Paul Thompson natural hat trick in the second period lifts the Penguins to a 5-3 win in Bridgeport this afternoon. Jeff Zatkoff stops 37 of 40 shots and was really sharp all weekend and the Penguins have won four of five and are warming up.

Jeff Zatkoff vs. Kevin Poulin – Yesterday Denver Manderson and Carl Sneep were assigned to the Wheeling Nailers. Jayson Megna played in this afternoon’s game.

First Period: Penguins get an early power play. Philippe Dupuis feathers a pass to Dylan Rees breaking in from the blue line and sneaks it past Poulin to put the Penguins ahead 1-0. Then, Reese gets smoked by Nino Niederreiter as Niederreiter just powered by him and slipped the puck under Zatkoff to even the score at one apiece. Best way to describe this period was the teams were simply feeling each other out it seemed.

Second Period: Paul Thompson’s playground, basically. Penguins chip a puck out of the defensive zone Thompson corrals on the far half wall and lasers it past Poulin for his first goal. Pressure from WBS would continue in the form of two full line changes with the puck in deep. Thompson’s second goal came with him standing in the slot and sniping it past Poulin. His third was a pass received from Bortuzzo and a shot that looked like totally confused Poulin.

It was the first regular season road hat trick for the Penguins in four years and two days since Chris Minard did so against the Houston Aeros. Nick Johnson did it in the 2010 Calder Cup Playoffs vs. the Albany River Rats.

Meanwhile, Jeff Zatkoff put on a goalie clinic in that second period with Bridgeport coming basically in waves when they weren’t fishing Thompson goals out of their nets.

Third Period: Poulin was replaced by Kenny Reiter. John Persson drew the Sound Tigers within two, but then Brian Gibbons was sprung and scored on Reiter to make it 5-2. Zatkoff was really sharp all period and really all game, stopping the Sound Tigers attempts. Brock Nelson would score a goal with :31 left to make it 5-3 late.

Three Stars: 3) Jeff Zatkoff (37 saves on 40 shots) 2) Brian Gibbons (goal, assist, +1) and 1) Paul Thompson (natural hat trick, +3)

Around the Division: They all watched us.

Standings: Norfolk 12 — Syracuse 12 — Binghamton 9 — Hershey 9 — Penguins 8.

Penguins bus home tonight then get ready for the Bingahmton Senators on Wednesday night.

Jeff Zatkoff returns to his old stomping grounds and stomps a mud hole in his old team, pitching a 33 save shutout as the Penguins get a big, big win in Manchester winning 3-0.

Couple of personnel moves to note before we hop into the postgame recap. Carl Sneep will be re-assigned to the Wheeling Nailers. Denver Manderson is already there but has not been officially reassigned. Once Keven Veilleux gets the all clear to play, he will also get sent there for conditioning. Tonight was Warren Peters’ 500th AHL game.

Jeff Zatkoff vs. Martin Jones – Robert Bortuzzo was back from injury. Jayson Megna may be ready to go Sunday.

First Period: Best way for me to describe this period is it was a puck possession clinic by the Monarchs and a goaltending clinic by the Penguins. I settled in and watched the Penguins passes out of the defensive zone and in the neutral zone. They make too many cutesy passes which either get intercepted or don’t connect. Also, Philippe Dupuis passes too much. He needs to start shooting, but, who am I to tell him that.

Second Period: Coming into this game, the Monarchs had outscored opponents 11-3 in the second period. I felt coming in that a team full of NHLers in Manchester would feel out the Penguins in the first period, make adjustments in intermission and come out flying in the second. Not so. Dominik Uher keeps his feet moving and draws an interference call. In the ensuing power play, Benn Ferriero keeps a puck in, passes to Trevor Smith who shoots, and Eric Tangradi is there to collect the rebound and put the Penguins out in front 1-0. It’s Tangradi’s fifth goal in as many games. Later, with the Penguins on another power play, defenseman Dylan Reese scores a seeing-eye puck to put the Penguins up 2-0. Manchester would press and press and press but Zatkoff stood firm.

Third Period: More of the same from the Monarchs. Penguins clamped down and try as they might the Monarchs never scored. Paul Thompson buried an empty netter with Jones pulled.

Three Stars: 3) Martin Jones 26 saves on 28 shots 2) Eric Tangradi (goal, even) 1) Jeff Zatkoff (33 save shutout)

Around the Division: Syracuse wins in Glens Falls 4-1. Hershey beats Springfield 3-2 in a shootout. Binghamton wins 4-3 on Hampton Roads and ends the Norfolk Admirals 19 home game win streak and were trending on Twitter earlier.

Standings: Syracuse 12 — Norfolk 10 — Hershey 9 — Binghamton 9 — Penguins 6

Wheeling Update: The Nailers lost to the expansion Evansville IceMen tonight 4-3. Cody Chupp had two goals in the loss.

Penguins travel to Bridgeport tomorrow and have the night off. They face the Sound Tigers Sunday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. Don’t forget to set your clocks back Saturday night and I will check you out here on the blog at 11 a.m. for the gameday setup for the game here on the blog Sunday morning.

Let’s Go Pens!