Chirps from Center Ice

vs.  

–

Who: Texas Stars

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game / Last Meeting: It took ten years for the two teams to meet for the very first time, so they will meet twice less than forty eight hours. Last night, the Penguins lost 4-3. Joel Kiviranta had a pair of goals in the second period. Pierre-Olivier Joseph scored his first pro goal for the Penguins.

Record: For WBS: 13-7-2-1 (29 pts., 3rd place Atlantic Division) // For TEX: 8-13-1-2 (19 pts, 8th place Central Division)

Referees: Mitch Dunning / Michael Markovic

Linesmen: Julien Fournier / Ryan Knapp

Why You Should Care: Penguins will be looking for revenge against the Stars tonight. The Penguins need better starts to their periods as the Stars took control of all three periods with hot starts. It’s probably Emil Larmi vs. Landon Bow tonight in goal.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

Watch: AHLTV is back for another season and better than ever. // Tonight’s game is also going to broadcast locally on WBRE.

Promotion(s): TEDDY BEAR TOSS NIGHT — It’s a holiday tradition!  Join us on Saturday, December 7 for the annual Teddy Bear Toss, benefitting Tobyhanna’s Operation Santa Claus.  Bring a new, unwrapped, plush toy to the game, and toss it onto the ice following the Penguins’ first goal.  All toys will be collected and delivered to children in need throughout the area, in an effort to brighten the season.*

Other Game to Watch: Laval visits Springfield tonight in a battle of two teams off to good starts looking to continue on a path of success here through December.

Next Five Games: @ HER 12/8, @ ROC 12/11, @ CLE 12/13, @ CLE 12/14, vs. PRO 12/18

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

vs.  

–

Who: Texas Stars

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Last Saturday at home against Bridgeport, the Penguins won 5-2. Matt Abt and Oula Palve scored their first AHL goals of their careers. Chase Berger had his first fight and also had a goal and an assist. For Texas, the Stars ended the Milwaukee Admirals 13 game winning streak this past Tuesday at home where they scored four goals on all four shots attempted in the second period. Jake Oettinger stopped 39 of 40 shots.

Record: For WBS: 13-6-2-1 (29 pts., 2nd place Atlantic Division) // For TEX: 7-13-1-2 (17 pts, 8th place Central Division)

Referees: Dan Kelly / Tim Mayer

Linesmen: Bob Goodman / J.P. Waleski

Why You Should Care: It’s the first time ever that these two teams have met in head-to-head competition. Texas comes in on a five game point streak riding a high of ending division rival Milwaukee’s 13 game winning streak in impressive fashion. Will that carry over to the Eastern Time Zone here in Wilkes-Barre who have ate 8-1-1 in their last ten games?

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 — It’s another EYEWITNESS NEWS FAN FRIDAY when the Texas Stars make their first ever trip to Wilkes-Barre.  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.*

Other Game to Watch: The Hartford Wolf Pack take on the Springfield Thunderbirds tonight in Massachusetts. On Wednesday, the Thunderbirds sustained a 63 shot barrage from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and won 3-1. Have the Thunderbirds turned a corner? Can the Wolf Pack get back to the top of the Atlantic?

Next Five Games: vs. TEX 12/7, @ HER 12/8, @ ROC 12/11, @ CLE 12/13, @ CLE 12/14

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

vs.    

–

Who: Bridgeport Sound Tigers

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Last night in Allentown, the Pens came back from a 5-0 deficit to earn a point in a 6-5 overtime loss. Andrew Agozzino had two goals and one assist….For Bridgeport, the Sound Tigers hosted Springfield and won 4-1. It’s the Sound Tigers fourth win in a row. Travis St. Denis scored a pair of goals in the win.

Last Meeting: October 19 in Bridgeport, Penguins won 3-2 in a shootout. Andrew Agozzino had a goal and an assist. Casey DeSmith stopped 23 shots. Penguins scored in all three shootout attempts.

Record: For WBS: 12-6-2-1 (27 pts., 2nd place Atlantic Division) // For BRI: 8-11-3-1 (20 pts., 7th place Atlantic Division)

Referees: Brandon Blandina / Olivier Gouin

Linesmen: Tyler Loftus / J.P. Waleski

Why You Should Care: Bridgeport comes in a rejuvenated team on a four game winning streak. Should be a good test for both teams, the Sound Tigers against one of the Atlantic Division’s elite teams in the Penguins and the Penguins against a team that has won four straight, is firing on all cylinders and clicking at the right time.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

Watch: AHLTV is back for another season and better than ever. Despite what you see on the website, tonight’s game is NOT going to be broadcast locally.

Promotion(s): HOCKEY FIGHTS CANCER — Join us in the fight to put cancer on ice.  The Penguins will be wearing special Hockey Fights Cancer jerseys which will be auctioned off, with proceeds going to the Mario Lemieux Foundation. Stop by the American Cancer Society’s table on the concourse and make a donation in return for a (temporary) pink hair streak.   And make some noise with special thunder sticks, provided by Geisinger.*

Other Game to Watch: I want to see how Lehigh Valley plays against Hartford tonight. The Wolf Pack have company at the top of the division and the Phantoms yakked up a five goal lead last night against the Penguins.

Next Five Games: vs. TEX 12/6, vs. TEX 12/7, @ HER 12/8, @ ROC 12/11, @ CLE 12/13

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

@    

–

Who: Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Where: PPL Center

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game / Last Meeting: Wednesday in Wilkes-Barre, the Penguins won 6-2. Stefan Noesen and Thomas DiPauli had a pair of goals each. Tyler Wotherspoon had a goal for the Phantoms in the loss.

Record: For WBS: 12-6-1-1 (26 pts., 3rd place Atlantic Division) // For LV: 8-7-1-4 (21 pts., 5th place Atlantic Division)

Referees: Reid Anderson / Jeremy Tufts

Linesmen: Ryan Knapp / Michael Magee

Why You Should Care: Rematch on tap from Allentown. Phantoms stewing over the loss Wednesday look for retribution on a Penguins team that has only won twice on the road this season. For the Penguins, it came easy and often for them in the comforts of home but you don’t want to get complacent against a dangerous opponent like the Phantoms.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

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

Other Game to Watch: I like Manitoba and Grand Rapids as these two Central Division rivals meet up as they continue to jostle for positioning.

Next Five Games: vs. BRI 11/30, vs. TEX 12/6, vs. TEX 12/7, @ HER 12/8, @ ROC 12/11

vs.  

–

Who: Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Saturday at home against Charlotte, the Penguins were shutout 1-0. Dustin Tokarski stopped 26 of 27 shots….For Lehigh Valley, the Phantoms were dealt a 2-1 setback at home against Belleville Saturday. Greg Carey had the lone goal for the Phantoms.

Last Meeting: November 16 in Wilkes-Barre, the Pens won 2-1. Both David Warsofsky and Sam Miletic had a goal and an assist and Dustin Tokarski stopped 31 of 32 shots. Mikhail Vorobyev scored for the Phantoms

Record: For WBS: 11-6-1-1 (24 pts., 3rd place Atlantic Division) // For LV: 8-6-1-4 (21 pts., 6th place Atlantic Division)

Referees: Reid Anderson / Peter Schlittenhardt

Linesmen: Tom DellaFranco / Ryan Knapp

Why You Should Care: Wilkes-Barre looks to get back in the win column after having their six game win streak come to an end Saturday. They can make some separation in this mini home and home series against the Phantoms with four points, but the Phantoms aren’t going top make it easy. Whoever starts tonight (I’m expecting Casey DeSmith) probably doesn’t make the trip Friday to Allentown to start Saturday against Bridgeport back here at home.

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: Bridgeport has won two in a row with the last win coming Sunday at home against Springfield. The Sound Tigers head to Massachusetts to take on the Thunderbirds.

Next Five Games: @ LV 11/29, vs. BRI 11/30, vs. TEX 12/6, vs. TEX 12/7, @ HER 12/8

vs.  

–

Who: Charlotte Checkers

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Last night in Springfield, the Pens won 4-2 for their sixth straight win. Casey DeSmith stopped 40 shots for the Pens and Thomas DiPauli scored his first goal of the season. For Charlotte, the Checkers were in Allentown last night and lost 5-4 in overtime. Jake Bean scored a pair of goals and Janne Kuokkanen had a pair fo assists.

Record: For WBS: 11-5-1-1 (24 pts., 2nd place Atlantic Division) // For CHA: 6-7-3-0 (15 pts., 7th place Atlantic Division)

Referees: Jordan Deckard / Brett Roeland

Linesmen: Tyler Loftus / J.P. Waleski

Why You Should Care: Mike Vellucci guided the Charlotte Checkers to the best overall record last season and a Calder Cup Championship last June. He’s now on the opposing bench with a team that coming into the weekend has won five straight. They go head to head tonight with the Penguins gunning for their seventh win in a row.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

Watch: AHLTV is back for another season and better than ever. // Tonight’s game will also be televised locally on WBRE-28.

Promotion(s): Country Night. I don’t know if that means you can your horse with you to the game or if they will let you bring in a tumbleweed. I wouldn’t wear spurs, if I were you.

Other Game to Watch: Syracuse handed Hartford the Wolf Pack’s second loss of their season on Wednesday, the Wolf Pack are looking to get revenge tonight.

Next Five Games: vs. LV 11/27, @ LV 11/29, vs. BRI 11/30, vs. TEX 12/6, vs. TEX 12/7

@   

–

Who: Springfield Thunderbirds

Where: MassMutual Center

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Saturday at home against Lehigh valley, the Penguins won 2-1. Sam Miletic and David Warsofsky scored first and third period goals respectively and Dustin Tokarksi picked up the win with 31 saves….For Springfield, the Thunderbirds were in Binghamton on Saturday and won 3-2. The Thunderbirds connected twice on the power play. Philippe Desrosiers stopped 35 shots.

Last Meeting: November 15 in Wilkes-Barre, the Penguins won 4-1. Andrew Agozzino had a pair of goals and Casey DeSmith stopped 41 shots.

Record: For WBS: 10-5-1-1 (22 pts., 2nd place Atlantic Division) // For SPR: 11-7-0-0 (22 pts., 3rd place Atlantic Division)

Referees: Mathieu Menniti / Conor O’Donnell

Linesmen: Paul Simeon / Kevin Briganti

Why You Should Care: Should be a good one tonight in Springfield with two teams who are sound structurally and evenly matched. Pens will want to avoid penalties and look to block shots. Springfield will want to do the same.

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 Rochester as their tour of Central New York continues this week. The Wolf Pack were handed just their second defeat of the season Wednesday in Syracuse and head to Rochester who are off to a good start themselves.

Next Five Games: vs. CHA 11/23, vs. LV 11/27, @ LV 11/29, vs. BRI 11/30, vs. TEX 12/6