Chirps from Center Ice

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Who: Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 1:05 p.m.

Last Game: Saturday at home against Hershey, the Penguins lost 5-3. They scored two power play goals but allowed Hershey to score three. Adam Johnson had a pair of goals. For Lehigh Valley, they beat Rochester at home on Saturday via shootout. Alex Lyon stopped 49 of 51 shots, including all three Rochester shooters in the bonus round.

Last Meeting: December 29 in Allentown, the Penguins exploded for seven goals and defeated the Phantoms 7-3. Teddy Blueger and. Ben Sexton both had a pair of goals in the win, Tristan Jarry stopped 32 of 35 shots.

Record: For WBS: 19-18-4-1 (43 pts., 6th place Atlantic Division) // For LV: 22-15-2-2 (48 pts., 3rd place Atlantic Division)

Referees: Ryan Jenken / Terry Koharski

Linesmen: Matt McNulty / J.P. Waleski

Why You Should Care: Penguins need a strong start against a Lehigh Valley team which is 3-6-1-0 in their last ten but have points in three straight games. They also need points as they are in sixth place in the division and sputtering. Scoring the first goal this afternoon would be a step in the right direction.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

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

Promotion(s): None

Other Game to Watch: Tons of afternoon games today. Hershey is in Bridgeport after that game got postponed a day. Hershey has won four straight and Bridgeport has been a strong team all season.

Next Five Games: @ BRI 1/23, @ BNG 1/26, vs. CLE 2/1, vs. BRI 2/2, @ RFD 2/6

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Who: Hershey Bears

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 3:05 p.m.

Last Game: Last night against Rochester, the Penguins lost 5-4. Anthony Angello scored a pair of goals in the loss. For Hershey, the Bears were in Binghamton on Wednesday and won 1-0 in overtime. Ryan Sproul scored the game winner and Ilya Samsonov has a 16 save shutout.

Last Meeting: December 28 in Wilkes-Barre, the Penguins lost 5-1. Joseph Cramarossa scored the only goal for the Pens in the loss. Five different Bears scored and Vitek Vanecek stopped 22 of 23 Penguins shots.

Record: For WBS: 19-17-4-1 (43 pts., 6th place Atlantic Division) // For HER: 18-20-0-2 (38 pts., 8th place Atlantic Division)

Referees: Alex Garon / Michael Sheehan

Linesmen: Ryan Knapp / Bob Goodman

Why You Should Care: Penguins need this one this afternoon against a Hershey team which has won three straight and have the Penguins number. It’s that simple.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

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

Promotion(s): None

Other Game to Watch: Springfield travels to Hartford in another important divisional game for the Thunderbirds.

Next Five Games: vs. LV 1/21, @ BRI 1/23, @ BNG 1/26, vs. CLE 2/1, vs. BRI 2/2

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Who: Rochester Americans

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Last Saturday in Charlotte, the Penguins lost 5-3. Jeff Taylor, Ethan Prow and Cam Brown had goals for the Pens in the loss. For Rochester, the Amerks beat the Toronto Marlies 5-1. CJ Smith had a hat trick and an assist in the win.

Last Meeting: November 30 in Rochester, the Penguins lost 1-0. Victor Olofsson had the games only goal and John Muse stopped 29 of 30 shots.

Record: For WBS: 19-16-4-1 (43 pts., 5th place Atlantic Division) // For RCH: 23-13-2-0 (48 pts., 1st place North Division)

Referees: Beaudry Halkidis / Andrew Wilk

Linesmen: J.P. Waleski / Matt McNulty

Why You Should Care: Penguins return home to face off against a quality opponent in the Rochester Americans, who are in a three way battle with the Utica Comets and the Syracuse Crunch in the North Division. The Americans will serve as a stiff test for a Penguins team that split with the Charlotte Checkers, the best team in the AHL, last weekend.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

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

Promotion(s): EYEWITNESS NEWS FAN FRIDAY — 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.

Other Game to Watch: Springfield travels to Providence in a very important Atlantic Division matchup.

Next Five Games: vs. HER 1/19, vs. LV 1/21, @ BRI 1/23, @ BNG 1/26, vs. CLE 2/1

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Who: Charlotte Checkers

Where: Bojangles’ Coliseum

When: 6:00 p.m.

Last Game / Last Meeting: Last night in Charlotte, the Penguins won 5-1. Tristan Jarry stopped 28 of 29 shots, Teddy Blueger and Anthony Angello both had a goal and an assist each. Andrew Poturalski scored for the Checkers.

Record: For WBS: 19-15-4-1 (43 pts., 4th place Atlantic Division) // For CHA: 27-9-3-0 (57 pts., 1st place Atlantic Division)

Referees: Michael Markovic / Brandon Blandina

Linesmen: Paul Carnathan / Ken Radolinski

Why You Should Care: Last night was fun, wasn’t it? Tonight should be different because Charlotte is well coached and too talented to have a repeat performance from last night. But expect the Pens to bring the same starch that got them the win last night. Wilkes-Barre can really start to open some eyes around the division if they manage to somehow sweep the Checkers clean with another regulation win tonight.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

Watch: AHLTV is new and improved and a lot cheaper. Tonight’s game is also free on AHL TV, provided you have an account.

Other Game to Watch: Providence has been good of recent, they travel to Springfield who the Pens are neck and neck with right now for the four seed in the Atlantic.

Next Five Games: vs. RCH 1/18, vs. HER 1/19, vs. LV 1/21, @ BRI 1/23, @ BNG 1/26

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Who: Charlotte Checkers

Where: Bojangles’ Coliseum

When: 7:00 p.m.

Last Game: Last Saturday at home against Milwaukee, the Pens lost 5-3. Anthony Angello had a goal and an assist in the loss. For Charlotte, the Checkers shutout the Toronto Marlies 5-0 on this past Sunday. Alex Nedeljkovic had a 34 save shutout. Five different Checkers scored.

Last Meeting: November 17 in Wilkes-Barre, the Penguins lost 6-5 in overtime. Adam Johnson had a pair of goals but Aleksi Saarela scored at 1:26 of overtime.

Record: For WBS: 18-15-4-1 (41 pts., 4th place Atlantic Division) // For CHA: 27-8-3-0 (57 pts., 1st place Atlantic Division)

Referees: Michael Markovic / Brandon Blandina

Linesmen: Tim Lyons / Scott Senger

Why You Should Care: Penguins head to Charlotte to take on the best team in the AHL this weekend for a two game set. Very important series for a Penguins team who has been playing better as of late and probably better than the last time they played the Checkers. Limit mistakes and see what happens against a Charlotte team that doesn’t quit.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

Watch: AHLTV is new and improved and a lot cheaper. Tonight’s game is also available on Facebook Watch.

Other Game to Watch: Chicago heads to Tucson for a weekend series against the Roadrunners. Last time these teams met it was a good series.

Next Five Games: @ CHA 1/12, vs. RCH 1/18, vs. HER 1/19, vs. LV 1/21, @ BRI 1/23

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Who: Milwaukee Admirals

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Last night against Grand Rapids, the Penguins won 3-2 in a shootout. Ryan Haggerty had two goals in regulation and Joseph Cramarossa scored the only goal in the shootout in the bottom of the third. For Milwaukee, the Admirals were last in action on Wednesday in Rockford and won 2-1. Troy Grosenick stopped 34 shots.

Record: For WBS: 18-14-4-1 (41 pts., 4th place Atlantic Division) // For MIL: 17-12-5-1 (40 pts., 5th place Central Division)

Referees: Mitch Dunning / Alex Ross

Linesmen: Tom DellaFranco / J.P. Waleski

Why You Should Care: Penguins can’t rest on their laurels from their last game against a rested Milwaukee Admirals team that did not play Friday. If Wilkes-Barre brings the same stuff that got them through Grand Rapids last night, they should be OK tonight against Milwaukee. But it’s easier said than done.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

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

Promotion(s): Penguins Trading Card Strip # 2 – The first 4,000 fans will receive a Penguins card strip, featuring five different players.

Other Game to Watch: San Antonio takes on Chicago in game two of their weekend meeting in Rosemont. Last night the Rampages shutout the Wolves 3-0 so it’s Chicago looking to pay it back against San Antonio later on tonight.

Next Five Games: @ CHA 1/11, @ CHA 1/12, vs. RCH 1/18, vs. HER 1/19, vs. LV 1/21

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Who: Grand Rapids Griffins

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Monday in Binghamton on New years Eve, the Penguins won 5-2. Teddy Blueger scored twice, Ben Sexton also scored and Garrett Wilson had a goal and two assists. For Grand Rapids, the Griffins hosted the Rockford IceHogs on New Years Eve and won 2-1. Chris Terry assisted on both goals and Harri Sateri stopped 31 shots.

Record: For WBS: 17-14-4-1 (39 pts., 4th place Atlantic Division) // For GR: 19-11-3-2 (43 pts., 3rd place Central Division)

Referees: Sean MacFarlane / Conor O’Donnell

Linesmen: Ryan Knapp / Jason Mandroc

Why You Should Care: Penguins look to continue the good, physical play against very tough team, from the Central Division in the Grand Rapids Griffins. The Griffins are coming in on a five game point streak as they continue to ascend through the very competitive Central Division. Wilkes-Barre will be looking to minimize mistakes tonight and look for a win against the Griffins.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

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

Promotion(s): EYEWITNESS NEWS FAN FRIDAY — 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 6-7:30 p.m. 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.

Other Game to Watch: Springfield heads to Hartford to take on the Wolf pack in a rematch from this past Sunday where the Wolf Pack clipped the Thunderbirds in overtime.

Next Five Games: vs. MIL 1/5, @ CHA 1/11, @ CHA 1/12, vs. RCH 1/18, vs. HER 1/19