Chirps from Center Ice

Seven AHL games on a Tuesday seems strange, but then I realized it’s likely all December COVID make ups, like the game being played tonight between the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins and the Hershey Bears.

No full weekend preview, as that will come later in the week for the three road games the Penguins play this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The Penguins, winners of two straight host the Hershey Bears who are 0-2-1 in their last three games. That one OT loss came at the hands of the Penguins, who battled back to tie and then beat Hershey in overtime on Friday. Wilkes-Barre won a too close for comfort game 6-5 over the Bridgeport Islanders on Saturday.

Hershey hosted the Providence Bruins on Easter Sunday and let a team full of still wet behind the ears rookies beat them 1-0. Michael Callahan, playing in his 11th game in the AHL, scored in the third period and Brandon Bussi, playing in his second game, records 26 saves for his first professional shutout in goal.

I think that says more about Boston / Providence’s scouting and depth, than it does anything else. I have always been amazed by teams who bring in players I have never heard of, playing in their first professional game or games, that come in and are an immediate factor for the opposing team.

With the loss Sunday, the Bears dipped to fifth in the Atlantic, while the Penguins took fourth. Hershey has four games left and has a 33-29-6-4 record. The Penguins have six games left and a 33-29-4-4 record. Simply put, these two teams play the same amount of games. Hershey has 76 points, the Penguins have 74. Wilkes-Barre has two games in hand on the Bears and this is the last regular season head to head matchup.

I think this is a First Round or Play-In, whatever you want to call it, preview. Neither team I think can get to third, and neither team is going to fall to sixth I don’t think. So the reality is that these teams are on a collision course to meet in the postseason, and what matters is who has the home ice advantage. If you want to look past qualifying for playoffs and focus on settling for the four seed, I won’t blame you.

I’d rather the Penguins finish fourth, because in a traditional playoff format, the top four teams in the division make it, instead of this nonsense of “expanded” playoffs.

Michael Zyla and Casey Terreri have the assignment Tuesday. The linesmen are John Rey and Tyler Loftus.

Bears close out their regular season with a home and home with Lehigh Valley and a Sunday home game against Hershey. The Penguins are on the road in Providence Friday, Springfield Saturday and Hartford Sunday. The two games in hand the Penguins have on the Bears won’t be used until the following week when they are in Syracuse next Friday and Allentown next Saturday. More on all this later this week with the official Weekend Preview.

More after the game tonight.

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Who: Hershey Bears

Where: Giant Center

When: 3:00 p.m.

Last Game: Last night in Allentown the Penguins won 2-1 in overtime. Alex D’Orio made 23 saves, Kasper Bjorkqvist scored his first goal of the season for the game winner….For Hershey, they hosted Binghamton yesterday and won 3-2. Connor McMichael had a goal and an assist in the win. With the win, the Bears won the North Division title, despite not even playing Syracuse, Rochester or Utica.

Last Meeting: May 1 in Wilkes-Barre, the Penguins lost 4-3 in overtime. Sam Miletic had a goal and an assist for the Pens but Connor McMichael scored in overtime to win it for the Bears.

Record: For WBS: 13-12-4-2 (32 pts.) — For HER: 23-7-2-0 (48 pts.) — UPDATE RECORD AND POINTS

Referees: Jordan Deckard / Rob Hennessey

Linesmen: Tom DellaFranco / Tom George

Why You Should Care: Last game of the season for both teams and you want your team to win their last game heading into the summer.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

Watch: AHLTV

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Who: Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Where: PPL Center

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Last Sunday in Allentown, the Pens lost 6-2. Felix Robert and Josh Currie scored for the Penguins. Lehigh Valley beat Binghamton 2-1 in Newark Wednesday. Zayde Wisdom assisted on both Phantoms goals. 

Last Meeting: Was last Sunday, recapped above. Brennan Saulnier scored a natural hat trick in the first period against the Penguins. The second time that has happened to Wilkes-Barre / Scranton this season.

Record: For WBS: 12-12-4-2 (30 pts.) — For LV: 18-7-3-1 (41 pts.)

Referees: Jordan Samuels-Thomas / Jeremy Tufts

Linesmen: John Rey / Jud Ritter

Why You Should Care: Thank god this farce of a forced season is almost over. 

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

Watch: AHLTV

Remaining Game: @ HER 5/16

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Who: Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Where: PPL Center

When: 3:05 p.m.

Last Game: Last night at home against Binghamton, the Penguins won 4-1. Nick Schilkey had a pair of goals and Tommy Nappier won his first game as a pro. Lehigh Valley played Hershey last night in Hershey and were shutout 3-0.

Last Meeting: April 28 in Wilkes-Barre, the Penguins won 2-1 in overtime. Tim Schaller had the game winner, Alex D’Orio stopped 41 shots on his birthday.

Record: For WBS: 12-11-4-2 (30 pts.) — For LV: 16-7-3-1 (37 pts.)

Referees:  Peter Schlittenhardt / Furman South

Linesmen: Tyler Loftus / J.P. Waleski

Why You Should Care: Penguins closed out their home set of the season and now have three road games with the first coming today in Allentown. Happy Mothers Day!

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

Watch: AHLTV

Remaining Games: @ LV 5/15, @ HER 5/16

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Who: Binghamton Devils

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 5:00 p.m.

Last Game: Wednesday at home against Binghamton, the Penguins doubled up the Devils 6-3. Anthony Angello and Josh Currie led the way with two goals and an assist each. Tyce Thompson had a goal and an assist in the loss. On Friday, the Devils hosted Hershey and lost 2-1. Reilly Walsh had a goal for the Devils in the loss.

Last Meeting: Was this past Wednesday, described above.

Record: For WBS: 11-11-4-2 (28 pts.) — For BNG: 6-17-5-2 (20 pts.)

Referees: Peter Schlittenhardt / Furman South

Linesmen: Colin Gates / J.P. Waleski

Why You Should Care: Last ever meeting between Wilkes-Barre and Binghamton today. The Devils are moving operations up north to Utica. Also, Alex D’Orio was recalled, so look for Tommy Nappier to be in the barrel today for the Penguins.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

Watch: AHLTV

Remaining Games: @ LV 5/9, @ LV 5/15, @ HER 5/16

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Who: Binghamton Devils

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:00 p.m.

Last Game: Saturday at home against Hershey the Pens were narrowly defeated 4-3 in overtime. Sam Miletic had a goal and an assist in the loss. For Binghamton, the Devils beat Lehigh Valley 4-2. Mason Jobst had a hand in every goal, scoring two and assisting on two others.

Last Meeting: April 30 in Newark, the Penguins won 3-1. Alex D’Orio had 23 saves for the win.

Record: For WBS: 10-11-4-2 (26 pts.) — For BNG: 6-15-5-2 (20 pts.)

Referees: Mike Dietrich / Conor O’Donnell

Linesmen: Ryan Knapp / Tyler Loftus

Why You Should Care: A chance to get to .500 tonight for the Penguins with a win tonight over Binghamton. Expect the debut of Kasper Bjorkqvist to make his debut for the Pens tonight after rejoining the team from his stint overseas.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

Watch: AHLTV

Remaining Games: vs. BNG 5/8, @ LV 5/9, @ LV 5/15, @ HER 5/16

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Who: Hershey Bears

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 5:00 p.m.

Last Game: Last night in Newark against Binghamton, the Pens won 3-1. Alex D’Orio continued his hot week with 23 saves against the Devils. For Hershey, the Bears beat Binghamton 4-3 in a shootout on Wednesday. Matt Moulson had two goals and an assist.

Last Meeting: This past Sunday in Wilkes-Barre, the Pens broke out for six goals and beat the Bears 6-3. Josh Currie had a pair of goals and an assist, Kyle Olson had a goal and two assists for the Penguins.

Record: For WBS: 10-11-3-2 (25 pts.) — For HER: 18-6-2-0 (38 pts.)

Referees: Jordan Deckard / Mason Riley

Linesmen: Richard Jondo / Jud Ritter

Why You Should Care: Ahh, I am sure the Bears are itching to try to get back at the Penguins after that pasting Wilkes-Barre laid on them this past Sunday.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

Watch: AHLTV

Next Five Games: vs. BNG 5/5, vs. BNG 5/8, @ LV 5/9, @ LV 5/15, @ HER 5/16