Chirps from Center Ice

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Who: Binghamton Devils

Where: Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena

When: 6:05 p.m.

Last Game: Saturday in Allentown, the Penguins put up their season high in goals scored with seven and went on to beat the Phantoms 7-3. Jimmy Hayes had a goal and an assist and was named third star. Ben Sexton also scored, his third and fourth goals of the week, all coming against the Phantoms. For Binghamton, the Devils were in Belleville, Ontario and lost 3-2 to the Senators. Blake Pietila had all the offense for the Devils in the loss.

Record: For WBS: 16-14-4-1 (37 pts., 5th place Atlantic Division) // For BNG: 15-18-3-0 (33 pts., 7th place North Division)

Referees: Guillaume Labonte / Jeremy Tufts

Linesmen: Neil Frederickson / Tyler Loftus

Why You Should Care: Penguins want to ring in 2019 with a win up on the Southern Tier of New York in Binghamton against the Devils. Which Penguins team skates out tonight at 6? The one that crushed Lehigh Valley, a current playoff team, or the one that came out Friday against the last place Hershey Bears?

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

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

Other Game to Watch: Charlotte travels to Toronto at 3 p.m. to take on the defending champion Marlies.

Next Five Games: vs. GR 1/4, vs. MIL 1/5, @ CHA 1/11, @ CHA 1/12, vs. RCH 1/18

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Who: Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Where: PPL Center

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Last night at home against Hershey, the Penguins laid an egg and were embarrassed by the Bears 5-1. Joseph Cramarossa scored the goal for the Pens in the loss. For Lehigh Valley, the Phantoms hosted the Providence Bruins and won 3-1. Philippe Myers had a goal and an assist and Alex Lyon stopped 33 of 34 shots to pick up the win.

Last Meeting: This past Wednesday in Wilkes-Barre, the Phantoms used four third period goals to defeat the Penguins 5-3. Ben Sexton had a pair of goals for Wilkes-Barre while Tyrell Goulbourne had a pair of goals, including what was the game winner with just 1:02 left in the third period.

Record: For WBS: 15-14-4-1 (35 pts., 5th place Atlantic Division) // For LV: 19-9-1-2 (41 pts., 3rd place Atlantic Division)

Referees: Peter Tarnaris / Michael Sheehan

Linesmen: Tom DellaFranco / J.P. Waleski

Why You Should Care: The hits keep coming in this League and the Penguins needs to quickly forget last nights debacle against Hershey and remember what cost them late in the game against the Phantoms on Wednesday, play that game plan and not make the same mistakes that cost them. Will there be any shakeups at forward? Defense? Look for John Muse to get the start with Tristan Jarry ill.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

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

Other Game to Watch: Springfield travels to Syracuse to take on a Crunch team that put ten goals in last night against Utica.

Next Five Games: @ BNG 12/31, vs. GR 1/4, vs. MIL 1/5, @ CHA 1/11, @ CHA 1/12

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Who: Hershey Bears

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Wednesday against Lehigh Valley, the Pens lost 5-3. The Phantoms scored four unanswered goals in the third to win. Ben Sexton had a pair of goals for Wilkes-Barre in the loss. For Hershey, the Bears were last in action last Saturday against the Phantoms at home and lost 6-1. Riley Barber had the only goal for the Bears.

Last Meeting: December 21 in Hershey, the Pens lost 3-2. Teddy Blueger and J-S Dea scored for the Pens and Mike Sgarbossa had a goal and an assist for the Bears in the win.

Record: For WBS: 15-13-4-1 (35 pts., 5th place Atlantic Division) // For HER: 12-17-0-2 (26 pts., 8th place Atlantic Division)

Referees: Dan Kelly / Olivier Gouin

Linesmen: Tom DellaFranco / Tyler Loftus

Why You Should Care: Penguins are coming off a bad, bad loss Wednesday against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms who scored four goals on the Pens and won going away late. Hershey is coming in more rested than the Pens who played Wednesday and ready to get after one of their rivals. Pens need wins to keep pace and have to forget about Wednesday and focus on the task at hand tonight.

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 hosts Bridgeport. Sound Tigers have been trending up while Springfield has been pretty neutral.

Next Five Games: @ LV 12/29, @ BNG 12/31, vs. GR 1/4, vs. MIL 1/5, @ CHA 1/11

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Who: Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Saturday in Syracuse, the Pens lost in overtime 4-3. J-S Dea and Garrett Wilson both had a goal and assist in the loss. For Lehigh Valley, the Phantoms beat the Bears in Hershey 6-1. Tyrell Goulbourne had two goals and an assist and Steven Swavely had three assists. Alex Lyon stopped 21 of 22 shots.

Last Meeting: December 15 in Wilkes-Barre, the Penguins won 5-2. Ryan Haggerty had a hat trick. The Penguins collected over 4,200 teddy bears on the teddy bear toss night.

Record: For WBS: 15-12-4-1 (35 pts., 5th place Atlantic Division) // For LV: 17-9-1-2 (37 pts., 3rd place Atlantic Division)

Referees: Peter Schlittenhardt / Mike Dietrich

Linesmen: Ryan Knapp / Jud Ritter

Why You Should Care: Penguins are coming off a pretty rough weekend where they just collected one point in the two games that they played They have played better at home so let’s see how they come pout in the post-Christmas break tonight against the Phantoms. There is ground to be made up here tonight.

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: Chicago and Milwaukee match up in a battle of Central Division leaders. Both teams sit at 38 points.

Next Five Games: vs. HER 12/28, @ LV 12/29, @ BNG 12/31, vs. GR 1/4, vs. MIL 1/5

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Who: Syracuse Crunch

Where: Onondaga County War Memorial Arena

When: 7:00 p.m.

Last Game: Last night in Hershey, the Pens lost 3-2. They gave up three power play goals in the loss. For Syracuse, the Crunch were in Allentown Friday taking on the Phantoms and won in a shootout 3-2. Connor Ingram stopped 40 shots and Carter Verhaeghe and Cory Conacher scored in the shootout round.

Record: For WBS: 15-12-3-1 (34 pts., 5th place Atlantic Division) // For SYR: 16-8-2-0 (34 pts., 3rd place North Division)

Referees: Brandon Schrader / Jake Rekucki

Linesmen: Neil Frederickson / Tory Carissimo

Why You Should Care: Penguins gave up three power play goals in Hershey last night and lost 3-2. Syracuse has the leagues best power play overall and at home. The word for the Penguins tonight is discipline.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

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

Other Game to Watch: Pacific division heavyweights Tucson and San Jose meet tonight in California.

Next Five Games: vs. LV 12/26, vs. HER 12/28, @ LV 12/29, @ BNG 12/31, vs. GR 1/4

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Who: Hershey Bears

Where: Giant Center

When: 7:00 p.m.

Last Game: Wednesday at home against Bridgeport, the Penguins came back from a two goal deficit to defeat the Sound Tigers 4-3 in overtime. Ethan Prow scored two power play goals and Kevin Czuczman scored the game winner. For Hershey, they were shutout in Allentown 5-0 by the Phantoms and had just 18 shots.

Last Meeting: November 24 in Wilkes-Barre, the Bears won 3-2. Ryan Haggerty had two assists, Jayson Megna scored for the Bears and Vitek Vanacek stopped 25 of 27 Penguins shots.

Record: For WBS: 15-11-3-1 (34 pts., 5th place Atlantic Division) // For HER: 11-16-0-2 (24 pts., 8th place Atlantic Division)

Referees: Guillaume Labonte / Mike Dietrich

Linesmen: Colin Gates / Scott Pomento

Why You Should Care: Penguins are coming off of an emotional, hard fought comeback against the Sound Tigers on Wednesday and need to re-focus against a Hershey team that got smoked Wednesday in Allentown. Bears are struggling and will be looking to get back into the win column against the Penguins.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

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

Tonight’s game will also be broadcast on Facebook Watch.

Other Game to Watch: Charlotte hosts Bridgeport in a battle of the top two teams in the Atlantic Division.

Next Five Games: @ SYR 12/22, vs. LV 12/26, vs. HER 12/28, @ LV 12/29, @ BNG 12/31

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Who: Bridgeport Sound Tigers

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game / Last Meeting: Sunday in Bridgeport, the Pens were shutout 1-0. Sebastian Aho scored the only goal for Bridgeport, who got 33 saves from Christopher Gibson. Anthony Peters took the loss, stopping 24 of 25 shots.

Record: For WBS: 14-11-3-1 (32 pts., 5th place Atlantic Division) // For BRI: 17-8-3-1 (38 pts., 2nd place North Division)

Referees: Furman South / Peter MacDougall

Linesmen: J.P. Waleski / Ryan Knapp

Why You Should Care: Penguins want revenge on Sunday’s 1-0 setback against the Sound Tigers. Expect Christopher Gibson again in goal for Bridgeport against Tristan Jarry. J-S Dea should be back in the lineup and depending on things, the Penguins may get Garrett Wilson back as well. Things could be very different between these two teams a little over 72 hours since they last met.

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 hosts Syracuse in a match up of the AHL’s top power play units.

Next Five Games: @ HER 12/21, @ SYR 12/22, vs. LV 12/26, vs. HER 12/28, @ LV 12/29