Chirps from Center Ice

@     

–

Who: Charlotte Checkers

Where: Bojangles’ Coliseum

When: 7:00 p.m.

Last Game: Saturday at home against Grand Rapids, the Penguins won 2-1. Adam Johnson scored a shorthanded goal, Kevin Czuczman scored in the third period and Anthony Peters stopped 32 of 33 shots. For Charlotte, the Checkers beat the Hartford Wolf Pack 7-3. Alex Nedeljkovic scored a goal. Why does this matter? He was the goaltender.

Last Meeting: December 8 back in Wilkes-Barre, the Penguins lost 2-1. Jeremy Smith stopped 22 of 23 Penguins shots. Daniel Sprong scored for the Penguins.

Record: For WBS: 35-17-4-2 (76 pts., 2nd place Atlantic Division) // For CHA: 35-24-0-3 (73 pts., 4th place Atlantic Division)

Referee(s): Peter MacDougall / Liam Sewell

Linesmen: Tim Lyons / Terry Wicklum

Why You Should Care: Checkers come into tonight winners of four straight looking to make it five over a Penguins team they have had the number of. Both teams are gunning for a playoff spot, so expect another closely contested affair tonight in Charlotte.

Other Game to Watch: Everyone in the Atlantic Division will be watching us, so in the Central, Iowa visits Rockford in a Central Division contest.

Next Five Games: @ CHA 3/14, vs. HFD 3/17, vs. HER 3/18, @ TOR 2/20, @ BNG 3/24

vs.     

–

Who: Grand Rapids Griffins

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Last night in Binghamton, the Pens won 3-2. Teddy Blueger scored the game winning goal. Michael Leighton returned from injury and picked up the win in net. For Grand Rapids, the Griffins hosted the Milwaukee Admirals last Saturday and lost 4-1. Joe Hicketts scored for the Griffins in the loss.

Last Meeting: March 2 in Grand Rapids, the Pens scored three goals in the third period to beat the reigning, defending, undisputed Calder Cup Champion Grand Rapids Griffins and won 4-2. Garrett Wilson scored a pair of goals. Anthony Peters stopped 17 of 19 shots.

Record: For WBS: 34-17-4-2 (73 pts., 2nd place Atlantic Division) // For GR: 31-21-1-6 (69 pts., 3rd place Central Division)

Referee(s): Pierre Lambert / Furman South

Linesmen: James Tobias / Jud Ritter

Why You Should Care: Griffins are rested having not played last night. Pens struggled last night against a bad Binghamton team last night. Wilkes-Barre needs to be careful against a Grand Rapids team looking to solidify itself for the playoffs in the Central Division.

Promotion(s): Star Wars Night (Jersey Auction to benefit Allied Services Foundation)  / Penguins Team Card Strip #4 courtesy of Grotto Pizza

Other Game to Watch: Lehigh Valley rematches against the Sound Tigers tonight in Bridgeport.

Next Five Games: @ CHA 3/13, @ CHA 3/14, vs. HFD 3/17, vs. HER 3/18, @ TOR 2/20

@     

–

Who: Binghamton Devils

Where: Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Sunday in Milwaukee, the Penguins lost in a shootout, 3-2. Josh Jooris scored with under a minute left to force overtime, but the Penguins were not able to score more than the Admirals in the shootout session. For Binghamton, the Devils hosted Utica Sunday and pounded the Comets 7-2. Nick Lappin had a hat trick and an assist, Kevin Rooney had three assists. Goaltender Eddie Lack turned away 24 of 26 Utica shots.

Last Meeting: January 27 in Wilkes-Barre, the Penguins won 4-3 in overtime. Zach Aston-Reese scored in overtime to win the game for the Penguins in a hard fought contest that day.

Record: For WBS: 33-17-4-2 (71 pts., 2nd place Atlantic Division) // For BNG: 19-30-6-3 (47 pts., 6th place North Division)

Referee(s): Pierre Lambert / Furman South

Linesmen: Jim Harper / J.P. Waleski

Why You Should Care: Penguins need to be careful tonight in Binghamton. This Devils team has been punching above its weight class for a few weeks here and could spoil the start of the weekend for Wilkes-Barre. Devils come in 6-4 in their last ten and crushed a Utica team that recently had points in sixteen straight contests.

Other Game to Watch: Providence visits Rochester is the other game to keep an eye on.

Next Five Games: vs. GR 3/10, @ CHA 3/13, @ CHA 3/14, vs. HFD 3/17, vs. HER 3/18

@     

–

Who: Milwaukee Admirals

Where: UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena

When: 6:00 p.m.

Last Game: Last night in Rockford, the Pens were shut out 3-0. For Milwaukee, the Admirals were in Grand Rapids and won 4-1. Four different Admirals scored goals and Troy Grosenick stopped 36 of 37 Griffins shots.

Last Meeting: December 1 in Wilkes-Barre, the Pens won 5-4 in overtime. J-S Dea did the honors in the extra session. Garrett Wilson had a hat trick for the Pens, Trevor Murphy had three assists for the Admirals.

Record: For WBS: 33-17-4-1 (71 pts., 2nd place Atlantic Division) // For MIL: 28-24-4-1 (61 pts., 6th place Central Division)

Referee(s): Alec Austin / Jarrod Ragusin

Linesmen: Rhodes Dolan / Shaun Morgan

Why You Should Care: Wilkes-Barre looks to close out the Midwest road trip against a Milwaukee team that is looking to sweep the weekend after beating Rockford Friday and the Griffins Sunday. Despite the Admirals sixth place standing in the Central, it’s not going to be easy.

Other Game to Watch: Providence, hot on the tail of the Penguins, get ripping on the Springfield Thunderbirds at 3 pm.

Next Five Games: @ BNG 3/9, vs. GR 3/10, @ CHA 3/13, @ CHA 3/14, vs. HFD 3/17

@     

–

Who: Rockford IceHogs

Where: BMO Harris Bank Center

When: 7:00 p.m.

Last Game: Last night against Grand Rapids, the Pens won 4-2. Garrett Wilson scored a power play goal in the third period to tie it, then added an empty net goal to seal it. For Rockford, the IceHogs were up in Milwaukee and lost 4-1. Cody Franson scored the goal for Rockford in the loss.

Last Meeting: Last Friday in Wilkes-Barre, the Penguins beat the IceHogs 6-3. Tom Kostopoulos returned and had two assists. Daniel Sprong had a goal and an assist. IceHoggs rallied late with two goals but ran out of time.

Record: For WBS: 33-16-4-1 (71 pts., 2nd place Atlantic Division) // For RFD: 28-24-3-3 (62 pts., 5th place Central Division)

Referee(s): Shaun Davis / Jesse Gour

Linesmen: Jameson Gronert / Ian McCambridge

Why You Should Care: Penguins look to keep the momentum rolling with another strong outing against Rockford. More of the same will be needed against a Rockford team which is looking to get back into the mix in the Central Division playoff race.

Other Game to Watch: Rochester and Toronto has been a North Division matchup which has been fun to watch. They meet again  this afternoon in Toronto.

Next Five Games: @ MIL 3/4, @ BNG 3/9, vs. GR 3/10, @ CHA 3/13, @ CHA 3/14

@     

–

Who: Grand Rapids Griffins

Where: Van Andel Arena

When: 7:00 p.m.

Last Game: Sunday at home against Hershey, the Penguins won 3-2. Adam Johnson’s goal at 10:06 of the third period was enough to hold up against the Bears. Casey DeSmith stopped 22 of 24 shots. For Grand Rapids, the Griffins hosted the Tucson Roadrunners on Wednesday and also won 3-2. Ex-Penguins led the way for the Griffins against the Roadrunners. Ben Street had a goal and an assist and Eric Tangradi led the way with a pair of goals.

Record: For WBS: 32-16-4-1 (69 pts., 2nd place Atlantic Division) // For GR: 31-19-1-6 (69 pts., 2nd place Central Division)

Referee(s): Jesse Gour / Stephen Thomson

Linesmen: Justin Cornell / Pat Richardson

Why You Should Care: Big test for both teams unfamiliar with the other on similar tracks. Both teams have identical points and are chasing down a division leader heading into the weekend are out of touch at this point in time. A win tonight keeps pace. Should be a good, competitive hockey game against two very good teams.

Other Game to Watch: Charlotte and Providence meet up in a battle between the three and four seeds in the Atlantic Division.

Next Five Games: @ RFD 3/3, @ MIL 3/4, @ BNG 3/9, vs. GR 3/10, @ CHA 3/13

vs.     

–

Who: Hershey Bears

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 3:05 p.m.

Last Game: Last night in Syracuse the Pens lost 3-1. Freddie Tiffels scored on the first shot of the game for Wilkes-Barre but the Pens couldn’t get anything else pasty Connor Ingram. For Hershey, the Bears scrapped with the Rockford IceHogs to a 4-3 overtime loss.

Last Meeting: February 2 in Wilkes-Barre, the Penguins won 4-1. Tristan Jarry stopped 25 of 26, Andrey pecan scored two goals and Daniel Sprong added two assists.

Record: For WBS: 31-16-4-1 (67 pts., 2nd place Atlantic Division) // For HER: 23-25-4-4 (54 pts., 6th place Atlantic Division)

Referee(s): Sean MacFarlane / Troy Murray

Linesmen: Ryan Knapp / Luke Murray

Why You Should Care: Hershey comes in this afternoon winners of 5 of their last 6 games with that setback coming in overtime against Rockford last night. Bears are a lot better than they have been the last time you saw them and the Penguins are shucking along letting the division get away from them. About that, this will be the first of five games in hand that the Pens have on teh Phantoms that will get burned off today. Games in hand only matter if you win them.

Promotion(s): Tux’s Birthday! – Kids 14 and Under Free (with paid adult ticket),  & Postgame Kids Skate

Other Game to Watch: Charlotte and Bridgeport rematch from last night where the Checkers beat the Sound Tigers 2-1.

Next Five Games: @ GR 3/2, @ RFD 3/3, @ MIL 3/4, @ BNG 3/9, vs. GR 3/10