Chirps from Center Ice

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Take the tape of all the defensive plays and burn them.

A forgettable defensive effort tonight by Wilkes-Barre and they lose tonight 4-2 in Rochester.

Rochester is one of the highest scoring teams in the AHL, averaging 3.44 goals a game. Coaching knows this. The players know this. The effort just was not there tonight defensively. Hopefully its a learning experience and you move on.

Brad Thiessen vs. David Leggio

Lineup Notes: Chad Kolarik started on the second line with Brian Gibbons. He and Gibbons worked well tonight. Beau Bennett is still battling the flu and also has a small lower body injury. His status for All-Stars at Providence is up in the air. Philippe Dupuis didn’t take morning skate in the morning and should be ready after the All-Star break. Cody Wild has the flu. Warren Peters is on the cusp of returning. He may tomorrow. Dom Uher took warmups but was scratched.

First Period: In his very first shift, on his very first shot, newcomer Chad Kolarik scores a goal for the Penguins to push Wilkes-Barre out to a 1-0 lead. Kolarik’s impact could be felt almost immediately, with his vision making the players around him better. No scoring the remainder of the period, mainly because the goalies were sharp.

Second Period: Nightmare period for Wilkes-Barre. Mark Pysyk blows by a D-man and wrists one past Thiessen to tie the game. Later, Tom Kostopoulos keeps a puck in and throws it at the net, Adam Payerl hacks and whacks at it and Zach Sill swoops in from out of nowhere to push the Pens out ahead 2-1.

Then, with the Amerks on a power play, Mark Mancari throws a puck cross ice that deflects off of the skate of Brian Flynn and into Thiessen’s net. That one surprised everyone. Then, Phil Varone wheels around the net, gets a step on Joe Morrow, passes to Adam Pardy who one times the puck home past Thiessen to put the Amerks out front 3-2. Then, with 7.2 seconds left and two Penguins draped all over him, Kevin Sundher scores a wrist shot after falling down to make it 4-2.

It would be the second time this season that the Penguins gave up four goals in the period. Three goals in the final six and a half minutes, too.

Third Period: Jeff Zatkoff comes in to relieve Thiessen. Amerks play prevent defense, allow the Penguins 10 shots on goal, Leggio stops all of them. Penguins pull Zatkoff late, but don’t score a goal.

Three Stars: 3) Adam Pardy (goal, +1) 2) Mark Mancari (two assists, +2) and 1) Mark Pysyk (goal, assist, +1)

Around the Division: Binghamton beats Syracuse in Syracuse 1-0. St. John’s beats Hershey 3-1 and Norfolk beats Bridgeport 2-1.

Standings: Binghamton 56 — Syracuse — 54 — Penguins — 43 — Hershey 43 — Norfolk 37

Conference: 1) BNG (56) 2) SPR (56) 3) POR (50) 4) SYR (54) 5) MCH (46) 6) PRO (45) 7) WOR (44) 8) WBS (43)

Wheeling Update: Nailers beat the Bakersfield Condors with FOUR defensemen tonight 3-2 at home.

SendToNews Highlights: Rochester hasn’t posted them yet. I’ll check again in the morning.

Penguins are in Toronto for a 5 p.m. start. Gameday setup will be here tomorrow at 1 p.m.

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Brad Thiessen is singlehandedly leading the Penguins to the promised land.

Not necessarily, but the key to being a good journalist is writing a good lede. That’s what the book says anyway.

Moving on.

Thiessen stops 26 shots tonight, the Penguins get all the offense in the first period and the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins skate away winners tonight 3-0.

Five wins in a row. The lockout ending has done wonders. That thing I said about blogging up the highest level of hockey in America? Keep it. I love writing winning blog recaps.

On a day where big picture items like this actual game could get lost in all the hoopla over the signings of Mark Eaton and Tom Kostopoulos to PTOs, a solid game by the Penguins.

Brad Thiessen vs. Eddie Pasqaule – Cody Wild took warmups but was scratched. Carl Sneep didn’t even dress. Warren Peters and Phil Dupuis were injury scratches.

First Period: I had a feeling coming into this game that if the Penguins wanted to win they would need to strike first and early to do so. They did. On the power play in the early stages of the period, Riley Holzapfel draws a man to him down low, Alex Grant pinches towards the net, Holzapfel finds him and Grant buries it for a 1-0 Penguins lead.

About midway in the first, Steve MacIntyre and the Penguins fourth line are forechecking St. John’s hard in the Penguins offensive zone. Philip Samuelsson picks off an exit pass and zips a wrist shot towards the net that eludes Eddie Pasquale for a 2-0 Penguins lead.

Then late in the period, Paul Thompson puts a shot on Pasquale and the rebound kicks right to Holzapfel who slams it home for a 3-0 lead.

It would be all the offense the Penguins would need.

Second Period: Chris Carrozzi relieves Pasquale in net and really settled things down. It was Carrozzi’s first AHL action of the season, having spent the better part in the ECHL with the Ontario Reign. If I knew what Carrozzi’s favorite color was I would probably list it here because not a lot happened action wise this period.

Oh. Beau Bennett was fighting the flu. He played a bit in the first period, then wasn’t seen much thereafter and didn’t come out in the third period. There was a mention of Bennett’s dislike of the cold in the paper this past weekend. You take a California kid in Bennett that doesn’t like the cold and mix in an outdoor game in Hershey on Sunday and you have the perfect concoction for flu-like symptoms to your lone AHL All-Star representative.

Third Period: IceCaps would throw the kitchen sink at Thiessen, but Brad kept them out of his net. Thiessen has really played well recently. He’s won five of his last six with three shutouts mixed in.

Three Stars: Trevor Smith (two assists, +1) 2) Riley Holzapfel (goal, assist, +1) and 1) Brad Thiessen (26 save shutout)

Around the Division: Norfolk beats Charlotte at Scope 3-1.

Standings: Binghamton 54 — Syracuse 53 — Penguins 43 — Hershey 43 — Norfolk 35

Conference: 1) SPR (56) 2) BNG (54) 3) POR (50) 4) SYR (53) 5) MCH (46) 6) PRO (43) 7) WBS (43) 8) HER (43)

A Binghamton / Wilkes-Barre first round playoff matchup is something I really wish for. Still a lot of season left.

Wheeling Update: The news of the day out of Wheeling was that Patrick Killeen was sent to the Orlando Solar Bears. He couldn’t be traded, so he was “called up” to Wilkes-Barre then reassigned by Pittsburgh to Orlando. The thought is that he and ex-Penguin John Curry will split the time in net for the Solar Bears. Also, a change of scenery would do him well according to those in Wheeling who follow the team closely. The Nailers didn’t play today. Edit: Nailers beat writer Shawn Rine has this article going more in-depth into the move.

SendToNews Highlights: Are here for your viewing enjoyment.

Penguins will practice tomorrow at Coal Street then board a bus bound for Rochester. Expect my next blog entry to come Friday for the Gameday setup unless I think of something interesting to put here Thursday.

Let’s Go Pens!

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The Penguins come to Hershey, play an outdoor game and handle business and win tonight 2-1 in overtime before 17,311 at Hersheypark Stadium. Some notes:

— Jeff Zatkoff’s first win since December 22 at Syracuse. He had lost five straight coming into tonights game.

— The Penguins first win all season trailing after two periods. They were 0-15-1-0 prior.

— The Penguins have won four games in a row.

— They are also 1-0 all-time in outdoor games.

Jeff Zatkoff vs. Dany Sabourin

Carl Sneep, Philippe Dupuis and Warren Peters were the scratches for the Penguins.

First Period: Crisp period of hockey for both teams. No scoring, chances here and there and no penalties.

Second Period: Penguins get a power play but can’t capitalize. Then Dominik Uher and Steve Oleksy fight to a draw. Late, Tomas Kundratek skates into the high slot and receives a pass from Jeff Taffe to put the Bears on the board first. To the way that the game had been played at this moment, it looked as if that the 1-0 lead would be enough to hold up. But there was another period to be played. The…

Third Period: Riley Holzapfel and Zach Sill come in on a two on one and Holzapfel finished it to tie the game at one. At the time a big goal, obviously, as the Penguins were hanging with the Bears but were down 1-0. Back and forth we went and it was on to…

Overtime: Beau Bennett breaks his stick. Paul Thompson jumps over the boards and while he does receives a pass from Joey Mormina. Thompson skates in and scores it on Sabourin. Ballgame.

Penguins are now one point out of a playoff spot and two points back of Hershey for third in the division. They are three points behind the Manchester Monarchs for fifth in the conference.

Three Stars: 3) Jeff Zatkoff (24 saves on 25 shots) 2) Dany Sabourin (18 saves on 20 shots) and 1) Paul Thompson (game winning goal, assist, +1)

Around the Division: Norfolk traveled to Charlotte and lost 6-1. Everyone else was off.

Standings: Binghamton 54 — Syracuse 53 — Hershey 43 — Penguins 41 — Norfolk 33

Conference: 1) BNG (54) 2) SPR (54) 3) POR (50) 4) SYR (53) 5) MCH (44) 6) PRO (43) 7) HER (43) 8) BRI (42) 10) WBS (41)

Wheeling Update: The Nailers did not play today.

SendToNews Highlights: Aren’t up yet. I will check back in the  morning and if I see it I will throw a link up.

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Hopefully this continues. Nice to get a win in a novelty game. Things could have broken either way for both teams really. The Penguins look to keep things rolling come Wednesday when St. John’s comes calling.

If you follow me on other forms of social media, you will see that I threw up a bunch of photos from tonight’s festivities. I will pay that off to the blog probably tomorrow just as fodder to bridge us from here to St. John’s on Wednesday. Check back for that tomorrow.

Let’s Go Pens!

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Selfishly, I wanted the NHL lockout to go all season long. I really cannot stand millionaires arguing with millionaires over billions of dollars.

But the way that the first half of the season was developing for the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins, it looked as though playoffs were a long shot at best.

The lockout ended about 10 days ago.

Since, a completely different Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins team.

John Hynes touched on this topic in the papers this past weekend. With the labor strife, you have guys playing in the AHL who belong in the NHL. Thus, you have guys playing in the ECHL and lower leagues who belong in the AHL and the new blood that resurrects when the lockout ends are hungry, to say the least and ready to prove they belong.

The post-lockout Penguins have won three in a row and look to be heading in the right direction. Brad Theissen has guided the Penguins to all three victories.

Finally.

A 4-2 win in Norfolk tonight against a patchwork Admirals team completely left barren by call-ups to parent Anaheim. If the Penguins did not win this game, a real cause for concern would set in in my mind.

Brad Thiessen vs. Viktor Fasth – a decorated Swedish goalie assigned to Norfolk today making his first North American pro start.

Lineup Notes: Philippe Dupuis was “dinged up” in practice yesterday and was not on the trip. Benn Ferriero was held out again, and will likely play Sunday in Hershey, per Tom Grace. Tom Kuhnhackl is out for the rest of the season after surgery, so this is probably the last time I mention him in lineup news.

First Period: Matt Kennedy boarded Joey Mormina. Or at least it appeared that way, as referees Fred Leblanc and Steve Patafie called no penalty. As a result, ex-Admiral Trevor Smith fought Kennedy. Mormina was fine and returned for his next shift. Later, Nick Schaus thunders down the ice with Brian Dumoulin providing interference. Shaus lets go or a wrist shot that somehow eludes Thiessen. There was no traffic in front of Thiessen or anything, the puck just beat him. Late in the period, the Pens finally turned up the intensity and got a 4:00 power play out of it when a Gabe Guentzel high stick drew blood from Paul Thompson.

Second Period: On a five on three for a Troy Bodie trip on Alex Grant, Grant gets two slap shots from the point on net at Fasth. He stops them both. The third time would end up being the charm, as Grant’s shot would end up being deflected by Riley Holzapfel to tie the game at one. Not a whole lot happened this period. Chris Barton had time and space and missed the net entirely. The Penguins successfully killed two penalties late. The shots in the period were 10-3 Penguins, so they picked it up in the sandwich stanza. The one of the Norfolk shots came from John Mitchell when he picked off a pass at the WBS blueline and came in on a breakaway but Thiessen made the save.

Third Period: A puck bloops around the front of Fasth’s net. Paul Thompson whacks it home to put the Penguins out front 2-1. The remainder of time would be spent by the Penguins in the offensive zone with the Admirals trying to push back. Finally, the Admirals get a late power play, and only took four shots on goal since the start of the second period. Mentioning that is an automatic jinx. Josh Brittain scores a goal that ties the game on a wrist shot. Then, Dom Uher draws a rough on Rod Pelley. Uher is awesome at drawing penalties against the opposing team.

Alex Grant has been a victim of the NHL lockout. I literally scratch my head some nights asking myself why he is not in the lineup. With the lockout over, Grant is a staple. He scores a power play goal on a bomb from the blueline to put the Penguins up 3-2. Riley Holzapfel takes a delay of penalty call. The Admirals pull Fasth for the 6-on-4. Brian Gibbons blocks a shot at the blueline and skates in and pots the empty net goal to put the game on ice.

It would be the first time since December 7 that the Penguins would score four goals, an overtime home loss to the Hershey Bears which, oddly enough, began the spiral downwards. Hopefully, karma turns and this is the start of something good.

Three Stars: 3) Viktor Fasth (25 saves on 28 shots) 2) Riley Holzapfel (goal, two assists, +1) and 1) Alex Grant (game winning goal, two assists, +1)

Brian Dumoulin, who was quickly falling into Jon D’Aversa territory in my book is now 2-3-5 in his last three games. He is certainly a beneficiary of the lockout ending.

Notes: Tom Grace said in the second intermission that 14 players will be in Pittsburgh for the scrimmage tomorrow. No goalies. From what I gathered from what he said, all 14 players will be back Thursday. So it leads me to believe that the players won’t be “called up” tomorrow, just “there for a scrimmage” and then return back to Coal Street the next day. Pittsburgh will probably announce the players featured at some point tomorrow. The game will be shown live on ROOT Sports Pittsburgh tomorrow.

Around the Division: Nothing doing. No other divisional foes skated.

Standings: Syracuse 53 — Binghamton 50 — Hershey 40 — Penguins 39 — Norfolk 31

Conference: 1) SYR 53 2) SPR (48) 3) POR (48) 4) BNG (50) 5) WOR (41) 6) PRO 40) 7) HER 40) 8) BRI (40) 9) WBS (39)

SendToNews Highlights: Are here.

Wheeling Update: Nailers were off tonight.

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With this, the Penguins are at the halfway point of the season. That means that the second quarter grades are due. Look for them here on the blog by this weekend.

Let’s Go Pens!

Brian Dumoulin’s second period even strength goal is enough to carry the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins to a 2-1 win over the visiting Adirondack Phantoms and the Penguins to a two game win streak. It’s Dumoulin’s second game winning goal in as many nights.

Wait. What? Penguins? Win streak? Dumoulin the hero again? Surely you jest!

It has happened before…

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Personnel news to get to tonight. In addition to Eric Tangradi and Simon Despres in Pittsbugh, Jayson Megna and Beau Bennett were also in Pittsburgh for the start of training camp starting Sunday. But wait, there’s more! Brian Strait and Robert Bortuzzo were also scratched and appear on their way up as well.

Brad Thiessen vs. Scott Munroe

First Period: I’ll have to look up the Penguins record when Paul Thompson scores a goal. For that matter I will have to look up the Pens record when Paul Thompson scores a power play goal like he did in the first period on a rebound of his own shot.

Phantoms couldn’t really get much of anything going tonight really for the whole game. They have been pillaged by call ups to Philadelphia and dressed a really inexperienced lineup.

Second Period: Bobby Farnham and Ian Slater fought one second into the game. Slater got the better of Farnham in the fight and it sparked the Phantoms. Oliver Lauridsen shoots a puck at the point that Marcel Noebels back hands home on a rebound. Some really great penalty killing by Brad Thiessen and the Penguins PK unit tonight as well. Late in the period, Brian Gibbons skates up the right wall and centers to a pinching Brian Dumoulin who lasered the puck in the net over Scott Munroe’s glove. It was a really pretty goal.

Third Period: Looked like a preseason game really in the opening ten minutes. Phantoms didn’t register a shot on goal in the first ten minutes and the Penguins only managed two of their own. Phantoms would get a power play with under a minute but never found the equalizing goal.

Three Stars: 3) Brad Thiessen (22 saves on 23 shots) 2) Paul Thompson (goal, even) and 1) Brian Dumoulin (game winning goal, assist, +1)

Paul Thompson had 7 shots on goal. I think he looks like the one who will carry the lion share of work while key guys are up in Pittsburgh for camp.

Around the Division: Binghamton beats Norfolk 4-2. Rochester beat Syracuse 4-1 and Hershey beat Connecticut 4-3 in a shootout.

Standings: Syracuse 53 — Binghamton 50 — Hershey 38 — Penguins 37 — Norfolk 31

Conference: 1) SYR (53) 2) SPR (46) 3) POR (46) 4) BNG (50) 5) WOR (41) 6) PRO (38) 7) MCH (38) 8) HER (38) 10) WBS 37

SendToNews Highlights: Are here. Include the goals and the end of the game.

Wheeling Update: The Nailers beat the Reading Royals tonight by a score of 2-1. Keven Veilleux assisted on both Nailers goals.

Want to thank Michael Cignoli from The Saratogian for giving me the opportunity to cover for him tonight. You should really check him out, he does fine fine work. My entry for his blog the “Rink Report” can be found here.

Pens are off until Tuesday in Norfolk and then play next Sunday outdoors in the AHL Outdoor Classic vs. Hershey. The lockout ending could not come at a better time for the Pens games wise.

I’ll try to keep things square here on the blog with guys going up and coming up in the East Division. Look for that probably Sunday with camps finally opening in the NHL.

Let’s Go Pens!

Pens score first.

A power play goal.

Scored by Brian Dumoulin.

In the first period.

Pens hang on the remainder of the game and get a 23 save shutout by Brad Thiessen and win 1-0.

Really had to check myself during both intermissions to make sure I wasn’t dreaming, with the losing funk that the Pens have been in of recent.

I said on the blog here this afternoon that this game vs. the Bears was a must win for the Penguins. The Pens certainly played like it tonight. The Bears, who won 7 straight road games, down two players due to in game injuries (Jeff Taffe and Evan Barlow, both first period) valiantly give the Penguins all they can handle in the third period. It seemed at times that you were waiting for things to go wrong for the Pens, but it never happened.

A great win, by all accounts. About time and long overdue.

Brad Thiessen vs. Dany Sabourin – Pens scratched Joe Morrow, Alex Grant, Eric Tangradi and Simon Despres. According to reports Tangradi and Despres are already in Pittsburgh for training camp.

First Period: Quick moving first half of the period. Then Boyd Kane sits for a tripping call. The Pens score a power play goal when Brian Dumoulin scores on a shot from the blue line to put the Pens up 1-0.

Second Period: Bears start to buzz. They get a power play. Penguins penalty kill does its job. Zach Sill’s line of he, MacIntyre and Dominik Uher had some great shifts this period. Pens blocked a lot of shots this period because there was a point where the Bears had a ton of offensive zone time but only 12 shots on goal to show. Ryan Stoa hit the top of Thiessen’s crossbar for a scare late in the period.

Third Period: Bobby Farnham takes what will probably go down as the dumbest penalty of the year. Joey Mormina is lugging a puck up the ice in the neutral zone. Tomas Kundratek comes over and puts a check on him and puts Mormina on his wallet. Farnham comes in and cross checks Kundratek. Easiest penalty call referee Dave Lewis will make all season. Thankfully, the Penguins killed it behind Brad Thiessen’s two saves on Ryan Potulny, one with his mask and the other with his glove. Penalty kill was spot on, because the Penguins would have to kill a Riley Holzapfel interference. Credit the Bears, down two men in the game due to injury, for playing the Penguins all the way to the end.

Three Stars: 3) Beau Bennett (assist, even) 2) Brian Dumoulin (goal, even) and 1) Brad Thiessen (23 save shutout)

Around the Division: Points for everyone else in the division tonight. The Binghamton Senators lost 3-2 in a shootout to tomorrow’s opponent the Adirondack Phantoms and the Norfolk Admirals lost in overtime at home vs. the Syracuse Crunch 3-2.

Standings: Syracuse 53 — Binghamton 48 — Hershey 36 — Penguins 35 — Norfolk 31

Conference: 1) SYR (53) 2) SPR (44) 3) POR 4) BNG (48) 5) WOR (41) 6) PRO (38) 7) MCH (38) 8) BRI (38) 10) WBS (35)

Wheeling Update: The Nailers won in a shootout down in Reading by a score of 5-4. Keven Veilleux was assigned there this morning, played and was pointless.

SendToNews Highlights: Are here. Will probably be added to as time goes on.

I’ll be in the pressbox tomorrow night freelancing for Michael Cignoli who does a tremendous job covering the Adirondack Phantoms for The Saratogian. So my tweets will be reporting on the game vs. cheering on the game.

Gameday for that affair will be here on the blog Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.

Let’s Go Pens!

No, you can’t win a Calder Cup in January.

But you can sure lose one.

The Penguins drop another game to an East Division rival, this time 3-1 to the Binghamton Senators. This despite dressing a full lineup with Robert Bortuzzo, Eric Tangradi and Beau Bennett in the lineup after being held out on Sunday in Hartford.

If the Pens continue to keep this up, an early Spring beckons. Plain and simple. It has to be figured out and fast. No more excuses.

Jeff Zatkoff vs. Robin Lehner

First, a stat from Pens beat writer Jonathan Bombulie:

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First Period: A Binghamton two on one becomes a Binghamton three on one and Stephane DaCosta scores to put the B-Sens up 1-0. Zatkoff virtually had no shot at the save. Later, Pens get a power play. I tweet this:

Followed up by Jonathan tweeting this:

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Pens would fail to convert.

Second Period: Many power plays to both teams which would overlap at times. Both teams would come out of them unscathed. I think Jayson Megna was the best player on the ice for the Pens this period and you may say all game. He had chances but wasn’t able to convert.

Third Period: Friend of the blog Bob Howard from the Power Play Post Show caught up with me after the game to make fun of me give his condolences on the loss and offer some thoughts. He said something to the extent of when the Penguins threw away the playbook and simply ad-libbed the offense, they scored. (Paul Thompson, on a rebound) – but that wasn’t the tying goal, Eric Gryba shot a puck from the point which made it past Zatkoff, off the post, off Zatkoff’s back again and into the net. The Pens buzzed this period when, as Howard observed, they simply threw away the playbook and simply tried to get in close on Lehner and get dirty goals. It worked to some extent, but the final execution was not there. With Zatkoff pulled, Simon Despres tries to go D to D and Mike Hoffman hit the empty net to put the game on ice.

Three Stars: 3) Paul Thompson (goal, +1) 2) Robin Lehner (31 saves on 32 shots) 1) Eric Gryba (game winning goal, even)

Notes: This was trainer Patrick Steidle’s last game behind the Wilkes-Barre bench. He was promoted to head trainer of the Pittsburgh Penguins and acknowledged in the third period……. Zach Sill and Corey Cowick fought in the second period with Sill getting the better of Cowick……. Ray Shero was in the building tonight and told Tom Grace during first intermission that four to six players from Wilkes-Barre will be given invites to Pittsburgh Penguins training camp which opens Sunday. Common knowledge would then say that Wilkes-Barre will at least be able to dress a full lineup for this Friday vs. Hershey and this Saturday vs. Adirondack.

I talked puck with Jesse Marshall from the Faceoff Factor yesterday. The link to that Q&A session can be found right here.

Around the Division: Syracuse beats Rochester in Rochester 5-3.

Standings: Syracuse 51 — Binghamton 47 — Hershey 36 — Penguins 33 — Norfolk 30

Conference: 1) SYR (51) 2) POR (44) 3) SPR (43) 4) BNG (47) 5) WOR (39) 6) BRI (38) 7) PRO (36) 8) HER (36) 12) WBS (33)

Wheeling Update: There is none. The Nailers were off tonight.

SendToNews Highlights: Are here. Includes the Zach Sill fight.

Pens are off tomorrow in preparation for Hershey Friday.If hell should break with call-ups, Twitter will have it first, then Facebook then here.

I’ll leave you with one last Bombulie parting shot: