Chirps from Center Ice

          vs.          

0                               4

–

Maxim Pavlenko’s AHL career is off to a good start.

First AHL start? First AHL Shutout as the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins defeat the Utica Comets 4-0 in a methodical takedown. They needed a get right game after this troubling week and last place Utica was just what the doctor ordered.

Aaron Huglen with his first points of his AHL career, Sam Poulin stayed hot and Valtteri Puustinen returned from injury, so it was a great night at the office.

Here’s how they lined up:

–

Lineup Notes: Gabe Klassen and Sccoter Brickey yielded for Puustinen and Finn Harding.

First Period: Penguins would score on their only power play opportunity of the game when Atley Calvert scored from a familiar spot that gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead.

–

Penguins made short work of two Utica power plays in the period.

Second Period: Mathieu De St. Phalle cleaned up a rebound that made it 2-0 and then a pass intended for Sam Poulin was blocked partially, but Poulin stayed on it then shot it and tripled the lead for Wilkes-Barre.

–

The dreaded 3-0 Penguins lead! Oh no!

Third Period: Had the sense that if the lead would hold, you would know in the first five minutes.

Well the five minutes came and went and they remained disciplined, taking no penalties in the period and then with time running out Jakub Málek vacated his crease and then Tristan Broz made sure everyone would get free coffee at Abide Coffee Shop with the fourth Penguin goal of the night.

–

Three Stars: 3) Aaron Huglen (two assists) 2) Sam Poulin goal, assist) 1) Maxim Pavlenko (20 save shutout)

The Good: Wish they were all this easy. Pens put on a clinic and made it easy for their third or fourth string goalie. Utica never really threatened and the shutout seemed inevitable.

The Bad: You don’t get to complain when your team gets a shutout.

Turning Point: Let’s give it to Poulin and the third goal, he stayed on the puck and by default got himself open, took the shot and it went in. Just a perfect sequence of events.

Around the Division: Providence wins in overtime out in Cleveland 3-2 and will stay a point ahead of the Penguins. All things considered the Penguins are still in pretty good shape when it comes to all the injuries and the division lead….Charlotte beats Syracuse 3-2….Bridgeport pounds Springfield 6-1….The rest of the games are still going on when I hit publish on this thing. Boxes on Toronto / Lehigh Valley here and Hartford / Belleville here. Hershey was off.

Standings: Providence is on 20 points and the Penguins are on 19. Here’s that page if you want to check out the rest of the standings after the later games go final.

Wheeling Update: Nailers are looking for the three game sweep in Greensboro, North Carolina against the Gargoyles. Box on that one here.

Video Highlights: 

–

Oh dear, the Pens play a 10:30 a.m. game Wednesday in Bridgeport. I think I am calling in sick from work that day!

Maybe not, but I should still have something for you on that game here.

Let’s Go Pens!