Chirps from Center Ice

         vs.        

4                               2

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Russian goaltender Artur Akhtyamov makes 34 saves, Wilkes-Barre fires 36 total but it’s the Toronto Marlies who score a late goal to edge ahead in a tied game and win Game 1 by a 4-2 score Wednesday night in Wilkes-Barre to take Game 1 of the best of seven series.

The Marlies had 16 shots all game. They were under the proverbial cosh from the jump, seeing 13 Penguins attempts in the first, 12 in the second and 11 in the third to basically steal one and take home ice.

I do not know if the effort that the Marlies put forth was sustainable or not, but make no mistake it was enough to win them the game.

Game 2 goes Friday from Wilkes-Barre.

Here’s how they lined up:

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Lineup Notes: Flip Broz and Klassen at center. No other changes. Owen Pickering is considered week to week but is expected back at some point in the series.

First Period: A feeling out period to the first media break, they came out after that and laid rubber to the road. But Akhtyamov kept the Penguins off the scoresheet.

Had a feeling, just with the way that the game was going, that the longer that the Penguins let Toronto hang around in a scoreless game, the more that would benefit the Marlies.

Alex Alexeyev stepped into one and scored through a screen to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead.

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A big goal at the time.

Second Period: Easton Coawn, the hero from Game 5 in Cleveland a few nights ago, beats Sergei Murashov clean in the crease and its a tie game.

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Your puns are bad, and you should feel bad.

The Penguins would continue to rack ups shots on the board, but nothing doing. Then they take back to back penalties and Toronto cashes :11 into the second penalty the Penguins took (Gabe Klassen high stick at 16:45) and William Villeneuve scored to make it 2-1 for the Marlies.

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Third Period: Well, if they didn’t have the attention of the Penguins yet, being down 2-1 heading into the third sure got it.

I remember when I played college basketball that the first five minutes of a new period were very important in a tightly contested affair.

Rutger McGroarty was 1:01 late.

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McGroarty willed that one in.

Toronto withstood a period of nonstop hockey after that McGroarty goal where the Penguins were sniffing for the go ahead goal.

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I am not a parent. If there are any parents out there that read the blog, any truth to this?

I think the Penguins played the part of Tommy the three year old because Michael Pezzetta scored with 1:36 to play to edge the Marlies ahead.

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With Murashov pulled after a time out, Logan Shaw would hit an empty netter to make the score seem bigger than it really was.

Three Stars: 3) Easton Cowan (goal) 2) William Villeneuve (goal) 1) Michael Pezzetta (goal)

I’m sorry, but Artur Akhtyamov deserved a star here. Toronto loses this game by 5+ goals if it wasn’t for his effort.

The Good: Nothing wrong at all with the way the Penguins executed, they just didn’t get scoring. I don’t think that Toronto can sustain this wave, honestly, and I want to tell myself that the Penguins will be fine.

The Bad: Sit back and relax for a bit because I may go for a while.

• The power play was an abject disaster. Toronto was 3/3 on the kill and the Penguins gave up two separate shorthanded rushes. That needs to improve, quickly.
• Usually at this time of the year the officials who can’t cut the mustard are off for the summer. I didn’t have an issue with the way that Alex Lepkowski or Morgan MacPhee officiated this game. Sure, there were some questionable calls that could have gone the Penguins way, but my gripe is the linemen. Shawn Oliver and Anthony Lapointe struggled all night with executing face-offs. I expect better from the League with the officials since there are only four teams left. To have two linesmen that can’t handle a simple face-off is a joke.
• The Penguins came unglued at the end, where Tristan Broz was given 25 minutes of penalties at 19:31 of the contest in the third period, a 5:00 major for cross checking Marc Johnstone at the end of the game. Avery Hayes was give 2+10 for shoving Artur Akhtyamov in the same scrum. I get that you lost in crushing defeat, but don’t come so unglued in Game 1. It makes you look one dimensional and desperate.

Okay, I think I’m done.

Turning Point: The Pezzetta goal is the obvious choice.

Ice Chips: I thought Sergei Murashov could have been better and someone mentioned to me on Twitter that his leash should be short in Game 2. I don’t disagree. I think he, and the team that plays around him, will be better Friday. They have to be because going down 0-2 heading to Toronto next week is unthinkable.

Video Highlights: 

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Talk to you after Game 2 Friday.

Let’s Go Pens!