Chirps from Center Ice

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Local reference with the blog headline, it was Jack Williams’ overtime goal 1:55 into overtime that gets Cleveland the extra point and the Penguins a 2-1 overtime loss Saturday evening.

Tightly contested game where Sergei Murashov stole one for the Penguins, the point at least, keeping his team in it.

Matt Dumba had all the offense for Wilkes-Barre / Scranton, scoring a late. second period power play goal.

Here’s how they lined up:

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Lineup Notes: Opted for 11 forwards and 7 defensemen, with Finn Harding jumping in the lineup and Zach Gallant coming out.

First Period: Penguins were outshot 18-5 in the period and went down on a Zach Aston-Reese deflection in front of Sergei Murashov for a 1-0 lead.

Quick 15 minutes then the final five turned into a slog as the Monsters were given a power play followed by the Penguins. For the Penguins, they nearly got scored on shorthanded but Ole Julian Bjørgvik-Holm beat Murashov five hole but hit a post.

Second Period: After seeing the Monsters first 18 shots at Murashov in the first period, Wilkes-Barre really clamped down and only allowed the Monsters three shots at the Penguins net minder.

Penguins had 1:31 of two-man advantage and after a time out and seeing the first half of the power play pass Matt Dumba would step up and fire one in for a power play goal that tied the game at one.

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Third Period: No scoring but the carelessness with the penalties continues to be a problem. They were able to get 3 of 4 points this week because of goaltending, but they took two penalties in the period and failed to score on a power play about midway through.

Sergei Murashov with a save of the year type work.

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He fooled Cleveland’s goal judge and the in house person in charge of the goal horn.

Also, the Penguins lost Tristan Broz to injury late in the second. Matt Dumba didn’t take kindly to a hit and ended up taking a roughing penalty.

Overtime: 

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That’s Tony Brown on the call there and he’s criminally underrated in my ears as a play by play guy. Cleveland has a good one here.

Three Stars: 3) Brendan Gaunce (assist) 2) Sergei Murashov (27 saves) 1) Jack Williams (overtime game winning goal)

The Good: They took 3 of 4 points out of a non-division opponent, on the road. You take that all the time.

The Bad: The power play continues to struggle.

Turning Point: I am going to give it to Sergei Murashov’s save highlighted above because without it, it’s a regulation loss because they could have played till next November, I don’t think the Penguins were scoring another goal today.

Around the Division: Providence gets two third period goals to force overtime and win 3-2 in a shootout at home against Bridgeport, these two teams rematch Sunday….Springfield beat Charlotte 5-1 and there was a goalie fight involving Louis Domingue….Hershey is all over Rockford out in Illinois. That box is here. Hartford and Lehigh Valley had a marathon shootout that lasted 12 rounds. Hartford wins 5-4.

Standings: Providence 81 – Penguins 78 – Charlotte 64 – Hershey (56, pending outcome in Rockford) – Lehigh Valley 52 – Bridgeport 52 – Springfield 49 – Hartford 46

Wheeling Update: Nailers and Komets are in a tight one out in Fort Wayne. That box is here.

Video Highlights: 

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Back at it Wednesday when they host Springfield. Weekend Preview will be here Wednesday around lunch time.

Let’s Go Pens!