Chirps from Center Ice

          vs.          

8                               1

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Well, they did it. Those bastards did it.

They finally get a full team effort, fifteen players record a point, two goals and two assists for their All-Star Tristan Broz, a pair of goals for a returning Rafaël Harvey-Pinard and the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins obliterate, annihilate, decimate and oust the Springfield Thunderbirds in the decisive Game 5 by an impressive 8-1 score.

Normally deciding games are either clench your butt 2-1 in triple overtime finals or laughers like this one was. Usually the team that is better is the one curb stomping the other.

I didn’t know if the Penguins were the better team here after Game 4. Sure, the vibes were okay considering they only lost by two goals and collectively they knew it wasn’t their best effort. But it’s a veteran group that is extremely well coached, and they weren’t going to replicate the same effort in Game 4 in a deciding Game 5.

That said, give Springfield their flowers. If they keep the core together next season, which is tough to do at the AHL level, they will be much better than their sixth place showing this season.

Here’s how they lined up.

Springfield went with the exact same lineup as Game 4, scroll down to the Game 4 recap to see if so interested.

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Lineup Notes: Aidan McDonough slides down to the fourth line. Boko Imama came out, Rafaël Harvey-Pinard returned from injury and replaced him and goes top line with Joona Koppanen and Tanner Howe. On defense, Sebastian Aho for Owen Pickering was the only change. Those who heard Nick Hart on radio told me he’s day to day with a lower body injury.

First Period: Tristan Broz showed up and showed up at the right time.

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Vibes were running high. The lower bowl was nearly full, the anthem singer was the best they had all season and the home team gets a boost from their all-star.

They had a quarter of the shots they had in all of game four at the first media break (5/20).

Out of the break, Harrison Brunicke scores a goal that they did not call back for goalie interference and it’s 2-0 Wilkes-Barre.

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Springfield head coach Steve Ott could see the avalanche coming. He calls his time out.

It didn’t matter.

On a power play, Tristan Broz nets his brace and it’s 3-0 Penguins.

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Finn Harding holds a puck onside, barely, throws a shot on in the final minute, the rebound caroms to Rafaël Harvey-Pinard and it’s 4-0 Wilkes-Barre.

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Harvey-Pinard is the straw that stirs this drink. I love Boko Imama just like the next guy, but Imama isn’t giving you this.

Second Period: Vibe going into the period is that if you think a 4-0 lead is safe in these playoffs I have a bridge to sell you somewhere.

The Thunderbirds did make the expected push, but the Penguins and Sergei Murashov took the shove but didn’t topple over.

Enter Finn Harding again who I thought had a hell of a game, he throws a shot at relief goaltender Vadim Zherenko, who makes a kick save, which goes straight to Atley Calvert and it goes in.

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Bingo.

Third Period: I let my guard down.

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I thought it was over here and Springfield would pack it in. What a pass by Bill Zonnon there and what a finish from Koivunen to make it six – nil.

Lapse. Failed clear. How many times in the past did this end up in their net? Often!

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It happened here.

Springfield thought they scored again, but it was either intent to blow from referee Graedy Hamilton because the puck did go in, but the goal was waved off. After some consultation with referee Morgan MacPhee at the scorers table, the goal was not allowed. No announcement was made, so I have to assume it was intent to blow.

I thought MacPhee and Hamilton were great, as they usually are. I came to see a team in black play a team in white, not a team in black and white.

Steve Ott got desperate and pulled Zherenko and Harvey-Pinard buried a goal from about 185 feet away and re-established the six goal lead. Ville Koivunen made it 8-1 when Zherenko made a save with his helmet and dropped the puck right to Koivunen who swept it in.

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Holy moly, that’s a lot of goals.

Three Stars: 3) Ville Koivunen (two goals, assist) 2) Rafaël Harvey-Pinard (two goals) 1) Tristan Broz (two goals, two assists)

The Good: The stars shone the brightest at the most opportune time. A blowout like this, in a win or go home situation? The rest of the league is on notice that if this team is placed in this situation, you don’t stand a chance.

The Bad: Phil Kemp, Sebastian Aho and Rutger McGroarty were the only players who didn’t record a point, but I’m nitpicking.

Turning Point: Pick one. The Harvey-Pinard goal that made it 4-0, The Calvert goal that made it 5-0 in a period where I think that Springfield was the better team or the Koivunen goal that made it 6-0 on the power play. I’ll go the Harvey-Pinard goal that made it 4-0.

Ice Chips: Bravo to the front office getting the place full on short notice. The vibes were high going in….Game 5 between Cleveland and Toronto will decide who the Penguins play in the Eastern Conference Finals which now switch to a best of seven format. That game will be played Sunday at 3. I’ll jump on here Sunday afternoon and update the blog with who it is and a schedule….It’s Colorado and Chicago in the Western Conference Final, in case you are wondering….With Grand Rapids out, the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins have home ice through the remainder of the playoffs.

Oh, and there’s this…

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Impressive. Mighty impressive.

Video Highlights: LOL this highlight package is 21 minutes long!!!

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More Sunday once we find out who the Penguins will be facing next week.

Let’s Go Pens!