Chirps from Center Ice

          @        

2                           4

–

With the thoughts of a bye a distant memory, the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins dressed a younger lineup in game 71 of 72 in Hershey and were valiant, but were defeated 4-2 Friday in Hershey.

It is looking more and more like the Penguins and Lehigh Valley Phantoms will be meeting in a rematch of the First Round Series from last season. More on that Saturday night, I would suppose.

On Friday though, here’s how they lined up…

–

Lineup Notes: Hart on radio stated that there were guys banged up, but they are all banged up and it’s a likely excuse to get the kids in. Hollowell, Pickering and St. Ivany are “day to day” with upper body injuries and so is Emil Bemstrom. Only Filip Kral, who was reassigned from Pittsburgh earlier in the day, was in Friday.

On the ice and in contrast to Wednesday, Brent Johnson and David Breazeale made their WBS debuts. Johnson up front with Jack Beck were in for Sam Poulin and Emil Bemstrom. Filip Kral for Owen Pickering on defense.

First Period: The Penguins were getting run out of the building and before they even registered a shot on goal they were down 1-0 on an Ivan Miroshnichenko goal on a rebound.

–

Hunter Shepard wasn’t seeing a lot of rubber, so you figured that a weird shot could beat him and wouldn’t you know it, it was a Zach Gallant low angle shot that beat Shepard and tied the game at one.

–

As heavily tilted the ice was in favor of the Bears (shots 12-3) the game was tied heading into the…

Second Period: Teams traded power plays but were not able to score, but Hendrix Lapierre scored his 11th point in seven contests against the Penguins when he scored after Wilkes-Barre was unable to get a clear.

–

Third Period: Both teams traded early power plays but didn’t score, then at even strength it was Bodgan Trineyev getting a goal that made it 3-1 Bears.

–

But the Penguins turned it on in the last seven or so minutes to play and Jack Beck, playing his third game in as many nights, scored his first AHL goal to bring the Penguins to within one.

–

Penguins fought like hell with Blomqvist pulled to get the next goal, but the Bears finally pushed the puck out of their zone after a few icing calls and Matt Strome put enough english on the puck and it rolled safely into the empty net.

The Hershey Bears are your Atlantic Division Champions.

Three Stars: 3) Ivan Miroshnichenko (goal) 2) Bogdan Trineyev (goal) 1) Hendrix Lapierre (goal, assist)

The Good: Kids played decent, but were outgunned. With 11 players missing, they played the Bears close.

The Bad: Next Wednesday can’t come soon enough.

Turning Point: The Strome goal gets it here, which is weird to say on an empty net goal, but the Penguins were pressing. Who knows.

Around the Division: Lehigh Valley wins 7-3 over Cleveland … Hartford beats Bridgeport 4-1 … Charlotte wins 4-2 over Springfield.

Standings: Hershey 96 – Charlotte 92 – Providence 88 – Penguins 86 – Lehigh Valley 78 – Springfield 74 – Hartford 69 – Bridgeport 37

Wheeling Update: Nailers are off until next Wednesday when they host Norfolk in Game 3.

Video Highlights: I am not going to search for them.

Back at it Saturday for the regular season home finale against Cleveland.

Let’s Go Pens!