Chirps from Center Ice

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Who: Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Where: PPL Center

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: For the Penguins, they opened their 2019-20 campaign with a win last Saturday over Hershey with a 4-3 win. Stefan Noesen scored two goals and Casey DeSmith had 36 saves. For Lehigh Valley, they opened their 2019-20 season at home against the Providence Bruins and were shutout 2-0.

Record: For WBS: 1-0-0-0 (2 pts., 3rd place Atlantic Division) // For LV: 0-1-0-0 (0 pts., 8th place Atlantic Division)

Referees: Olivier Gouin / Carter Sandlak

Linesmen: Tom DellaFranco / Bill Lyons

Why You Should Care: Lehigh Valley signed a ton of offense this past offseason, yet were shutout at home in embarrassing fashion against the Providence Bruins. After a week to sit on the lack of goal scoring, look for the Phantoms to jump on the Penguins early on. Should be a good litmus test for these two teams who will meet 11 more times this season.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

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

Other Game to Watch: The Charlotte Checkers hang a banner tonight at home in their opener against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

Next Five Games: vs. UTI 10/12, @ HER 10/13, vs. BNG 10/16, @ BRI 10/19, @ BNG 10/23

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Who: Hershey Bears

Where: Giant Center

Last Game: This is the first regular season game for both teams.

When: 7:00 p.m.

Record: For WBS: 0-0-0-0 (- pts., – place Atlantic Division) // For HER: 0-0-0-0 (- pts., – place Atlantic Division)

Referees: Mike Dietrich / Mason Riley

Linesmen: Kyle Flemington / Bob Goodman

Why You Should Care: First game of the new season for both teams. First under the new regime of GM, Head Coach and Calder Cup winner Mike Vellucci. How do the Penguins start tonight in front of what’s going to be an amped up Bears crowd at home on a Saturday night? You want to start off the campaign with a win, as that’s the first step that all the teams want when they show up at training camp. Should be a good one in this storied rivalry between these two sides.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

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

Other Game to Watch: The Atlantic Division had off on the Opening Night last night in the AHL, so keep an eye on Providence visiting Lehigh Valley tonight.

Next Five Games: @ LV 10/11, vs. UTI 10/12, @ HER 10/13, vs. BNG 10/16, @ BRI 10/19

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Who: Binghamton Devils

 Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 3:05 p.m.

Last Game: Last night int home vs. Bridgeport, the Pens lost 5-2. Sam Lafferty and Ben Sexton scored goals in the loss. For Binghamton, the Devils hosted the Laval Rocket and lost in overtime 4-3. John Quenneville and Blake Pietila both had a goal and an assist in the loss.

Last Meeting: April 5 in Wilkes-Barre, the Penguins shutout the Devils 4-0. John Muse had a 33 save shutout. Sam Lafferty had a goal and an assist.

Record: For WBS: 35-30-7-3 (80 pts., 6th place Atlantic Division) // For BNG: 28-40-7-0 (63 pts., 8th place North Division)

Referees: Beau Halkidis / Mathieu Menniti

Linesmen: Ryan Knapp / J.P. Waleski

Why You Should Care: Last game of the season for both clubs who won’t make postseason, so it is important to go into the summer on a winning note. Which team will it be?

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

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

Promotion(s): KIDS FREE SUNDAY– It’s the final game of the regular season, as the Penguins host the Devils on Sunday afternoon.  Kids ages 14 and younger can get in for FREE with a paid adult admission.  And stick around after the game to take part in our FREE postgame skating session (bring your own skates).*

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

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Who: Bridgeport Sound Tigers

 Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Last night in Utica, the Pens lost 8-1. Jarrett Burton scored the only goal for the Pens in the loss. For Bridgeport, the Sound Tigers were defeated in Springfield 7-2. Travis St. Denis and Sebastian Aho scored the goals for the Sound Tigers in the loss.

Last Meeting: Tuesday April 2 in a kids school day game in Bridgeport, the Penguins won 3-1. Ryan Haggerty had a pair of goals.

Record: For WBS: 35-29-7-3 (80 pts., 6th place Atlantic Division) // For BRI: 42-24-6-3 (93 pts., 2nd place Atlantic Division)

Referees: Carter Sandlak / Peter MacDougall

Linesmen: Tom DellaFranco / Bob Goodman

Why You Should Care: Both teams will be looking for better efforts coming off last nights results so expect a better contested game tonight from both teams.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

Watch: AHLTV is new and improved and a lot cheaper. Also, the game will be televised locally on WBRE-NBC.

Promotion(s): McDONALD’S FAN APPRECIATION NIGHT – We’ll have giveaways galore on McDonald’s Fan Appreciation night, when we host the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.  Everyone through the doors receives a scratch off card, good for prizes or discounts from local merchants.  Arrive early to watch the Penguins pregame awards ceremony.  And stick around afterward for the jersey off the players’ backs presentations.*

Remaining Game: vs. BNG 4/14

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

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Who: Utica Comets

 Where: Adirondack Bank Center

When: 7:00 p.m.

Last Game: Sunday in Allentown, the Penguins were defeated by the Lehigh Valley Phantoms 10-6. Jake Lucchini scored a pair of goals for the Pens in the loss. For Utica, the Comets they were defeated by the Providence Bruins 3-1 on Sunday as well. Vincent Arseneau scored the only goal for Utica in the loss.

Last Meeting: February 16 in Wilkes-Barre, the Pens were defeated by the Comets 3-2 in overtime. Cam Darcy had the OT game winner for the visitors while Sam Miletic and Ryan Haggerty scored goals for the Pens in the loss.

Record: For WBS: 35-28-7-3 (80 pts., 6th place Atlantic Division) // For UTI: 32-33-6-2 (72 pts., 6th place North Division)

Referees: Brandon Schrader / Ben O’Quinn

Linesmen: Mike Emanatian / Matt Brady

Why You Should Care: Pair of sixth place teams in their respective divisions looking to close out the season on a winning note with a victory against the other tonight in Utica. For the Pens, look for John Muse to get the start in goal with Alex D’Orio possibly backing up. Outside of that, #PlayYourKids?

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

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

Other Game to Watch: While hope is all but gone, the Penguins haven’t been officially eliminated from playoff contention, yet. Providence, who needs just one point to eliminate the Pens, host fifth place Lehigh Valley tonight in Rhode Island. You want a Phantoms win, regardless of how slim the Penguins playoff cause is going into tonight.

Remaining Games: vs. BRI 4/13, vs. BNG 4/14

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Who: Lehigh Valley Phantoms

 Where: PPL Center

When: 3:05 p.m.

Last Game / Last Meeting: Last night in Allentown, the Phantoms scored two shorthanded goals from Cole Bardreau and defeated the Penguins 4-2. Brandon Hawkins scored his second AHL goal in his second AHL game for the Pens in the losing effort.

Record: For WBS: 35-27-7-3 (80 pts., 5th place Atlantic Division) // For LV: 35-30-4-3 (77 pts., 6th place Atlantic Division)

Referees: Olivier Gouin / Reid Anderson

Linesmen: Ryan Knapp / Bill Lyons

Why You Should Care: Pens can’t afford to lose anymore games. There are four games left including today and Wilkes-Barre trails Providence by three points for the final playoff spot. They need to win today or else it’s probably curtains for the postseason.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

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

Other Game to Watch: Sticking with the Providence theme here through the weekend, the Bruins host the Utica Comets Sunday afternoon.

Remaining Games: @ UTI 4/12, vs. BRI 4/13, vs. BNG 4/14

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Who: Lehigh Valley Phantoms

 Where: PPL Center

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Last night at home against Binghamton, the Pens won 4-0. John Muse had a 33 save shutout. For Lehigh Valley, the Phantosm were last in action in Charlotte on Wednesday and lost 6-2. Connor Bunnaman and David Kase scored gals in a losing effort for the Phantoms.

Last Meeting: March 23 in Allentown, the Penguins snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with a last minute goal by Sam Lafferty and then an overtime goal by Ryan Haggerty to stun the Phantoms and win 5-4 in overtime.

Record: For WBS: 35-26-7-3 (80 pts., 5th place Atlantic Division) // For LV: 34-30-4-3 (75 pts., 6th place Atlantic Division)

Referees: Mike Dietrich / Michael Duco

Linesmen: Tom DellaFranco / Tom George

Why You Should Care: Pens need to keep winning just to keep pace and hope they close ground on Providence for fourth in the division. Lehigh Valley won’t make it easy on the Penguins tonight at home for them.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

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

Other Game to Watch: Bridgeport and Providence rematch at Webster Bank Arena. The Sound Tigers clinch with a win and will be looking to payback the loss the Bruins laid on them last night. We Penguins fans want a Sound Tigers win.

Remaining Games: @ LV 4/7, @ UTI 4/12, vs. BRI 4/13, vs. BNG 4/14