Chirps from Center Ice

A fan blog about the AHL's Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins

Category Archives: WBS

RAPID RECAP – Pens LOSE 4-1

Comments Off on RAPID RECAP – Pens LOSE 4-1 Posted by on March 30, 2019

Pens lose 4-1 in a game where the bounces got em. They found themselves down 2-0 before Ryan Haggerty scored to cut it to one, but a too many men on the ice call cost them a power play goal and that was the icing on the cake.

Hershey won their game, staging a third period comeback against Providence, to go five points clear of the Pens for fourth. They are in Bridgeport Sunday. Pens have seven games left.

More in a bit.

Rapid Recap

GAMEDAY: vs. Springfield 3/30

Comments Off on GAMEDAY: vs. Springfield 3/30 Posted by on March 30, 2019

vs. 

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Who: Springfield Thunderbirds

 Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Wednesday at home against Providence, the Penguins won 2-0. Tristan Jarry made 23 saves to pick up his first shutout of the season. For Springfield, they were in Binghamton last night and lost 4-3 in overtime. Blaine Byron had a pair of goals in the loss.

Last Meeting: This past Sunday in Wilkes-Barre, the Pens won 3-2. Ex-Penguin J-S Dea supplied all the offense for the visitors and Joseph Cramarossa’s late goal gave the Penguins the full regulation two points. John Muse picked up the win in net for Wilkes-Barre.

Record: For WBS: 33-25-7-3 (76 pts., 5th place Atlantic Division) // For SPR: 28-27-9-5 (70 pts., 7th place Atlantic Division)

Referees: Dan Kelly / Anthony Tapper

Linesmen: Jim Harper / Tyler Loftus

Why You Should Care: Pens still need points as they are outside still looking in the playoff picture. Big two points comes tonight with the only weekend action coming against Springfield. Wilkes-Barre needs and is expected to have their full effort tonight in order to beat the Thunderbirds.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

Watch: AHLTV is new and improved and a lot cheaper. Also, tonight’s game will be televised locally on WBRE-NBC.

Promotion(s): STAR WARS NIGHT / BOY SCOUT NIGHT — It will be a night of intergalactic fun when the Penguins host their fourth annual Star Wars night. The players will be wearing specially produced Star Wars jerseys for the game, featuring a unique clone design with the team’s familiar yellow triangle crest. The jersey was designed by Dave Filoni, executive producer of Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and the head of Lucasfilm Animation Ltd. LLC.  The jerseys will be auctioned off, with the proceeds benefiting the Allied Services Foundation. We’ll also be welcoming Boy Scouts from across NEPA on the night. A special package gets scouts a ticket to the game and special scout patch.*

Other Game to Watch: Hershey hosts Providence in the biggest game of the weekend in the Atlantic Division. As a Penguins fan, cheer for a regulation decision either way.

Next Five Games: vs. BRI 4/2, vs. BNG 4/5, @ LV 4/6, @ LV 4/7, @ UTI 4/12

* – promo information credit to wbspenguins.com/promo-schedule

Gameday

Bruins @ Pens – A Live Blog…

Comments Off on Bruins @ Pens – A Live Blog… Posted by on March 27, 2019

Power went out outside the Arena late afternoon. A transformer blew behind the Marshall’s in the Arena complex. As a result, the Providence Bruins – Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins game was delayed an hour. Game start is scheduled for 8:05.

With this being a work night home game (last of the regular season thank heavens) and with such a late start, it’s going to be a running live blog tonight. I’ve always thought about doing these, but have always opted for the, ‘transcribe to the Notes app, copy paste and worry about formatting issues later’ approach.

Not tonight. Check back periodically for updates. I’ll have em after warmups, first, second and third periods. If there’s overtime I’m lodging a formal complaint.

Lineups:

Nothing I could tell lineup wise as far as a change from Sunday vs. Springfield. Tinkering with line pairings but otherwise unchanged.

First Period: Took the Pens about 4:30 to register the first shot on goal and then the Bruins 5:45. Pretty zippy start to the game and the first half of the period.

Jake Lucchini finished this nice cross ice pass from Jarrett Burton to give the Pens a 1-0 lead.

Bruins made a little bit of a push in the latter stages of the period but Jarry looked solid throughout.

Second Period: Cautious, calculated period. Two power plays a side, but no scoring. Bruins were eager to let the play come to them in their defensive end, and it worked as Wilkes-Barre only registered six shots on goal.

Game had all the makings of a defensive, closely contested affair heading into the third.

Third Period: Bruins with an early push but Jarry was dialed in. Two early saves preserved the 1-0 lead the Pens had.

Cooper Zech was stripped of a puck trying to exit the zone which set up a quick two on one with Ryan Haggerty and Sam Miletic. Miletic cashed to make it 2-0 Penguins.

Big goal at the time.

Bruins tried and tried, but couldn’t get anything past Jarry.

The Good: Joseph Cramarossa and Jake Lucchini were everywhere tonight, but how about Tristan Jarry? The shutout has eluded him this season and this past month he’s singlehandedly placed the team on his back and carried them to three points back of Providence now. Bruins have trended up, caught Hershey for third, and Jarry coolly makes 23 saves in a contest that could have easily finished 1-0.

The Bad: Not applicable.

Turning Point: Jarry’s saves in the open of the third that preserved the 1-0 lead. The Miletic goal was the icing.

Lehigh Valley beat Rochester in overtime 4-3. Charlotte shut out Bridgeport 4-0. No boxes. It’s late.

Pens will have a highlight package up later and I’ll work in an edit if I can.

Power Rankings Thursday. Pens are off Friday, Bruins are in Syracuse. Pens back in action Saturday at home against Springfield.

Let’s Go Pens!

Postgamer

GAMEDAY: vs. Providence 3/27

Comments Off on GAMEDAY: vs. Providence 3/27 Posted by on March 27, 2019

vs. 

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Who: Providence Bruins

 Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Sunday at home against Springfield, the Penguins scored a late goal off of the stick of Joseph Cramarossa to defeat the Thunderbirds 3-2. For Providence, the Bruins defeated the Binghamton Devils 3-1 on Saturday. Dan Vladar stopped 22 of 23 shots in net. Paul Carey figured in on every goal, scoring twice and assisting on another.

Last Meeting: March 16 in Wilkes-Barre, the Penguins won 2-1 in overtime. Tristan Jarry stopped 36 shots and Adam Johnson scored 1:09 into overtime.

Record: For WBS: 32-25-7-3 (74 pts., 5th place Atlantic Division) // For PRO: 34-22-8-3 (79 pts., 3rd place Atlantic Division)

Referees: Brandon Schrader / Ward Pateman

Linesmen: Jud Ritter / Tom DellaFranco

Why You Should Care: Probably the biggest game of the season for the Penguins who sit five points out of a playoff spot. This is the last head to head meeting with the Bruins and with a win tonight in regulation can close to three points for the fourth and final spot in the Atlantic. The Penguins need to use home ice to their advantage and not make too many mistakes against a dangerous Providence team.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

Watch: AHLTV is new and improved and a lot cheaper.

Promotion(s): None

Other Game to Watch: Lehigh Valley is in Rochester tonight looking to make up ground themselves. Rochester is coming off of an impressive sweep of Toronto this past weekend, looking to carry the momentum into a midweek game with the Phantoms.

Next Five Games: vs. SPR 3/30, vs. BRI 4/2, vs. BNG 4/5, @ LV 4/6, @ LV 4/7

Gameday

Muse-ic to My Ears — Pens WIN 3-2

Comments Off on Muse-ic to My Ears — Pens WIN 3-2 Posted by on March 24, 2019

       vs.     

  2                                            3

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John Muse makes 32 saves after Tristan Jarry was given the afternoon off after starting thirteen straight games for the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins, who defeat the Springfield Thunderbirds 3-2 on Sunday. The Penguins close to five points behind idle Providence. Both the Bruins, Penguins and Hershey Bears have played 67 games. Hershey also sits on 79 points, after losing 4-1 and getting swept in Cleveland Sunday.

Muse opposed Chris Driedger.

Lines were…

Lineup: No changes for the Penguins from Saturday in Allentown. Lines were the same from Saturday as well. The only change was Muse in goal.

First Period: J-S Dea had a hell of a day in his return to Wilkes-Barre. He is easily Springfield’s best player and had two power play goals for the Thunderbirds today including this one on the back door which gave the Thunderbirds and early 1-0 lead.

Penguins respond with Sam Miletic deflecting in a power play goal that tie it at one.

Second Period: Was a penalty fest, with nine power plays awarded. Seven, if you take away the two times that the Thunderbirds were caught with too many men on the ice. No flow to the game whatsoever. Referees Guillaume Labonte and Tim Mayer called it tight on tired players playing their third game in three days.

So of course Anthony Angello scores an even strength goal for the six or so minutes that the teams were on even strength.

Nice to see Angello get that one there, he had hit a bit of a wall here in his rookie season.

Third Period: J-S Dea connected on his second power play of the game that tied the game at two early on in the third period.

With both teams skating without any whistles for a change, it looked like they were content to play for overtime.

J-S Dea was denied his hat trick on this nice save by John Muse.

Joseph Cramarossa stepped up and snapped home a goal with under four minutes left.

Springfield, with Driedger pulled for the extra attacker and through a time out, never found the equalizer.

Three Stars: 

The Good: Using the game in hand to make up ground on Providence and Hershey.

The Bad: Springfield is really a one line team. The game really should not have as close as it should have been. That may be at disrespect to the opponent, but the facts are the facts.

Turning Points: Muse’s save on Dea, denying the hat trick is one, Cramarossa’s goal is the other. One doesn’t really happen without the other.

Points wise, the Penguins are on 74. They are five off of Providence and Hershey with 79. Everyone has 67 games played. Nine games left. Providence is here Wednesday, before heading to Syracuse Friday and Hershey Saturday.

Hershey has Providence Saturday and Bridgeport Sunday.

Video Highlights: 

Talk to you Wednesday but for breaking news before.

Let’s Go Pens!

Postgamer

RAPID RECAP – Pens WIN 3-2

Comments Off on RAPID RECAP – Pens WIN 3-2 Posted by on March 24, 2019

Successful use of a game in hand for the Penguins Sunday afternoon, defeating the Springfield Thunderbirds 3-2. Now five points off of idle Providence for the four seed and a huge game Wednesday now looming for both teams.

Joseph Cramarossa, Anthony Angello and Sam Miletic scored for the Penguins.

More in a bit.

Rapid Recap

GAMEDAY: vs. Springfield 3/24

Comments Off on GAMEDAY: vs. Springfield 3/24 Posted by on March 24, 2019

vs.  

–

Who: Springfield Thunderbirds

 Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Last night in Allentown, the Penguins won 5-4. Sam Lafferty had a hat trick and an assist, Ryan Haggerty scored the game winning goal in overtime. For Springfield, the Thunderbirds hosted the Laval Rocket Saturday and lost 3-2 in overtime. Ex-Penguin J-S Dea figured into both goals, scoring one and assisting on another for the Thunderbirds in the loss.

Last Meeting: These two teams haven’t played each other since December 12, a game that the Penguins won 2-1 in a shootout. All three Penguins scored in the shootout round.

Record: For WBS: 31-25-7-3 (72 pts., 5th place Atlantic Division) // For SPR: 28-26-8-5 (69 pts., 7th place Atlantic Division)

Referees: Tim Mayer / Guillaume Labonte

Linesmen: Ryan Knapp / Bill Lyons

Why You Should Care: Same verse as yesterday against the Phantoms, another must win game for the Penguins tonight who burn off their game in hand on the Providence Bruins. They can cut the deficit to five with a win this afternoon against the Thunderbirds. Springfield won’t make it easy. Both teams are playing their third game of the weekend.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

Watch: AHLTV is new and improved and a lot cheaper.

Promotion(s): KIDS FREE SUNDAY / TUX’S BIRTHDAY — Celebrate the big bird’s birthday with Tux and some of his furry friends. Fans ages 14 and younger can get into the game for FREE when accompanied by a paying adult (one free kids ticket per paid adult ticket).  NO POSTGAME SKATING SESSION THIS SUNDAY.*

Other Game to Watch: Hershey, on the same point total as Providence, rematch against the Cleveland Monsters who beat the Bears Saturday night.

Next Five Games: vs. PRO 3/27, vs. SPR 3/30, vs. BRI 4/2, vs. BNG 4/5, @ LV 4/6

* – promo information credit to wbspenguins.com/promo-schedule

Gameday

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