The Penguins have three games this week and then they and the rest of the league pause for the All-Star festivities in Coachella Valley, California.
Music to Set the Mood…
–
Which leads in to the…
A Quote…
This music is timeless. It transcends generations. My parents listened to it, I listen to it, my teenage sons listen to it. – Commenter on the above video.
There’s a reason they call it classic rock. This is classic rock. Timeless.
The Setup
Home game with the Hershey Bears on Wednesday then they are off to Charlotte, North Carolina for a pair with the Charlotte Checkers Friday and Saturday.
Very important games for the Penguins this week.
The Penguins lost in Utica on Friday and then won at home against the Comets on Saturday and then beat the brakes off of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Sunday to complete their three in three weekend. Emil Bemstrom, who is headed to Coachella Valley to participate in All-Star festivities, had a had trick and an assist on Sunday.
Hershey had their Canada trip and lost in overtime Wednesday in Laval, Friday in Belleville and then beat the Senators on Saturday.
Charlotte gets to have all the fun, taking on the Western Conference’s Iowa Wild and Milwaukee Admirals. They were in Iowa last Wednesday and shutout the Wild 4-0 then spent a weekend in Milwaukee and lost Friday and won Saturday in overtime. They returned to Des Moines, Iowa on Tuesday and won 4-2.
Records
Penguins are 22-10-4, good for 46 points and fourth in the Atlantic.
Hershey is 26-11-5, good for 57 points and they lead the Atlantic.
Charlotte is 23-12-3-2, good for 51 points and tied for second in the Atlantic.
Who’s Up? Who’s Down? Who’s Out?
Atley Calvert was recalled from Wheeling Monday, which didn’t make any sense to me. Jesse Puljujarvi went up to Pittsburgh because Evgeni Malkin went on IR. I don’t think they need any forwards, but who knows.
I think it bears repeating, pardon the pun, but it’s a very important week for the Penguins.
They have a ton of head to heads left with the Bears and a boatload of games in hand. If they just win these, they would be in swell shape. Of course, if they just win those, the rest takes care of itself.
Charlotte is a pain in the ass because they are good but painstakingly inconsistent.
When I mention being able to beat Hershey with the rest being able to take care if itself, this is what I mean. Beat Hershey and you shouldn’t have to worry about beating Charlotte.
But that’s never how it works, does it?
I think they are in a great place based off what we saw Sunday. They were nursing a two goal lead and they got a power play goal, three of them actually, to turn a nail biter into a laugher.
Who’s in Goal?
I think they go to Sergei Murashov Wednesday then split the starts with Tristan Jarry going Friday and then Murashov on Saturday.
I’ll take a stab and say Clay Stevenson for Hershey Wednesday then the same split start with Ken Appleby and Chris Driedger in some combination Friday and Saturday.
Who’s Running the Show?
Jared Cummins and Andrew Bell have the Wednesday assignment with Bill Lyons and Robert Peterkin on the lines.
Adam Tobias and Mike Sullivan have the weekend assignment in Charlotte this weekend. Ryan Jackson and Jake Rennert are the linesmen for the Friday game and Shane Gustafson and Ken Radolinski have the Saturday work on the lines.
WBS News
Chirps from Center Ice 