Chirps from Center Ice

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Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins play by play man almost foreshadowed his team to possible disappointment.

Hart stated at the end of the second period when the Penguins were up 4-1 that back in November the Toronto Marlies overcame a three goal deficit and defeated the Penguins that night.

Disaster averted. Despite a pair of goals by ex-Penguin Alex Nylander, Wilkes-Barre holds on to win 4-3 Sunday afternoon in Toronto.

Here’s how they lined up…

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Lineup Notes: Ville Koivunen was assigned down from Pittsburgh Sunday afternoon and was in town so made it in the lineup, replacing Zach Gallant. On defense, Chase Pietila for Emil Pieniniemi on defense.

First Period: They certainly started on time to the tune of three goals.

Avery Hayes on the power play at 5:11, followed by Hayes setting up Rafaël Harvey-Pinard in transition at 15:17 and then Aidan McDonough scoring his 18th goal of the season on a wrist shot at 16:54.

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Shots were 9-4 and but for a few early scares, Joel Blomqvist had the Marlies shooters covered.

To quote an old friend, the period was okay if you like perfect.

Second Period: Harvey-Pinard potted his second of the game off of a rebound of a Finn Harding shot and the Penguins were up 4-0.

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We don’t see enough of Toronto to. know if this is their modus operandi, but they were a totally different team after this.

A Ben King goal was put in after Brandon Buhr broke away and had a shot on Blomqvist. Blomqvist stopped prior breakaways and this one here, and nearly got over to the King rebound try but it beat him.

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Third Period: Wilkes-Barre lost Melvin Fernstrom to an injury when he was caught awkwardly on the boards by Blake Smith. He skated off with his right arm dangling and didn’t return.

Alex Nylander got the Marlies to one on two different occasions. The first came on the power play after a questionable penalty against Alex Alexeyev and then at even strength after a blown assignment.

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But the Marlies would get no closer, but if there were five to seven minutes left in regulation then there were in reality, I am not too sure that Toronto would have tied it and maybe took the lead.

Disaster averted. This time.

Three Stars: 3) Avery Hayes (goal, assist) 2) Alex Nylander (two goals) 1) Rafaël Harvey-Pinard (two goals)

The Good: I have waited all season for Harvey-Pinard to start cooking and it looks like he’s warming up. If you get him going, mix in a Hayes goal like you did today with output from Koivunen and hopefully a returning Tristan Broz, this team can go far.

The Bad: I don’t know what happened when they went up 4-0. They nearly played two completely different halves of hockey here. Gangbusters the first thirty minutes and then edge of your seat let’s try not to blow this in the final thirty minutes. That strategy is not going to work in mid-to late April.

Turning Point: The second Harvey-Pinard goal gets it here because it was what won them the game, we just were oblivious to it at the time.

Around the Division: At 7 p.m. on Sunday, Bridgeport looks like they are headed for a home and home sweep of the Hershey Bears, up 5-1 when this post goes up…other games final as Charlotte sweeps Lehigh Valley with a 6-2 win ad Rochester beats Hartford 6-3.

Standings: Providence 95 – Penguins 86 – Charlotte 79 – that’s all that matters really, as I can’t give you the Hershey points because they are still playing. If you are interested late Sunday night or anytime after that, click here.

Wheeling Update: The Nailers sweep the Trois-Rivières Lions 3-1. Raivos Ansons and Logan Pietila had goals and Max Pavlenko stopped 26 shots.

Video Highlights: Marlies YouTube page is here. I note that because the highlights aren’t posted yet so if you want to go hunting, click here.

They are off till Saturday when they host the Laval Rocket on Saturday and then the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on (sigh) Sunday afternoon. I’ll have the Weekend Preview up on Saturday morning bright and early with the latest on the rest of those rascals. Regular blog readers know wheat I am talking about.

Have a great week.

Let’s Go Pens!