Chirps from Center Ice

         @        

1                            3

–

27 saves for Phantoms net minder Alexei Kolosov on Friday stymies the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins and tighten things up in the Atlantic Division after a 3-1 Lehigh Valley win.

The Penguins are so close to being at the top of the Atlantic Division and so close to being the road team in the First Round of the Calder Cup Playoffs. A little consistency would be nice.

Anyway.

Here’s how they lined up:

–

Lineup Notes: Colton Poolman replaced Scooter Brickey on defense.

ATO Szn: Penguins signed Chase Pietila to an ATO. Pittsburgh signed him to an entry level on Sunday. He’s with the team in Wilkes-Barre. Avery Hayes signed an entry level deal with Pittsburgh Thursday. Easy guy to root for, but needs to work on his consistency, in my opinion. Coal Street also signed Zach Gallant to a two year AHL contract and assigned him to Wheeling.

First Period: Pens came out flatter than soda leftover from their victory party over Hershey this past Wednesday and Garrett Wilson scored a goal just 1:10 in.

–

Seemed like a blah period where they couldn’t get anything going. A power play late didn’t get them a goal.

Second Period: Sam Poulin’s dogged forecheck on Alexis Gendron while the Penguins were shorthanded, Poulin found a streaking Rutger McGroarty for a goal that tied the game at one.

–

But the Penguins shorthanded magic would come to an end on a separate power play where when Ethan Samson scored a power play goal for the Phantoms that re-estabished the home team lead.

–

Third Period: Penguins found themselves with 1:28 of a two man advantage, called time out to draw something up but again ran into Kolosov at every good opportunity.

They sweated through a late penalty kill and later with Larsson pulled, Zayde Wisdom scored with about a second left to score an empty net goal.

Three Stars: 3) Zayde Wisdom (gaol, assist) 2) Alexei Kolosov (27 saves) 1) Garrett Wilson (goal)

The Good: Really can’t think of anything, especially after the display of fortitude they showed against Herhsey on Wednesday.

The Bad: Seemed like the Phantoms dictated play the whole night and the off chances where they didn’t the Penguins ran into Kolosov making save after save.

Turning Point: Glaringly obvious here. Failing to score on nearly 90 seconds of a two man advantage will sink you on most nights.

Around the Division: Hartford is out in Rockford, Illinois Friday. That box is here…..Rochester beats Providence in a shootout 4-3…Belleville beats up Bridgeport 6-1….barnburner in Syracuse where the Crunch win 9-4 over the Springfield Thunderbirds.

Standings: Hershey 76 – Penguins 72 – Providence 71 – Charlotte 70 – Springfield 66 – Lehigh Valley 65 – Hartford 55 (for now) – Bridgeport 33

Wheeling Update: Nailers win 3-1 at home against Fort Wayne. Taylor Gauthier with 33 saves.

Video Highlights: Off to the AHL VideoCenter you go!

Enjoy the Saturday off and we will talk again Sunday after the rematch between these two teams Sunday afternoon.

Let’s Go Pens!