Chirps from Center Ice

vs.     

–

Who: Springfield Thunderbirds

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Sunday in Hershey, the Pens beat the Bears 4-1. Daniel Sprong scored in his fourth straight game and also notched an assist. For Springfield, the Thunderbirds were in Hartford Sunday afternoon and lost to the Wolf Pack 5-3. Juho Lammikko had a goal and an assist for Springfield in the loss.

Record: For WBS: 14-7-1-1 (30 pts., 2nd place Atlantic Division) // For SPR: 10-17-1-0 (21 pts., 8th place Atlantic Division)

Referee(s): Chris Pontes / Brandon Blandina

Linesmen: J.P. Waleski / Ryan Knapp

Why You Should Care: Casey DeSmith returns from the Pittsburgh Penguins to the crease for the AHL Penguins. Springfield comes in 4-6 in their last ten games which is actually better than you would think. The Pens cannot underestimate this Thunderbirds team or else they are going be in the same situation they’ve been in with Charlotte last Friday and Lehigh Valley a week ago.

Promotion(s): None

Other Game to Watch: Lehigh Valley and Charlotte rematch in North Carolina after a barnburner game last night.

Next Five Games: @ HFD 12/15, @ BRI 12/16, BNG 12/22, LV 12/23, LV 12/27

@     

–

Who: Hershey Bears

Where: Giant Center

When: 5:00 p.m.

Last Game: Friday in Wilkes-Barre, the Pens hosted the Charlotte Checkers and lost 2-1. Daniel Sprong scored a third period power play goal. Sean Maguire took the loss, stopping 28 of 30 shots. For Hershey, the Bears hosted the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on the backend of a home and home with the Phantoms and ….

Last Meeting: Last Sunday in Hershey, the Penguins lost in overtime 4-3. After Tom Sestito scored with just about five minutes to go in the third which would tie the game and force overtime, Chris Bourque’s overtime power play goal would send the Bears home with the full two points.

Record: For WBS: 13-7-1-1 (28 pts., 3rd place Atlantic Division) // For HER: 12-11-0-3 (27 pts., 6th place Atlantic Division)

Referee(s): Reid Anderson / Jeremy Tufts

Linesmen: Colin Gates / Bill Lyons

Why You Should Care: Will teh day off the Pens had last night matter against the Bears at home who are playing their third game in as many days? The Pens need a better start that they had in the first period Friday against Charlotte. The start may determine the winner here this evening in Hershey.

Other Game to Watch: Springfield visits Hartford today in a matchup of the two teams at the bottom of the Atlantic Division looking to dig their way out.

Next Five Games: SPR 12/13, @ HFD 12/15, @ BRI 12/16, BNG 12/22, LV 12/23

vs.     

–

Who: Charlotte Checkers

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Wednesday in Allentown, the Penguins were shutout 5-0 by the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. For Charlotte, the Checkers hosted the Springfield Thunderbirds on Sunday and won 4-3. Aleksi Saarela had a goal and an assist for first star honors.

Last Meeting: October 7 in the home opener for the Penguins, the Checkers won 5-2. Daniel Sprong and Thomas DiPauli scored for the Penguin in the loss but Warren Foegele scored two shorthanded goals.

Record: For WBS: 13-6-1-1 (28 pts., 1st place Atlantic Division) // For CHA: 14-8-0-1 (29 pts., 4th place Atlantic Division)

Referee(s): Jeremy Tufts / Reid Anderson

Linesmen: James Tobias / Scott Pomento

Why You Should Care: Penguins come into tonight’s contest against Charlotte dropping 5 of their last 6 games. The Penguins have also given up 7 shorthanded goals this season. Warren Foegele scored two of those on the Penguins home opener October 7. In order for the Penguins to win this game, they may need to employ the KISS method.

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

Other Game to Watch: The Syracuse Crunch have won seven games in a row and take this streak into Binghamton tonight as the Devils are waiting to play the upset after their big overtime win over the Laval Rocket Wednesday.

Next Five Games: @ HER 12/10, SPR 12/13, @ HFD 12/15, @ BRI 12/16, BNG 12/22

@     

–

Who: Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Where: PPL Center

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Sunday in Hershey, the Pens lost in overtime 4-3. Tom Sestito’s late third period goal forced overtime, but Chris Bourque scored on the power play in overtime. For Lehigh Valley, the Phantoms lost to the Laval Rocket 4-3 in overtime on Saturday. Greg Carey had a goal and an assist in the loss.

Last Meeting: November 22 in Wilkes-Barre, the Penguins won 4-2. Ryan Haggerty had two goals and an assist, J-S Dea had a goal and two assists.

Record: For WBS: 13-5-1-1 (28 pts., 1st place Atlantic Division) // For LV: 13-7-1-2 (29 pts., 4th place Atlantic Division)

Referee(s): Alex Normandin / Evgenii Romasko

Linesmen: Luke Murray / J.P. Waleski

Why You Should Care: It’s a battle that’s probably going to be watched carefully throughout the Atlantic Division as the top two teams in the division square off in Allentown. What will the situation be in goal for the Penguins tonight and how will they finish?

Other Game to Watch: It’s always fun when Syracuse and Utica meet, and that is just what is happening tonight in Utica.

Next Five Games: CHA 12/8, @ HER 12/10, SPR 12/13, @ HFD 12/15, @ BRI 12/16

@     

–

Who: Hershey Bears

Where: Giant Center

When: 5:00 p.m.

Last Game: Last night at home against the Rochester Americans, the Penguins lost 5-2. Teddy Blueger scored both goals, one of them shorthanded. For Hershey, the Bears shutout the Milwaukee Admirals 3-0, Vitek Vanacek had a 21 save shutout.

Last Meeting: November 12 in Hershey, the Penguins won 5-1. Five different Penguins scored and Casey DeSmith stopped 31 of 32 shots.

Record: For WBS: 13-5-0-1 (27 pts., 1st place Atlantic Division) // For HER: 10-10-0-3 (23 pts., 6th place Atlantic Division)

Referee(s): Cameron Voss / David Banfield

Linesmen: Richard Jondo / Scott Pomento

Why You Should Care: Wilkes-Barre needs a rebound here in Hershey today. Penguins need to be more disciplined than they were yesterday against Rochester. For Hershey, the Bears were smoked Friday against Lehigh Valley and shutout the Admirals so this will be a nice test for a Bears team who are .500 through the first weekend of December.

Other Game to Watch: Providence, nipping on the Penguins heels, travel to Bridgeport for a meeting against a Sound Tigers team who have an eight game point streak.

Next Five Games: @ LV 12/6, CHA 12/8, @ HER 12/10, SPR 12/13, @ HFD 12/15

vs.     

–

Who: Rochester Americans

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Last night at home against the Milwaukee Admirals the Penguins won 5-4 in overtime. Garrett Wilson had a hat trick in the first period but J-S Dea scored the game winner in overtime. For Rochester, the Americans hosted the Hartford Wolf Pack and lost 5-4 in a shootout. Garret Ross had a goal, good enough to get him second star honors.

Record: For WBS: 13-4-0-1 (27 pts., 1st place Atlantic Division) // For RCH: 11-5-3-2 (27 pts., 2nd place North Division)

Referee(s): Alex Garon / Brandon Schrader

Linesmen: Bob Goodman / Luke Murray

Why You Should Care: Penguins recipe for success last night was scoring first against Milwaukee, so that should be the blueprint for tonight as well. The Americans will be coming in ornery having lost to a team they should have beat last night.

Promotion(s): Teddy Bear Toss / Penguins Team Card Strip #2

Television: Tonight’s Penguins game will be carried live on WBRE, Channel 28, local in the Wilkes-Barre area.

Other Game to Watch: Grand Rapids travels to Chicago in a matchup of two teams that looked to be strong out of the gate that have failed to live up to expectations.

Next Five Games: @ HER 12/3, @ LV 12/6, CHA 12/8, @ HER 12/10, SPR 12/13

vs.     

–

Who: Milwaukee Admirals

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Saturday at home against Syracuse, the Penguins put up a valiant effort in the third period, but couldn’t overcome the two goals that the Crunch scored in the second period and lost 4-3. Freddie Tiffels scored his first AHL goal of his career. For Milwaukee, the Admirals were in Des Moines, Iowa taking on the Iowa Wild on Tuesday and won 4-2. Goaltender Anders Lindback stopped 40 of 42 shots and was named first star of the game. Mark Zengerle also added a goal and had two assists.

Record: For WBS: 12-4-0-1 (25 pts., 1st place Atlantic Division) // For MIL: 11-8-0-0 (22 pts., 2nd place Central Division)

Referee(s): Cameron Voss / Beaudry Halkidis

Linesmen: J.P. Waleski / Tom DellaFranco

Why You Should Care: Penguins face an unfamiliar foe from the Western Conference in the Milwaukee Admirals. The Penguins will have a new tandem in goal tonight with Casey DeSmith getting called up Tuesday. Sean Maguire was recalled, then Colin Smith yo-yo’ed to Wheeling and back, then Maguire got sick necessitating the Pens to sign Anthony Peters to a PTO Friday morning. The goaltending situation is in flux, putting it mildly.

Promotion(s): WBRE Fan Friday ($14 Tickets), Postgame Autographs, $2 Draft Beers (6-7:30 p.m.) / Bayard – Times Tribune – Citizens Voice Team Photo Giveaway.

Other Game to Watch: Springfield visits Charlotte tonight in a matchup against two teams that have been trending upwards of late.

Next Five Games: RCH 12/2, @ HER 12/3, @ LV 12/6, CHA 12/8, @ HER 12/10