Chirps from Center Ice

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3                                2

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A goal from Cam Squires and Josh Filmon, their first goals of the season for their Utica Comets, are enough to push the game into overtime and then a shootout and then a Lenni Hämeenaho shootout goal, the only during the period is enough to give the visiting Comets a 3-2 shootout win.

Joel Blomqvist’s nickname should be The Bondsman, as he was bailing his Penguins team out time after time. The Penguins earned this point, but the way they played the full 60, didn’t nor should have earned the two points.

Here’s how they lined up….

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Lineup Notes: Scooter Brickey for Daniel Laatsch on defense, Raivis Ansons for Phil Tomasino who was added to the injured list with Aho, Huglen and Alexeyev. I didn’t listen to Nick Hart pregame so don’t know the extent of the injury, if they even disclosed that.

First Period: No scoring. Penguins had a power play snuffed out on a Tristan Broz hooking call.

Second Period: Cam Squires gets his first goal of the season on a shot that Phil Kemp tried to block, which redirected high and into the net for a 1-0 Comets lead.

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I don’t know what a ‘snizz’ is. Usually I ‘snizz’ when I am ill, or when I use too much pepper.

Joona Koppanen scored another goal this weekend through traffic that tied the game at one.

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Late, a pin balling puck finds its way past Blomqvist and it was Josh Filmon getting his first of the season that pushed the Comets ahead 2-1.

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Third Period: Penguins knocking and knocking, sometimes they look away and Blomqvist has to bail them out again, finally Avery Hayes gets a puck to squirt across the line and it’s tied again.

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No scoring the rest of regulation.

Overtime: Matt Dumba took a lot of dumb penalties in the game, none more dumber when the Penguins had possession of the puck in overtime and he takes an interference penalty.

Penguins kill it, survive a scare where the puck dinks off the back of Blomqvist but stays out, and it’s off to…

Shootout: Lenni Hämeenaho in the bottom of the second…

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Jákub Małek stopped Tristan Broz, Rafäel Harvey-Pinard and Gabe Klassen in that order.

Three Stars: 3) Cam Squires (goal) 2) Josh Filmon (goal) 1) Lenni Hämeenaho (shootout game winning goal)

The Good: Managed to steal a point.

The Bad: Where are the Christmas jerseys? They always wear Christmas jerseys. They auctioned off replicas via their app. Are we not doing Christmas jerseys anymore?

Also, Matt Dumba has done nothing to impress me other than taking stupid penalties.

Turning Point: The Hayes goal that got them the point gets it here.

Around the Division: The Charlotte Checkers look like world beaters when they play teams better then they are like the Penguins but when they play last place teams like Springfield they lose 3-1….Providence beats a tough Syracuse team 3-1…Hershey wins 4-1 against Bridgeport. The Leigh Valley / Hartford box is here. It’s not my fault you can’t start on time but I like that you televise all your home games.

Standings: Penguins 42 — Providence 41 – Charlotte 30 – Hershey and Lehigh Valley 29 (add points if LV wins) – Bridgeport 24 – Springfield 23 – Hartford 22 (add if HFD gets a point)

Wheeling Update: Nailers win 3-2 in OT down in Greensboro on a Matty De St. Phalle goal

Video Highlights: I think everything you need to see if shown above.

More Sunday as they close their first three in three weekend against the Hershey Bears at 3.

Let’s Go Pens!