to counterpunch again. It didn’t happen.

Around the Division: They all watched us.

Standings: Hershey 45 – Penguins 41 – Charlotte 41 – Providence 38 – Lehigh Valley 37 – Hartford 33 – Springfield 29 – Bridgeport 18

Wheeling Update: Wheeling left the Central Division in the ECHL but it seems like they are an honorary member this season. The Nailers lose 2-1 in overtime out in Indiana as the Indy Fuel win 2-1. Mats Lindgren, sent down earlier this week by Wilkes-Barre, had the lone goal for the Nailers in the loss.

Video Highlights: I don’t think Coal Street will post them and tweet them since it’s a midweek road game. Don’t forget about the AHL’s VideoCenter you can check out which updates pretty consistently.

They are bussing to Belleville tonight per Nick Hart on radio which I guess makes sense. Talk to you Friday.

Let’s Go Pens!