Chirps from Center Ice

@     

–

Who: Syracuse Crunch

Where: Onondaga County War Memorial Arena

When: 7:00 p.m.

Last Game: Last night at home against the Rockford IceHogs in their first ever meeting, the Penguins won 6-3. Six different Penguins recorded a goal and Ethan Prow assisted on three of those goals. For Syracuse, the Crunch beat the Lehigh Valley Phantoms 2-1 Friday night. Eddie Pasquale stopped 31 of 32 Phantoms shots and Michael Bournival scored both Syracuse goals.

Last Meeting: November 25 in Wilkes-Barre, the Penguins lost 4-3. The Crunch scored twice in the first and second periods and held off the Penguins hard charge in the third to narrowly defeat the Penguins.

Record: For WBS: 31-15-4-1 (67 pts., 2nd place Atlantic Division) // For SYR: 32-18-2-3 (69 pts., 2nd place North Division)

Referee(s): Keith Kaval / Michael Mullen

Linesmen: Jason Brown / Michael Fusani

Why You Should Care: Syracuse presents another challenge for the Penguins tonight. A Crunch team that has ebbed and flowed and kept its head above water in a top heavy yet competitive North Division. The Crunch took down the Lehigh Valley Phantoms last night and will be looking to do the same thing to the Penguins tonight. If Wilkes-Barre plays the way that they did last night against Rockford, that is very disciplined, few penalties and help from all parts of the lineup, then it should be a close game that hopefully the Penguins are good enough to win.

Other Game to Watch: Hershey has won five in a row. They return home to play the Rockford IceHogs. Bears are in town Sunday afternoon.

Next Five Games: vs. HER 2/25, @ GR 3/2, @ RFD 3/3, @ MIL 3/4, @ BNG 3/9

vs.     

–

Who: Rockford IceHogs

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Sunday in Allentown against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, the Penguins lost 4-1. J-S Dea scored a shorthanded goal in the loss. For Rockford, the IceHogs hosted the San Antonio Rampage on Sunday and won 4-3. Three different IceHogs scored goals.

Record: For WBS: 30-15-4-1 (65 pts., 2nd place Atlantic Division) // For RFD: 26-22-3-3 (58 pts., 6th place Central Division)

Referee(s): Brandon Blandina / Luke Murray

Linesmen: Jason Mandroc / J.P. Waleski

Why You Should Care: Penguins face off against the IceHogs for the very first time in team history. Rockford is a hard working team that is better than their sixth place in the Central record would indicate. Wilkes-Barre, after a week of practice, should come out and play a lot better than they did last weekend and should hopefully have players back from injury.

Other Game to Watch: Lehigh Valley visits Syracuse. Penguins are there tomorrow.

Next Five Games: @ SYR 2/24, vs. HER 2/25, @ GR 3/2, @ RFD 3/3, @ MIL 3/4

@     

–

Who: Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Where: PPL Center

When: 5:05 p.m.

Last Game: Last night at home against the Utica Comets, the Penguins battled back from a 3-1 hole and lost 5-4 in overtime. Joe Cramarossa had a goal and and assist to give the newest Penguin three points in his first two games….For Lehigh Valley, the Phantoms hosted the Hartford Wolf Pack and lost 3-2 in a shootout. Phil Varone and Oskar Lindblom scored for the Phantoms in the shootout loss.

Last Meeting: February 3 in Wilkes-Barre, the Penguins won 2-1. Tristan Jarry stole the show with a 34 save performance. Daniel Sprong and J-S Mea added goals for the Pens.

Record: For WBS: 30-14-4-1 (65 pts., 2nd place Atlantic Division) // For LV: 32-14-3-4 71 pts., 1st place Atlantic Division)

Referee(s): Guillaume Labonte / Terry Koharski

Linesmen: Bevan Mills / Tom DellaFranco

Why You Should Care: Penguins battled Utica last night to a overtime loss while Lehigh Valley coughed up a lead and lost to Hartford in a shootout. Who has the momentum this afternoon?

Other Game to Watch: Providence hosts Springfield this afternoon in a game that both teams competing later here may be keeping on.

Next Five Games: vs. RFD 2/23, @ SYR 2/24, vs. HER 2/25, @ GR 3/2, @ RFD 3/3

vs.     

–

Who: Utica Comets

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Last night in Rochester, the Penguins were throated by the Americans 12-3. Rochester scored six power play goals. Cody Wydo, Greg McKegg and Jarrett Burton scored for the Penguins in the loss. For Utica, the Comets hosted the Binghamton Devils and won 3-1. Richard Bachman stopped 23 of 24 shots to pick up the win and first star honors.

Record: For WBS: 30-14-3-1 (64 pts., 2nd place Atlantic Division) // For UTI: 27-14-6-4 64 pts., 3rd place North Division)

Referee(s): Peter MacDougall / Terry Koharski

Linesmen: Tom George / Jason Mandroc

Why You Should Care: Penguins need amnesia from last night’s whooping quickly and have to regroup against a surging Utica team. Unlike last night with the Americans who lost five straight coming in, the Comets have not lost in their last 14 games (11-0-2-1) and are 8-0-1-1 in their last ten. Wilkes-Barre knows what it is up against tonight and has to come out ready if they want to take down the beast known as the Utica Comets.

Promotion(s): METLife Military Appreciation Night – Camo Jersey Auction

Other Game to Watch: With the Penguins in second place now with four games in hand on the first place team in Lehigh Valley, it bears watching what the Phantoms are up to. They host the Hartford Wolf Pack tonight.

Next Five Games: @ LV 2/18, vs. RFD 2/23, @ SYR 2/24, vs. HER 2/25, @ GR 3/2

@     

–

Who: Rochester Americans

Where: Blue Cross Arena

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Sunday in Providence, the Penguins battled out of a 0-2 hole and forced a shootout and beat the Bruins 3-2 in the shootout. J-S Dea’s goal in the bottom of the first was the only scoring. For Rochester, the Americans lost in overtime in Hershey 3-2. The Amerks saw the Bears tie the game with seconds left, only to see Hershey score in overtime. Seth Griffith and Eric Cornel scored for Rochester in the loss.

Last Meeting: December 2 in Wilkes-Barre, the Pens lost 5-2. Evan Rodrigues had a pair of goals and added an assist for the Amerks. Teddy Blueger supplied all of the offense for Wilkes-Barre, scoring twice.

Record: For WBS: 30-13-3-1 (64 pts., 1st place Atlantic Division) // For RCH: 25-13-7-5 62 pts., 2nd place North Division)

Referee(s): Stephen Thomson / Michael Markovic

Linesmen: Brian Oliver / Brian Wasilewski

Why You Should Care: Penguins need a strong start to this three in three weekend and it starts tonight in Rochester where the Americans are 2-4-3-1 in their last ten and winless in their last five. It should be the debut of Joseph Cramarossa, who was acquired Wednesday in a trade that sent Colin Smith to the Stockton Heat.

Other Game to Watch: Light night by league standards, with just six other games going on across the league. Bridgeport travels up to Rhode Island for a date with the Providence Bruins.

Next Five Games: vs. UTI 2/17, @ LV 2/18, vs. RFD 2/23, @ SYR 2/24, vs. HER 2/25

@     

–

Who: Providence Bruins

Where: Dunkin’ Donuts Center

When: 3:05 p.m.

Last Game / Last Meeting: Friday, the Pens lost 4-0. Zane McIntyre had a 22 save shutout. Providence played last night in Bridgeport and won 3-1. That win snapped a five game road losing streak for the Bruins.

Record: For WBS: 29-13-3-1 (62 pts., 1st place Atlantic Division) // For PRO: 28-16-3-1 60 pts., 3rd place Atlantic Division)

Referee(s): Peter Schlittenhardt / Stephen Reneau

Linesmen: Jeremy Lovett / Jared Waitt

Why You Should Care: Penguins simply have to find a way to score in Providence if they want to win today, after getting shutout at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center for the past two games by Zane McIntyre, who is expected to start again today. Penguins should be the fresher team with Providence in action Saturday night.

Other Game to Watch: Bridgeport hosts Syracuse later on this afternoon at 5. Crunch are chasing the Comets, Americans and Marlies in the North.

Next Five Games: @ RCH 2/16, vs. UTI 2/17, @ LV 2/18, vs. RFD 2/23, @ SYR 2/24

@     

–

Who: Providence Bruins

Where: Dunkin’ Donuts Center

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Wednesday in Springfield, the Penguisn won 3-1. Casey DeSmith returned from NHL recall and stopped 23 of 24. The Penguins power play struck twice, albeit one was an empty net goal late. For Providence, the Bruins were last in action on last Saturday in Hartford and lost 3-1. Colton Hargrove scored for the P-Bruins in the loss.

Last Meeting: January 19 in Providence, the Penguins lost 1-0. Zane McIntyre had a 28 save shutout, Tommy Cross scored a third period power play goal and Anthony Peters stopped 42 of 43 shots.

Record: For WBS: 29-12-3-1 (62 pts., 1st place Atlantic Division) // For PRO: 26-16-3-1 (56 pts., 3rd place Atlantic Division)

Referee(s): Evgeni Romaski / Jonathon Sitarski

Linesmen: Kenneth Gates / Todd Whittemore

Why You Should Care: Bruins have been faltering of late, 4-5-0-1 in their last tend and slipping away from the division leaders. What better way of getting right back in the thick of it with a tidy two game sweep of the visiting Penguins tonight and again Sunday. Penguins need a complete game, much like they had Wednesday in Springfield, if they want to be in contention at the end of 60 minutes tonight.

Other Game to Watch: Chicago visits Iowa in a battle of top three teams in the Central Division tonight.

Next Five Games: @ PRO 2/11, @ RCH 2/16, vs. UTI 2/17, @ LV 2/18, vs. RFD 2/23