Chirps from Center Ice

@     

–

Who: Charlotte Checkers

Where: Bojangles’ Coliseum

When: 6:00 p.m.

Last Game / Last Meeting: Last night in Charlotte, the Penguins won 5-1. Tristan Jarry stopped 28 of 29 shots, Teddy Blueger and Anthony Angello both had a goal and an assist each. Andrew Poturalski scored for the Checkers.

Record: For WBS: 19-15-4-1 (43 pts., 4th place Atlantic Division) // For CHA: 27-9-3-0 (57 pts., 1st place Atlantic Division)

Referees: Michael Markovic / Brandon Blandina

Linesmen: Paul Carnathan / Ken Radolinski

Why You Should Care: Last night was fun, wasn’t it? Tonight should be different because Charlotte is well coached and too talented to have a repeat performance from last night. But expect the Pens to bring the same starch that got them the win last night. Wilkes-Barre can really start to open some eyes around the division if they manage to somehow sweep the Checkers clean with another regulation win tonight.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

Watch: AHLTV is new and improved and a lot cheaper. Tonight’s game is also free on AHL TV, provided you have an account.

Other Game to Watch: Providence has been good of recent, they travel to Springfield who the Pens are neck and neck with right now for the four seed in the Atlantic.

Next Five Games: vs. RCH 1/18, vs. HER 1/19, vs. LV 1/21, @ BRI 1/23, @ BNG 1/26

@     

–

Who: Charlotte Checkers

Where: Bojangles’ Coliseum

When: 7:00 p.m.

Last Game: Last Saturday at home against Milwaukee, the Pens lost 5-3. Anthony Angello had a goal and an assist in the loss. For Charlotte, the Checkers shutout the Toronto Marlies 5-0 on this past Sunday. Alex Nedeljkovic had a 34 save shutout. Five different Checkers scored.

Last Meeting: November 17 in Wilkes-Barre, the Penguins lost 6-5 in overtime. Adam Johnson had a pair of goals but Aleksi Saarela scored at 1:26 of overtime.

Record: For WBS: 18-15-4-1 (41 pts., 4th place Atlantic Division) // For CHA: 27-8-3-0 (57 pts., 1st place Atlantic Division)

Referees: Michael Markovic / Brandon Blandina

Linesmen: Tim Lyons / Scott Senger

Why You Should Care: Penguins head to Charlotte to take on the best team in the AHL this weekend for a two game set. Very important series for a Penguins team who has been playing better as of late and probably better than the last time they played the Checkers. Limit mistakes and see what happens against a Charlotte team that doesn’t quit.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

Watch: AHLTV is new and improved and a lot cheaper. Tonight’s game is also available on Facebook Watch.

Other Game to Watch: Chicago heads to Tucson for a weekend series against the Roadrunners. Last time these teams met it was a good series.

Next Five Games: @ CHA 1/12, vs. RCH 1/18, vs. HER 1/19, vs. LV 1/21, @ BRI 1/23

vs.     

–

Who: Milwaukee Admirals

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Last night against Grand Rapids, the Penguins won 3-2 in a shootout. Ryan Haggerty had two goals in regulation and Joseph Cramarossa scored the only goal in the shootout in the bottom of the third. For Milwaukee, the Admirals were last in action on Wednesday in Rockford and won 2-1. Troy Grosenick stopped 34 shots.

Record: For WBS: 18-14-4-1 (41 pts., 4th place Atlantic Division) // For MIL: 17-12-5-1 (40 pts., 5th place Central Division)

Referees: Mitch Dunning / Alex Ross

Linesmen: Tom DellaFranco / J.P. Waleski

Why You Should Care: Penguins can’t rest on their laurels from their last game against a rested Milwaukee Admirals team that did not play Friday. If Wilkes-Barre brings the same stuff that got them through Grand Rapids last night, they should be OK tonight against Milwaukee. But it’s easier said than done.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

Watch: AHLTV is new and improved and a lot cheaper.

Promotion(s): Penguins Trading Card Strip # 2 – The first 4,000 fans will receive a Penguins card strip, featuring five different players.

Other Game to Watch: San Antonio takes on Chicago in game two of their weekend meeting in Rosemont. Last night the Rampages shutout the Wolves 3-0 so it’s Chicago looking to pay it back against San Antonio later on tonight.

Next Five Games: @ CHA 1/11, @ CHA 1/12, vs. RCH 1/18, vs. HER 1/19, vs. LV 1/21

vs.     

–

Who: Grand Rapids Griffins

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Monday in Binghamton on New years Eve, the Penguins won 5-2. Teddy Blueger scored twice, Ben Sexton also scored and Garrett Wilson had a goal and two assists. For Grand Rapids, the Griffins hosted the Rockford IceHogs on New Years Eve and won 2-1. Chris Terry assisted on both goals and Harri Sateri stopped 31 shots.

Record: For WBS: 17-14-4-1 (39 pts., 4th place Atlantic Division) // For GR: 19-11-3-2 (43 pts., 3rd place Central Division)

Referees: Sean MacFarlane / Conor O’Donnell

Linesmen: Ryan Knapp / Jason Mandroc

Why You Should Care: Penguins look to continue the good, physical play against very tough team, from the Central Division in the Grand Rapids Griffins. The Griffins are coming in on a five game point streak as they continue to ascend through the very competitive Central Division. Wilkes-Barre will be looking to minimize mistakes tonight and look for a win against the Griffins.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

Watch: AHLTV is new and improved and a lot cheaper.

Promotion(s): EYEWITNESS NEWS FAN FRIDAY — Enjoy great hockey at a great price with $14 lower bowl tickets, courtesy of our friends at Eyewitness News. Fans ages 21 and over can enjoy select draft beers for just $2 from 6-7:30 p.m. and everyone is invited to stick around after the game for our Citizens Voice / Scranton Times Tribune postgame autograph session, featuring a pair of Penguins players.

Other Game to Watch: Springfield heads to Hartford to take on the Wolf pack in a rematch from this past Sunday where the Wolf Pack clipped the Thunderbirds in overtime.

Next Five Games: vs. MIL 1/5, @ CHA 1/11, @ CHA 1/12, vs. RCH 1/18, vs. HER 1/19

@     

–

Who: Binghamton Devils

Where: Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena

When: 6:05 p.m.

Last Game: Saturday in Allentown, the Penguins put up their season high in goals scored with seven and went on to beat the Phantoms 7-3. Jimmy Hayes had a goal and an assist and was named third star. Ben Sexton also scored, his third and fourth goals of the week, all coming against the Phantoms. For Binghamton, the Devils were in Belleville, Ontario and lost 3-2 to the Senators. Blake Pietila had all the offense for the Devils in the loss.

Record: For WBS: 16-14-4-1 (37 pts., 5th place Atlantic Division) // For BNG: 15-18-3-0 (33 pts., 7th place North Division)

Referees: Guillaume Labonte / Jeremy Tufts

Linesmen: Neil Frederickson / Tyler Loftus

Why You Should Care: Penguins want to ring in 2019 with a win up on the Southern Tier of New York in Binghamton against the Devils. Which Penguins team skates out tonight at 6? The one that crushed Lehigh Valley, a current playoff team, or the one that came out Friday against the last place Hershey Bears?

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

Watch: AHLTV is new and improved and a lot cheaper.

Other Game to Watch: Charlotte travels to Toronto at 3 p.m. to take on the defending champion Marlies.

Next Five Games: vs. GR 1/4, vs. MIL 1/5, @ CHA 1/11, @ CHA 1/12, vs. RCH 1/18

@     

–

Who: Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Where: PPL Center

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Last night at home against Hershey, the Penguins laid an egg and were embarrassed by the Bears 5-1. Joseph Cramarossa scored the goal for the Pens in the loss. For Lehigh Valley, the Phantoms hosted the Providence Bruins and won 3-1. Philippe Myers had a goal and an assist and Alex Lyon stopped 33 of 34 shots to pick up the win.

Last Meeting: This past Wednesday in Wilkes-Barre, the Phantoms used four third period goals to defeat the Penguins 5-3. Ben Sexton had a pair of goals for Wilkes-Barre while Tyrell Goulbourne had a pair of goals, including what was the game winner with just 1:02 left in the third period.

Record: For WBS: 15-14-4-1 (35 pts., 5th place Atlantic Division) // For LV: 19-9-1-2 (41 pts., 3rd place Atlantic Division)

Referees: Peter Tarnaris / Michael Sheehan

Linesmen: Tom DellaFranco / J.P. Waleski

Why You Should Care: The hits keep coming in this League and the Penguins needs to quickly forget last nights debacle against Hershey and remember what cost them late in the game against the Phantoms on Wednesday, play that game plan and not make the same mistakes that cost them. Will there be any shakeups at forward? Defense? Look for John Muse to get the start with Tristan Jarry ill.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

Watch: AHLTV is new and improved and a lot cheaper.

Other Game to Watch: Springfield travels to Syracuse to take on a Crunch team that put ten goals in last night against Utica.

Next Five Games: @ BNG 12/31, vs. GR 1/4, vs. MIL 1/5, @ CHA 1/11, @ CHA 1/12

vs.     

–

Who: Hershey Bears

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Wednesday against Lehigh Valley, the Pens lost 5-3. The Phantoms scored four unanswered goals in the third to win. Ben Sexton had a pair of goals for Wilkes-Barre in the loss. For Hershey, the Bears were last in action last Saturday against the Phantoms at home and lost 6-1. Riley Barber had the only goal for the Bears.

Last Meeting: December 21 in Hershey, the Pens lost 3-2. Teddy Blueger and J-S Dea scored for the Pens and Mike Sgarbossa had a goal and an assist for the Bears in the win.

Record: For WBS: 15-13-4-1 (35 pts., 5th place Atlantic Division) // For HER: 12-17-0-2 (26 pts., 8th place Atlantic Division)

Referees: Dan Kelly / Olivier Gouin

Linesmen: Tom DellaFranco / Tyler Loftus

Why You Should Care: Penguins are coming off a bad, bad loss Wednesday against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms who scored four goals on the Pens and won going away late. Hershey is coming in more rested than the Pens who played Wednesday and ready to get after one of their rivals. Pens need wins to keep pace and have to forget about Wednesday and focus on the task at hand tonight.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

Watch: AHLTV is new and improved and a lot cheaper.

Promotion(s): EYEWITNESS NEWS FAN FRIDAY — Enjoy great hockey at a great price with $14 lower bowl tickets, courtesy of our friends at Eyewitness News.  Fans ages 21 and over can enjoy select draft beers for just $2 from 6-7:30pm.  And everyone is invited to stick around after the game for our Citizens Voice / Scranton Times Tribune postgame autograph session, featuring a pair of Penguins players.

Other Game to Watch: Springfield hosts Bridgeport. Sound Tigers have been trending up while Springfield has been pretty neutral.

Next Five Games: @ LV 12/29, @ BNG 12/31, vs. GR 1/4, vs. MIL 1/5, @ CHA 1/11