Chirps from Center Ice

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They had it, then almost lost it but the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins hold on and win 4-3 Sunday afternoon in Allentown against the Phantoms.

They put away a game they were in control of for the most part but almost lost. Sound familiar? Just be glad they get a clean win and use a game in hand on Hershey to inch closer to the 13 time champs.

Here’s how they lined up:

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Lineup Notes: Vasily Ponomarev was suspended a game for receiving his match penalty Saturday against Hershey. Atley Calvert went in for him. Isaac Belliveau for Scooter Brickey on defense.

First Period: Joel Blomqvist was under early fire stopping the first seven shots of the game in a row by the Phantoms.

But then Avery Hayes stayed hot and scored off a nice feed from Sam Poulin.

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Then Sam Poulin bagged himself a goal picking off a pass in the slot and made it 2-0 for the Penguins.

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Second Period: Parker Gahagen was keeping the Phantoms in it, I heard Hart on radio say it could have gotten, “seriously ugly” if not for Gahagen’s efforts in net.

Tristan Broz beat him on a defection off an Avery Hayes pass that made it 3-0 Wilkes-Barre.

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Phantoms were under bombardment in the period from all four lines, but got a goal from JR Avon off a clean face-off win that made it 3-1.

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Third Period: Roles flipped. Phantoms bombed the Penguins zone with time and hit Blomqvist with shots. They would get a shorthanded goal to open the period to bring it to 3-2.

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That was Friday’s shootout hero Rodrigo Ābols getting the goal there.

Next goal was going to be huge and this time it was the Penguins that got it off of a laser from Filip Kral.

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But then the Phantoms would come closer off of a goal from Helge Grans off of another face-off play that made it 4-3 and a one goal game again.

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Blomqvist would continue to face heavy fire but the Penguins stayed strong and didn’t allow the Phantoms to score with an extra man on the ice with Gahagen pulled.

Three Stars: 3) Rodrigo Ābols (goal, assist) 2) Sam Poulin (goal, assist) 1) Filip Kral (goal, assist)

The Good: Managed to get over the hump and etch out a regualtion win and stop this mini sump there are on.

The Bad: Are they becoming complacent? Certainly looks like it.

Turning Point: Kral’s goal that makes it 4-2 gets it here.

Around the Division: Bridgeport finally beats Providence for the first time this season 4-2. Charlotte and Hartford are still in action as this goes up. Box here.

Standings: Hershey 65 – Penguins 60 – Providence 59 – Charlotte can tie the Bruins with a win over Hartford, but let’s worry about that when we have to.

Wheeling Update: Nailers lose in Greenville against the Swamp Rabbits 5-2.

Video Highlights: AHL VideoCenter is your best bet.

AHL Power Rankings may be delayed till Tuesday because there are a lot of games Sunday and a bunch Monday. Stay tuned, I guess.

Let’s Go Pens!