Chirps from Center Ice

@     

–

Who: Providence Bruins

Where: Dunkin’ Donuts Center

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Wednesday at home against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, the Penguins won 4-1. Zach Aston-Reese scored a goal and added two assists. Wilkes-Barre won it’s eighth straight game. For Providence, the Bruins were beaten Sunday at home against the Springfield Thunderbirds 5-2. Colton Hargrove and Kenny Agostino both scored for the P-Bruins in the loss.

Last Meeting: The last, and only meeting of the year so far between these two was November 11 in Wilkes-Barre, a game that the Penguins won 4-3 in overtime. Ryan Haggerty scored :20 into overtime to give the Pens the win.

Record: For WBS: 24-10-2-1 (51 pts., 1st place Atlantic Division) // For PRO: 22-12-3-1 (48 pts., 2nd place Atlantic Division)

Referee(s): Corey Syvret / Olivier Gouin

Linesmen: Kenneth Gates / Todd Whittemore

Why You Should Care: Penguins are familiar with what the P-Bruins are going through. The Bruins are 0-3-0-1 and 4-4-1-1 in their last ten games and are in a slump, much like the Penguins were. But both teams are good, and good teams don’t stay in slumps very long. Bruins are going to be up for this one against Wilkes-Barre.

Other Game to Watch: Springfield has won five straight. They look for six in a row at home against the Binghamton Devils.

Next Five Games: @ HFD 1/21, @ HER 1/24, @ LV 1/26, BNG 1/27, HER 2/2

vs.     

–

Who: Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Saturday in Laval, the Penguins won 4-3 bolstered by Andrey Pedan’s first ever professional hat trick. For Lehigh Valley, the Phantoms beat the Hershey Bears on Sunday 2-1 in overtime thanks to T.J. Brennan’s overtime goal at 44 seconds.

Last Meeting: December 27 in Wilkes-Barre, the Penguins lost 5-4. That was the last time that the Penguins lost a game, seven games ago. Garret Wilson and gage Quinney both had a goal and an assist in the loss.

Record: For WBS: 23-10-2-1 (49 pts., 1st place Atlantic Division) // For LV: 23-12-2-3 (51 pts., 2nd place Atlantic Division)

Referee(s): Brandon Schrader / Reid Anderson

Linesmen: Libor Suchanek / J.P. Waleski

Why You Should Care: Battle of the top two teams in the Atlantic Division here in Wilkes-Barre tonight. The Penguins will be gunning for their eighth straight game while the Phantoms will be looking for another win against the Penguins. Should be a hotly contested, competitive game, as is always the case with these two great rivals.

Promotion(s): None

Other Game to Watch: Springfield, winners of four straight, host Hershey, who are 0-1-2 in their last three games and looking to get their week started off on the right foot.

Next Five Games: @ PRO 1/19, @ HFD 1/21, @ HER 1/24, @ LV 1/26, BNG 1/27

@     

–

Who: Laval Rocket

Where: Place Bell

When: 4:00 p.m.

Last Game: Last night in Belleville, the Pens won 6-2. Ryan Haggerty led the way with his first ever hat trick, the Pens won their sixth straight game and Anthony Peters won his fourth straight for the Pens. For Laval, the Rocket hosted Hartford and won 4-2. Adam Cracknell and a pair of goals and Matt Taormina had a goal and an assist.

Last Meeting: October 20 in Wilkes-Barre, the Penguins won 6-5 in overtime on a Teddy Blueger overtime goal that gave the Pens the win. Daniel Sprong had a hat trick and an assist in the game. Four rocket players had multiple point games.

Record: For WBS: 22-10-2-5 (47 pts., 1st place Atlantic Division) // For LAV: 16-17-5-2 (39 pts., 5th place North Division)

Referee(s): Furman South / Mitch Dunning

Linesmen: Pierre-Luc Huot / Francis Trempe

Why You Should Care: Penguins look to make it seven straight in Laval. In order to do so, they will need to replicate a lot of things that got them to six wins in a row. Expect Anthony Peters to get the start for the Penguins again and all four lines rolling looking to get the offense going.

Other Game to Watch: Toronto and Charlotte tangle for Game 2 in North Carolina. Last night the Marlies got the better of the Checkers by a 4-1 score.

Next Five Games: LV 1/17, @ PRO 1/19, @ HFD 1/21, @ HER 1/24, @ LV 1/26

@     

–

Who: Belleville Senators

Where: Yardmen Arena

When: 7:00 p.m.

Last Game: Penguins last met the Belleville Senators in their last game which was played Saturday in a game that the Penguins won 6-0. J-S Dea and Christian Thomas had a pair of goals each, and Casey DeSmith had a 24 save shutout. For Belleville, the Senators beat the Rochester Americans 3-2 in overtime on Wednesday. Jordan Murray scored the game winning overtime goal, and also added an assist.

Record: For WBS: 21-10-2-1 (45 pts., 2nd place Atlantic Division) // For BEL: 15-20-0-3 (33 pts., 6th place North Division)

Referee(s): Brett Iverson / Michael Markovic

Linesmen: Brandon Bourgeois / Adam Harris

Why You Should Care: Penguins look for six wins in a row in Ontario against the Belleville Senators who are rejuvenated after taking down the Rochester Americans at home Wednesday. Will the Pens be walking into a trap or will they re-assert their dominant performance against this Senators team that looked listless last Saturday?

Other Game to Watch: Bridgeport travels to first place Providence tonight. P-Bruins lost their last game Sunday and will be looking to get back on track with the Penguins and the rest of the Atlantic Division bearing down.

Next Five Games: @ LAV 1/13, LV 1/17, @ PRO 1/19, @ HFD 1/21, @ HER 1/24

vs.     

–

Who: Belleville Senators

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Last night at home against Springfield, the Pens won 4-2. Wilkes-Barre scrapped with the Thunderbirds all night, Casey DeSmith stopped 20 of 22 shots. For Belleville, the Senators were in Binghamton last night and lost 6-1. Christian Jaros scored the only goal for Belleville in the loss.

Record: For WBS: 20-10-2-1 (43 pts., 3rd place Atlantic Division) // For BEL: 14-19-0-3 (31 pts., 6th place North Division)

Referee(s): Evgenii Romasko / David Banfield

Linesmen: Bob Goodman / Tom George

Why You Should Care: Penguins can go for five straight wins against a hapless Belleville team that are 3-7 in their last ten. This should be a game that the Penguins win easily, but if they get lax, Belleville could smack the Penguins and stun them with a big win.

Promotion(s): Pens website says, “TBD” – if you are a season ticket holder like me, don’t forget your Jake Guentzel bobblehead voucher.

Other Game to Watch: Pens trail the Lehigh Valley Phantoms by .001 percentage point in the Atlantic and the Phantoms are in Western New York taking on the Rochester Americans.

Next Five Games: @ BEL 1/12, @ LAV 1/13, LV 1/17, @ PRO 1/19, @ HFD 1/21

vs.     

–

Who: Springfield Thunderbirds

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Wednesday at home against Bridgeport, the Penguins won 3-2 in overtime. Wilkes-Barre battled back from a 2-0 deficit to start the third and tied it late on a Greg McKegg power play goal and Teddy Blueger scored the overtime game winner to win it for the Pens. For Springfield, the Thunderbirds beat the Hartford Wolf Pack in the Connecticut capital Saturday 5-4. Ex-Penguin Bobby Farnham had a pair of goals for the Thunderbirds in the win.

Last Meeting: December 13 in Wilkes-Barre, the Pens won 6-3. The Penguins used three goals in the third period to propel past the Thunderbirds.

Record: For WBS: 19-10-2-1 (41 pts., 3rd place Atlantic Division) // For BRI: 14-19-1-1 (30 pts., 8th place Atlantic Division)

Referee(s): Reid Anderson / Cameron Voss

Linesmen: James Tobias / J.P. Waleski

Why You Should Care: Can the Penguins keep the streak going against Springfield? The Pens will be looking for carbon copies of the last three games, keeping them close and trying to stay perfect on the penalty kill, to propel them past Springfield today.

Promotion(s): WBRE Fan Friday ($14 Tickets), Postgame Autographs, $2 Draft Beers (6-7:30 p.m.) / PA Lottery Giveaway (Fans 18 and older)

Other Game to Watch: Lehigh Valley visits Toronto. The Phantoms are looking to keep the heat on first place Providence.

Next Five Games: BEL 1/6, @ BEL 1/12, @ LAV 1/13, LV 1/17, @ PRO 1/19

vs.     

–

Who: Bridgeport Sound Tigers

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Saturday in Hershey, the Penguins won in overtime 2-1. Dominik Simon scored the goal in overtime for the Pens. For Bridgeport, the Sound Tigers shout out Binghamton at home 5-0. Christopher Gibson had a 19 save shutout.

Last Meeting: Bridgeport beat the Penguins 3-2 in overtime on December 16. Sebastian Aho scored the overtime goal against the Penguins.

Record: For WBS: 18-10-2-1 (39 pts., 4th place Atlantic Division) // For BRI: 16-12-2-1 (34 pts., 5th place Atlantic Division)

Referee(s): Furman South / Micheal Sheehan

Linesmen: Libor Suchanek / Jud Ritter

Why You Should Care: Important Atlantic Division matchup taking place in Wilkes-Barre tonight against a 4th place team in the Penguins and a 5th place team in Bridgeport. Penguins are without some players today because of call-ups to Pittsburgh and Bridgeport is coming off of a strong 5-0 shutout of a terrible Binghamton team, so it should be an interesting game tonight. The key to the Penguins success is going to be what got them wins on Friday and Saturday last week; be good on the penalty kill, get ahead and keep the game tight.

Promotion(s): None

Other Game to Watch: Pens / Sound Tigers is the only game in the division tonight. Milwaukee hosts a Grand Rapids team on the rise tonight. Griffins are a win away from getting back to .500.

Next Five Games: SPR 1/5, BEL 1/6, @ BEL 1/12, @ LAV 1/13, LV 1/17