Chirps from Center Ice

@     

–

Who: Hershey Bears

Where: Giant Center

When: 7:00 p.m.

Last Game: Last night at home against the Hartford Wolf Pack, the Pens won 5-1. Daniel Sprong had a hat trick and Anthony Peters stopped 27 of 28 shots. For Hershey, the Bears were in Springfield last night and won 4-2. Chris Bourque assisted on three Bears goals and was named first star of the game.

Last Meeting: December 10 in Hershey, the Pens won 4-1. Colin Smith had two assists and Sean Maguire stopped 18 of 19 shots.

Record: For WBS: 17-10-2-1 (37 pts., 4th place Atlantic Division) // For HER: 15-16-0-3 (33 pts., 6th place Atlantic Division)

Referee(s): Peter Schlittenhardt / Mathieu Menniti

Linesmen: Colin Gates / Bill Lyons

Why You Should Care: Bears have struggled of late. Don’t let that Springfield score from last night fool you, the Thunderbirds have been bad. The Penguins also have been playing some bad hockey of late but have some momentum coming into tonight after playing a good Hartford team. Anthony Peters gets the start tonight again for the Penguins, who will be looking to replicate the same thing I said in this same spot Friday against Hartford; insulate Peters and jump out to a big lead. Can they do it two nights in a row?

Other Game to Watch: Charlotte got dunked on by the Phantoms last night, the two teams rematch tonight in Allentown.

Next Five Games: BRI 1/3, SPR 1/5, BEL 1/6, @ BEL 1/12, @ LAV 1/13

vs.     

–

Who: Hartford Wolf Pack

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Wednesday at home against Lehigh Valley, the Pens lost 5-4. In a wild game, Garrett Wilson and Gage Quinney both had a goal and an assist. For Hartford, the Wolf Pack were last in action last Saturday against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at home and lost 5-1. Ryan Sproul scored the lone goal for Hartford in the loss.

Last Meeting: December 15 in Hartford, the Pens were defeated by the Wolf Pack 7-3. Daniel Sprong, Thomas DiPauli and Teddy Blueger all scored. John Gilmour for the Wolf Pack had two goals and an assist.

Record: For WBS: 16-10-2-1 (35 pts., 4th place Atlantic Division) // For HFD: 13-13-3-3 (32 pts., 6th place Atlantic Division)

Referee(s): Pierre Lambert / Mathieu Menniti

Linesmen: Toim DellaFranco  Scott Pomento

Why You Should Care: Hartford is playing a lot better than their sixth place record in the Atlantic would indicate. The Penguins have lost 10 of their last 14 games and have two goaltenders on PTO in the crease with Casey DeSmith getting recalled to Pittsburgh and Michael Leighton day to day with an injury. The Penguins will need to insulate whoever starts tonight and jump out to a two or three goal lead ideally if they want to beat Hartford tonight.

Other Game to Watch: Charlotte visits Lehigh Valley. Good test for the Phantoms here, with Charlotte looking to atone for the egg they laid in Binghamton Wednesday and the Phantoms looking to ascend back to the head of the Atlantic Division.

Next Five Games: @ HER 12/30, BRI 1/3, SPR 1/5, BEL 1/6, @ BEL 1/12

vs.     

–

Who: Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game / Last Meeting: Was this past Saturday in Wilkes-Barre and a game that the Phantoms won 3-2. The Penguins led the game going into the third period, but Nicolas Aube-Kubel and Oskar Lindblom scored in the third. The Penguins put up 41 shots.

Record: For WBS: 16-9-2-1 (35 pts., 4th place Atlantic Division) // For LV: 19-9-2-2 (42 pts., 3rd place Atlantic Division)

Referee(s): Peter Schlittenhardt / Olivier Gouin

Linesmen: Tom DellaFranco / Ryan Knapp

Why You Should Care: Well, the Penguins looked good for the most part against the Phantoms on Saturday, but then that third period happened and the game got away from them. They need a better start and a strong finish if they want to have success tonight against the Phantoms. You should probably look for Michael Leighton to get the start tonight against Lehigh Valley as well,

Promotion(s): None

Other Game to Watch: Bridgeport hosts Hershey. The Sound Tigers will be looking to advance into the top four in the Atlantic while Hershey will be trying to stop their tail spin.

Next Five Games: HFD 12/29, @ HER 12/30, BRI 1/3, SPR 1/5, BEL 1/6

vs.     

–

Who: Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 5:05 p.m.

Last Game: Last night at home against Binghamton, the Pens won in overtime 4-3. Teddy Blueger scored the first and last goals of the game. For Lehigh Valley, the Phantoms played Wednesday at home against the Hartford Wolf Pack and lost 5-4 in overtime. Oskar Lindblom had a goal and an assist good for second star honors.

Last Meeting: December 6 in Allentown, the Pens were shutout 5-0. Dustin Tokarski had a 39 save shutout.

Record: For WBS: 16-8-2-1 (35 pts., 3rd place Atlantic Division) // For LV: 18-9-2-2 (40 pts., 40 place Atlantic Division)

Referee(s): David Banfield / Terry Koharski

Linesmen: Luke Murray / Jud Ritter

Why You Should Care: Pens look to make it a perfect weekend with a win later on against the Phantoms. Casey DeSmith will get the start, with Michael Leighton getting the start yesterday. Expect a hotly contested affair with these two in-state rivals.

Promotion(s): Festivus Celebration, Jersey Auction / Penguins Team Card Strip #3

Other Game to Watch: Utica and Syracuse air their grievances and participate in feats of strength tonight in Syracuse.

Next Five Games: LV 12/27, HFD 12/29, @ HER 12/30, BRI 1/3, SPR 1/5

vs.     

–

Who: Binghamton Devils

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Saturday in Bridgeport, the Pens lost 3-2 to the Sound Tigers. Greg McKegg and Zach Aston-Reese scored for the Pens in the OT loss. For Binghamton, the Devils beat Belleville 5-2 last Saturday. Ken Appleby had a light night in goal, stopping 20 of 22 shots. Five different Devils scored.

Last Meeting: November 17 in Binghamton, the Pens won 4-3. Teddy Blueger set up two goals, earning himself first star honors.

Record: For WBS: 15-8-2-1 (33 pts., 4th place Atlantic Division) // For BNG: 9-14-3-1 (22 pts., 7th place North Division)

Referee(s): Peter MacDougall

Linesmen: Jud Ritter / Tom DellaFranco

Why You Should Care: Pittsburgh did some retooling with things and that netted Wilkes-Barre the services of future AHL Hall of Famer Michael Leighton and the return of Kevin Czuczman. With a full week of practice, how will the Penguins do against a last place Binghamton team? Who starts in goal?

Promotion(s): WBRE Fan Friday ($14 Tickets), Postgame Autographs, $2 Draft Beers (6-7:30 p.m.)

Other Game to Watch: Hartford, on a tear of late, hosts division leader Providence tonight in the Connecticut capital.

Next Five Games: LV 12/23, LV 12/27, HFD 12/29, @ HER 12/30, BRI 1/3

@     

–

Who: Bridgeport Sound Tigers

Where: Webster Bank Arena

When: 7:00 p.m.

Last Game: Last night in Hartford, the Pens were smoked 7-3. Daniel SProng, Teddy Blueger and Thomas DiPauli were the goal scorers. For Bridgeport, the Sound Tigers were in Springfield last night and lost 5-4. Parker Wotherspoon had two goals. Recently reassigned Josh Ho-Sang had an assist.

Last Meeting: October 28 in Wilkes-Barre, the Pens won 5-2. Ryan Haggerty had two goals, Zach Aston-Reese had two assists.

Record: For WBS: 15-8-1-1 (32 pts., 3rd place Atlantic Division) // For BRI: 12-11-1-1 (26 pts., 5th place Atlantic Division)

Referee(s): Stephen Reneau

Linesmen: Travis Gawryletz / John Kirakos

Why You Should Care: Penguins need to shake off that 7-3 throttling the Wolf Pack threw at them last night with a better effort here in Bridgeport tonight. Bridgeport as well will be looking at getting the stink off of them by letting Springfield sneak past them so it should be a good start between these two teams tonight.

Other Game to Watch: Providence revisits Hershey after seeing their eight game losing streak come to an end last night in Syracuse. The Bears were idle Friday.

Next Five Games: BNG 12/22, LV 12/23, LV 12/27, HFD 12/29, @ HER 12/30

@     

–

Who: Hartford Wolf Pack

Where: XL Center

When: 7:15 p.m.

Last Game: Wednesday at home against Springfield, the Penguins scored five unanswered goals and beat the Thunderbirds 6-3. Daniel Sprong had two goals and Patrick McGrath had his first home goal of his career via empty net. For Hartford, the Wolf Pack hosted those same Thunderbirds and won 5-3. Vinni Lettieri had two goals and an assist and was named first star of the game.

Record: For WBS: 15-7-1-1 (32 pts., 2nd place Atlantic Division) // For HFD: 10-12-3-2 (25 pts., 7th place Atlantic Division)

Referee(s): Corey Syvret

Linesmen: Mike Baker / Brent Colby

Why You Should Care: Pens start a two game weekend up in Connecticut against the Hartford Wolf Pack. Like Wednesday, the Pens will need to take the Wolf Pack seriously, despite their record and place in the division if they want to have success in Hartford tonight.

Other Game to Watch: Grand Rapids hosts Chicago in a battle of two North Division teams that should be contending but are not right now due to dangerously slow starts.

Next Five Games: @ BRI 12/16, BNG 12/22, LV 12/23, LV 12/27, HFD 12/29