Chirps from Center Ice

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3                                              1

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Going 0-for-7 on the power play isn’t going to win you many hockey games.

That’s what the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins did on the man advantage tonight in a 3-1 loss to Hershey Friday.

Game seemed much more competitive as compared to Wednesday’s disaster with Syracuse, boring almost button a good way, such as the second period in tonight’s contest.

Bears caught the Pens with their pants down during a line change in the first, scored a power play in the third and then an empty netter to seal it.

Here is how they lined up:

Lineup Notes: Emil Larmi went up to the taxi squad, Max Lagace and Justin Almeida were sent down on Friday. Thursday, Sam Miletic was sent down. Felix Robert moved to center, Will Reilly replaced Billy Sweezey.

Lagace backed up D’Orio.

First Period: But for this gaffe, a fire drill line change, seemed like a decent period for Wilkes-Barre. Anything really would have been an upgrade from the disaster start Wednesday against Syracuse.

Shots were 10-7 Hershey.

Second Period: Not much, if anything, occurred in this period but for two Hershey power plays and a Penguin one. Pens seemed to have their biggest push here, but Zach Fucale was strong.

Third Period: Pens connect out of the gate with a goal by Jordy Bellerive:

Prior to this, Alex D’Orio made a BIG save at the expiration of a Hershey power play.

Bears later connect on a power play when Matt Moulson scores to put the Bears back out in front.

Time was dwindling and Wilkes-Barre called time out, pulled D’Orio but Kody Clark hit an empty net.

Scary moment when Josh Currie took a puck to the face on the Penguins bench. Currie left with the trainer immediately with a towel.

Three Stars: 3) Alex D’Orio (23 saves) 2) Zach Fucale (30 saves) 1) Matt Moulson (game winning goal)

The Good: Good ol’ fashioned goalie duel tonight. Good to see D’Orio step right up and take the reins against Hershey and all that fire power. Pens are struggling to score goals and their goaltender kept them in the game to the end. That is all you really can ask.

The Bad: Heading back to the open, you just can’t go 0-for-7 on the power play and expect to have any real result that can be construed as positive.

Turning Point: It has to be the power play goal scored by Mouslon.

These teams rematch Sunday afternoon in Hershey. 1 p.m. start, so don’t be late. Gameday setup will be up Sunday morning at 9 a.m.

Let’s Go Pens!

Stay safe.

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6                                              3

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I don’t think, and I have been watching this team for a lot more years than I have been blogging about them, I have ever seen a more unprepared team top to bottom than the first ten minutes of this game.

A 6-3 throttling by the Crunch on the Penguins which played out like this in the first period.

Two goals :19 apart when Gemel Smith and Boris Katchouk score to make it 2-0.

Smith, 1:10 later on a power play and it’s 3-0.

A little later, mind you this is still in the first period and within the games first 10 minutes, Gemel Smith completes his hat trick. I don’t know what the record is for hat tricks is for the Syracuse Crunch, but if Smith didn’t get the record for doing so, he was robbed.

Oh yeah, Emil Larmi, the Penguins starter, was pulled for the recalled today Alex D’Orio. Larmi made one (1) save.

D’Orio didn’t fare any better as Devante Stephens and Jimmy Huntington scored on him quickly. It was 6-0 Crunch.

There was still six minutes left to play in the first period.

The first period.

Tim Schaller scored in the first, Josh Currie in the second and Nick Schilkey in the third.

I don’t know if I could stick this all on Larmi. A few  examples:

Too easy. Just embarrassing. They look like a shell of a team who are as disinterested in being there as I am as doing this, not being there.

Somehow Tim Schaller and Josh Currie factored in on every goal; each had a goal and two assists.

Gemel Smith had a hat trick and two assists. He figured into the first five goals for the Crunch.

Here is how they lined up:

Lineup Notes: Jan Drozg returned after missing last game with injury.

The Good: I turned my computer back on after watching them go down 5-0 to put together this post mortem.

The Bad: Embarrassing effort tonight. Fans risked catching a novel virus for that performance in the first period? Puh-leeze.

Turning Point: Pick one of the first five goals. I’m putting wrestling back on.

Hope they are more prepared Friday at home against Hershey. Maybe it’s coaching, who knows.

Stay safe and Let’s Go Pens!

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4                                        5

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The Lehigh Valley Phantoms have played in seven overtime games this season. They are a hard nosed, and gritty team that can score in bunches and maximize every opportunity when they are on the ice.

Phantoms win 5-4 in overtime in a thrilling game. After a dead first, teams explode for six goals in the first ten minutes and after more back and forth, Tanner Laczynski scores his first AHL goal to ensure that the Phantoms get to over time and Laczynski ends it in overtime with a seemingly harmless shot which handcuffs starting goalie Shane Starrett.

Starrett was, not good today. I thought (me of all 0 hockey games played, I don’t even know how to skate, so take this all with a grain of salt) several goals could have been stopped or at best played differently. However with little help from his defenders on some of the goals (hell of a time to not have GIFs on any of these for this piece) Starrett was not good today, in my opinion.

Alex D’Orio has two shutouts with the last place in the ECHL Wheeling Nailers. This season is meaningless because they are just flying by the seat of their pants and when the season is over there are no playoffs, but D’Orio would at least, at least in my book, deserves a shot at a look.

Starrett opposed Felix Sandstrom.

Here is how they lined up:

Brett Brochu backed up Starrett. Drozg is injured, day to day lower body, Reilly was a healthy scratch and Sam Miletic is on the Pittsburgh taxi squad.

First Period: Seems like the majority of time was spent in front of Sandtrom and the Phantoms end, but the Penguins were not able to score (or really do much) with the Phantoms top rated penalty kill. Shots favored the Penguins 6-4.

Second Period: Man, that first period was dull for action. The second period was completely different.

:14 in, Wade Allison scored to put the Phantoms on the board.

A few minutes later. Nick Schilkey was the first Penguin player to reach double digits in points with a rebound goal to tie the game at one.

Phantoms would respond with two quick goals to go up 3-1 when Allison led a rush and Tyson Foerster flipped one in to go up 2-1, then Chris Mueller scored to make it 3-1.

Drew O’Connor would score on a deflection from a shot from the point to bring Wilkes-Barre to within one and then Jon Gruden scored on a rebound of his own shot that tied the game at 3.

Six goals in just over ten minutes. A frenetic pace between the two rivals.

Later. Jordy Bellerive scored on a 3 on 1 to give the Penguins a 4-3 lead.

If you are looking for the GIFs, Taylor was on Pittsburgh duty covering the NHL team and didn’t have any for us. She’s extremely good at what she does, but isn’t a machine. Use you imagination for one with my descriptions.

Shots were just a paltry 17-11 favoring the Penguins.

Third Period: There was too much standing around in front of Starrett’s goal and not enough moving around when Tanner Laczynski scored his first AHL goal to tie it.

Pens had a golden chance about halfway through to score on a power play but the Phantoms penalty kill is stout.

They managed to grit out a result which got them a meaningless point to get them to…

Overtime: Pens kill a leftover kill from the dying embers of the third period and back at even strength Tanner Laczynski throws a changeup at Starrett that handcuffs the Penguins goalie and goes in. Phantoms win 5-4.

Three Stars: 3) Jordy Bellerive (goal, assist) 2) Wade Allison (goal, assist) and 1) Tanner Laczynski (two goals)

The Good: I liked the response after going down 3-1 because honestly, I was ready to check out of the game and light up another cigar outside. They got it back to even then went ahead heading into the third.

The Bad: Goaltending and special teams. Not all of it, but if one was better than the other, perhaps, maybe, a different result.

Turning Point: Tanner Laczynski’s first two AHL goals doom the Penguins.

They are back at it Wednesday at home against Syracuse. It will be interesting to see who is out of the tunnel first at around 6:20 Wednesday evening.

Let’s Go Pens!

Stay safe.