Chirps from Center Ice

The Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins head to Ohio to take on the Cleveland Monsters for a pair of games this weekend.

Music to Set the Mood…

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Another First Wave staple on SiriusXM.

A Quote…

It means nothing to me, I have no opinion about it, and I don’t care.
— Pablo Picasso

Apropos nothing, ran across this one this week. The New York Times asked Picasso about the moon landing and he offered up that quote. It stuck with me. Everyone has to have an opinion about everything these days. I usually don’t because honestly, I don’t care.

The Setup

Two in Cleveland. It’s the yearly trip where they usually leave day early, stop in Pittsburgh for practice in Cranberry, PA, talk with media there and move on to Cleveland.

Friday’s game starts at 7, Saturday’s game starts at 4.

Last week the Penguins blew out the Springfield Thunderbirds, then swept the Bridgeport Islanders in a home and home. Providence stumbled, and the Pens cut the deficit to the Bruins lead on the division to two. More on the P-Bruins in a minute.

The Monsters beat the Toronto Marlies in a pair of games this past weekend and beat the Rochester Americans this past Wednesday. They have won three straight and are 7-2-1 in their last ten games.

Records

Wilkes-Barre is 35-13-3-2 with 75 points and second in the Atlantic Division.

Cleveland is 28-16-6-1 with 63 points and third in the North Division.

The Rest of Those Rascals…

Providence stumbled last week, tightening things up between them and the Penguins. After beating Belleville 5-2 Friday, they lost to the two non-playoff Atlantic Division teams in Springfield and Hartford and saw their 13 game win streak turn into a two game losing streak. They got back to winning ways with a 6-4 win in Allentown Wednesday. They host Bridgeport for a pair of games Saturday and Sunday. The Bruins are 39-10-1 and have 79 points and lead the division. They will shake out with three games in hand on the Penguins when the dust settles Sunday night.

Charlotte split with Syracuse in Syracuse last weekend and lost in overtime against Bridgeport on Wednesday. They are in Springfield Friday and Saturday and have a 29-17-4 record in third with 62 points. I think you may be okay if you pencil them in for third come mid-April.

Hershey got smoked by Lehigh Valley at home last weekend twice but got back to winning ways on Wednesday when they hosted Utica. They head to Rockford, IL this weekend. The Bears are 23-20-6-2 and have 54 points.

Bridgeport is next and I gave you their body of work above. They are 22-23-3-4 with 51 points and head to Providence this weekend. If they want to be considered a playoff threat, they need to win these games or play the Bruins close.

Lehigh Valley I also gave you above as to their ventures this past week. They are 23-23-2-2 and have 50 points in sixth place. The Phantoms host Hartford for a pair this weekend and then head to Utica Tuesday.

Springfield beat Bridgeport in a shootout last Friday then beat Providence clean. I think they are primed to unseat either Lehigh Valley or Bridgeport as a playoff team but have to get past a tough Charlotte team this weekend at home. 20-25-4-2 with 46 points is their record.

Hartford lost a close one to Utica last Friday, shutout Belleville then beat Providence. I don’t think they are out of it but they need to win games. They are in Allentown this weekend. They have a 19-25-4-2 record and have 44 points.

Who’s Up? Who’s Down? Who’s Out?

Up: Avery Hayes; recalled Monday.

Down: Several. Ryan McAllister went to Wheeling Monday, Raivis Ansons, Nolan Renwick, Emil Pieniniemi and Scooter Brickey followed on Tuesday.

Out: Just Zach Gallant, day to day with an upper body injury. Intrepid reporter Mike Flynn let me know this week that he froze his ass off watching the Penguins practice this past Tuesday and saw no red jerseys. Melvin Fernstrom left the game Sunday with apparent injury, but he may be good to go.

Are they 100% healthy? It’s looking like it.

What can we learn about the Penguins this week?

Cleveland isn’t a pushover. Will the Penguins be favorites in the playoffs? I think so. Avoid Charlotte and I think you are okay. Do I like their chances in a Best of Seven Eastern Conference Final against a North Division opponent? I do not. Here are your suspects:

Laval: Don’t know, haven’t played them yet. They lead the division by seven points.

Syracuse: Nope. Crunch in six. I think they wear the Penguins down.

Cleveland: Best matchup I think, Penguins can win a series in five or six I think.

Toronto / Rochester: I like them over Rochester, but Rochester has to watch they don’t fall out.

Okay so maybe I have talked myself into a pathway to a Calder Cup Final, but they have to avoid Charlotte, Syracuse and maybe Laval.

The Monsters at home are okay, just 14-6-4-1. I think I favor the Penguins here because they have been head and shoulders one of the best teams in the League vs. a Cleveland team who are a good North Division team. Zoom out and take the better team in the League. But be careful.

They see the standings and know Providence is faltering and have injuries in goal. I think they understand the assignment here.

Who’s in Goal?

Sergei Murashov goes tonight, Joel Blomqvist goes Saturday.

Ivan Fedotov goes tonight, Zach Sawchenko goes Saturday.

Who’s Running the Show?

Stephen Hiff and Koletrane Wilson on Friday with Dylan Blujus and Craig Ford on the lines.

Chris Conway tags in for Hiff, Chad Fuller tags in for Blujus on Saturday.

Looking Ahead…

March. They host Springfield Wednesday then are in Syracuse Friday.

NASCAR Soccer Balls…

SVG at COTA on Sunday. NYCFC over Philly from a mild Chester 2-0 on Sunday also.

Give us a bold prediction…

What’s that, another hat trick you say? One of them gets one. My pennies are on Rutger McGroarty.