Chirps from Center Ice

vs.

1 4

–

I guess you could say that they are rolling.

Another stingy win at home, this time a 4-1 victory over the equally as stingy Springfield Thunderbirds team for the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins on Friday night.

Andrew Agozzino added a pair of goals in the first and the Penguins rode a 7-for-7 penalty kill which included a 1:56 of two man disadvantage with 41 saves from their net minder Casey DeSmith who has been playing out of his mind of recent. The Penguins, in the last three games at home, have allowed just one goal.

Well, the weather is getting colder and the Penguins are warming up. Go figure.

DeSmith opposed Chris Driedger.

Lineup:

Lineup Notes: Essentially Ryan Haggerty for Andreas Martinsen, with Anthony Angello bumped to the second line in Martinsen’s spot and Haggerty where Angello was.

First Period: David Warsofsky’s shot from the point was tipped on the way in and Andrew Agozzino was the last guy to sweep it across for an early 1-0 Penguins lead.

But Springfield would answer right back when Anthony Greco would lead a charge up ice, blow a tire, regain himself, drive to the net where Blaine Byron was set up and put a shot on, fell, got his own rebound and shot again, this time going in.

187:06 in between goals. Impressive.

No GIF on it, but a lot of commas.

Agozzino again, this time off of a ridiculous pass from Stefen Noesen from behind the net. Just watch this.

Penguins found themselves in penalty trouble late in the period when all of a sudden, Springfield had 1:56 of a two man advantage when Chase Berger drew blood on a high stick.

Second Period: Springfield managed just one shot on goal during the entirety of the two man advantage as well as the 2:04 leftover on the Berger double minor. It frustrated them, because they started to push and shove after the whistle and it really devolved into a scrap fest from there on out.

Example….

Kevin Czuczman caught a great pass from Joseph Blandisi and scored to make it 3-1.

Springfield had ample opportunities in the period to get back into the game, but this isn’t Casey DeSmith’s first time at the rodeo.

Third Period: The pushing and shoving didn’t stop, I didn’t tweet every penalty or every time a referees arm went up. Finally referees Jake Rekucki and Jason Williams started adding on ten minute misconducts to the infractions. I’m assuming there is only a number of times you can tell a player to stop, so they got tired of it and threw them out.

Ryan Haggerty nailed an empty netter from his own blue line to seal it.

Three Stars: 3) Sam Miletic (two assists) 2) Casey DeSmith (41 saves) 1) Andrew Agozzino (two goals)

The Good: The penalty killing unit went 7-for-7. The Thunderbirds power play isn’t anything to write home about. Also, Casey DeSmith is proving why he is an NHL goaltender essentially on loan to an AHL club. He’s good, he’s falling into a dangerous groove and the Penguins need to ride this for as long as they can.

The Bad: Just as the penalty kill was 7-for-7, the lack of discipline needs to be addressed. Any other team with a better power play unit and it becomes a run and gun affair.

Turning Point: After killing the two man advantage, Kevin Czuczman’s goal that gave the Penguins a two goal cushion was all the momentum to carry the day for the Penguins victory.

Around the Division: Hartford continues to pile up points. A late goal in the third guarantees overtime with Providence, yet the Bruins take down the Wolf Pack 4-3 in a shootout….Hershey is shutout in back to back games, this time to Charlotte 3-0….Lehigh Valley loses 3-1 in Binghamton…..Bridgeport loses 4-3 in overtime up in Belleville, Ontario.

Standings: Hartford 25 — Penguins 20 — Springfield and Providence 20 — Hershey 18 — Lehigh Valley 17 — Charlotte 14 — Bridgeport 12

Wheeling Update: The Nailers hosted the Utah Grizzlies Friday and lost 2-1. Renars Krastenbergs had the only goal for Wheeling in the loss, Alex D’Orio took the loss in goal.

Video Highlights:

Penguins are back home looking for five in a row against Lehigh Valley. Gameday setup is here on the blog Saturday at 3.

Let’s Go Pens!

       vs.       

0                                           1

–

Dueling shutouts by both goaltenders and back to back shutouts by Casey DeSmith, the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins win 1-0 Wednesday night against Hershey.

The Penguins have not allowed any goals to be scored at all under this new LED lighting system. I don’t know if it’s just a matter of happenstance, something or nothing, but it’s one thing to get a shutout, it’s another to get back to back ones.

Stefan Noesen’s slap shot goal in the top of the first in the shootout round was the only goal to pierce the goal line all night and the Penguins take the game and third place in the division.

Casey DeSmith opposed Pheonix Copley.

Lineups:

Lineup Notes: Thomas DiPauli returned from injury and replaced Justin Almeida. No other changes from Saturday against Syracuse.

First Period: Pens came out flying, outshooting Hershey 8-1 at one point. Hershey had two consecutive power plays, regained some of the momentum but then the Pens took it back and outshot the Bears 14-5 in the period. No one scored, though.

Second Period: Same as the first. Momentum flipped a bit, Bears hot, then the Pens and then the Bears. If I was writing this paragraph from a scratch post instead of in the second intermission, it would have instead read, “After a scoreless first and second period where a bunch of nothing or almost happened goal wise…”

Third Period: Same as the first and second. No power plays here. Back and forth, but off to…

Overtime: Pens had a three on one and flubbed a shot. Andrew Agozzino had a breakaway and had a bad shot. No. One. Was. Scoring.

Shootout: Stefan Noesen scored on a slap shot in the top of the first, everyone else missed. Casey DeSmith doesn’t allow goals even in gimmick shootout rounds.

Three Stars: 3) Pheonix Copley (29 save shutout) 2) Stefan Noesen (shootout goal) 1) Casey DeSmith (28 save shutout)

The Good: Defense looked great last weekend. It looked downright stingy tonight against Hershey and all of that offense.

The Bad: Would rather the OT or regulation win, but this category after a game like this is nitpicking.

Turning Point: Noesen’s goal in the shootout gave the Pens the 1-0 lead that, ultimately won them the contest.

Around the Division: Only other action today was a kids day game in Springfield between the Thunderbirds and Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Springfield wins 2-1 and are the third AHL team, second in the division behind Hartford, to win ten games. Certainly unexpected. Everyone else was off.

Standings: Hartford 24 – Springfield 20 – Penguins 18 – Providence 18 – Hershey 18 – Lehigh Valley 16 – Charlotte 12 – Bridgeport 11

Wheeling Update: The Nailers were off.

Video Highlights: Brief. Bears had em first. Here they are:

Back at it Friday against Springfield. Gameday setup for that will be at 3 Friday. Power Rankings Thursday at 11 first.

Let’s Go Pens!