Chirps from Center Ice

         vs.        

3                              5

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They looked lost for two periods, completely on an island (no pun intended) and in a 2-0 hole to start the third period.

Then the magic happened.

A five goal third period aided by defenseman Phil Kemp lifts the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins to a 5-3 win over the Bridgeport Islanders Friday night.

Kemp had a pair of goals and an assist in the win.

Here’s how they lined up with Bridgeport not posting a lineup graphic.

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Lineup Notes: There were none. They went with the same pairings and lines from Wednesday in Bridgeport. Of note, Daniel Laatsch joined Avery Hayes and Taylor Gauthier on the injured list.

First Period: They didn’t start on time.

Normally when you start your fourth line it provides a spark that sets the tone for the rest of the game.

The opposite happened. A penalty in the first minute of the game.

Cam Berg sweeps in a puck in the crease with Maxim Pavlenko facing the opposite direction and the Islanders were off to a 1-0 lead.

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Pathetic first period of hockey. They were disjointed and not crisp at all.

Second Period: It started to click a bit with some early pressure but an Alex Jeffries shot is blocked but caroms right back to him for a 2-0 Islanders lead.

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This was after the Penguins had back to back power play tries in an attempt to shift momentum to their side.

Third Period: Comeback on.

A Phil Kemp put on Parker Gahagen is stopped by the Islander goaltender but right to Tristan Broz who cleans up the mess and puts the Penguins on the board.

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Sebastian Aho scores his first goal as a Penguin through a screen I thought and ties the game at two.

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Head Coach Rocky Thompson calls time out to trying to and settle his troops. It worked, in part, because Andrej Šustr puts a pass on a zipline to Adam Beckman for a goal that re-establishes Bridgeport’s lead.

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I didn’t think Owen Pickering had his best game. He wasn’t on the ice there for the Beckman goal but I didn’t like his game at all Friday.

Aiden McDonough to the rescue ties the game.

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Then Phil Kemp got into the party with a goal here that puts the Penguins in front.

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Bridgeport pulls Gahagen in an attempt to tie the game back up, it didn’t work.

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Wow.

They looked like ass for forty minutes, seemingly flip a switch and explode for five goals.

Living on the edge, but you take them anyway you can get them.

Three Stars: 3) Sebastian Aho (goal, assist) 2) Tristan Broz (goal, assist) 1) Phil Kemp (two goals, assist)

The Good: To reiterate, they looked lost to start the game, explode for five like nothing in the third and win the game.

The Bad: How do you come back from this if you are Bridgeport? What a way to lose.

Turning Point: The McDonough goal to tie it up gets it here. It seems weird, but there’s no coming back from that if you are the Islanders because the Penguins kept picking themselves off the mat.

Around the Division: Charlotte ekes by Iowa in Des Moines 4-3…Hartford loses in OT to Rochester 4-3…Hershey takes out North Division leading Syracuse 2-1 and Lehigh Valley pounds Springfield 7-3. Providence was off.

Standings: Penguins 23 – Providence 22 – Lehigh Valley 19 – Herhsey and Charlotte 15 – Bridgeport 12 – Hartford 10 – Springfield 6

Wheeling Update: Good night for the Nailers who pound the Maine Mariners 5-1. Mike Posma had a pair of goals and an assist.

Video Highlights: 

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More tomorrow after Springfield is in for a 6 p.m. start.

Let’s Go Pens!