Chirps from Center Ice

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The last time the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins were in the Calder Cup Finals, all the way back in 2008, they needed seven games to advance past the Portland Pirates.

They won those games at home.

They will need to do the same starting Sunday in Game 6 and hopefully in Game 7 on Tuesday after the Toronto Marlies race out to two quick goals in the span of 4:14 in the third period to boat race the Pens and take game Game 5 5-1 for a 3-2 series lead with a chance to end the series Sunday.

These two teams hate each other, coming unglued in the third with the game already out of reach for the away team. The Penguins will need to convert those pugilistic emotions into goals come Sunday with their season on the line.

Here’s how they lined up:

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Lineup Notes: Sebastian Aho and Phil Kemp, who were absent in the third period in Game 4, were indeed out and replaced by David Breazeale and Emil Pieniniemi on defense. No changes to the forward pairings.

First Period: Basically a staring contest. Both teams killed the others penalties. There were general post whistle scrums. Nothing really to write home about.

Second Period: Offense opened up a bit in the period, with Mikhail Ilyin getting the scoring going with a power play goal that gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead.

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But the lead lasts just :50 as Lanson Sim tips in a Ben Danford shot through a sea of bodies to tie the game at one.

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The Penguins penalty kill would continue to struggle against the Marlies power play as :27 into  Scooter Brickey hold at 13:54, Bo Groulx would score at 14:21 to put the Marlies up 2-1.

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Both Sergei Murashov and Artur Ahktyamov would trade ten bell saves late, but there would be no further scoring.

Third Period: Easton Cowan. who’s turnover late in Game 4 led to Rutger McGroarty’s heroics, scored at 2:57 to make it 3-1 Marlies and then Logan Shaw swept a puck which squeaked past Sergei Murashov 1:17 later to make it 4-1 and the rout was on.

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Game devolved into a 2 and 10 festival for referees Stephen Hiff and Liam Maaskant.

Avery Hayes, Rafaël Harvey-Pinard, William Villeneuve, Scooter Brickey, Tanner Howe, Landon Sim, Michael Pezzetta  and Easton Cowan were all dismissed at various points after the scoring with 10 minute misconducts. The Penguins had a 4:00 power play at one point and, with Murashov pulled in the hopes of an 85 yard Hail Mary touchdown, Marshall Rifai would score an empty net goal to make it 5-1.

No further penalties or shenanigans.

They sure as hell aren’t making it easy.

Three Stars: 3) Marshall Rifai (goal, assist) 2) Artur Ahktyamov (32 saves) 1) Landon Sim (goal)

The Good: Didn’t exactly want to see the home team in Game 5 of a 2-2 series deadlock win the game, but the Marlies popped that cherry.

The Bad: I don’t do either. but if you smoke or drink, how many packs and cases are you going through between now and 6:05? I quit drinking and started walking to shed about 40 pounds. I may walk to the Arena Sunday in lieu of my normal daily walk.

Turning Point: The Shaw goal gets it here as it was a multi goal lead late for the home team, with the away team boiling over with emotions.

Video Highlights: 

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Bring all the good mojo and channel your Connor James and Tim Brent energy for the next two games, hopefully.

To the end…

Let’s Go Pens!