Chirps from Center Ice

         @        

2                           3

–

I didn’t like the first 20 minutes of this game, but was OK with the final 40 plus overtime. Wilkes-Barre / Scranton grits out a point on the road in Syracuse but lose 3-2 on overtime on a Lucas Mercuri power play goal that give the Crunch the extra point.

It looked like the Penguins were set to get buried again by the Crunch like the last time they were here on January 3 when they got creamed 6-0. But they tightened things up considerably from the second period on and a Melvin Fernstrom goal with under a minute to play in regulation get them a point they can use.

Here’s how they lined up:

–

Lineup Notes: Quiet trade deadline day. No moves affecting the AHL club. Avery Hayes was papered down making him eligible for playoffs, Ville Koivunen was recalled under emergency conditions.

Melvin Fernstrom returned from injury replacing Ville Koivunen up front, Scooter Brickey was in for Matt Dumba.

First Period: Syracuse struck twice on transition plays and ran out to a quick 2-0 lead. Wilkes-Barre had two cracks at the power play but could not solve Brandon Halverson, who has been a stone in the shoe of the Penguins for two seasons now.

Tristan Allard and Brendan Furry with the goals here.

–

And since they posted it, I will let you know about it – Boko Imama fought ex-Penguin Jarred Tinordi. Both men landed clean shots and never budged.

–

You just don’t see that anymore.

Second Period: Better period for the Penguins as Rutger McGroarty scores on transition that gets Wilkes-Barre on the board.

–

Pens whiff on their third power play of the game early on and then kill a good Crunch power play easily but still trailed 2-1 heading into the…

Third Period: No penalties in the period which seemed to snap by with the Penguins in control but the Crunch just keeping them at arms length. Then with Sergei Murashov pulled and after a timeout an Aidan McDonough shot is blocked to Melvin Fernstrom who scores to tie the game.

–

This got them to…

Overtime: I thought the officiating was better here then it was Wednesday, but Wednesday was a low bar. Ref Riley Brace gets Finn Harding for an iffy-ish hold on Tristan Allard that puts the Crunch on a power play. After a timeout, Lucas Mercuri scores to end the game.

–

Ballgame.

For what it’s worth, the Penguins had their chances to score in overtime with Aaron Huglen getting denied by Brandon Halverson twice on the same sequence with the pad and then later on a one timer, both set up by Rutger McGraorty.

Bounces.

Three Stars: 3) Tristan Allard (goal) 2) Brendan Furry (goal) 1) Lucas Mercuri (game winning overtime power play goal)

Around the Division: Hartford shuts out Bridgeport 6-0….Charlotte beats Lehigh Valley 5-3 and Iowa shuts out Springfield 2-0.

Standings: Providence 85 – Penguins 79 – Charlotte 69 – Hershey 60 – Lehigh Valley 53 – Bridgeport 52 – Springfield 51 – Hartford 48

Wheeling Update: Nailers are out in Rapid City, SD for game two of their three game visit to the Rush. That box is here.

Video Highlights: 

–

Enjoy the rest of the weekend off, enjoy the taste of Spring this weekend with the slightly warmer weather and don’t forget to turn your clocks ahead before you go to bed Saturday. Back here next week for the three in three against Lehigh Valley and Hershey.

Let’s Go Pens!