Chirps from Center Ice

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The Utica Comets earned third place first win of the 2025-26 AHL season by beating the top team in the Eastern Conference in the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins 3-1 Saturday night in Utica.

It was Mike Hardman’s power play goal that stood as the game winning goal in the second period before the Penguins tried to come back via an Aidan McDonough goal.

Hard Times, indeed, daddeh.

I gave you a tease of if the Pens beat the Bruins (they didn’t but played them tight) and lost to the winless Comets Saturday in my Weekend preview. Something seems off. They wore down Bridgeport Friday and never seemed in it Saturday in Utica. They don’t have long to get things straight, the Toronto Marlies stop in Wednesday.

Here’s how they lined up:

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Lineup Notes: Valtteri Puustinen didn’t make the trip, upper body injury with no timetable but it isn’t expected to be long term. I have no idea what the hell that is supposed to mean. Joona Koppanen is away from the team at this time. On ice, Matty De St. Phalle slotted in for Puustinen and Daniel Laatsch made his AHL debut replacing Finn Harding.

First Period: Utica has light up boards, first in the AHL and I think first in North America. Once of their sponsors is the Utica Coffee Company whose mottos is, “WAKE THE HELL UP” – well, you can guess what I was yelling at my television for the first period as it was a slow start for the Penguins.

They had a meh five shots in the period and the most memorable one is this Matty De St. Phalle chance here.

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Angus Crookshank took a pass from behind the net and beat Sergei Murashov for a 1-0 Utica lead.

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Second Period: Things went from bad to worse for the Penguins when Mike Hardman scored on an early power play that made it 2-0 Utica.

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Penguins had a power play shortly thereafter. I got the sense that they just thought they could waltz into a place like Utica, where the Comets were winless coming into the day’s action, and walk away with points for everyone and an easy two points.

Sergei Murashov was dialed in, with a ten bell glove save in the lurch to keep it a 2-0 Utica lead.

Aidan McDonough scored with under a minute and a half to play to give the Penguins some jump heading into the…

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Third Period: Penguins had a power play to open the period with a prime chance to get the game level and failed. Utica played well and kept the Penguins chances limited.

Time dwindling, Penguins vacate Sergei Murashov for an extra attacker then referee David Elford nabs Aaron Huglen for high sticking old pal Jonathan Gruden. It was Gruden who put the icing on the cake and scored on the still empty net a few seconds later to seal the first win for the Comets over the Penguins.

Three Stars: 3) Mike Hardman (goal) 2) Nico Daws (25 saves) 1) Angus Crookshank (goal)

The Good: Not much to write home about. Sergei Murashov came to play, the rest of them?

The Bad: Power play still looks lost. Ville Koivunen wasn’t the straw that stirred the drink, was he?

Turning Point: Mike Hardman’s goal gets it here. Let me talk to you about textiles!

Around the Division: Game 7 of the World Series is on and there are games still going on. Here’s tonight’s scoreboard if you want to check them out for yourself. Baseball is the best, man.

Standings: Penguins will either still lead the division if Providence loses to Hershey or be tied. Here’s the standings page for you also.

Wheeling Update: Nailers are in one against the Norfolk Admirals. Box here.

Video Highlights: AHL VideoCenter.

Have a good rest of the weekend and we will talk to you Wednesday mid-morning with the Weekend Preview.

Let’s Go Pens!