Chirps from Center Ice

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Who: Charlotte Checkers

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Saturday at home against Springfield, the Penguins lost 6-3. Adam Johnson and Sam Miletic each had a goal and an assist in the loss. For Charlotte, the Checkers were in Providence Sunday and won 4-1. Jacob Pritchard scored a pair of goals, Anton Forsberg stooped 26 of 27 and the Checkers have won five straight.

Last Meeting: November 23 in Wilkes-Barre, the  Penguins lost 1-0. Chase Priskie’s third period power play goal stood up as the game winner for Charlotte, Alex Nedeljkovic had  22 saves for the shutout win.

Record: For WBS: 17-14-3-2 (39 pts., 6th place Atlantic Division) // For CHA: 18-13-3-0 (39 pts., 5th place Atlantic Division)

Referees: Brandon Schrader / Tim Mayer

Linesmen: J.P. Waleski / Jud Ritter

Why You Should Care: Penguins need a good sixty minutes here tonight against the defending champs who are nipping at their heels here just outside of the playoff race. Charlotte proves as a tough, worthy challenge.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

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

Other Game to Watch: Hershey hosts Hartford in the premier matchup on Wednesday evening.

Promotion(s): None

Next Five Games: vs. HER 1/10, vs. HFD 1/11, @ TEX 1/15, @ TEX 1/17, @ SA 1/18

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Who: Springfield Thunderbirds

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Last night against Hershey at home, the Penguins lost 6-2. Andrew Agozzino scored both of the goals for the Penguins in the loss. For Springfield, the Thunderbirds were in Utica last night and won 3-2. Owen Tippett’s goal with two seconds left in the second period stood up as the game winner.

Last Meeting: This past Tuesday in a New Years Eve matinee, the Penguins lost in a shootout 5-4 to the Thunderbirds. Highly contentious game that saw ex-Penguin Ryan Haggerty score a goal and Anthony Angello had a pair of assists.

Record: For WBS: 17-13-3-2 ( pts., 4th place Atlantic Division) // For SPR: 19-16-2-0 (40 pts., 4th place Atlantic Division)

Referees: Furman South / Jesse Gour

Linesmen: Jud Ritter / Patrick Dapuzzo

Why You Should Care: It has to be a better effort tonight than it was Friday against the Bears. Wilkes-Barre started strongly but faded badly last night and they got obliterated. Springfield beat a good Utica club and are on a hot streak after beating the Penguins on New Years Eve and would like to take this opportunity to create some separation between them and the Penguins for that four seed.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

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

Other Game to Watch: Utica, tops in the North Division, visits tops in the Atlantic Hartford in a battle between two of the better teams in their respective divisions.

Promotion(s): NICKELODEON NIGHT FEATURING SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS — Are you ready kids?  The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins will be hosting Nickelodeon Night Featuring SpongeBob SquarePants on Saturday, January 4, 2020. Come on out and celebrate your favorite aquatic sponge and his friends from Bikini Bottom as the Penguins battle with the Springfield Thunderbirds at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza. We’ll have all kinds of seaworthy activities during the evening, including SpongeBob SquarePants trivia and costume contests.  Plus the first 2,500 fans through the door will receive a special SpongeBob SquarePants Penguins collectible pin. The Penguins will also be wearing special SpongeBob SquarePants themed jerseys during warm ups, which will be auctioned off by the Penguins GOALS Foundation to benefit Geisinger Janet Weis Children’s Hospital / Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.*

Next Five Games: vs. CHA 1/8, vs. HER 1/10, vs. HFD 1/11, @ TEX 1/15, @ TEX 1/17

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

Blogger note: Post moved up an hour because the AHL may release the All-Star playing rosters at 3 p.m. Wilkes-Barre time, so I wanted to get this out there ahead of that.

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Who: Hershey Bears

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Tuesday afternoon on New Years Eve, the Penguins lost in a shootout to the Springfield Thunderbirds 5-4. Thomas DiPauli and Sam Miletic both had a goal and assist each in the loss. For Hershey, the Bears shutout the Lehigh Valley Phantoms 3-0 on Sunday. Parker Milner had a 19 save shutout for the Bear, but was sent back to ECHL South Carolina the following day. Bobby Nardella had two assists.

Last Meeting: This past Saturday in Hershey, the Penguins ended the Bears nine game winning streak, beating them 2-1. Dustin Tokarski stopped 29 shots to pick up the win.

Record: For WBS: 17-12-3-2 (39 pts., 4th place Atlantic Division) // For HER: 18-10-2-3 (41 pts., 3rd place Atlantic Division)

Referees: Christ Waterstradt / Rob Hennessy

Linesmen: Tom DellaFranco / Bill Lyons

Why You Should Care: Both teams are going to want to get out of the 2020 gate with a win. Hershey doesn’t want to be losers of two of their last three with both losses coming to the Penguins and Wilkes-Barre is going to want to stay ahead of tomorrow’s opponent Springfield.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

Watch: AHLTV is back for another season and better than ever. / Today’s game will also be streamed live through Facebook Watch.

Other Game to Watch: Springfield visits Utica. The Comets are tied with the Rochester Americans for first in the North Division and want to stay there.

Promotion(s): EYEWITNESS NEWS FAN FRIDAY – It’s another EYEWITNESS NEWS FAN FRIDAY when the Hershey Bears visit the Mohegan Sun Arena. Lower bowl tickets are available for just $15, grab select draft beers for just $2 from 6:00-7:30pm, and enjoy postgame autographs from a pair of Penguins players.*

Next Five Games: vs. SPR 1/4, vs. CHA 1/8, vs. HER 1/10, vs. HFD 1/11, @ TEX 1/15

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

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Who: Springfield Thunderbirds

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 3:05 p.m.

Last Game: Saturday in Hershey, the Penguins ended the Bears nine game with streak with a 2-1 win. Anthony Angello continued his torrid pace, scoring a goal and Dustin Tokarski made 29 saves for the win. For Springfield, the Thunderbirds defeated the Sound Tigers on Saturday 4-3 in overtime. Ex-Penguin Ethan Prow had the overtime game winning goal.

Last Meeting: November 22 in Springfield, the Penguins won 4-2. Andrew Agozzino had a pair of goals.

Record: For WBS: 17-12-3-1 (38 pts., 4th place Atlantic Division) // For SPR: 17-16-2-0 (36 pts., 5th place Atlantic Division)

Referees: Dan Kelly / Brandon Blandina

Linesmen: John Rey / J.P. Waleski

Why You Should Care: New Years Even matinee against the Thunderbirds today. The Penguins are looking to keep pace with the Hershey Bears and the rest of the division and the Thunderbirds can tie the Penguins in points with a regulation win today, so it is an important matchup here between these two teams that don’t like each other. Also, it’s the first time that Kevin Roy and Ryan Haggerty square off against their former teams.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

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

Other Game to Watch: Bridgeport, who has been playing some good hockey of recent, visit Hartford.

Promotion(s): HAPPY NEW YEAR! — Tuesday, December 31 at 3:05pm –The Penguins and Springfield Thunderbirds say goodbye to 2019 with a special New Year’s Eve matinee.  The puck drops at 3:05pm for the final game of the calendar year.*

Next Five Games: vs. HER 1/3, vs. SPR 1/4, vs. CHA 1/8, vs. HER 1/10, vs. HFD 1/11

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

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Who: Hershey Bears

Where: Giant Center

When: 7:00 p.m.

Last Game: Last night at home against Lehigh Valley, Anthony Angello had a hat trick, Jake Lucchini scored shorthanded and the Penguins beat the Phantoms 4-2. For Hershey, the Bears were in Utica last night and won 5-4 in overtime. Mike Sgarbossa’s goal in overtime capped off a four point night for the Bears forward. Sgarbossa also had three assists.

Last Meeting: December 8 in Hershey, the Penguins lost in overtime 3-2. Sam Miletic and Anthony Angello scored in the first period, the Bears scored two in the third to force overtime when Joe Snively scored to give the Bears the win.

Record: For WBS: 16-12-3-1 (36 pts., 4th place Atlantic Division) // For HER: 17-9-2-3 (39 pts., 3rd place Atlantic Division)

Referees: Reid Anderson / Michael Duco

Linesmen: Ryan Knapp / Jud Ritter

Why You Should Care: Hershey has won nine straight coming into tonight but it seems that they haven’t been easy wins of recent. The Penguins meanwhile, can’t seem to score any goals unless your name is Anthony Angello. That usually sets up a weird game from occurring tonight between these two rivals.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

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

Other Game to Watch: Providence visits Hartford in a battle of two of the top teams in the Atlantic Division.

Next Five Games: vs. SPR 12/31, vs. HER 1/3, vs. SPR 1/4, vs. CHA 1/8, vs. HER 1/10

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Who: Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Last Saturday in Bridgeport, the Penguins were shutout 3-0. For Lehigh Valley, the Phantoms were defeated last Sunday in Charlotte 4-2. Greg Carey and Tyler Wotherspoon scored for the Phantoms.

Last Meeting: November 29 in Allentown, the Penguins lost 6-5 in overtime. The Penguins scored four goals in the third period to force overtime before TJ Brennan for Lehigh Valley scored in overtime.

Record: For WBS: 15-12-3-1 (34 pts., 4th place Atlantic Division) // For LV: 12-13-1-4 (29 pts., 7th place Atlantic Division)

Referees: Reid Anderson / Patrick Hanrahan

Linesmen: Patrick Dapuzzo / Tom DellaFranco

Why You Should Care: Two teams who, at Christmas can’t be happy with their way that their seasons have gone to this point in Wilkes-Barre meet tonight. What will it be this time? Lehigh Valley’s plague of inconsistency or the Penguins inability to scratch any offense onto the scoreboard?

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

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

Promotion(s): EYEWITNESS NEWS FAN FRIDAY / VIDEO GAME NIGHT — It’s another EYEWITNESS NEWS FAN FRIDAY when the Lehigh Valley Phantoms visit the Mohegan Sun Arena.  Lower bowl tickets are available for just $15, grab select draft beers for just $2 from 6:00-7:30pm, and enjoy post game autographs from a pair of Penguins players.*

Other Game to Watch: Hershey, winners of eight straight, visit Utica tonight. The Comets have a three game win streak.

Next Five Games: @ HER 12/28, vs. SPR 12/31, vs. HER 1/3, vs. SPR 1/4, vs. CHA 1/8

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

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Who: Bridgeport Sound Tigers

Where: Webster Bank Arena

When: 7:00 p.m.

Last Game: Last night at home against Providence, the Penguins won 1-0. 23 saves shutout for Dustin Tokarski and a power play goal for Anthony Anegoo. For Bridgeport, the Sound Tigers were in Springfield and lost 3-1. Nick Schilkey scored the only goal for Bridgeport in the loss.

Last Meeting: November 30 in Wilkes-Barre, the Penguins won 5-2. Oula Palve and Matt Abt bagged their first professional goals. Casey DeSmith stopped 26 shots.

Record: For WBS: 15-11-3-1 (34 pts., 3rd place Atlantic Division) // For BRI: 11-16-3-1 (26 pts., 8th place Atlantic Division)

Referees: Brandon Blandina / Mike Dietrich

Linesmen: Nick Briganti / Brian Pincus

Why You Should Care: I am going to be interested in seeing who comes out first for the Penguins tonight. Dustin Tokarski is on a roll and has won each of the two games that Wilkes-Barre / Scranton has won this month while Casey DeSmith is struggling right now it would seem. Is now a perfect time to get DeSmith back on track against the last place Sound Tigers or does Penguins Head Coach Mike Vellucci keep Tokarski’s momentum going and hopefully the teams heading into the Christmas break? We don’t have to wait long to find out.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

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

Other Game to Watch: Providence hits up Hartford tonight looking to get some space between them and the Wolf Pack in the race for the top of the Atlantic Division.

Next Five Games: vs. LV 12/27, @ HER 12/28, vs. SPR 12/31, vs. HER 1/3, vs. SPR 1/4