Chirps from Center Ice

         vs.        

5                             1

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You had a desperate Hershey Bears team that received reinforcements and still hadn’t punched a playoff ticket against a Wilkes-Barre / Scranton team that has nothing to play for as a second seed in the Atlantic Division.

One team dressed an experienced team that needed to win to maintain a playoff hope and another team that dressed three kids making their AHL debuts.

Results typical, Penguins lose 5-1.

I mean it was competitive to start with the Penguins outskating the Bears at times in the first, a fluke goal late gave Hershey a 1-0 lead going into the second period.

There, just :19 in, the Bears are awarded a power play which they cash in on and then before you know it, they add a third to turn it into a run away.

Atley Calvert scored the lone goal for the Penguins, Hershey added two empty net goals to make the score seem bigger than it seemed.

That’s essentially it. I’ll give you the lineups and then the goals that mattered and then I’m out of here

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Lineup Notes: Forwards Rafael Harvey-Pinard, Avery Hayes, Ville Koivunen, Joona Koppanen and Rutger McGroarty were reassigned earlier in the day but obviously didn’t play. Sergei Murashov was named to the 2025 AHL All-Rookie team. Coal Street signed another Michigan State Spartan to an ATO, Brady Peddle, who is a Pittsburgh draft pick. Kyle Dubas loves Sparty and some B1G hockey players.

From last game, Harvey-Pinard and Nolan Renwick out at forward. Ryan Miller made his pro debut off Aaron Huglen at center. On defense it’s Broten Sabo and Quinn Beauchesne (pro debuts) and Scooter Brickey in for Owen Pickering and Sebastian Aho.

Here’s the goals…

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Refs took a long look on replay but ruled it good.

Here was a fantastic save from Clay Stevenson in the first period of a scoreless game.

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Not shown, but lineman Tommy George came to collect the puck from Stevenson and Stevenson forced him to give him dap on a great save. I thought it was hilarious.

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The Strome goal here is your turning point. No coming back from three against this Bears lineup with this Penguins lineup.

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Not for a lack of effort, but the Penguins limited Herhsey to just five shots in the third.

(two were empty netters)

The Good: No one got hurt.

Around the Division: Springfield pounds Lehigh Valley 7-1 and with this, eliminates the Phantoms from the playoffs. Springfield and Hershey are your two final playoff teams from the Atlantic Division. Bridgeport beat Hartford 5-2 in other action.

Standings: Providence 110 – Wilkes-Barre 97 – Charlotte 91 – Bridgeport 74 – Hershey 71 – Springfield 70 – Lehigh Valley 66 – Hartford 58

Wheeling Update: The Nailers were off.

Video Highlights: 

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More Friday after the Islanders drop by. Look for an even more inexperienced lineup, if I had to guess.

I don’t think anyone got hurt, so it’s a win in the end.

Let’s Go Pens!