Chirps from Center Ice

         vs.        

2                               3

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Finn Harding had himself a third period.

A goal, to go with two assists, and the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins used a big third period to down the Hartford Wolf Pack 3-2 Saturday night in Wilkes-Barre.

Here’s how they lined up:

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Lineup Notes: But for lineup shuffling none to speak of.

First Period: Wilkes-Barre had a power play come and a power play go, but they went scoreless after the first 20 minutes.

Second Period: Glenn Gawdin unleashed a shot from the slot that Taylor Gauthier tracked and was on but a split second late on. In the ECHL, he probably makes that save, here, it beat him for a 1-0 Hartford lead.

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Really felt like a lifeless game for the Penguins to this point. No real jam, goaltender keeping them in it.

Third Period: Penguins catch a break when, :12 into a Finn Harding tripping penalty Marc Del Gaizo unleashes a slapshot that beats Gauthier, but Kirk MacDonald challenges it for offsides and wins. Shout out to video man Ryan Lennon for the call and the challenge.

Harding later atones for the penalty and scores here to tie the game at one at 10:27

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Just over four minutes later, the Penguins would go ahead with a deflection goal here from Tristan Broz at 14:34

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Wilkes-Barre fell into penalty trouble late, and then with Harrison Brunicke in the box for the second time in the period, Juuso Pärssinen would connect on a power play goal that was onside and tied the game at two late, with Hartford goaltender Callum Tung pulled for the extra attacker.

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Penguins could have packed it in and played for overtime.

Owen Pickering was having none of that philosophy.

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We talk about defense and we talk about secondary scoring. Any team wishes they had it on a consistent basis and when you do, you normally win hockey games.

Maybe this game will be the kickstarter to get Pickering going. Maybe it’s the game that gets them all going.

Three Stars: 3) Tristan Broz (goal) 2) Finn Harding (goal, two assists) 1) Owen Pickering (goal)

The Good: Way to pick yourselves off the mat twice in the third period and find a way to win.

The Bad: Should it have been that close? I don’t know. Maybe? I don’t know if that’s good or bad long term.

Turning Point: I thought he was off his nut, but the challenge for offsides that took the Del Gaizo goal off the board energized the Penguins to tie it, and they rode that momentum wave to pick themselves off the mat a second time when they were legally scored on for the tying power play goal from Pärssinen.

Around the Division: Herhsey scores five unanswered to beat Belleville 5-2….Syracuse beats Lehigh Valley 7-2….Springfield edges Charlotte 2-1 and Providence downs Utica 5-2.

Standings: Hershey and Charlotte 10 – Penguins 9 – Hartford and Springfield 8 – Lehigh Valley 7 – Providence 6

Florida Update: The Everblades hosted the Atlanta Gladiators and won 4-2. Devon Paliani had a hat trick. Cam Johnson started again and won, stopping 23.

Video Highlights: 

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Have a great week everyone and we will talk next Friday setting up the weekend with the Comets and Bears.

Let’s Go Pens!