Chirps from Center Ice

          vs.          

5                               2

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The guy that sits one row ahead of me who has been there since Day 1 summed it up best.

They brought a regular season effort to a playoff hockey game.

Lehigh Valley wins Game 1 5-2 off two goals from rookie Alex Bump, and the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins will be playing for their playoff lives Friday at 7:05 in Allentown. They must win Game 2 to advance to a Game 3 (Sunday in Wilkes-Barre) if they want their season, one where they won 40 games, to continue.

There is no margin for error in a three game series.

In contrast, Providence outshot Springfield 40-15 and lost 2-1 to Springfield on Wednesday and their season is on the brink. They ran into Colton Ellis who stole the show for the six seeded Thunderbirds when Springfield got two past AHL Goaltender of the Year Michael DiPietro in the first period.

Locally, the Penguins fourth ranked power play could not crack a Lehigh Valley penalty kill that finished 18th overall in the second period with 90 seconds of carryover power play time to start the period already down 1-0, a full two minute five on three power play and then an immediate full two minute power play right after when Jett Luchanko, one of the players put in the penalty box two minutes prior, played the puck while still in the penalty box.

The Phantoms kill off all what is essentially five and a half minutes of penalty kill, and then Bump scores his first goal that makes it 2-0. Rodrigo Ābols answers about five minutes later and scores on a rebound to make it 3-0.

The Penguins may have a goaltending problem as starter Joel Blomqvist was not on the bench to start the third period. Instead, Taylor Gauthier went in as the backup.

He didn’t fare any better.

With Nate Clurman boxed for a high sticking penalty at 5:51, Bump connects for his second of the night on a power play at 8:17 to make it 4-0.

And then when it rains, it pours because Filip Kral whiffs on a clear and the puck never leaves the zone. Luchanko is there to set up a streaking Anthony Richard and the rout at that point was on.

Avery Hayes scores with under five to play to bust up the Parker Gahagen shutout and then later sets up Gabe Klassen with under a minute to play to at least make it a semi-respectable but still not very good 5-2 score and that’s your ballgame.

Let’s go through the goals.

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Olle Lycksell digs one out of the pads of Blomqvist to get the Phantoms on the board in the first period. Lehigh Valley had speed and jump, and the Penguins looked like they just woke up from a pre-game nap and were not able to match the intensity.

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Never any good when the kid scores, I realize he’s going to be a problem this series and next year, and I already have my headline.

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Lineup: Never any good when I work these in reverse.

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Three Stars: 3) Emil Andrae (two assists) 2) Olle Lycksell (goal, assist) 1) Alex Bump (two goals)

The Good: I am hoping that the little bit of life they showed in garbage time gives them hope.

The Bad: Vasily Ponomarev and Sam Poulin. did not record a shot. The power play, which has been seemingly automatic, went 0/4 at a critical juncture of the game and series.

Turning Point: You are at the pinnacle of the mountain point and can get to the top if you just go another 100 feet. Instead, you turn around and go back down the mountain. That’s how I felt when I saw the seconds tick away from the five on three the Penguins had where they were unable to score. You may be looking at the turning point of the series if not the season, right there.

Postgame Highlights for the Brave and Curious:

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So that’s it. They will practice Thursday, look to regroup and bus down for a 7:05 start in Allentown Friday with their lives on the line. Are they really going to make me come to a series deciding game on Sunday at 6:05?

I sure hope so.

Let’s Go Pens!