Chirps from Center Ice

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In my opinion, this game was won in the first period.

The Penguins go up 2-0, but the Hershey Bears put 15 shots at Taylor Gauthier.

He stopped them all.

And the remaining 28 shots that followed in the second and third period.

It washes out as a 43 save shutout for Gauthier and a 5-0 Wilkes-Barre / Scranton win in Hershey on Sunday night. It was the most saves at the AHL level Gauthier makes in a game and a big win for the Penguins over a rival.

Here’s how they lined up…

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Lineup Notes: Rutger McGroarty was re-assigned to Wilkes-Barre Sunday morning and was in, Hugh McGing was. back from his one game absence on Friday for Daniel Russell and Brayden Edwards up front and Phil Kemp was in for an injured Harrison Brunicke on defense. Word from Kirk MacDonald pregame is a day to day thing and Brunicke could be ready next weekend in Charlotte.

First Period: Melvin Fernström marches straight down broadway to score at 6:58 to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead…

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That was just too easy.

With under a minute to play the Pens get some insurance from Bill Zonnon who slams one in with :48 to play and it’s 2-0 Penguins.

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Second Period: I am trying to figure out who the best defenseman is on the team and Jake Livanavage is making his case. He picks up an assist here as Rutger McGroarty deflects the shot from Livanavage to make it 3-0…

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Ilyin puts in his second of the contest here and it’s 4-0.

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Third Period: Hershey put 19 shots up in this period. The Penguins had 16 shots all game, including this one here from Rafaël Harvey-Pinard just:15 into the period that turns it into a runaway for the Penguins.

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Hershey set up camp in front of Taylor Gauthier and fired away, but Gauthier turned them all away. He wasn’t really challenged, and made the job of playing in goal look easy.

Only question was whether he would get a shutout and, as I called it on Friday, he did. Don’t believe me?

Give us a bold prediction…

I see a shutout looming, just don’t know whom. They take 3 of 4 points home.

Forget about the 3 of 4 points, we will settle for beating the rival, shutting them out, and focusing on first place Charlotte next weekend.

Three Stars: 3) Hugh McGing (two assists) 2) Phil Kemp (three assists) 1) Taylor Gauthier (43 save shutout)

The Good: They play better, and I don’t know why or how to explain it, in front of Taylor Gauthier. I would keep running him out there as #1 unless or until something happens otherwise.

The Bad: Nothing to see here.

Turning Point: Let’s give it to the McGroarty goal that made it 3-0. You kind of got the look from Gauthier after getting hit with the kitchen sink in the first that he wasn’t going to let a cheap one in. The hole got deeper for the Bears as the game went on.

Around the Division: Providence throttles Lehigh Valley 8-0…Hartford doubles up Springfield 4-2…Charlotte beats Iowa 5-4 in overtime.

Standings: Charlotte 16 – Hartford 13 – Hershey 12 – Penguins 11 – Providence 10 – Lehigh Valley and Springfield 9

The win one, lose one, win one, lose one run that they are in is not sustainable.

Florida Update: Everblades were off. They are in Jacksonville taking on the Icemen next Friday.

Video Highlights: 

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Have a great week and we will be back here Friday for the Weekend Preview which I have to (checks watch on this Sunday) get started on.

Let’s Go Pens!