Chirps from Center Ice

         vs.        

7                                3

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In keeping with the theme of Weekend Preview from earlier, the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins mounted comebacks but in the third period, down one, see Belleville rattle off two early and the Senators skate away with a 7-3 win Friday night in Wilkes-Barre.

It was death by a thousand paper cuts for the Penguins, who were never really in it from the jump, being outshot 8-1 when the Senators jumped on the board early, and then 3-0 after the first.

The Penguins scored three times in the second period with goals from Tristan Broz, Daniel Russell and Jake Livanavage, but a malfunction at the junction in the neutral zone kept the away team ahead by one heading into the third.

Here, Ex-Penguin Phil Tomasino scores :30 into the third period to make it 5-3, then it takes the Senators :11 in a power play to wax the game away that made it 6-3. Then a desperation attempt by Kirk MacDonald with over six minutes to play in regulation the Senators net their seventh via an empty net.

That’s basically the ball game. It wasn’t a penalty slop fest like last Saturday was, in fact I thought referees Matt Menniti and Luke Stork could have called some more penalties. The Pens went 1/1 on their only opportunity while Belleville went 1/2.

Here’s how they lined up, then I will post the Penguins goals. I’d love to post the Senators goals but they never bothered to.

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I appreciate the lineup card, but when you need a microscope to read it….

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Tiernan Shoudy was recalled from ECHL Floriday on Friday, with the announcement hitting the wire around 6:15 p.m. Other lineup notes were Brayden Edwards and Daniel Russell in for Tanner Howe (listed as injured) the recalled Rutger McGroarty and Avery Hayes, who was not officially recalled, but why else isn’t he in the lineup. Defensive changes saw Ryan Johnson and Phil Kemp in for the recalled Ilya Solovyov and Chase Pietila.

Okay here’s the Penguins goals.

Goals for Belleville went like this, Shane Bowers opened the scoring at 3:19, Samuel Blais followed at 4:03 – Wilkes-Barre could not match the Belleville speed exhibited. Later at 13:11 Tyler Boucher slammed home a juicy rebound that made it 3-0.

In the second, Xavier Bourgault threw a bucket of cold water on the Penguins who scored twice in the period prior at 12:21.

Tomasino opened the scoring in the third just :30 in, Boucher followed :11 into a power play at 3:37 for his second of the game and that was all she wrote there. There’s your turning point…Djibril Touré netted an empty netter from about 170 feet away at 13:29 to nail the extra point. Friday night lights and all.

Three stars were Phil Tomasino with a goal and three assists, Daniel Russell with a goal and an assist, Tyler Boucher with two goals in that order.

The Good: Power play seems like it could be an advantage?

The Bad: The start in the first was overcome by the effort in the second but the start of the third has the Penguins a .500 team. That’s not good.

Turning Point: The Boucher power play goal in the third gets it here. Last one to leave turn out the lights.

Around the Division: Charlotte wins 3-2 at home against Springfield….Hartford gets back in the win column with a 2-0 win at home over Providence. The Wolf Pack won despite bing outshot 35-17. Where have I seen that before?

Standings: Charlotte 10 – Hershey 8 – Hartford 8 – Penguins 7 – Lehigh Valley 7 – Springfield 6 – Providence 4

Florida Update: Everblades with a 5-0 win over the Atlanta Gladiators. Maleek McGown had a goal and two assists. Cam Johnson stopped 17 for the shutout and also logged and assist.

Video Highlights: 

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Back at it Saturday at 6:05 against Hartford. Talk to you then.

Let’s Go Pens!