Chirps from Center Ice

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0                            6

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Is it a good thing or a bad thing that this was the only game of the weekend for the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins?

It can be both.

It can be both good and bad that they don’t have to go out there and embarrass themselves again this weekend after a lifeless effort in Syracuse where they were down 3-0 before the game was even five minutes old, didn’t record a shot until the thirteen minute mark of the period and were down 5-0 after the first period where they only recorded four shots on goal.

It’s bad, sure, that they lost 6-0, but they are missing a bunch of regulars and can use this time in between games together those bodies healed.

That’s the hope.

Here’s how they lined up:

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Lineup Notes: Egor Zamula, acquired in a trade for Philip Tomasino, didn’t report to the team and was suspended. Max Graham and Brayden Edwards drew in up from for the traded Tomasino and the released William Dufour. Ryan Graves and Finn Harding, returning from injury, replaced David Breazeale and Scooter Brickey on defense.

First Period: I have time since I do these in between intermissions when they are on the road, so let’s kick off this disaster of a period.

More pylon work by Matt Dumba, Syracuse scores on it’s first shot of the game when Tristan Allard scores on the Crunch’s first shot of the game:

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Then the Penguins take a penalty and Syracuse makes quick work of the man advantage and score with a Dylan Duke goal that gives the Crunch a 2-0 lead.

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Then, on a delayed penalty against the Penguins, ex-Penguin Jared Tinordi lays into one and it’s 3-0.

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This is 4:34 into the game!

The Penguins didn’t record a shot on goal until Matt Dumba, who was a -4 in the period, took a shot that was saved by Brandon Halverson.

A turnover by Ryan Graves and Jakob Pelletier scores.

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Conor Geekie just blows past Matt Dumba and blows one past Sergei Murashov with under a minute to play and it’s 5-0.

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They were collectively bad, but that was a shot that Murashov should have had.

It would be the last shot he would see.

Second Period: Enter Filip Larsson. I don’t know if the Crunch let off at all after that ass kicking in the first period or what, but he was miles better than Sergei Murashov.

The Penguins took some penalties which killed any scant momentum that they were trying to build down five, but there was no scoring in the period.

Third Period: The Crunch score :45 into a carry over penalty from the second period with a goal by Nick Abruzzese.

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The game devolved into a penalty slop fest after that. One of the hurdles not mentioned is Brandon Halverson has the Penguins number whenever he tends net for the Crunch so you really have to be good to beat him. Down a zillion with two orange pylons acting as defensemen with a bunch of ECHL slop acting as forwards while all of your good players are either hurt or sitting in Pittsburgh press boxes is going to make easy work for the defending Hap Holmes winner.

Three Stars: 3) Jakob Pelletier (goal, assist) 2) Conor Geekie (goal, two assists) 1) Jared Tinordi (Goa, two assists, fight, 27 PIMs)

The Good: This space for rent.

The Bad: I’d sit Murashov next Friday in Charlotte. He’s been as bad as the team playing in front of him. Mix in a save, pal. He maybe could have had the Pelletier and Geekie shots and letting the first one in is a bad look. I’d also leave Matt Dumba off in Binghamton on the way back home to Wilkes-Barre, but you can’t do that.

Around the Division: Hartford beats Springfield 4-1….Lehigh Valley beats Belleville 3-1…Cleveland beats Charlotte 6-3 (finally some good news) and Hershey beats Rockford 5-4.

Standings: Penguins 47 – Providence 45 – Charlotte and Lehigh Valley 38 – Hershey 31 – Springfield 30 – Hartford and Springfield 27

Wheeling Update: Nailers win 4-1 at home against the Bloomington Bison. Half of their team is here and yet they are having better results with guys up from the SPHL and Federal Leagues. Taylor Gauthier stopped 31.

Video Highlights: No thanks!

They will have a week of practice to heal, regroup, and hopefully have a better, more competitive effort in Charlotte for a pair. They are in a gauntlet right now with their next three games against Charlotte twice, and Providence the following Wednesday, all on the road.

My pool is a block of ice, so I will be here for all of it, good or bad.

Let’s Go Pens!

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6                               2

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Another throttling by the Charlotte Checkers to the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins on Tuesday night. 6-2 was the final. The Checkers didn’t look like a team playing in its third game in three days in three different cities at all. The Penguins had a great start, but let the Checkers settle in and take control and a 2-0 lead after one turned into a 5-1 lead after the second before settling on 6-2.

But for a handful of players, basically the third and fourth line, David Breazeale and Scooter Brickey, they sucked from the arse out Tuesday against an opponent that is good, and possibly better than they are as well as Providence.

Matt Dumba may be one of the worst players to ever come through here. The guy does not care. He doesn’t want to be here and it shows in laughable, glaring ways.

Dumba was a -4, or just about a million (he makes $3.75M / year I believe) per defensive lapse.

I’m not going to pile on because it’s a work night and at its base it ain’t that deep.

Here’s how they lined up and then we will get into the recap…

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Lineup Notes: Add Gabe Klassen and Aiden McDonough to the injured list. I didn’t listen to Nick Hart pregame so I can’t tell you what he didn’t as far as injuries go. Coal Street recalled Max Graham from the Wheeling Nailers earlier in the day. The annual erosion of the team due to injuries, call-ups or trades has begun.

Aaron Huglen returned from his upper body injury. He was wearing a bubble so if I had to guess a fractured orbital bone or jaw.

On the waivers front, Danton Heinen cleared but was traded to Columbus. He’s with AHL Cleveland now. Ryan Graves is now on waivers.

Sccoter Brickey and Matt Dumba were in on defense for Brent Johnson and Tommy Budnick.

First Period: Lots of shots by the Penguins who tried to bury Cooper Black and the Checkers early but no dice.

Sergei Murashov goes to cover a puck, misses and Hunter St. Martin puts it in for a 1-0 Checkers lead.

(on a work night with the Penguins giving up six, you’ll excuse me if I don’t post the oppositions goals. The fine folks at the Charlotte Checkers Twitter feed have them all if you really want to see them)

:55 later, Sandis Vilmanis scored after a failed clear by the Penguins.

Usually the run of the team goes that if they can’t clear and get scored on, its’ going to be one of those nights.

Second Period: Owen Pickering and Phil Kemp caught napping as Brett Chorskie scores at 3:04. Whatever was said in the first intermission didn’t resonate.

Wilmer Skoog then scored unabated in the slot. 4-0 Checkers.

Ever see a chicken with its head cut off? Watch this!

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No idea what Dumba is doing there, what he is watching or what he is reading. Perhaps wishing he was anywhere but here, watching the pretty girls walking by on the concourse or reading a road map to the nearest beach.

Welcome back Aaron Huglen! He tips in this Owen Pickering shot and the Penguins are on the board.

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Late, :32 into a power play, Robert Mastrosimone scores and it’s 5-1.

Third Period: Enter Filip Larsson, who stopped 14 of 15 shots.

More defensive masterclass by Mr, Dumba, who loses Robert Mastrosimone who finds Brian Pinho and it’s 6-1 Checkers.

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(I know I said I wouldn’t but Dumba sucked tonight and I want you to see why)

Raivis Ansons finds Joona Koppanen and it’s 6-2.

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Penguins made a bit of a late push but couldn’t muster anything else.

Three Stars: 3) Sandis Vilmanis (goal, assist) 2) Brett Chorskie (goal, assist) 1) Robert Mastrosimone (goal, two assists)

The Good: I can’t think of anything. If you can, use the comment section below.

The Bad: Matt Dumba will probably be in the lineup on Saturday in Syracuse.

Turning Point: The Mastrosimone goal that made it 5-1 sealed their fate. There was no way a good team like Charlotte was giving up four goals in the third period.

Around the Division: They all watched us.

Standings: Penguins 47 – Providence 43 – Charlotte 38 – Lehigh Valley 34 – Hershey 29 – Springfield 26 – Hartford and Bridgeport 25

Games in Hand: Providence now with six, will burn off one Wednesday in Springfield and another in Hartford on Friday. The Checkers have four games in hand. Every team in the division does because the Penguins have played the most games so far (33)

Wheeling Update: Nailers were off.

Video Highlights: No thanks!

Programming Note: With one game this weekend we return to the retro “Gameday” setups I used to run here in lieu of a Weekend Preview. I may mix it up with who all is playing who, but look for that Saturday morning.

Have a safe New Years.

Let’s Go Pens!

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3                             4

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I think I found the weakness with this team.

It’s the shootout.

Another shootout loss, this time to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Sunday afternoon. The Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins get a point, but fall in the shootout round 2-0 and lose the game 4-3 via shootout.

They were tenacious all day, but the lack of leveraged scoring like you saw Saturday against Hershey wasn’t there. They get a pair of goals from Rafaël Harvey-Pinard and David Breazeale gets his first AHL goal, and Lehigh Valley chips away and gets the game to a shootout and wins.

Them’s the brakes sometimes. You want to get points when you are giving away games in hand to Providence, who now has five games and will have six after Tuesday.

Here’s how they lined up ⬇️

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Lineup Notes: I am just going to leave this here…

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Partridge in a pear tree.

Coal Street recalled Tommy Budnick and Brent Johnson, who both slotted in for Laatsch and Aho.

Good news? Danton Heinen is on waivers again and if no one claims him he should get re-assigned back to Wilkes-Barre which could help Tuesday against Charlotte.

First Period: I mean you can break all of the defensemen really, it doesn’t matter. The structure is there and the goaltender’s are otherworldly. I tried to watch specially in the period to see if there were any holes and didn’t see any. Anything that made it through was stopped by Joel Blomqvist.

Rafaël Harvey-Pinard scored off a very nice pass from Valtteri Puustinen to give the Penguins a quick 1-0 lead.

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Gabe Klassen dropped to Harvey-Pinard who passed to Puustinen and went straight back to Harvey-Pinard for the goal.

I am telling you this is a guy I am dying to see break out.

With the assist, Puustinen passes Kris Beech in assist and makes it to 5th place and is 11 points away from 2nd in team franchise points.

Shots were 10-10 after the first period.

Second Period: Ask, and you will receive…

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They kind of needed it, because they fell into penalty trouble again. Despite getting away clean Saturday at home against Hershey, Lehigh Valley nipped them twice on the power play.

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Lane Pederson there. Nice play, drawing the attention away from Pederson. Pass needs to be true and it was. Great goal.

The Penguins lost Aidan McDonough to injury after he took a shoulder / elbow from Devin Kaplan. No call on the play and McDonough didn’t return.

Tucker Robertsson tied the game on a nice shot that tied the game on the power play in the final minute of the period.

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Third Period: Lehigh Valley didn’t wait long before taking the lead on an Oscar Eklind goal.

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Unfortunate series here. Blomqvist drops a saves me makes 99 times out of a 100 and there’s Eklind waiting like a rat looking for the loose crumbs.

The Penguins didn’t wait long for an instant response off of the stick of David Breazeale, for his first AHL goal that tied the game :31 later….

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No other scoring and it was off to…

Overtime: Penguins had the games last 1:09 of overtime on the power play and failed to score after a timeout.

Shootout: Tucker Robertson and Cooper Marody scored in the top of the first and second, Valtteri Puustinen hit the post and Phil Tomasino was not successful in the bottom of the first and second and that was it.

Three Stars: 3) Rafaël Harvey-Pinard (two goals, assist) 2) Tucker Robertson (goal, shootout goal) 1) Lane Pederson (goal, assist)

The Good: I can’t complain about the point, in the scope of things. But they left a lot out there, I thought.

The Bad: Besides losing another player to possible injury, the lack of any kind of guaranteed scoring is a problem here. Tomasino and Broz have been quiet, and you can’t rely on Calvert, Klassen and Ansons lighting up the score sheet like they have been. Getting Heinen through waivers and here Tuesday would be a decent offensive boost. You hope!

Turning Point: The failure to score on the power play in overtime gets it here.

Around the Division: Springfield beats Bridgeport in overtime 4-3. Hershey is hosting Charlotte in a game that started at 5. That box is here.

Standings: Penguins 47 – Providence 43 – the rest of the standings are here. Check this out if you want after the Bears / Checkers game goes final.

Wheeling Update: Nailers were off.

Video Highlights: AHL VideoCenter is your best bet.

More Tuesday after the Penguins host the Checkers in their last game of 2025.

Let’s Go Pens!

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2                              5

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A pair of goals from Gabe Klassen, one from Raivis Ansons and Nolan Renwick plus a power play goal from Phil Tomasino, all in the first period, is enough to stand up and defeat the Hershey Bears 5-2 on Saturday night in Wilkes-Barre.

With Sam Poulin a distant memory and the offense sputtering at times, it’s nice to see depth take over and pull this team to another victory.

Here’s how they lined up…

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Lineup Notes: Nolan Renwick for Avery Hayes, Hayes was reported as injured. Sebastian Aho returned from injury, David Breazeale was recalled from Wheeling and replaced Matt Dumba and Scooter Brickey.

First Period: Talk about starting on time. They score five goals, every player on the fourth line scored and led Hershey 5-1 at the end of the first period where they outshoot the Bears 13-3 in the period.

Nolan Renwick started early with a goal at 2:04. Phil Kemp crashes the net and here’s Renwick picking up the loose change.

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First AHL goal of the season for Renwick.

Raivis Ansons off the face-off at 3:36 and it started to get the feel of a runaway train…

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But hold on, Bogdan Trineyev scored in the slot to cut the deficit to one.

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But that just pissed off the Penguins.

Gabe Klassen would score back to back goals of the highlight reel variety.

A snipe at 10:58 at the expiration of a Hershey power play….

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…and then this backhand shot that beats Garin Bjorklund for good, enter Clay Stevenson.

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Stevenson would get scored on with a Phil Tomasino power play goal here that pushes the score to 5-1.

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Whew. That’s a lot of goals. You would expect more in the second period right?

Second Period: Wrong. It devolved into a penalty slop fest. Some of the penalties I thought sucked on both sides of the whistle by refs Austin O’Rourke and Chris Conway. I thought the Bears were victimized more by some terrible calls.

Third Period: Ivan Miroshnichenko scores just 1:12 in and here’s where you think the Bears start mounting their comeback, right?

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Uh-uh, brother. More penalty slop from O’Rourke / Conway and that was it.

Sadly, the Bears are just the offensive output of Miroshnichenko, Trineyev and sometimes Ilya Protas. That’s it. I really don’t know any of the names on the roster save for Louie Belpedio and a few others. Gone are the days where they had every day, lethal scorers.

Here’s a tweet from Mark Divver who covers the Providence Bruins that I think word for word you can apply to the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins.

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The Penguins outworked the Bears tonight, and outwork a lot of opponents every night.

Three Stars: 3) Nolan Renwick (goal) 2) Raivis Ansons (goal, assist) 1) Gabe Klassen (two goals)

The Good: That first period was something, wasn’t it?

The Bad: They did nothing in the second and third period and took a boatload of unnecessary penalties.

Turning Point: The first Klassen goal, right after the Penguins killed the penalty after Hershey had scored back in the first gets it here. Hershey scoring to tie it at. two and I think it’s a different outcome.

Around the Division: Lehigh Valley / Charlotte was postponed because the Checkers had travel issues. Charlotte will end up playing a three in three with Hershey Sunday, making up the game they were supposed to play with the Phantoms on Monday and then seeing the Penguins Tuesday.

With that out of the way, Providence pounds the Springfield Thunderbirds 7-1…Hartford beats Bridgeport 5-2.

Standings: Penguins 46 – Providence 43 – Charlotte 32 – Lehigh Valley 31 – Hershey 29 – Hartford 25 – Springfield and Bridgeport 24

Wheeling Update: The ECHL is on strike, but I think we are back.

It should be noted that any Penguins player on contact to either Wilkes-Barre or Pittsburgh was recalled to Wilkes-Barre. Not every AHL team did that for their ECHL affiliate.

Video Highlights: 

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Back at it Sunday with the Phantoms. More then.

Let’s Go Pens!