Chirps from Center Ice

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Who: Springfield Thunderbirds

Where: Mass Mutual Center

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Saturday at home against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, the Penguins won 2-1. Tristan Jarry stopped 34 of 35 shots. The next day he was recalled to Pittsburgh and Casey DeSmith was returned to Wilkes-Barre. For Springfield, the Thunderbirds were in Bridgeport Friday and shutout the Sound Tigers 1-0. Evan Cowley had a 25 save shutout and Ludwig Bystrom scored for the Thunderbirds.

Last Meeting: January 5 in Wilkes-Barre, the Penguins won 4-2. Casey DeSmith stopped 20 of 22 shots. Adam Johnson scored and added and assist.

Record: For WBS: 28-12-3-1 (60 pts., 1st place Atlantic Division) // For SPR: 22-24-1-1 (46 pts., 7th place Atlantic Division)

Referee(s): Geoff Miller / Corey Syvret

Linesmen: Frank Murphy / Robert St. Lawrence

Why You Should Care: Despite their place in the standings, Springfield has been punching above its weight recently and have won three straight and are 7-3 in their last ten games. Wilkes-Barre can’t waltz into MassMutual Center tonight expecting the home team to lay down for the mighty Penguins, they have to fight for every puck if they want success tonight.

Other Game to Watch: It’s going to ear watching until it isn’t anymore, but the Lehigh Valley Phantoms play host to the Charlotte Checkers tonight.

Next Five Games: @ PRO 2/9, @ PRO 2/11, @ RCH 2/16, vs. UTI 2/17, @ LV 2/18

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Who: Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Last night at home against Hershey, the Pens won 4-1. Andrey Pedan scored a pair of goals and Tristan Jarry stooped 25 of 26 shots…For the Phantoms, they hosted the Charlotte Checkers and won 3-2. Cole Bardreau scored a gaol with three minutes left in regulation to win it for the Phantoms in regulation.

Last Meeting: January 26 in Allentown, the Phantoms won 5-2. Daniel Sprong and Zach Aston-Reese scored, but after that Alex Lyon replaced Dustin Tokarski and stopped all 26 shots faced.

Record: For WBS: 27-12-3-1 (58 pts., 1st place Atlantic Division) // For LV: 27-13-3-3 (60 pts., 2nd place Atlantic Division)

Referee(s): Cameron Voss / Nick Gill

Linesmen: Libor Suchanek / Jason Mandroc

Why You Should Care: Battle of 1 vs. 2 here in Wilkes-Barre tonight. The Penguins can separate themselves from the Phantoms with a regulation win tonight, but Lehigh Valley can overtake the Penguins by 0.001 percentage point with a regulation win. It’s a big game for both teams.

Promotion(s): Pink In The Rink – Pink Stick Auction / McCarthy Tire All-Star Poster Giveaway

Other Game to Watch: Providence travels to Hartford in what will be a payoff of a weekend home and home series. Last night, the Bruins beat the Wolf Pack 2-1 in overtime in Rhode Island.

Next Five Games: @ SPR 2/7, @ PRO 2/9, @ PRO 2/11, @ RCH 2/16, vs. UTI 2/17

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Who: Hershey Bears

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: January 27 at home against Binghamton, the Penguins won 4-3 in overtime. Zach Aston-Reese had the goal and also chipped in with an assist. For Hershey, the Bears lost their eighth straight game with a 3-1 loss to Bridgeport. Nathan Walker had the lone power play goal for the Bears.

Last Meeting: January 24 in Hershey, the Penguins shutout the Bears 4-0. Anthony Peters had an 18 save shutout.

Record: For WBS: 26-12-3-1 (56 pts., 1st place Atlantic Division) // For HER: 17-21-3-4 (41 pts., 8th place Atlantic Division)

Referee(s): David Banfield / Guillaume Labonte

Linesmen: Jason Mandroc / Matt McNulty

Why You Should Care: Pens need to be careful here. Hershey comes in losers of eight straight games. Both teams are well rested coming out of the All-Star break. The Pens should put the Bears away early if they want to be successful tonight. Hershey will obviously be looking to keep it close and score a late goal to get back on the winning side of things.

Promotion(s): WBRE Fan Friday ($14 Tickets), Postgame Autographs, $2 Draft Beers (6-7:30 p.m.) presented by PA Prostate Cancer Coalition – Football Friday (Wear Your Favorite Team’s Jersey)

Other Game to Watch: Syracuse meets Utica tonight in Central New York in the battle of the 3rd and 4th place teams in the North.

Next Five Games: LV 2/3, @ SPR 2/7, @ PRO 2/9, @ PRO 2/11, @ RCH 2/16

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Who: Binghamton Devils

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Last night in Allentown, the Pens lost 5-2. Daniel Spromng and Zach Aston-Reese scored first period goals. For Binghamton, the Devils hosted the Utica Comets and lost 4-1. Bracken Kearns scored for the Devils in the loss.

Last Meeting: December 22 in Wilkes-Barre, the Penguins beat the Devils in overtime 4-3. Teddy Blueger’s goal in overtime capped off a comeback by the Penguins.

Record: For WBS: 25-12-3-1 (54 pts., 1st place Atlantic Division) // For BNG: 12-23-5-2 (31 pts., 7th place North Division)

Referee(s): Beaudry Halkidis / Andrew Wilk

Linesmen: Jud Ritter / Jason Mandroc

Why You Should Care: Pens need a bounce back after last night hard luck loss against Lehigh Valley and should find one here back at home against Binghamton. But, it may not be easy as the Devils nearly had the Pens the last time these two teas played.

Promotion(s): None

Television: Broadcast on WYOU (Channel 22)

Other Game to Watch: Every team in the AHL is in action today before the All-Star break, and Utica visiting Lehigh Valley will be on our radar. The Comets are on the rise and the Phantoms have been good all season.

Next Five Games: HER 2/2, LV 2/3, @ SPR 2/7, @ PRO 2/9, @ PRO 2/11

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Who: Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Where: PPL Center

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Wednesday in Hershey, the Penguins shutout the Bears 4-0. Anthony Peters had an 18 save shutout. For Lehigh Valley, the Phantoms took down the Providence Bruins at home 3-2. The game only had one power play.

Last Meeting: January 17 in Wilkes-Barre, the Penguins won 4-1. Zach Aston-Reese had a goal and two assists and Anthony Peters stopped 22 of 23 shots.

Record: For WBS: 25-11-3-1 (54 pts., 1st place Atlantic Division) // For LV: 25-13-2-3 (55 pts., 2nd place Atlantic Division)

Referee(s): Brandon Schrader / Michael Mullen

Linesmen: Tom DellaFranco / Ryan Knapp

Why You Should Care: Top two teams in the Atlantic meet tonight in Allentown. Expect a change in goal for Wilkes-Barre as Tristan Jarry was announced as the starter for the Penguins Thursday. How does the team play in front of him? Will it matter? Should be a fun one tonight.

Other Game to Watch: Rochester and Toronto are the top teams in the North Division, and these two sides meet in Toronto.

Next Five Games: BNG 1/27, HER 2/2, LV 2/3, @ SPR 2/7, @ PRO 2/9

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Who: Hershey Bears

Where: Giant Center

When: 7:00 p.m.

Last Game: Sunday in Hartford, the Pens lost in overtime 1-0 and were shutout for the second consecutive night. For Hershey, they played Saturday at Hersheypark Stadium against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and lost 5-2. Nathan Walker and Travis Boyd scored for Hershey in the loss.

Last Meeting: December 30 in Hershey, the Pens won 2-1 in overtime. Anthony Peters made 20 saves, Dominik Simon scored in overtime to give the Penguins the win.

Record: For WBS: 24-11-3-1 (52 pts., 1st place Atlantic Division) // For HER: 17-18-3-4 (41 pts., 6th place Atlantic Division)

Referee(s): Stephen Reneau / Jeremy Tufts

Linesmen: Jud Ritter / Tom George

Why You Should Care: Two teams headed in opposite directions it would appear. The Penguins are locking teams up and are defensively stingy, while the Bears are struggling at .500 pretty much all season. Pens got much needed playmaking back in the form of Daniel Sprong from Pittsburgh Monday and may see some more reinforcements re-enter the lineup. But, as always the case with the Bears, Wilkes-Barre will need to play this game carefully.

Other Game to Watch: Providence will be about an hour away from where the Pens and Bears are playing in Allentown, taking on the Phantoms.

Next Five Games: @ LV 1/26, BNG 1/27, HER 2/2, LV 2/3, @ SPR 2/7

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Who: Hartford Wolf Pack

Where: XL Center

When: 5:00 p.m.

Last Game: Friday in Providence, the Penguins were shutout 1-0. For Hartford, the Wolf Pack beat the Utica Comets 3-2 in overtime with Filip Chytil’s goal.

Last Meeting: December 29 in Wilkes-Barre, the Penguins won 5-1. This win kicked off what would become an eight game winning streak for the Pens, which was ended Friday in Providence.

Record: For WBS: 24-11-2-1 (51 pts., 1st place Atlantic Division) // For HFD: 16-20-3-3 (38 pts., 8th place Atlantic Division)

Referee(s): Cameron Voss / Peter MacDougall

Linesmen: Kyle Richetelle / Paul Simeon

Why You Should Care: Penguins and Wolf Pack are rested, having not played Saturday and are probably itching to get back out on the ice. For the Pens, it’s to show that they are better than being shutout by Providence on Friday and for Hartford it’s to battle out of the Atlantic Division basement and start making a run and playing like they team they are capable of. What’s it going to be this afternoon?

Other Game to Watch: Providence hosts Springfield at 3 Sunday afternoon.

Next Five Games: @ HER 1/24, @ LV 1/26, BNG 1/27, HER 2/2, LV 2/3