Chirps from Center Ice

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Wilkes-Barre / Scranton gives away a point that they are going to wish they had in a few months as they lose 4-3 in overtime Friday night in Hershey. The Penguins were up 3-1 in the third period fresh off of an Avery Hayes shorthanded goal, but it was a knuckle puck and a questionable pass in the slot that ended up in the back of their nets that got the game to overtime for the Hershey Bears, and then a questionable play by Penguins net minder Taylor Gauthier allows OT hero Josh Dunne to score in an empty net.

Regroup, get ready for Hamilton on Saturday night.

Here’s how they lined up:

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Lineup Notes: Pens made a recall in the form of Jack Horbach on Wednesday and sent back then recalled David Breazeale from Florida. Breazeale for Jake Livanavage was the only lineup change.

First Period: Penguins would strike first on the power play with Hugh McGing here at 10:25 that made it 1-0 Wilkes-Barre…

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Hershey would respond a few minutes later with Lynden Lakovic who would get shot like a bat of out of hell behind the Penguins defense and beat Taylor Gauthier for a goal that tied the game at 14:59.

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The Pens would find themselves in penalty trouble late but navigated out of it fine to the….

Second Period: Penguins would continue the parade to the penalty box. I thought the Bears fell too easy with sticks in their skates but refs Chris Conway and Bobby Jo Love bought it. As a result, Wilkes-Barre was badly outshot, but the Penguins would edge ahead when Harrison Brunicke would score in a scrum here at 10:26 that made it 2-1.

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Avery Hayes would fight Petr Sikura after Sikura would elbow Atley Calvert. Clavert would be fine.

Third Period: Hayes would score shorthanded at 2:14 that extended the Penguins lead to 3-1.

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But then the Bears would start their come back. Atley Calvert throws a puck in the slot that is intercepted and put in at 7:07 here by Spencer Smallman…

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Penguins momentum would get snuffed out by more penalties. Hershey would build on this momentum and score to tie the game on a knuckle shot that perplexes Gauthier and it’s a tie game at three.

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Wilkes-Barre did not have a power play in the period which would then head to…

Overtime: Thrill a minute at times, but then Hershey would win a face-off, race up ice, Taylor Gauthier would come way out, challenge, put the puck in a dangerous area and Josh Dunne would score the game winner that gives the Bears the extra point.

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No penalty for goaltender interference, Gauthier leaves the crease and is, “fair game” here.

Three Stars: 3) Cal Petersen (26 saves) 2) Louie Belpedio (goal) 1) Josh Dunne (goal, assist)

The Good: The Penguins overcame a lot of things that earned them a point.

The Bad: The Penguins did a lot of things bad (penalties, puck decisions, questionable goaltender decisions in overtime) that gave away a point they are going to wish they had in a few months.

Turning Point: As they often do, the Dunne goal in overtime gets it here.

Around the Division: Lehigh Valley beats Hamilton 3-0…Providence beats Springfield 3-2 in a shootout.

Standings: Charlotte 19 – Hershey 18 – Hartford 17 – Penguins 16 – Providence 16 – Lehigh Valley 13 – Springfield 12

Florida Update: Box for the Everblades game against the South Carolina Stingrays (who happen to be the ECHL affiliate of the Hershey Bears) is here as that game isn’t final yet.

Video Highlights: 

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Back at it Saturday against the Hamilton Hammers.

Let’s Go Pens!