Chirps from Center Ice

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Let’s get business out of the way first.

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For the 21st time in team history, the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins are headed to the Calder Cup Playoffs after a 2-1 shootout win in Belleville Friday night.

This game had a ‘fight forever’ feel to it. Goals were hard to come by for the Penguins with just Aidan McDonough scoring his team leading seventh power play goal in the second period and Tyler Boucher scoring later in the period to respond.

So it was a defensive battle and the Penguins, despite being outshot 29-20, managed to get it to overtime to qualify for the postseason. Adian McDonough, Gabe Klassen and Avery Hayes all scored in the shootout to give the Penguins the extra point.

Here’s how they lined up:

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Lineup Notes: Avery Hayes was returned to Wilkes-barre on Thursday and was in the lineup for the Penguins Friday, replacing Zach Urdahl. Emil Pieniniemi for Chase Pietila on defense.

First Period: Nothing doing. Pens were being badly outshot in the period before a late power play upped the shot total. Both teams traded power plays.

Second Period: 2:10 into the period Aidan McDonough scored a power play goal that gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead.

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Then a bad pinch in the neutral zone by Emil Pieniniemi sees Tyler Boucher score on a 2 on 0.

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Penguins sweated out two Belleville power plays.

Third Period: Penalty kill really did work here, killing two late penalties virtually back to back. No scoring, though.

Overtime: Avery Hayes had two shots to end the game in overtime via breakaway but was stopped both times by Leevi Meriläinen who was impressive all game but really outstanding here in the overtime period.

Shootout: Aidan McDonough on a backhand shot, Olle Lycksell followed with a carbon copy shot, Gabe Klassen scored through the five hole, Arthur Kaliyev, who leads the AHL in goal scoring was stopped and then Avery Hayes won it in the top of the third.

Three Stars: 3) Avery Hayes (shootout goal) 2) Riley Kidney (assist) 1) Joel Blomqvist (28 saves)

Really thought that Leevi Meriläinen deserved a star here, he was outstanding. He had no run support though.

The Good: 21 trips to the playoffs out of 25 tries is good, right?

The Bad: Power play scored, yeah, but that was it. The Penguins are a good 5-on-5 team? Someone forgot to tell Belleville, but that’s nitpicking on a clinching night like this.

Turning Point: Took till the very end but the Hayes goal that won it gets it here.

Around the Division: Penguins would have backed if they didn’t win, because Laval beat Springfield 4-1…Providence wins 4-3 in Utica.

Standings: Providence 93 – Penguins 84 – Charlotte 75 – Hershey 62 – Lehigh Valley 60 – Springfield and Bridgeport 56 – Hartford 54

Wheeling Update: Nailers win 4-3 in a shootout over Trois-Rivières. Newly acquired Blake Bennett had a had trick and Logan Pietila had the shootout game winning goal.

Video Highlights: 

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More Sunday evening from Toronto. Enjoy the Saturday off.

Let’s Go Pens!