Chirps from Center Ice

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Who: Charlotte Checkers

Where: Bojangles’ Coliseum

When: 6:00 p.m.

Last Game / Last Meeting: Last night in Charlotte, the Penguins won 5-4. Cole Cassels figured into every single goal, scoring two and assisting on three others. David Warsofsky also had a big game, scoring a pair of goals and assisting on two others. Charlotte’s Eetu Luostarinen had a goal and an assist for the Checkers in the loss

Record: For WBS: 21-16-3-4 (49 pts., 6th place Atlantic Division) // For CHA: 24-15-3-0 (51 pts., 4th place Atlantic Division)

Referees: Corey Syvret / Jason Williams

Linesmen: Tyson Baker / Tim Lyons

Why You Should Care: Wilkes-Barer can, with help from out of town, get to fourth place in the Atlantic with a win tonight and tie the Checkers in points. But before you count points you don’t have, the Penguins need to take care of business again here against the Checkers. Don’t expect another five point night from Cole Cassels, but expect the Penguins to play a similar style to what they had going last night.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

Watch: AHLTV is back for another season and better than ever.

Other Game to Watch: That, “help from out of town” I was talking about earlier involves the Bridgeport Sound Tigers beating the Springfield Thunderbirds.

Next Five Games: vs. LV 1/31, vs. BRI 2/1, vs. BNG 2/5, vs. HER 2/7, vs. LV 2/8

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Who: Charlotte Checkers

Where: Bojangles’ Coliseum

When: 7:00 p.m.

Last Game: Tuesday in San Antonio, Jordy Bellerive scored an overtime game winner to get the Penguins a sweep over the Rampage. For Charlotte, the Checkers were in action on Sunday at home against Toronto and won 7-3. Morgan Geekie had two goals and an assist.

Last Meeting: January 8 in Wilkes-Barre, the Checkers won 6-3. Steven Lorentz had a pair of goals and an assist in the win. Anthony Angello and Adam Johnson had a goal and and assist each.

Record: For WBS: 20-16-3-4 (47 pts., 6th place Atlantic Division) // For CHA: 24-14-3-0 (51 pts., 4th place Atlantic Division)

Referees: Corey Syvret / Jason Williams

Linesmen: Tyson Baker / Terry Wicklum

Why You Should Care: Wilkes-Barre have a full compliment of players for this important weekend series against Charlotte. Sam Lafferty, all star Andrew Agozzino and Kevin Czuczman are back from Pittsburgh. If the Penguins can’t beat Charlotte with this lineup, then the Penguins probably are going to struggle to get to the fourth place line the remainder of the season if these players get recalled when Pittsburgh returns from bye. We aren’t in must win territory yet, but it’s definitely, “it would be nice to win” territory.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

Watch: AHLTV is back for another season and better than ever.

Other Game to Watch: Belleville visits Utica in a battle fo North Division titans.

Next Five Games: @ CHA 1/25, vs. LV 1/31, vs. BRI 2/1, vs. BNG 2/5, vs. HER 2/7

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Who: San Antonio Rampage

Where: AT&T Center

When: 8:00 p.m.

Last Game / Last Meeting: Saturday night in San Antonio, the Penguins won in a shootout 4-3. Jordy Bellerive had a pair of goals in regulation and had the shootout game winner. Jake Walman went goal for goal with Bellerive, scoring a pair of goals of his own for the Rampage.

Record: For WBS: 19-16-3-4 (45 pts., 6th place Atlantic Division) // For SA: 14-17-5-5 (38 pts., 8th place Central Division)

Referees: Stephen Reneau / Alex Ross

Linesmen: Fred Hudy / Carl Sasyn

Why You Should Care: Wilkes-Barre can sweep the Rampage in San Antonio tonight with some minor adjustments. The Rampage can equally split the series with the Penguins with the same adjustments. Which coach out coaches the other?

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

Watch: AHLTV is back for another season and better than ever.

Other Game to Watch: Nothing going on in the division tonight, so it’s Belleville visiting Milwaukee in a North / Central matchup.

Next Five Games: @ CHA 1/24, @ CHA 1/25, vs. LV 1/31, vs. BRI 2/1, vs. BNG 2/5

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Who: San Antonio Rampage

Where: AT&T Center

When: 8:00 p.m.

Last Game: Last night in Cedar Park, the Penguins met the Texas Stars for the final time this regular season and lost in a shootout 4-3 Emil Larmi came in on relief for started Dustin Tokarski and stopped 24 of 25 in probably his best game as a Penguin. Kevin Roy had a goal and two assists. For the Rampage, they hosted the Toronto Marlies on Thursday and won 4-3. Cam Darcy and Klim Kostin each had a goal and an assist in the win.

Last Meeting: October 26 in WIlkes-Barre, the Penguins won in overtime 5-4. The impact players in that game for the Penguins aren’t with the team anymore. Stefan Noesen had two goals and an assist, Joseph Cramarossa had the overtime game winning goal and also had an assist. Mike Vecchione, who is still with San Antonio and actually had a goal Thursday against the Marlies, scored a pair against the Penguins on that night in October.

Record: For WBS: 18-16-3-4 (43 pts., 6th place Atlantic Division) // For SA: 14-17-5-4 (37 pts., 8th place Central Division)

Referees: Mathieu Menniti / Brett Roeland

Linesmen: Fred Hudy / Chase Wilkinson

Why You Should Care: Wilkes-Barre played better after the goaltending switch yesterday. Do they carry any of that over in San Antonio tonight? The Rampage are in last in the Central but don’t let that fool you, they can be a dangerous team to play against.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

Watch: AHLTV is back for another season and better than ever.

Other Game to Watch: Hartford visits Hershey tonight. The Bears were swept this week in Charlotte and the Wolf Pack were in Utica last night. Should be a good game.

Next Five Games: @ SA 1/21, @ CHA 1/24, @ CHA 1/25, vs. LV 1/31, vs. BRI 2/1

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Who: Texas Stars

Where: H-E-B Center at Cedar Park

When: 8:00 p.m.

Last Game / Last Meeting: Wednesday in Texas, the Penguins lost 5-2. Adam Johnson and Kevin Roy scored for the Pens, but Tanner Kero for the Stars came away with the hat trick.

Record: For WBS: 18-16-3-3 (42 pts., 6th place Atlantic Division) // For TEX: 18-17-2-2 (40 pts., 4th place Central Division)

Referees: Mathieu Menniti / Brett Roeland

Linesmen: Aaron Schacht / Michael Miggans

Why You Should Care: Penguins can’t have a repeat performance from Wednesday where they were badly outshot and steamrolled in the third period. They also need to kick it in gear here, coming into the weekend here they are five points out of a playoff spot.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

Watch: AHLTV is back for another season and better than ever.

Other Game to Watch: Binghamton, probably one of the hottest teams in the AHL if you can believe it, have won eight in a row and visit Allentown to take on the Phantoms.

Next Five Games: @ SA 1/18, @ SA 1/21, @ CHA 1/24, @ CHA 1/25, vs. LV 1/31

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Who: Texas Stars

Where: H-E-B Center at Cedar Park

When: 8:00 p.m.

Last Game: Saturday at home against the Hartford Wolf Pack, the Penguins won 3-0. Casey DeSmith had a 25 save shutout, his third clean sheet of the year. Kevin Roy scored his first with the Pens. For Texas, the Stars defeated the Toronto Marlies on Saturday and won 5-3. Stephen Johns had a goal and three assists after a long layoff from injury.

Last Meeting: December 7 in Wilkes-Barre, the Penguins lost 5-3. Jason Robertson had a pair of first period of assists for the Stars, Landon Bow stopped 26 shots. David Warsofsky and Sam Miletic both had a goal and an assist in the loss.

Record: For WBS: 18-15-3-3 (42 pts., 6th place Atlantic Division) // For TEX: 17-17-2-2 (38 pts., 5th place Central Division)

Referees: Jordan Deckard / Beau Halkidis

Linesmen: Fred Hudy / Aaron Schacht

Why You Should Care: Good opportunity for the Penguins to start this season long road trip off on the right foot with the way that they played Friday and Saturday tonight in Texas. The Stars should make for a good test, as they have won four in a row.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

Watch: AHLTV is back for another season and better than ever.

Other Game to Watch: Hershey and Charlotte play Game 2 in their midweek matchup in North Carolina. Last night, the Checkers got the better of the Bears by a 4-1 score.

Next Five Games: @ TEX 1/17, @ SA 1/18, @ SA 1/21, @ CHA 1/24, @ CHA 1/25

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Who: Hartford Wolf Pack

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Last night at home against Hershey the Penguins lost 2-1 in a shootout. Jamie Devane had they only goal for the Pens in regulation. For Hartford, the Wolf Pack doubled up the Charlotte Checkers 6-3 last night. Vinni Lettieri had a goal and three assists. Danny O’Regan had two goals.

Record: For WBS: 17-15-3-3 (40 pts., 6th place Atlantic Division) // For HFD: 23-8-2-5 (53 pts., 1st place Atlantic Division)

Referees: Conor O’Donnell / Ted Anstett

Linesmen: J.P. Waleski / Luke Murray

Why You Should Care: Hartford comes in on a six game winning streak and the Penguins, while they played great last night, have lost five straight. It’s the first time these teams have played each other all season and should be a good measuring stick for the Penguins on how they stack up against this really good Hartford side.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

Watch: AHLTV is back for another season and better than ever.

Other Game to Watch: Fourth place Providence travels to third place Springfield. The Thunderbirds have been rolling and the P-Bruins have been on a skid. Should be an interesting one to keep and eye on.

Promotion(s): McDONALD’S FAN-TASTIC DEAL – The Penguins face off with he Hartford WolfPack on another McDonald’s FAN-Tastic Night.  Fans can purchase a ticket for the game, and receive a free Penguins hat, as well as a voucher good for a free McDonald’s Value Meal starting at just $15.  Get your FAN-Tastic tickets (while supplies last) by calling the Penguins at 570-208-7367 or online below.*

Next Five Games: @ TEX 1/15, @ TEX 1/17, @ SA 1/18, @ SA 1/21, @ CHA 1/24

* – promo information credit to http://www.wbspenguins.com/promo-schedule/