Chirps from Center Ice

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Legitimately don’t know what is left for Sergei Murashov to do in the AHL anymore.

He faces a proverbial Hartford firing squad in the first period and stops all 20 shots put his way and puts his team in position to win. He stops 34 total Wednesday night as Wilkes-Barre wins 3-0 in Hartford.

I don’t think it would be wise putting Arturs Šilovs on waivers and still can’t see anyone taking on Tristan Jarry’s albatross of a contract, so it’s a good thing to have with Murashov here.

But for the first period though, the Penguins were the better team. Again, it’s the goaltender doing what is asked of him and more putting the team in front of him in position to win the game.

Here’s how they lined up – the Wolf Pack didn’t post lines.

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Lineup Notes: They returned to the standard 12 F / 6 D setup. Joona Koppanen, Boko Imama and Nolan Renwick were in for Danton Heinen (recall) and Raivis Ansons (scratch) – Sam Poulin went up but was sent back from Pittsburgh and was in the lineup. On defense, Finn Harding was back in.

First Period: The Wolf Pack put 20 shots on Sergei Murashov in the period, the most that they have faced in a period this season, but the Penguins net minder was more than up to the challenge. The Penguins only mustered 6 shots and killed two penalties successfully.

Second Period: The Penguins somehow manage to get two goals in the period from Phil Tomasino and Avery Hayes. Phil Tomasino took a nice pass from Owen Pickering and then got a step on the defense and scored and then Rafäel Harvey-Pinard put one on the tape of Avery Hayes and Hayes got in on a breakaway and scored on Spencer Martin. Here’s the goals.

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Sergei Murashov stayed dialed in during the period in case you were wondering.

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Third Period: I wanted to see if Hartford would make a move here and as I was waiting for that to happen Avery Hayes’ shot is blocked right to Aidan McDonough who scores to make it 3-0.

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Guess not.

Valtteri Puustinen hit the left post, Finn Harding hit the left post with Spencer Martin vacated in a Hail Mary attempt by Grant Potulny to get his team three goals in three minutes. The only question remained whether the Wolf Pack would get one, but Murashov made sure that didn’t happen. Murashov himself tried for the empty net, but his attempt was intercepted by former Penguin Derrick Pouliot.

Three Stars: 3) Phil Tomasino (goal) 2) Avery Hayes (goal, assist) 1) Sergei Murashov (34 saves)

The Good: Sign of a great team is what you saw in the first period. They are getting throttled on the shot board on the road to the tune of twenty shots in the first period on a Wednesday night in Hartford, Connecticut. They make the necessary adjustments and get two goals to give them breathing room in the second, let their goalie fine tune and get a breather then get a third and turn it into a runaway. I don’t know how high the ceiling is with this team. That’s a good thing.

The Bad: Power play went 0/2. It’s nitpicking.

Turning Point: Pick the 20 saves Murashov made in the first or maybe the McDonough goal in the third. Not enough has been said about McDonough’s efforts recently either. Another sign of a great team is scoring threats at more then just one line.

Around the Division: The Providence Bruins keep pace and still have a game in hand on the Penguins after a 3-1 win in Hershey….Charlotte shuts out Cleveland 4-0.

Standings: Penguins 37 – Providence 36 – Lehigh Valley 27 – Hershey 25 – Charlotte 24 – Hartford 20 – Bridgeport 18 – Springfield 17

Wheeling Update: Rare loss for the Nailers who lose 3-2 in Reading.

Video Highlights: You know where to go.

Enjoy the Friday off and we will talk to you Saturday after the Providence game on Teddy Bear Toss night.

Let’s Go Pens!