Chirps from Center Ice

I came home from shopping around 4 p.m. today to no phone, TV or internet. As a result I wasn’t able to watch any of the 4-2 Wilkes-Barre win in Utica. Thankfully, I had a radio where I could catch Nick Hart’s call.

The Penguins did grit out a 4-2 win. in Utica against the Comets. The two teams will rematch Saturday in Wilkes-Barre.

Phil Tomasino was lost to injury in the first period and didn’t return.

Kyle Criscuolo had a pair of goals, one of them shorthanded. Joona Koppanen also had a pair. Boko Imama had a goal in the third period that game the Penguins their first lead of the game. Tristan Broz had an empty netter that sealed the win.

The win gave the Penguins sole possession of first place in the Atlantic with 41 points and gave them their 20th win of the season. Providence was idle and as I mentioned in the Weekend Preview earlier today, they will have four games in hand after the weekend.

Here’s how they lined up:

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Lineup Notes: Raivis Ansons and William Dufour out for Zach Gallant and Nolan Renick up front. No changes to the defense. Sebastian Aho is week to week with Aaron Huglen and Alex Alexyev is day to day.

Here’s the goals by the Penguins.

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That second Koppanen goal was a strange one.

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A good win and needed after the hellish week that the Penguins endured. I only listened tonight and get the sense that it was a gritty win that the Penguins earned. We will have to see how Utica responds Saturday and the status of Tomasino. Hopefully it isn’t that bad. He did return for a bit after the hit, but perhaps the adrenaline wore off.

Back at it Saturday. Sorry about the striped down version tonight.

Let’s Go Pens!