Chirps from Center Ice

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Avery Hayes’ overtime game winning goal with under :20 to play in Wednesday’s nights thriller of a hockey game propels the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins to a berth in the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs.

Okay, so getting to overtime secured the spot, but let’s just roll with the good vibes.

Penguins win in overtime 4-3, but could have and should have lost this game because Hartford was playing some good and some desperate hockey, fighting for their own playoff lives.

Quick one tonight as it’s 10:45 on a Wednesday and the real job starts at 8:30 a.m. sharp. So let’s ride…

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Lineup Notes: Hartford didn’t post lines. Laferriere for Gallant up front; Brickey and Clurman for Pietila and Renouf on defense.

First Period: Valterri Puustinen worked a give and go with Tristan Broz and Nate Clurman and scored at 11:16 to give the Pens an early 1-0 lead.

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But then Alex Belzile scored shorthanded and the Wolf Pack tied it at one.

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Avery Hayes scores his first of the night on the power play that re-establishes the 2-1 Penguin lead.

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Second Period: Extremely sloppy. Probably their worst period of recent memory where they weren’t getting scored on in every shift like last Friday against Providence. Jaroslav Chmelař scored an unassisted goal to tie it at two, then a Connor Mackey shot from the point was deflected in by Brendan Brisson for a power play goal that gave the Wolf Pack the lead heading into the third period.

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Third Period: They buttoned up the gaps big time and got a goal just :28 in from Ville Koivunen that tied it at three.

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What vision by Sebastian Aho there.

I thought refs Austin Rook and Mason Riley were a bit overdone with their calls, especially in the third. Dylan Roobroeck runs Rutger McGroarty over with a truck, fights Avery Hayes and they take Hayes, Roobroeck AND McGroarty. It also took them five minutes longer than it should have on a Wednesday night to figure it all out. Come on and move it along.

Overtime: With the point secured, the Penguins were in the playoffs. The question would be how would the vibes be?

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Pretty, pretty good.

Obligatory: 

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Three Stars: 3) Tristan Broz (two assists) 2) Ville Koivunen (goal) 1) Avery Hayes (two goals, game winner in overtime)

Sergei Murashov is now 11-0 in the AHL, breaking the record set by Matt Murray.

Around the Division: Hershey wins 4-1 in Bridgeport …. Charlotte beats Providence 5-2.

Standings: Hershey 85 – Charlotte 80 – Penguins 80 – Providence 77 – Lehigh Valley 69 – Springfield 66 – Hartford 62 – Bridgeport 35

Wheeling Update: The Nailers were off.

Video Highlights: 

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They fly to Charlotte for an extremely important series with the Checkers that starts Saturday at 4. Don’t be late.

Let’s Go to bed Pens!