Chirps from Center Ice

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A total of 81 shots combined between these newly formed divisional rivals turned into a defensive battle and a goaltending war.

The Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins win this one 2-1 in overtime thanks to two goals by Scott Wilson and 40 saves by Matt Murray, who was only 1:49 away from yet another shutout but it wasn’t to be.

[tweet https://twitter.com/nafsnep/status/652622017590599684]

That was the view for me all night. Someone forgot to hook up a wire or turn on a camera. I pay a pretty penny for the league wide package. People tell me I am crazy. I think that they may be right…

Lines were…

Scott Wilson – Kael Mouillierat – Conor Sheary
Dominik Simon – J-S Dea – Bryan Rust
Dominik Uher – Oskar Sundqvist – Tom Kostopoulos
Tom Sestito – Carter Rowney – Josh Archibald

Derrick Pouliot – Steve Oleksy
Reid McNeill – David Warsofsky
Niclas Andersen – Will O’Neill

Matt Murray – Tristan Jarry

Scratches were defensemen Harrison Ruopp and Barry Goers and forwards Matia Marcantuoni and Tyler Biggs. Biggs is recovering from a minor injury. Will O’Neill and Steve Oleksy wore the “A’s” for the Penguins tonight.

First Period: The Penguins were outshot 17-9 in the first period of their 2015-16 campaign, mainly because they took all of the penalties in the period. Three total. Matt Murray was sharp. When called upon, opposing goaltender Zane McIntyre was sharp as well. There was a fight, Steve Oleksy and Anthony Camara:

[tweet https://twitter.com/AHLBruins/status/652629652339597312]

Murray had a save on a two on one with P-Bruins sniper Alex Khokhlachev barring down.

Second Period: Pens stopped taking penalties and started to control the pace a bit. Finally, Scott Wilson scored on a turnaround shot on a shot from the slot. Conor Sheary had the lone assist. Penguins started to generate pressure coming from all lines, but Zane McIntyre was college hockey’s top goaltender last season and kept his team in it. Despite me not being able to watch the game tonight because of the NeuLion difficulties, I still listened to Mike O’Brien and he was calling a lot of chances for the Penguins that were just smothered by McIntyre.

Teams traded power plays late but neither scored. Shots through two were 30-21 in favor for the Bruins.

Third Period: Penguins penalty killing along with the solid goaltending won them the game tonight. The Penguins took two additional penalties in this period but the special teams and Matt Murray kept the P-Bruins off of the board.

But the Bruins continued to press. Seemed like every other word out of Obie’s mouth on radio was, “Khokhlachev” as the Bruins sniper was being double or triple shifted. Finally, on setup by Khokhlachev, Frank Vatrano threw a shot at Murray’s net from the side wall from a bad angle that tied the game with 1:49 left. The game would need to be decided via…

Overtime: Scott Wilson’s group of he and Oskar Sundqvist with Will O’Neill was the second group to go over the wall in the 3-on-3 overtime and Wilson didn’t waste much time scoring 1:18 into the overtime period to secure the full two points for the Penguins.

Three Stars: 3) Zane McIntyre (38 saves on 40 shots) 2) Matt Murray (40 saves on 41 shots) and 1) Scott Wilson (two goals, +2, 6 shots)

Around the Division: Portland, Springfield, Bridgeport Hartford, Hershey and Lehigh Valley all start their 2015-16 campaigns Saturday.

I am not going to put the Standings or Conference standings up until everyone plays a game, so if you want this, check back tomorrow when everyone in the Atlantic plays a game.

Wheeling Update: The Nailers are in preseason and lost to the Cincinnati Cylcones 4-2 tonight in West Virginia. The Nailers open on the road in Norfolk next Friday.

SendToNews Highlights: See above, first picture.

Pens bus to Bridgeport for a 7 p.m. game against the divisional rival Sound Tigers. Gameday for this will hit the blog Saturday at 3.

Let’s Go Pens!!

The Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins wrapped up their 2015-16 preseason with a trip to Allentown to take on the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

It was an exciting contest to what could have otherwise been a Phantoms blowout.

After trailing 3-0 by the time the third period rolled around, the Penguins rattled off three goals to tie the affair, but ultimately fell in regulation 4-3 to the Phantoms.

In an otherwise meaningless game in the big picture, a lot of players used today to battle for the final positions available. Some made strong cases, others not so much. Sahir Gill and Ty Loney in particular made strong cases today.

Personell wise, defenseman David Warsofsky and forward Kevin Porter cleared NHL waivers today at noon and will join the Penguins tomorrow.

As for this game, the lines were…

Dominik Simon – Carter Rowney – Josh Archibald
Dominik Uher – Oskar Sundqvist – Anton Zlobin
Shane Bakker – Sahir Gill – Ty Loney
Patrick McGrath – Jarrett Burton – Michael McCarron

Niclas Andersen – Clark Seymour
Nick Petrecki – Ryan Parent
Matt Maione – Mike Beauregard

Tristan Jarry – Brian Foster

Harrison Ruopp took warmups but was scratched.

Penguins gave up the first goal to Petr Straka after a failed clear from the neutral zone which gave the Phantoms a 1-0 lead. The hosts would tack on a second goal via power play when ex-Penguin Tim Brent swept home a rebound of a shot that Jarry never fully controlled. Phantoms veteran goaltender Jason LaBarbera stopped all 13 shots faced in the period.

Lehigh Valley extended the lead to 3-0 when Nick Cousins fired a quick shot past Jarry. Play was set up back in the Penguins offensive zone when a hard shot sailed past Jason LaBarbera and out of the zone. Players watched the puck sail out, the Phantoms pounced on it and took off to a three on two to Cousins for the goal.

Off the ensuing face-off, Patrick McGrath fought heavyweight Jay Rosehill.

The Penguins didn’t really, to this point, make Jason LaBarbera work on the 22 shots he faced to this point.

In the third, the rally was on. Sahir Gill broke the LaBarbera shutout with this nice move five hole:

[tweet https://twitter.com/nafsnep/status/650807691561058304]

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Penguins killed two consecutive minor penalties rather easy and then Gill struck again. This time setting up Ty Loney:

[tweet https://twitter.com/nafsnep/status/650809759835267072]

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The Penguins looked to be the better even strength team, but were down three and had a hole to dig out of.

Oskar Sundqvist tied it with this nice shot:

[tweet https://twitter.com/nafsnep/status/650810752073400320]

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The Phantoms found their legs, Jarry was forced into a few strong saves. A clearing attempt by the Penguins hit Josh Archibald’s skate and right to Danick Martel and he wasted no time in putting it past Jarry for a 4-3 Phantoms lead.

Penguins had a late power play and with Jarry vacated for the six-on-four advantage, never found the equalizer.

So that is it for preseason. Here is what to look for here on the blog this week…

— Cuts. They will happen this week and when they do, I will have a blog of who went where.

— AHL Previews. Starting Monday at noon with the Pacific Division and running Tuesday for the Central Division, Wednesday for the North Division and finally Thursday for the Atlantic Division.

— Pregame setup for the Penguins first regular season game of the season on the road at Providence 3 p.m. Friday with full blog recap to follow complete with graphics, links, and a pun headline.

Here’s to a great season. I am ready to get started.

Let’s Go Pens!

The Penguins continue to roll though preseason with out a loss with a 5-3 win down in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The game was radio only, so it’s a really stripped down version of a postgame recap.

In case you missed the news earlier, the Pittsburgh Penguins hammered out their 23 man roster and that meant that guys were cut and placed on waivers. Details here.

As for this game tonight, here was a look at the lines…

Anton Zlobin – Oskar Sundqvist – Adam Krause
Dominik Simon – Sahir Gill – John McCarron
Derek Army – Matia Marcantuoni – Tyler Biggs
Shane Bakker – Jarrett Burton – Patrick McGrath

Nick Petrecki – Clark Seymour
Reid McNeill – Harrison Ruopp
Barry Goers – Ryan Parent

Matt Murray – Tristan Jarry

Penguins couldn’t get anything going on the games first power play. The Bears got one a few minutes later and cashed when Chris Bourque found Jakub Vrana for a one timer and a goal for a 1-0 Bears lead. Shots were 10-8 Bears after one. The line of Dominik Simon, Sahir Gill and John McCarron generated the most chances for the Pens in the first period.

Bears had an early power play in the second. They didn’t score, but Dustin Gazley had a great look on goal but Matt Murray made the save. Immediately after, Harrison Ruopp and Max Sauve fought to what sounded like a draw. You be the judge:

[tweet https://twitter.com/WBSPenguins/status/650459606414696449]

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Out of that, the Bears got a power play. Madison Bowey for the Bears misplayed a puck and Matia Marcantuoni scored shorthanded to even the score at a goal a piece.

Later, Riley Barber broke in on a two on one and scored to push the Bears ahead 2-1.

But the Penguins got it right back as Shane Bakker stuffed one past Dan Ellis to tie the game again for the Penguins. The Bears failed to clear and Wilkes-Barre made them pay. It was a dogged forecheck by homegrown Patrick McGrath that set it all up.

The second period ended that way, shots were 21-14 Bears.

In the third, Wilkes-Barre would score their first power play of the preseason when Clark Seymour snapped a shot though a screen from the center point for a 3-2 lead:

[tweet https://twitter.com/WBSPenguins/status/650473182814699520]

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The Penguins held the Bears to just two shots in the period when Oskar Sundqvist scored to make it 4-2 Penguins through bodies:

[tweet https://twitter.com/WBSPenguins/status/650476718499733504]

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Jakob Vrana scored with the Hershey net empty off a nice feed from Chris Bourque to cut the Penguins lead to one, but Hershey still trailed by one, pulled Ellis again, and this time Sahir Gill stole a puck in the neutral zone and rolled a puck into the empty Bears net for a 5-3 Wilkes-Barre lead.

Hershey will end the preseason without a win and so far the Penguins are undefeated. It’s preseason and will be forgotten by the time next Friday rolls around, but it’s always nice beating Hershey.

Penguins are back in action for the fourth and final time in preseason in Allentown tomorrow when they take on the Lehigh Valley Phantoms Sunday at 5 p.m. Unless something out of the ordinary happens and Porter or Warsofsky are claimed on waivers, look for the next recap to come after the game tomorrow.

Two things from this game. One, the play of Tristan Jarry, who started in goal for tonight and played the entire game and the other the play of offseason acquisition Kael Mouillerat.

Jarry stopped 19 of 20 shots and was outstanding (for a preseason game) and Mouillerat was an offensive threat every time he had the puck. That’s a scouting report that has followed him around all of his career, really.

The Penguins won the game tonight 2-1 in overtime off of a goal by the aforementioned Mouillerat and the sound play in net by the young Jarry, who faced a 1:42 of overtime penalty killing.

The Penguins were in preseason action Friday night for the final time at home against the Albany Devils. Before the game, Friday morning actually, Wilkes-Barre announced the signing of Tom Sestito, who was cut by Pittsburgh earlier this week.

Lines were…

Scott Wilson-Kael Mouillierat-Conor Sheary
Anton Zlobin-Carter Rowney-Ty Loney
Dominik Uher-Sahir Gill-Tom Kostopoulos
Tom Sestito-Matia Marcantuoni-Tyler Biggs

Will O’Neill-Steve Oleksy
Niclas Andersen-Harrison Ruopp
Reid McNeill-Barry Goers

Tristan Jarry – Brian Foster

First period was scoreless. Penguins came out flying, shots at one point were heavily favored for the Pens. Neither team did anything memorable on the power play. Both Scott Wedgewood for the Devils and Jarry for the Penguins were leaving rebounds all over the place.

Foreshadowing by Mouillerat this period. He got open, got around guys and got shots off in the first.

The second period started and out of the gate Anton Zlobin was hauled down and awarded a penalty shot. Wedgewood batted it away with the glove.

Best save of the period was a Tristan Jarry one on a Jim O’Brien blast.

Later, Conor Sheary broke the scoreless deadlock with a nice shot off some tic tac toe work from Scott Wilson:

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Pens found themselves on a 5-on-3, but Albany killed it all off. The Penguins really worked the Devils in this period but weren’t able to get anything other than the Sheary goal.

Albany got on the board after the Penguins were unable to score in an extended power play time when they were running around all over and didn’t actually do anything. A Reid McNeill defensive zone turnover to Joseph Blandisi caught everyone off guard, Jarry included, and the Devils were off and running.

But ultimately it was the Penguins with the last laugh when Mouillerat ended it:

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Here’s (bad) video…

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Three stars were: 3) Joe Blandisi with a goal for Albany, 2) Conor Sheary with a goal for the Penguins and 1) Kael Mouillierat with the overtime game winner for the Penguins. Jarry deserved a star in my opinion and in my opinion a spot on the team. But, that is yet to be determined. If Pittsburgh wants him to play, he will go to Wheeling. I think that happens but time will tell.

I am telling you, the Albany Devils are going to give teams fits this season. They make you play a certain way and if you can’t adjust or take advantage you are going to get frustrated and lose. They could surprise some this season. Wedgewood especially. He was outstanding.

Elsewhere, actually just 90 minutes south of here, two ex-Penguins were in Hershey transactions. First, the Bears cut D Nick D’Agostino. He’ll report to the Bears ECHL affiliate South Carolina. Second, parent Washington cut old fan favorite Zach Sill. He is on waivers. If no one claims him, he should report to Hershey, where the Penguins play Saturday in more preseason action. Sullivan told the media that Matt Murray will get the start for the Penguins in net.

No goofy pun headlines or graphics for preseason games. I don’t even think I can link into a boxscore.

Anyway, the Penguins won tonight 4-3. They blitzkrieged with three goals in the first period, were blitzkrieged for three goals in the second before Adam Krause scored in the final minute in the second. Backup goaltender Casey DeSmith played a perfect third period in relief of starter Brian Foster.

Pens opened up the scoring early on in the first period. A Matthew Maione shot from the blue line was tipped in by Tom Kostopoulos in front for a quick 1-0 lead. About a minute later, the Pens rushed into the zone and Clark Seymour ripped one from the point for a 2-0 Penguin lead.

Penguins would go on the games first power play. Good looks, but did not score. Seconds after, Brett Stern fired one in from long range for a 3-0 Wilkes-Barre lead.

Lehigh Valley settled in after that, benefitting from two power plays, but Brian Foster was solid.

Phantoms opened the second with goals at the beginning, middle and end of the period. Wilkes-Barre would have last laugh though when Adam Krause stole a puck at center ice and raced in and scored to make it 4-3.

Phantoms goals were Taylor Leier on a backhander to make it 3-1, Kevin Sundher after a long sequence of play that saw the Pens fail to score on a 4-on-1. They were trapped deep and Sundher made it 3-2. Late, Lehigh Valley crashed the net, Dan Martel parked in front and muscled one past Foster to make it 3-3.

Here’s video of a second period fight involving Clark Seymour:

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Casey DeSmith came in for Foster in relief in the third and played a fine game. He had to kill off two Phantoms power plays. He had some nice stops while Lehigh Valley were bearing down. Penguins had some chances with the most memorable being Ty Loney on a breakaway.

I don’t want to get took insightful on a preseason game with what the Penguins were / weren’t working on or focusing on in the third. Obviously, protect the lead and try to insulate the young DeSmith. When called upon, he was more than up to the challenge.

Fights included Patrick McGrath and Shane Bakker. Nothing memorable with McGrath and Bakker. Both are fighting for a spot come October 9 in Providence. Nick Petrecki, another one fighting for a spot, fought Derek Mathers in the third period and won on a right hand to Mathers jaw.

Anyway, so that’s that. The three stars were Shayne Bakker, Clark Seymour and Adam Krause in that order.

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There were cuts made today. Pittsburgh sent goaltender Tristan Jarry; defensemen Barry Goers and Niclas Andersen; and forwards Tyler Biggs, Anton Zlobin, Josh Archibald, Dominik Simon and Matia Marcantuoni to Coal Street. They placed forwards Dominik Uher and Kael Mouillierat and defensemen Will O’Neill, Reid McNeill and Steve Oleksy on waivers. All five will also be assigned to WBS if they clear waivers on Thursday afternoon at 12 p.m. Pittsburgh cut Tom Sestito, who is free to sign with any team, anywhere.

Later, as in right after their preseason game with Detroit, Pittsburgh sent Matt Murray, Conor Sheary, Scott Wilson and Oscar Sundqvist to Coal Street.

Players still up with Pittsburgh that could get sent to Wilkes-Barre include Adam Clendening, Tim Erixon, Dave Warsofsky, JS Dea, Bobby Farnham, Tom Kuhnhackl, Kevin Porter and Bryan Rust. Of these players, Bobby Farnham, Adam Clendening, Tim Erixon, David Warsofsky, Tom Kuhnhackl and Kevin Porter would require waivers.

If anyone gets claimed at the noon deadline Thursday, I’ll drop a blog in then. Same goes if there are any moves made Thursday too. Otherwise, look for the next blog update to come Friday, when the Penguins play host to the Albany Devils in more preseason action.

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If you would have told me a week ago that the Manchester Monarchs would dismiss the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins in five games, I wouldn’t have believed you. I don’t think if you told anyone that they would have believed you.

Remember, no matter what you do, there is always someone better. The Penguins were a good team this season. With the additions from Pittsburgh about ten days ago, they were the odds on lock to walk through the Eastern Conference and make it to the Calder Cup Finals.

But there is always someone better. This time it was the Manchester Monarchs who are as good as they come advertised. When I broke the series down last Tuesday, I said that the Penguins defense was a deeper team. Just take a look at these charts (through Game 4) and you’ll see familiar names like Taylor Chorney, Scott Harrington and Brian Dumoulin at the bottom. These names were at the top during the regular season, but they looked pedestrian during this series.

I said that the Penguins had the advantage in goal because of what Matt Murray accomplished. I forgot to tell Manchester because they tore Murray to shreds. I am admittedly bad at math but his numbers were bad in the series and he was pulled after the Monarchs scored their second goal in the first period.

I conceded that the forward corps of Manchester was better than the Penguins. They were. With Wilkes-Barre’s defense neutralized and Murray brought down to earth the Monarchs struck early, often and quickly. The Penguins could never recover. It cost them their season in five games.

So here we stand. At the end of the line again and a whole offseason and regular season to hope to get to do it all again in mid April 2016. It sucks. I’ll be the first to tell you. It’s fun to write about this team as a hobby, which is all that this is, but it makes it easy when you are a winner and are successful year after year after year after year.

This is a transition time for the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins. There are reports that the New Jersey Devils have interest in head coach John Hynes. Our defensive corps of Derrick Pouliot, Taylor Chorney, Scott Harrington and Brian Dumoulin are probably all graduated to Pittsburgh or the NHL. Up front is a big question mark. Will Tom Kostopoulos make another run or hang them up for good? What will become of Conor Sheary, will Pittsburgh or another NHL team sign him to a big league pact? Answers to come this summer.

As for the game, Matt Murray opposed J-F Berube. Adrian Kempe scored at 2:01 of the first period after a turnover / giveaway from Derrick Pouliot for a 1-0 Manchester lead. The Monarchs doubled the lead on a Nick Shore dart entering the zone with the Penguins in a four man box and no one picking up the man with the puck streaking in in Shore for a 2-0 lead at 14:57. Matt Murray’s night was done and Jeff Zatkoff didn’t allow a goal and was perfect with 22 saves.

The Penguins made it a game late in the second with a goal from Conor Sheary at 18:43 on a set faceoff play. The faceoff was won back to Sheary who stepped into it and wired one past Berube to put Wilkes-Barre on the board.

In the third, Manchester proved why they were the second best team in the AHL on defense, blocking shots and only allowing six to get to Berube. Wilkes-Barre never found the equalizer.

Berube was your third star with 28 saves on 29 shots. Conor Sheary was your second star with a goal and Nick Sore was the first star with the game winning goal.

Lots of post mortem stuff to come in the coming days. The Penguins will be playing in a new, eight team division next season. I’ll have stuff on that in a few days.

I’ll update for the final time my postseason charts and probably put a blog out on the final numbers.

I’ll have a Year in Review either this weekend or next week.

My offseason moves chart will be up once the dust settles on contract statuses for next season.

And I will be around in the summertime.

Thanks to everyone who reads, shares and interacts with me here on the blog and on all platforms. I do this all for you guys. I aim to entertain and inform. I hope that you continue to check in with me here on the blog all summer. Lots of things to look forward to.

Let’s Go Pens!!!

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The Penguins were in trouble in this game before it was :43 old.

That was when Monarchs forwards Jordan Weal tracked down a puck that Penguins goaltender Matt Murray batted up in the air and swept past the Wilkes-Barre net minder for a 1-0 Monarchs lead at :42 and a lead they would not relinquish as they roll to a 5-2 win over the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins and a commanding 3-1 series lead.

The Monarchs are undefeated when they score first this postseason. It was the first road win for Manchester since 2013.

Oh. That Weal kid. He wasn’t done. He had a hat trick. After being held off of the score sheet in Game Three, he was everywhere tonight and made the Penguins pay.

No lineup changes for the Penguins in Game Four.

The Penguins had two opportunities to get back into the game in the first period on two power plays but did not score. You could look at this game and see many turning points. The Weal goal at :42 is certainly one and the Penguin inability to score on two power plays in the first was certainly another.

Wilkes-Barre went on another power play to open the second period but Manchester scored shorthanded on a Michael Mersch dart of a shot on a two-on-one with Brian Dumoulin back.

Wheels came off after that. Manchester scores on a blatant offsides call when Weal gets a piece of a Colin Miller blast from the blue line that made it 3-0. Terrible non-call from the officials and you would expect better out of an officiating crew that gets games on merit at this point in the season, but the Penguins did not lose the game because of the officiating.

Manchester made it 4-0 about four minutes later when Nick Shore was marked by a stickless Barry Goers and passed to David Van der Gulick on the opposite high dot for a one timer.

Murray was touched for three goals on twelve shots in the second period. Remember his body of work in the regular season? Murray wouldn’t let three goals in during an entire weekend. He was replaced by Jeff Zatkoff to start the third period.

Weal finished off his hat trick in the third period on a power play with Andrew Ebbett in the penalty box for a 5-0 Manchester lead.

Penguins made it interesting by scoring two goals in a span of :37. Nick Drazenovic from his stomach passed to Tom Kostopoulos who slipped it under J-F Berube’s pads to break up the Berube shutout. Then Bryan Rust powered around a Manchester defenseman for another goal.

Monarchs head coach Mike Stothers used his time out to stop the bleeding. Hynes pulled Zatkoff with about six minutes to play looking for the Hail Mary but instead came up empty.

Three stars were Van der Gulick with a goal and an assist and a +1, Michael Mersch with a goal, an assist and a +3 and Jordan Weal with three goals and a +2.

I’ll run the in-depth numbers tomorrow, but Taylor Chorney was a -2, Conor Sheary picked up another point, he has had one in every game for the Penguins this Spring but was a -2. Derrick Pouliot pinched too deep during a sequence which led to a Manchester goal, Kasperi Kapanen was invisible tonight, Andrew Ebbett hasn’t scored a goal in the series yet. I could go on and on. But it’s piling on. I said to many at the game tonight that if the Penguins don’t somehow manage the impossible and beat Manchester that the Monarchs will probably win the Calder Cup.

Think about it. The Penguins lineup is the best and deepest its been in years, if not ever. Murray is the Goaltender and Rookie of the Year. Wilkes-Barre is well coached, and the top defensive team in the AHL for the fourth out of five years under John Hynes. Kapanen, Sheary, Rust, Pouliot, Dumoulin, Chorney, Harrington, etc. all have pedigree and will go on to long NHL careers but right now it’s men against boys. If you put all those accolades in a jar and told someone who is knowledgeable about the game of hockey to watch this series and then at the end of the series tell them that the team that is being dismantled right now is the Penguins, they probably wouldn’t believe you. That’s how much better the Monarchs are right now.

Never give up the ship. Keep the faith. Game 5 tomorrow. We’ll set it up at 3 with the Gameday setup, attend the game at 7 p.m. tomorrow and let it ride.

Let’s Go Pens!