Chirps from Center Ice

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Who: Grand Rapids Griffins

Where: Van Andel Arena

When: 7:00 p.m.

Last Game: Last night in Milwaukee, the Penguins won 5-2. Sam Lafferty scored a pair of power play goals and Sam Miletic added a shorthanded goal. John Muse stopped 33 of 35 shots. For Grand Rapids, the Griffins hosted the Manitoba Moose on Wednesday and won 2-1. Filip Kronek provided all the offense for the Griffins with two goals and Harri Sateri stopped 20 of 21 shots. Both Griffins goals were scored on the power play.

Last Meeting: January 4 in Wilkes-Barre, the Pens beat Grand Rapids 3-2 in a shootout. Ryan Haggerty had both goals for the Penguins and Joseph Cramarossa had the only goal for the Pens in the shootout round.

Record: For WBS: 24-20-4-1 (53 pts., 5th place Atlantic Division) // For GR: 27-15-3-4 (61 pts., 1st place Central Division)

Referees: Shaun Davis / Jordan Deckard

Linesmen: Pat Richardson / Jim Scarpace

Why You Should Care: Penguins had a good night in Milwaukee Friday but now head to a rested Central Division power in Grand Rapids that is a very good, complete team. These types of teams always bring out the best in Wilkes-Barre, so it should be a good one in the Freezer on Fulton this evening.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

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

Other Game to Watch: Atlantic leader Charlotte travels to Atlantic resurgent Hershey to take on the Bears in a great matchup for both teams.

Next Five Games: @ HER 2/13, vs. UTI 2/16, @ HFD 2/17, vs. HER 2/22, vs. RFD 2/24

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Who: Milwaukee Admirals

Where: UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena

When: 8:00 p.m.

Last Game: Wednesday in Rockford, the Penguins lost 2-1. Jarrett Burton scored a first period goal. The Penguins put up 46 shots in total. For Milwaukee, the Admirals were shutout 1-0 at home by the Texas Stars.

Last Meeting: January 5 in Wilkes-Barre, the Pens lost 5-3. Emil Pettersson scored two goals and assisted on another for Milwaukee. Anthony Angello had a goal and an assist in a losing effort for the Pens.

Record: For WBS: 23-20-4-1 (51 pts., 7th place Atlantic Division) // For MIL: 22-18-8-1 (53 pts., 4th place Central Division)

Referees: Liam Sewell / Ben O’Quinn

Linesmen: Riley Bowles / Jameson Gronert

Why You Should Care: Penguins desperately need to start piling up points. They had a great effort in Rockford Wednesday but just ran into a hot goaltender. They need to bring the same with them in Wisconsin this evening. Milwaukee is in a similar boat, so it sets up as a good matchup tonight in A Great Place on a Great Lake.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

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

Other Game to Watch: San Jose travels to Bakersfield to face a Condors team who has won ten straight and who are gunning for the top spot in the Pacific, a spot that the Barracuda have had a stranglehold on all season.

Next Five Games: @ GR 2/9, @ HER 2/13, vs. UTI 2/16, @ HFD 2/17, vs. HER 2/22

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Who: Rockford IceHogs

Where: BMO Harris Bank Center

When: 8:00 p.m.

Last Game: Saturday against Bridgeport, the Penguins lost 2-1. Ethan Prow scored the only goal for Wilkes-Barre, on the power play. For Rockford, the IceHoges were in Milwaukee on Saturday and won in overtime against the Admirals 3-2. Darren Raddysh scored the OT GWG for the IceHogs.

Record: For WBS: 23-19-4-1 (51 pts., 6th place Atlantic Division) // For RFD: 21-19-3-5 (50 pts., 5th place Central Division)

Referees: Brandon Schrader / Ben O’Quinn

Linesmen: Mike Anderson / Mike Daltry

Why You Should Care: Penguins start a midwest road trip against a Rockford team who has won four straight games. Both teams sit out of their respective playoff pictures right now so it’s an important midweek game for both clubs. Expect Tristan Jarry to get the start in goal for the Penguins.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

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

Other Game to Watch: The red hot Hershey Bears head to Springfield to take on the Thunderbirds.

Next Five Games: @ MIL 2/8, @ GR 2/9, @ HER 2/13, vs. UTI 2/16, @ HFD 2/17

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Who: Bridgeport Sound Tigers

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Last night against the Cleveland Monsters, the Penguins won 7-2. Sam Miletic had a four point night with a goal and three assists. For Bridgeport, the Sound Tigers hosted the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and lost 7-5. Steve Bernier scored two goals and Otto Koivula had three assists.

Last Meeting: January 23 in Bridgeport, the Penguins played a morning game against the Sound Tigers and won 5-2. Teddy Blueger had a pair of goals and an assist and Ryan Haggerty also scored twice.

Record: For WBS: 23-18-4-1 (51 pts., 6th place Atlantic Division) // For BRI: 24-17-4-2 (54 pts., 3rd place Atlantic Division)

Referees: Furman South / Chris Waterstradt

Linesmen: Tyson Baker / J.P. Waleski

Why You Should Care: Golden opportunity for the Pens to win their fifth straight against a Bridgeport team who has been reeling of late, 3-7 in their last ten, so a strong start against the Sound Tigers much like Cleveland last night would be welcome.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

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

Promotion(s): PINK IN THE RINK /  TRADING CARD STRIP #3 — Join the Penguins as we continue the battle against breast cancer.  Fans will have the chance to get pink streaks in their hair for a small donation to the American Cancer Society. And the first 4,000 fans will receive a Penguins card strip, featuring seven different players.*

Other Game to Watch: Lehigh Valley and Hershey seem like a cop out but both teams have been playing hockey that Penguins fans need to watch out for right now.

Next Five Games: @ RFD 2/6, @ MIL 2/8, @ GR 2/9, @ HER 2/13, vs. UTI 2/16

* – promotion information credit: wbspenguins.com/promo-schedule

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Who: Cleveland Monsters

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Last Saturday in Binghamton, the Penguins won 5-4 in overtime. The recently recalled Teddy Blueger scored the overtime game winner, Adam Johnson had a goal and two assists. For Cleveland, the Monsters beat the Chicago Wolves at home last Saturday in overtime 4-3 with ex-Penguin Mark Letestu scoring the overtime game winning goal at :42.

Last Meeting: December 7 in Wilkes-Barre, John Muse had a 32 save shutout as the Penguins beat the Monsters 1-0. Ryan Haggerty scored for the Penguins.

Record: For WBS: 22-18-4-1 (49 pts., 6th place Atlantic Division) // For CLE: 21-17-4-1 (47 pts., 5th place North Division)

Referees: Brandon Schrader / Ryan Jenken

Linesmen: Tyler Loftus / Jason Mandroc

Why You Should Care: Penguins are coming out of the All-Star break after winning three straight games to get there. How do they fare against a team that have a 3-0 record against without their leading scorer Teddy Blueger? Pens still need wins in order to keep up in an ultra competitive Atlantic Division so they cannot be complacent tonight against the Monsters.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

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

Promotion(s): EYEWITNESS NEWS FAN FRIDAY / McCARTHY TIRE ALL-STAR POSTER — 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. All fans in attendance will receive a special poster featuring the Penguins participant(s) in the AHL All-Star Classic.*

Other Game to Watch: Red hot Providence heads to Charlotte to take on the league leading Checkers.

Next Five Games: vs. BRI 2/2, @ RFD 2/6, @ MIL 2/8, @ GR 2/9, @ HER 2/13

* – promotion information credit: wbspenguins.com/promo-schedule

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Who: Binghamton Devils

Where: Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Wednesday morning in Bridgeport, the Penguins won 5-2. Teddy Blueger and Ryan Haggerty both scored goals and Joseph Blandisi also scored in his Pens debut. For Binghamton, the Devils hosted the Hartford Wolf Pack last night and won 3-2 in overtime. John Quenneville scored the OT game winner, Blake Pietila had two goals and an assist.

Last Meeting: December 31 in Binghamton, the Penguins won 5-2. Teddy Blueger had a pair of goals and Tristan Jarry stopped 23 of 25 shots.

Record: For WBS: 21-18-4-1 (47 pts., 6th place Atlantic Division) // For BNG: 20-23-4-0 (44 pts., 6th place North Division)

Referees: Furman South / Corey Syvret

Linesmen: Rob Sauda / Jud Ritter

Why You Should Care: Binghamton would appear to be a team that the Penguins should beat easily, but with how inconsistent Wilkes-Barre has been here in a couple of weeks, it’s anyone’s guess. Pens will be the more rested team having not played Friday, but how much are the Penguins looking forward to the All-Star break and the time off vs. picking up a crucial two points tonight in Binghamton?

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

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

Other Game to Watch: Springfield pays a visit to Providence tonight in a game that Penguins fans should pay attention to.

Next Five Games: vs. CLE 2/1, vs. BRI 2/2, @ RFD 2/6, @ MIL 2/8, @ GR 2/9

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Who: Bridgeport Sound Tigers

Where: Webster Bank Arena

When: 10:30 a.m.

Last Game: Monday at home against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, the Penguins won in overtime 2-1. Ethan Prow scored the game winner for the Pens and Tristan Jarry stopped 27 of 28 shots. For Bridgeport, the Sound Tigers were defeated by the Hershey Bears on Monday 4-1. Otto Koivula scored the only goal for Bridgeport.

Last Meeting: December 19 in Wilkes-Barre, the Penguins won 4-3 in overtime. Kevin Czuczman scored the overtime game winner for the Pens. Ethan Prow had two goals. Otto Koivukla had a pair of assists for the Sound Tigers in the loss.

Record: For WBS: 20-18-4-1 (45 pts., 6th place Atlantic Division) // For BRI: 23-15-4-2 (52 pts., 2nd place Atlantic Division)

Referees: Jeremy Tufts / Reid Anderson

Linesmen: Jesse Marquis / Kevin Briganti

Why You Should Care: Going to use the same reasoning as I did with Lehigh Valley and that is a strong start against a team which is reeling which the Sound Tigers are, 3-6-0-1 in their last ten. If Wilkes-Barre scores the first goal today, that should ease things for them where they can focus on building or protecting a lead vs. chasing a lead against a Sound Tigers team who can score.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

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

Other Game to Watch: All the games are later this evening. Hershey visits Allentown to take on the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in a game of interest for Penguins fans. There may not be any hotter team in the Atlantic right now than the Bears.

Next Five Games: @ BNG 1/26, vs. CLE 2/1, vs. BRI 2/2, @ RFD 2/6, @ MIL 2/8