Chirps from Center Ice

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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

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Who: Providence Bruins

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game / Last Meeting: Wednesday in Wilkes-Barre, the Pens were shutout 6-0. Max Lagace posted yet another shutout with 38 saves for the Bruins.

Record: For WBS: 14-11-3-1 (32 pts., 4th place Atlantic Division) // For PRO: 19-9-1-2 (41 pts., 1st place Atlantic Division)

Referees: Corey Syvret / Jeremy Tufts

Linesmen: Patrick Dapuzzo / Jonathan Deschamps

Why You Should Care: After that disaster Wednesday, only way to go is up for the Penguins, right? I’d expect a major shuffling to the lineup and Dustin Tokarski in goal.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

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

Promotion(s): $15 lower bowl tickets, $2 beers.

Other Game to Watch: Laval and Utica are jockeying in the North Division and these two teams meet tonight in Central New York.

Next Five Games: @ BRI 12/21, vs. LV 12/27, @ HER 12/28, vs. SPR 12/31, vs. HER 1/3

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Who: Providence Bruins

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Saturday in Cleveland, the Penguins beat the Monsters 3-1. It was their first win in December. Anthony Angello had a pair of goals and Dustin Tokarski stopped 27 shots. For Providence, they Bruins hosted the Springfield Thunderbirds on Sunday and won 5-0. Dan Vladar had 42 saves for the shutout. Five different scorers for Providence scored.

Record: For WBS: 14-10-3-1 (32 pts., 4th place Atlantic Division) // For PRO: 18-9-1-2 (39 pts., 2nd place Atlantic Division)

Referees: Rob Hennessy / Casey Terreri

Linesmen: Tom DellaFranco / Ryan Knapp

Why You Should Care: Pens look to keep rolling here at home against the Bruins for the first meeting of the season. Bruins are playing some really good hockey so this should be a decent test to see how Wilkes-Barre stacks up against Bruins whom we assume will be in contention all season in the Atlantic Division race.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

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

Promotion(s): None.

Other Game to Watch: Hartford looks to stay on top of the Atlantic Division with a win in Charlotte tonight.

Next Five Games: vs. PRO 12/20, @ BRI 12/21, vs. LV 12/27, @ HER 12/28, vs. SPR 12/31

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Who: Cleveland Monsters

Where: Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse

When: 7:00 p.m.

Last Game / Last Meeting: Last night in Cleveland, the Penguins were shutout 4-0. Matiss Kivlenieks shut the Penguins out with 23 saves. Jakob Lilja scored twice.

Record: For WBS: 13-10-3-1 (30 pts., 3rd place Atlantic Division) // For CLE: 13-11-1-2 (29 pts., 7th place North Division)

Referees: Sean Fernandez / Tyson Stewart

Linesmen: Denis Urban / Marc-Antoine Beaulieu

Why You Should Care: Pens need to get out of this funk that they are in, a five game losing streak. They played a good form last night in Cleveland but could not finish. Will tonight be any different? Expect Emil Larmi in goal. Does Joseph Blandisi play in a fourth straight game in as many days?

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

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

Other Game to Watch: Tucson, the Pacific’s best, plays in Texas against the Stars tonight. The Stars have been on a hell of a run and it’s going to be interesting to see the result tonight.

Next Five Games: vs. PRO 12/18, vs. PRO 12/20, @ BRI 12/21, @ HER 12/28, vs. SPR 12/31

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Who: Cleveland Monsters

Where: Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse

When: 7:00 p.m.

Last Game: Wednesday in Rochester, the Penguins lost 4-2. Jan Drozg scored his first AHL goal and Sam Miletic extended his goal scoring streak to three games. For Cleveland, the Monsters were in Laval, QC on Tuesday and lost in a shootout 3-2. Nathan Gerbe had a goal and an assist in the loss.

Record: For WBS: 13-9-3-1 (30 pts., 3rd place Atlantic Division) // For CLE: 12-11-1-2 (27 pts., 7th place North Division)

Referees: Mike Duco / Sean Fernandez

Linesmen: Zach Roberts / Brendan Lewis

Why You Should Care: Pens set up shop in Cleveland where they had good success last season. The Monsters are down a bit so the Pens are catching them at the right time. This is a big weekend for the Monsters with the Penguins coming in as a stiff test.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

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

Other Game to Watch: Lehigh Valley kicks off a weekend home and home with the Hartford Wolf Pack in a huge series for the Phantoms.

Next Five Games: @ CLE 12/14, vs. PRO 12/18, vs. PRO 12/20, @ BRI 12/21, @ HER 12/28

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Who: Rochester Americans

Where: Blue Cross Arena

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Sunday in Hershey, the Penguins coughed up a 2-0 lead and lost 3-2 in overtime to the Hershey Bears. Sam Miletic and Anthony Angello scored for the Penguins. For Rochester, the Americans were defeated last Saturday 3-1 by the Charlotte Checkers. It was ex-Penguin J-S Dea with the lone goal for Rochester in the loss.

Record: For WBS: 13-8-3-1 (30 pts., 3rd place Atlantic Division) // For RCH: 15-4-2-2 (34 pts., 2nd place North Division)

Referees: Conor O’Donnell / Alex Ross

Linesmen: Peter Feola / Brian Wasilewski

Why You Should Care: Coming off of a weekend where the Penguins played three games and only mustered a lowly point, rolling into Rochester where the Amerks have been good this season is not easy feat. Penguins need almost a perfect game if they want to, or expect to, have success in Rochester. Limit penalties, giveaways and chances and see where you are at in the third period.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

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

Other Game to Watch: Syracuse visits Providence in a stiff challenge for both teams.

Next Five Games: @ CLE 12/13, @ CLE 12/14, vs. PRO 12/18, vs. PRO 12/20, @ BRI 12/21

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Who: Hershey Bears

Where: Giant Center

When: 5:00 p.m.

Last Game: Last night at home against the Texas Stars, the Penguins lost 5-3. Wilkes-Barre connected on a pair of back to back power play goals but could not hold on. Sam Miletic had a goal and an assist in the loss. For Hershey, the Bears were in a weekend home and home against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and won 1-0 at home Saturday. Mike Sgarbossa scored, Vitek Vanecek stopped 32 shots.

Last Meeting: Wednesday, November 13 in Wilkes-Barre, the Penguins and Bears played 65 minutes of scoreless hockey and with was Wilkes-Barre that won in a shootout 1-0. Stefan Noesen scored the only goal in the shootout in the first round.

Record: For WBS: 13-8-2-1 (29 pts., 3rd place Atlantic Division) // For HER: 11-9-2-3 (27 pts, 5th place Atlantic Division)

Referees: Mitch Dunning / Michael Markovic

Linesmen: Bob Goodman / Tyler Loftus

Why You Should Care: Hard fought weekend comes to a close for both teams today in Hershey. The Bears are coming off of a contentious home and home series with Lehigh Valley which included a lot of penalty minutes. They may not have anything left emotionally for a Penguins team who got knocked around by a Texas Stars team who had just one road win all season coming into Friday’s contest. It should be another good one 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: Three games in the AHL this afternoon. Us, a game out west and Hartford visiting Providence in a pivotal game for the Wolf Pack who can tie the Bruins in points at the top of the division with a win.

Next Five Games: @ ROC 12/11, @ CLE 12/13, @ CLE 12/14, vs. PRO 12/18, vs. PRO 12/20

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