Chirps from Center Ice

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A team effort in Hershey on Saturday night sees the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins add another to the win column with a 4-1 result on Saturday night.

Another power play goal? You bet!

Solid play from Joel Blomqvist? Uh huh, he stopped 27 and only got beat on a seeing eye shot from the point through a mess of bodies.

Dogged determination that turned a tight game into a laugher? Yes, sir.

They are rolling here in mid-December. You want to see this continue.

Here’s how they lined up…

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Lineup Notes: Zach Gallant took warmups but was the scratch. Logan Pietila was the seventh defenseman.

First Period: Much like last the night before against the Phantoms, a period which featured few whistles.

A Brett Leason seeing eye shot through a ton of bodies beat Joel Blomqvist and gave the Bears a 1-0 lead.

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Second Period: Garin Bjorklund was making some insane saves and was getting some insane luck. He faced a firing squad, then the Bears drew a penalty and I thought here was the turning point. Hershey would score and that would bury the visiting Penguins.

Wrong.

Rather, the Penguins would kill the penalty and finally crack Bjorklund with a shot from Phil Tomasino which was stopped, but Valtteri Puustinen was there to knock in the rebound. This was all setup by a massive stop on a breakaway from Joel Blomqvist.

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So it. looked like we had a bit of a goaltender battle heading into the…

Third Period: Wilkes-Barre gets a goal :58 in from Valtteri Puustinen that leaks through Bjorklund then at 2:11 Gabe Klassen sniped one in that made it 3-1. Hershey didn’t know what hit them.

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The Penguins locked down from there. Blomqvist locked in also, stopping just 6 shots in the period. It was a methodical clinic from the Penguins on the road.

Oh, and Aidan McDonough added a power play goal that made it 4-1 to throw some added salt in the wound.

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Three Stars: 3) Phil Tomasino (two assists) 2) Valtteri Puustinen (two goals) 1) Joel Blomqvist (27 saves)

The Good: They kept beating the doors in on Bjorklund and while the Bears goaltender did play well and probably deserved a better fate, the better team won the game. Never say die attitude and keep shooting.

The Bad: I’m not going to nitpick anything in particular here. I wonder if the seven defensemen was a way to insulate Brunicke, but he’s out of here Sunday, St. Ivany too, as their conditioning stints are over. Brunicke was okay Saturday, but I still ain’t seeing it.

Turning Point: That opening two minutes in the third was what did it here. Blomqvist was dialed, and it was nice to get some run support.

Around the Division: The Providence Bruins needed overtime to dispose of the last place Springfield Thunderbirds and won 4-3 in overtime….Lehigh Valley needed overtime to beat the last place in the North Division Utica Comets 3-2…Charlotte beats Rochester 4-3 in overtime and Bridgeport roughed up Hartford 6-2.

Standings: Penguins 35 – Providence 34 – Lehigh Valley 25 – Charlotte 24 – Hershey 23 – Hartford 20 – Bridgeport 18 – Springfield 15

Wheeling Update: Nailers win Game 2 against Greensboro 3-1 Matty De St. Phalle had a goal and an assist. Taylor Gauthier stopped 22.

Video Highlights: AHL VideoCenter is your likely best bet.

I’ll have the Weekend Preview for you here Wednesday before the road game in Hartford. Check it out then.

Let’s Go Pens!