Chirps from Center Ice

         vs.        

3                              2

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From this weekend’s Weekend Preview, under, “bold predictions”…

Give us a bold prediction…

They win both games, handily, and at the end of the weekend they will be in the top five on the power play.

Power play goes 1/9 for the weekend, the Penguins are 0-1-1after a 3-2 setback from the Hartford Wolf Pack Sunday afternoon / evening in Wilkes-Barre.

Usually broken clocks are right once or twice a day. My clock? Are we sure it’s from this planet?

But it’s Game 2 of 72. No need to panic, yet.

Here’s how they lined up, Hartford didn’t post lines.

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Lineup Notes: David Gustafsson cleared waivers and was in, along with Maleek McGowan, making his AHL debut. They replaced Brayden Edwards and Daniel Russell.

First Period: First shot of the game for the Pens hopes in off the stick of Jake Livanavage and Wilkes-Barre is off and running at 1:29….

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Less of a frenetic pace in comparison to Saturday for the Penguins, who led after one. Each team traded a power play with no success.

Second Period: Marc Del Gaizo scores :53 into a Hartford power play to even the score for the visitors.

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This goal was challenged for possible offsides. After an arduous replay, it was adjudged to be onside, so that cost the Penguins another penalty.

Late, Taylor Raddysh gets a feed from below the crease from Cole Beaudoin and the Wolf Pack went ahead 2-1.

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Third Period: Any questions about Taylor Gauthier’s readiness at this level were put to bed in this game with saves in this sequence here.

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He deserved a better fate Sunday.

Penguins do not score to tie in the period and late, take a penalty and then it’s Nathan Aspinall who scores off of a rebound.

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Penguins keep it interesting till the end and cash on a power play when Avery Hayes scores with Gauthier pulled for his first goal of the season.

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But would get no closer.

Three Stars: 3) Cole Beaudoin (two assists) 2) Jake Livanavage (goal) 1) Taylor Raddysh (goal)

The Good: Coming out of opening weekend after playing back to back games with no wins to show for it stinks, but it seems like they have correctable issues.

The Bad: Power play stinks, and I don’t think that is correctable.

Turning Point: The Aspinall goal gets it here, as it stands up and the game winner.

Around The Division: The Springfield Thunderbirds had to travel overnight to Providence for a 3 pm start and shut the Bruins out 2-0. The Bruins had the best regular season record last season and are 0-2….Hershey gets in the win column with a 3-2 win over the Charlotte Checkers….Lehigh Valley was off.

Standings: Hartford and Springfield 4, Charlotte and Hershey 2, Penguins 1, Lehigh Valley and Providence 0

Everblades Update: Pay attention! I told you yesterday they don’t start for a few weeks.

Video Highlights: 

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The entire AHL is off this week till Friday, which I find strange, and the Pens are off Friday, so we will still be back this Friday afternoon with the Weekend Setup setting the table for a road game in Hartford Saturday, Providence on Sunday.

Let’s hope I’m in the right universe with a bold prediction next week.

Let’s Go Pens!