Chirps from Center Ice

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A 31 save shutout for Filip Larsson, his fifth that ties him with Devon Levi of Rochester and Ken Appleby of Charlotte for the AHL lead, and the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins snap their three game losing streak with a 2-0 win in Syracuse.

I think it is a bit of a “get right” game because Syracuse pressured Larsson and the Penguins in the second half of the game and Larsson’s counterpart Brandon Halverson was equally as excellent in net, stopping the Penguins, Ville Koivunen especially at every opportunity.

We will see how this transfers down I-81 to Hershey Saturday night.

Here’s how they lined up:

https://twitter.com/SyracuseCrunch/status/1895621253266104439

https://twitter.com/WBSPenguins/status/1895618233870487643

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Lineup Notes: They retuned to the standard 12/6 format and Matty De St. Phalle, Matt Nieto (waived from Pittsburgh) and Atley Calvert were in up front. Colton Poolman on defense was out.

Injury and Other Transactions: Gabe Klassen was recalled from Wheeling Thursday but didn’t dress. Joona Kopppanen, Sam Poulin and Jonathan Gruden are all day to day.

First Period: First shot of the game resulted in a goal from Valtteri Puustinen who maximized his first line minutes. This gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead.

https://twitter.com/WBSPenguins/status/1895628891882168661

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Brandon Halverson stopped a sure Ville Koivunen goal with about five minutes left to play in the period.

Second Period: No goals in the period and the Penguins had two power plays. I think the rest of the League has a book on the Penguins power play, just clog up the middle. There was one power play where the Penguins had the power play in the Syracuse zone the entire two minutes but they did a good passing exhibition but every attempted shot was met with a block or more dazzling goaltending display by Brandon Halverson.

The Pens held the Crunch to a low shot count and despite the lead and the low shot totals it was a feisty period where Scooter Brickey and Dylan Duke fought and that was followed 10 seconds later with Declan Carlile and March Johnstone doing the same.

https://twitter.com/SyracuseCrunch/status/1895651726298136711

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Third Period: Syracuse had the Penguins hemmed in their own zone for a good two minutes plus, Wilkes-Baer could not get a clear after multiple icings but they finally get one and then Rutger McGroarty sets up Atley Calvert for his first AHL goal.

https://twitter.com/WBSPenguins/status/1895665747311149450

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With Halverson pulled, the Crunch could not break Larsson.

Three Stars: 3) Declan Carlile (5 PIMs) 2) Brandon Halverson (35 saves) 1) Filip Larsson (31 saves)

The Good: Felt like a get right game on a lot of levels like I said at the top. Syracuse is a good team that plays in a great division.

The Bad: 0/3 on the power play. It was a close game that could have shaken that aura with a couple power play goals for.

Turning Point: Calvert’s first AHL goal gets it here as it served as the insurance that the Penguins so desperately needed.

Around the Division: Cleveland beats Charlotte in a shootout 2-1, Hartford beat Springfield 4-3, Lehigh Valley beats Bridgeport 5-2.

Standings: Hershey 67 – Penguins and Providence 65 – Charlotte 62 – Lehigh Valley 61 – Springfield 58 – Hartford 50 – Bridgeport 30

Wheeling Update: Nailers beat the Adirondack Thunder up the road from where the Penguins were playing 3-1. Sergei Murashov stops 25.

Video Highlights: To the AHL VideoCenter you go!

Back at it Saturday in Hershey where the Penguins can tie the Bears for tops in the division.

Let’s Go Pens!