Better stop dreaming of the quiet life ‘Cause it’s the one we’ll never know And quit running for the runaway bus ‘Cause those rosy days are few And stop apologising For the things you’ve never done ‘Cause time is short And life is cruel But it’s up to us to change This town called Malice
— The Jam
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Six games left, three game losing streak, window for first place in the division closing rapidly, the second seed and the bye getting away from you and your top prospect injured Tuesday in the NHL and done for the rest of the year.
April in Wilkes-Barre? A Town Called Malice you say?
Groundhog Day. Real ones know.
The Setup
Oh boy. A home game with Hershey Friday and another one with Springfield Saturday then a road trip to Bridgeport Sunday to complete the final three in three of the season.
The Penguins were swept in Cleveland an aggregate 10-1. The offense dried up despite getting Emil Bemstrom back from Pittsburgh, but the penalty kill was 3/11 while the power play was 1/6. Special teams can kill you most nights, and in Cleveland it did.
Hershey got right, because of course they did, after being swept by Utica a fortnight ago and beat Lehigh Valley and swept Hartford, essentially killing the Wolf Pack’s playoff chances.
Springfield qualified for the Calder Cup Playoffs despite losing 4-2 to Rochester, 5-2 to Utica and shutting out Lehigh Valley 1-0 in overtime.
Bridgeport has only won four times at home and will have an all time bad season. They have been out of it for months.
Records
The Penguins are 37-21-7-1 and on 82 points in fourth in the Atlantic.
Hershey is 42-18-6-1, on 91 points and lead the Atlantic.
Springfield is 34-28-2-4 and on 74 points in fifth.
Bridgeport is 15-46-4-3, on 37 points and last in the league.
Check Your Surroundings
Charlotte, in second with 86 points, have played one more game then the Penguins, host Utica Saturday and Sunday.
Providence, in third with 82 points have two more games then the Penguins, is in Hartford Friday and host Belleville Saturday. They will be in Wilkes-Barre this coming Wednesday.
ATO Season
Coal Street added a trio of players on Monday, defenseman David Breazeale and forwards Aaron Huglen and Zach Urdahl. Only Breazeale out of the press release from Coal Street joins the team immediately on the Amateur Tryout Agreement.
Who’s Up? Who’s Down? Who’s Out?
Matt Nieto went up Tuesday, Kyle Jackson went to Wheeling Sunday, Joona Koppanen, Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen are in Pittsburgh.
In the wake of that news, Pittsburgh recalled Emil Bemstrom, Vasily Ponomarev and Valtteri Puustinen. I ma assuming these recalls are for the remainder of Pittsburgh’s season, which incudes Friday at New Jersey, Sunday at home vs. Boston and Thursday at home in the finale against Washington.
Coal Street responded by recalling Gabe Klassen Wednesday, Mathieu De St. Phalle and Logan Pietila on Thursday.
What can we learn about the Penguins this week?
I said last week that the time to make a move was last weekend. They scored one goal and were embarrassed by a team dressed up like pierogis.
Now they host their biggest rival at home with the teams going it looks like in the wrong direction. On top of that, they lack direction. Who is the leader of this team? Who can you rely on for a goal when you need one? Who can shut down the other teams best line?
You have those answers if you are a Bears fan. You know two out of three if you live in Charlotte. I blog about this god damn team and I can’t give you a straight answer.
They have to find a way. They clinched and rested on their laurels. Job isn’t done, though. They need to transition into playoff mode now if they want to creep back into a bye in the first round. They aren’t out of that by any stretch, but their current run of form isn’t promising.
It doesn’t help that they were insulated in part by injuries to the NHL club for a large stretch but now it seems half the team is in Pittsburgh for the final three meaningless games in Pittsburgh’s season while the AHL club is attempting to jockey for a first round bye for playoffs.
Who’s in Goal?
Murashov – Larsson – Murashov should be the rotation. The Bears can’t beat Sergei Murashov and they bring out the best in him. It’s a crime if anyone else other then Murashov isn’t out of the gates first at around 6:20.
Where will you be at 6:20 on Friday?
I will be in Lancaster for the weekend at the first camping trip taking in Noah at Sight and Sound Theater for a 7 p.m. showing. These things are planned months in advance. The weather isn’t going to the best, and this is the last time I am camping in April.
Who else is in goal?
Clay Stevenson for the Bears, Colten Ellis for the Thunderbirds and it doesn’t matter for the Islanders. If the Penguins can’t beat the Islanders you probably don’t have to worry about me going camping in May (Knoebel’s around Memorial Day) and missing another Penguins game because they won’t be around at that time.
Who’s Running the Show?
Chris Rumble and Mathieu Menniti are the referees Friday with Jud Ritter and J.P. Waleski on the lines.
Rumble stays in Wilkes-Barre, Mason Riley tags in for Menniti and Tyler Loftus and Chander Yakimowicz are the linesmen Saturday.
Koletrane Wilson and Rob Hennessey have the assignment Sunday in Bridgeport, Shawn Oliver and Cameron Carlson have the lines.
Looking Ahead….
They close the books on the 2024-25 AHL season with a home game Wednesday against Providence, a Friday road trip in Hershey and a Saturday home game against Cleveland.
Give us a bold prediction…
I am expecting an elephant in the Noah show, since it’s an Old Testament tale about animals on an ark. I am not going to see an elephant.
WBS News
Chirps from Center Ice 