Chirps from Center Ice

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Who: Hershey Bears

Where: Giant Center

When: 1:00 p.m.

Last Game / Last Meeting: These two teams played Friday in Wilkes-Barre and the Bears won 3-1. Alex D’Orio performed admirably in his AHL season debut, stopping 23 shots. Matt Moulson’s power play goal in the third gave the Bears the lead for good.

Record: For WBS: 5-6-3-1 (14 pts.) — For HER: 10-4-2-0 (22 pts.)

Referees: Mitch Dunning / Beau Halkidis

Linesmen: Colin Gates / Richard Jondo

Why You Should Care: Pens showed promise Friday. Can they get over the hump this afternoon in Hershey?

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

Watch: AHLTV

Next Five Games: @ BNG 3/31, @ LV 4/3, vs. BNG 4/10, @ HER 4/11, vs. LV 4/16

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Who: Hershey Bears

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:00 p.m.

Last Game: Wednesday at home against Syracuse, the Pens went down 6-0 in the first fourteen minutes, never recovered and lost 6-3. Tim Schaller and Josh Currie both had a goal and a pair of assists. For Hershey, the Bears were in Allentown on Wednesday and won 6-2. Brian Pinho had a pair of goals and an assist. Somehow the Bears only has 17 shots on goal.

Last Meeting: February 24 in Wilkes-Barre, the Pens won 4-2. Radim Zohorna (currently with Pittsburgh) had a pair of goals and an assist.

Record: For WBS: 5-5-3-1 (14 pts.) — For HER: 9-4-2-0 (20 pts.)

Referees: Mitch Dunning / Rob Hennessey

Linesmen: Tyler Loftus / John Rey

Why You Should Care: Well, last game was a total disaster. Can it get better? Will it get worse? Can the Penguins find a way to get a regulation win, something they haven’t done in the last five games, against Hershey?

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

Watch: AHLTV

Next Five Games: @ HER 3/28, @ BNG 3/31, @ LV 4/3, vs. BNG 4/10, @ HER 4/11

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Who: Syracuse Crunch

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:00 p.m.

Last Game: Sunday in Allentown, the Pens came back from a 3-1 deficit to take a lead but ultimately saw the Phantoms tie it and later win it in overtime 5-4. Jordy Bellerive had a goal and an assist for the Pens in the loss. For Syracuse, the Crunch played in the Penguins….

Last Meeting: Which was this past Friday. The Crunch won 5-2. Chris Gibson made 39 saves. Tim Schaller for the Pens had a goal and an assist.

Record: For WBS: 5-4-2-1 (13 pts.) — For SYR: 5-5-1-0 (11 pts.)

Referees: Mike Dietrich / Patrick Hanrahan

Linesmen: Ryan Knapp / Bill Lyons

Why You Should Care: The Penguins seem like they have an overtime problem and a Syracuse problem. How can the Pens solve the Crunch once and for all? Find out tonight!

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

Watch: AHLTV

Next Five Games: vs. HER 3/26, @ HER 3/28, @ BNG 3/31, @ LV 4/3, vs. BNG 4/10

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Who: Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Where: PPL Center

When: 3:00 p.m.

Last Game: Friday at home against Syracuse, the Penguins lost 5-2. Tim Schaller and Drew O’Connor had goals. For Lehigh Valley. the Phantoms won 4-1 in Hershey last Sunday. Ex-Penguin Derrick Pouliot had a goal and an assist.

Last Meeting: March 8 in Wilkes-Barre, the Penguins lost 4-3 in overtime. Josh Currie had a goal and an assist, Drew O’Connor had two assists but Ryan Fitzgerals scored in overtime to give the Phantoms the win.

Record: For WBS: 5-4-1-1 (12 pts.) — For LV: 7-2-2-0 (16 pts.)

Referees: Jim Curtin / Peter Schlittenhardt

Linesmen: Bob Goodman / Ryan Knapp

Why You Should Care: Any rust on the Phantoms after not playing for a week with COVID delays? Are the Pens in a funk after getting points in six straight games after getting tripped up with a pair against the Crunch?

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

Watch: AHLTV

Next Five Games: vs. SYR 3/24, vs. HER 3/26, @ HER 3/28, @ BNG 3/31, @ LV 4/3

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Who: Syracuse Crunch

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:00 p.m.

Last Game / Last Meeting: The Pens were shutout by Sam Montembeault and the Crunch 3-0 last Saturday. Montembeault had 37 saves. Ben Thomas for the Crunch had a goal and an assist.

Record: For WBS: 5-3-2-1 (13 pts.) — For SYR: 4-5-1-0 (9 pts.)

Referees: Jim Curtin / Furman South

Linesmen: J.P. Waleski / Tyler Loftus

Why You Should Care: Hey! These aren’t the Phantoms! The Phantoms are dealing with COVID right now (who isn’t?) so Syracuse, who has had a few opponents have to cancel their dates with the Crunch, decided to come to Wilkes-Barre and have a ‘stick it to COVID’ night (not really) – the Crunch dealt the Pens a regulation loss last time these two teams met, so the Pens want to extract a bit of revenge.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

Watch: AHLTV

Next Five Games: @ LV 3/21*, vs. SYR 3/24, vs. HER 3/26, @ HER 3/28, @ BNG 3/31

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Who: Syracuse Crunch

Where: Upstate Medical University Arena

When: 7:00 p.m.

Last Game: Monday at home against Lehigh Valley, the Pens lost 4-3 in overtime. Tim Schaller led the way with a pair of goals and an assist. For Syracuse, the Crunch played Rochester last Saturday and lost 4-2. Taylor Raddysh and Serron Noel scored in the losing effort for the Crunch.

Last Meeting: March 3 in Wilkes-Barre, the Pens lost a close one to the Crunch 2-1 in a shootout. Syracuse had just 19 shots on goal the entire game. Jon Lizotte scored for the Pens.

Record: For WBS: 5-2-2-1 (13 pts.) — For SYR: 3-5-1-0 (7 pts.)

Referees: Furman South / Brandon Schrader

Linesmen: Donald Jablonski / Adam Wood

Why You Should Care: Pens have been trending in the right direction but have a pair of overtime losses recently sandwiching a blowout win against Binghamton to show for it. How will they handle the Crunch tonight in Syracuse after a week of practice?

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

Watch: AHLTV

Next Five Games: vs. LV 3/19, @ LV 3/21, vs. SYR 3/24, vs. HER 3/26, @ HER 3/28

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Who: Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena

When: 5:00 p.m.

Last Game: Saturday in Newark, the Penguins roared past the Binghamton Devils 6-3. Cam Lee had three assists. Jon Gruden had a goal and an assist. The Pens outshot the Devils 41-19 in the contest. For Lehigh Valley, the Phantoms were beaten by the Hershey Bears Saturday 4-1. Chris Mueller scored for the Phantroms in the loss.

Last Meeting: February 27 in Allentown, the Penguins beat the Phantoms 5-4 in overtime. Frederick Gaudreau’s goal in overtime for the Penguins concluded a back and forth affair by the teams.

Record: For WBS: 5-2-1-1 (12 pts.) — For LV: 5-2-2-0 (12 pts.)

Referees: Jeremy Tufts / Jim Curtin

Linesmen: Patrick Dapuzzo / Colin Gates

Why You Should Care: Doesn’t seem to be much that can faze this Penguins team right now. Go down by three Saturday, rip off six of your own and win in dominating fashion. Both teams have pretty identical records and it is always fun when these to teams meet.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

Watch: AHLTV and also locally on MyNetwork TV.

Next Five Games: @ SYR 3/13, vs. LV 3/19, @ LV 3/21, vs. SYR 3/24, vs. HER 3/26