Chirps from Center Ice

         vs.        

1                              4

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So they dressed as good a lineup I think that you will see save for one or two guys and beat Bridgeport 4-1 in the franchises final regular season meeting but I don’t think that was the headline of the evening.

It’s the play of Joel Blomqvist.

Now the sixth win in a row for Blomqvist, and Kirk MacDonald I think has some real decisions ahead of him. Who starts Game 1 of the Atlantic Division Semifinals in a few weeks? A case can be made for both Blomqvist or Sergei Murashov. I think it will be Murashov but I have more confidence in Blomqvist, if that makes any sense.

All the heavy hitters for Wilkes-Barre scored Friday. Avery Hayes on the power play, Ville Koivunen, Finn Harding and a returning from injury Tristan Broz.

Blomqvist stopped 25 shots.

Here’s how they lined up. Bridgeport didn’t post lines. I hope Hamilton next year does.

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Lineup Notes: Aidan McDonough, Gabe Klassen, Raivis Ansons, Atley Calvert and Boko Imama were out for a returning Tristan Broz (injury) Rutger McGroarty, Avery Hayes, Rafaël Harvey-Pinard, Ville Koivunen and Joona Koppanen (NHL recalls) as they went back to 12 forwards / 6 defensemen. On defense Alex Alexeyev, Broten Sabo, Quinn Beauchesne and Scooter Brickey came out for Phil Kemp, Owen Pickering and Sebastian Aho.

First Period: Out of the gate they took two penalties, but navigated them clean. Finn Harding made a move around a guy and scored to put them on the board at 8:27, then Avery Hayes scored a power play goal on a full five on three called against the Islanders for two separate penalties that happened concurrently and then Ville Koivunen scored with :18 left in the period to make it 3-0.

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Second Period: There was a proposal during a stoppage and I am coming around to the belief that these are staged. They have to be. You are proposing to your girlfriend in an arena / ballpark full of strangers for attention, when it really should be about her and her only. I for one, just don’t know.

Anyway, future AHL Hall of Famer and Bridgeport legend Chris Terry stabbed one across the line in an overall sleepy period for both teams as the Islanders got on the board.

(no GIF here, heard the social media team was packing up for the move to Canada)

Third Period: Tristan Broz scored in his return that made it 4-1 and that means free coffee!

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No penalties after the first period. Beau Halkidis sometimes makes it about him but Morgan MacPhee is a good ref, so it’s a great pairing. Halkidis will be here Saturday.

Three Stars: 3) Joel Blomqvist (25 saves) 2) Tristan Broz (goal, assist) 1) Ville Koivunen (goal, two assists)

The Good: I don’t know if it was a message sent, but the Islanders are a favorite I think in my book to make it out of the first round, and it’s possible that they see the Penguins again at some point.

The Bad: I didn’t like the Broz penalty just :15 in and the Aho hold a few minutes after that. I’m waffling on how far I think the Penguins go in the playoffs. 5 on 5 there’s not a team in the AHL that can touch them, at least over here in the East. I’ll get into the numbers probably Sunday, but if you get into a special teams battle with this team you can beat them. It’s the same thing all the time with this team but I suppose if you boat race your opponent to the tune of three goals in the first, a lot of the warts are covered up.

Turning Point: I think the Koivunen goal gets it here.

Around the Division: Hartford comes back and beats playoff bound Springfield 7-5….Utica beats a resting Providence Bruins team 4-1. The Comets must win out and Rochester must lose out for the final playoff spot in the North Division. That means Rochester’s playoffs start tomorrow in Wilkes-Barre, if they already didn’t start tonight at home in Cleveland (where they lost 2-1) so get ready. The Penguins want 101 also. No, not the amount of players that have played for them this season (although it seems) but 101 points, which is what they can max out at.

Standings: Providence 110 – Penguins 99 – Charlotte 91 – Bridgeport 74 – Hershey 71 – Springfield 70 – Lehigh Valley 66 – Hartford 60

Wheeling Update: The Nailers lost 5-2 in Toledo.

Video Highlights: 

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More tomorrow for the regular season finale then the real fun begins.

Let’s Go Pens!