Chirps from Center Ice

Pens ride physicality, defense and solid goaltending out of Brad Thiessen and shutout the high-powered Charlotte Checkers 3-0 to even the best of seven series at a game apiece with Game 3 on Monday from Charlotte.

Brad Thiessen vs. Mike Murphy. Bombulie had a pregame write-up on all the lineup moves. Bryan Lerg in, Ben Street out (injured) Paul Thompson in, Jesse Boulerice out and Carl Sneep in at the 7th defenseman and Nick Petersen out. Rumblings of a minor injury were heard in my section, but with the game on your tape with 5.7 seconds left in Game 1 and you get nary a shot off, coach is going to sit you.

First Period: Opening period penalties would continue to woe the Checkers as Oskar Osala was whistled to cross checking. :30 later, Chris Collins sits for tripping. Teams would go back and forth, Bryan Lerg would leave the game and then return. Keven Veilleux would take one of his many boneheaded penalties tonight with a board call to put the Checkers on the power play. Chris Collins would come in shorthanded but the puck would slide through the crease. Pens would kill it but would immediately have to kill another as Ryan Craig tripped Chris Terry. Scary moment as Brian Strait would lose his stick in the defensive zone, go to retrieve it and let Jacob Micfliker get a shot off in close unmarked. Thiessen was really on his game all night long. Pens were really throwing the body all night too, big hits a plenty in this game. Then there would be a bevy of penalties: Brett Bellemore would get 2 for roughing, Zac Dalpe would get 2 for roughing, Zach FitzGerald would get 4 for roughing, Veilleux also and Ryan Craig just 2 for roughing. Pens would get a power play. Then Brett Sterling would get called for a cross check. We’d go back to five a side and the period would end scoreless.

That thing I was saying on the Twitter side about the ref pairing of Vinnerborg / Fraser being decent? Yeah, not so much. They were awful all game.

Second Period: Pens and Checkers would trade some shots off the post. Joey Mormina would have a big shift. He would fire a puck through bodies off of the post. There would be a neutral zone turnover and he would get back and block a shot on his stomach to keep the game scoreless. More turnovers would haunt the Penguins, this time Chris Terry came in and rang one off the post. Charlotte had a bunch of missed opportunities tonight. Then, Paul Thompson fights to keep a puck onside, passes to Corey Potter who fires it which rebounds to Brett Sterling and in to put the Pens ahead 1-0.

Third Period: WIth the Pens having to kill off a 4×3, a big period loomed. After killing off all of the penalties Ryan Craig would set up shop right in front of Mike Murphy and Chris Collins would fire one past and in to make it 2-0. Pens played protect after that. They would get two consecutive power plays and not score then Joey Mormina would get nabbed for slashing to put the Checkers on the power play. Pens would kill that too. They were 7 for 7 on the PK tonight. Checkers would pull Murphy and call a time out but it would be futile as Ryan Craig would fire an empty netter from center red to seal it and send it back to Charlotte tied at a game a piece.

Three Stars: Chris Collins (goal, +1) Brett Sterling (game winning goal, +1) and Brad Thiessen (34 save shutout) – unsung hero was Ryan Craig who set screens on the Sterling and Collins goals and was a +3.

Game Three is Monday in Charlotte at 7.

Elsewhere, the Binghamton Senators cough up a 2-1 lead and lose 3-2 to the Portland Pirates with 12.7 seconds left via a Tim Conboy shot. Bingo still leads the series two games to one.

Pens came out and just grinded the Checkers down with the physical hits. They really made that part of their game plan tonight and it worked. Game 3 will be fun to see if it’s sustainable and if the Checkers adjust.

Let’s Go Pens!

I was running that headline regardless of a win or loss tonight. Tonight, WBS lost 3-2 to the Checkers to drop game 1 and home ice to the Checkers.

Initial reaction on the Checkers: Speedy team. Dominated the neutral zone and controlled faceoffs.

But the entire team make up is the four lines. After that the defense has holes and I am still not impressed by Mike Murphy. He left big rebounds and was caught out of position some moments. It’s like night and day however when you look at WBS. We have solid goaltending and defense but very little up front. One cancels out the other and in order to win you must score goals and that comes from the forwards more often than not so there you have this game.

Brad Thiessen vs. Mike Murphy. No lineup changes for WBS from last game. Marshall was in. Lerg was out.

First Period: Off the hop, Mike Murphy took a delay of game for playing the puck in the no touch area. Lots of good chances, but the passes were not sharp (almost too hard at times all night really) and Chris Collins had about four chances in the slot but was unable to slip one by Murphy. Nice pace to start the game, we knew Charlotte was a speedy team, so Wilkes-Barre did it’s job in getting back to snuff out any rushes. Finally late though a failed clear by Keven Veilleux at the red line resulted in a Zac Dalpe snipe show from the far left circle. Dalpe just dangled in and fired it. Pens would have a late power play when Charlotte would get caught with too many men but not able to set anything up and it would be a 1-0 Checkers lead after 1. Shots 10-4 for the Pens.

Thoughts to this point: As was the case all night, we limited the Checkers in shots but they pounced and capitalized on any opportunities given.

Second Period: Nick Petersen was tripped down low by Casey Borer which resulted in a power play for the Pens. In it, Veilleux walked in and dished backhand to Geoff Walker who slammed it home to tie the score at 1. Right after on the next shift, Joe Vitale would get whistled for tripping and the Pens would have to kill a penalty. Horrible time to take it too as we were finally off to a good start in the period. Then, Tim Wallace would get nabbed for high sticking which gave the Checkers 1:04 of 5 on 3. Pens would kill of all but the remaining :11 of it before Jon Matsumoto scored on a one time to make it 2-1. There was no one on him. To this point the fans were really behind the Pens in the kill. Turning point of the game for sure. With 8:52 left to go in the second, the Checkers only had seven shots on goal. Big scare after that, as Brett Sterling was drilled hard into the boards by Jacob Micflikier. He would go down and stay down and skate off under his own power to the dressing room. David Marshall and Micflikier would sit for matching roughs. Sterling was only in the locker room for a short while before he came back.

Of note, Ben Street never came out for the second period. Check out Bombulie later for more.

Third Period: Another period and another opening Checkers penalty, this time Bryan Rodney for cross checking Joe Vitale. Then, Zach FitzGerald would go off for boarding and the Pens would have a 5 on 3 for :42. But, it would get negated by a Brett Sterling high stick then a Joe Vitale interference call. During this madness, a Chris Terry laser beam from the point would crumble Thiessen. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop as Brad was down. He shook it off and continued. Later, Jon Matsumoto again would go upstairs on Thiessen when he was down in a scrum to put the Checkers up 3-1. Matsumoto would quickly go from zero to hero though as he would get whistled for hooking the next shift and the Pens would capitalize when Brett Sterling went five hole on Murphy on a nice feed from Tim Wallace. Pens would bring it, pounding the Checkers in the offensive zone and firing all kinds of pucks at Murphy he could not control. Jesse Boulerice would kill a bit of the momentum when he would get whistled for hooking Casey Borer. I said at the time that Borer sold it, and Boulerice’s reputation of a guy who takes a lot of penalties precluded him. Pens would kill it then get a late power play when Drayson Bowman got caught slashing. Pens couldn’t do anything with it with Thiessen pulled. A late time out with 16.7 left in the game would see Nick Petersen get a puck that he would act too quickly on and it eluded him.

Final shots on goal were 30-19 for the Pens. I don’t know what to do with this. You bottle up the lethal scoring threats yet Matsumoto post two on you. Better defensive effort needed? Capitalize on chances? Thoughts anyone?

Three Stars were: Brett Sterling (goal, even) Zac Dalpe (goal, +1) and Jon Matsumoto (two goals, one a game winner, even)

Game Two is Saturday night.

Elsewhere: The Binghamton Senators have a 2-0 series lead on the Portland Pirates in the Atlantic Division Finals after taking Game 2 tonight 5-3. Kaspars Daugavins had two goals and was a +2 in that affair. Game 3 in that series is Saturday in Binghamton.

I don’t like playing from behind in any series. Playing from behind only gets tougher from here. Gotta even it up Saturday.

Let’s Go Pens!

What a difference a week makes. Last Saturday night the Pens were on the ropes having lost to the Admirals 2-0. All hope was lost. Best team in the league down 2-0 to a team which went 3-6-1 in their last ten and won on their last day of the season to leapfrog Binghamton for the 4 seed? This isn’t happening right?

But the Pens went on the road and won all three games in Norfolk to recapture home ice and set up a Game 6 tonight in Wilkes-Barre where, capped by a first period natural hat trick from Steve Wagner, won 6-3. The first ever hat trick for a Penguins defensemen in the history of the franchise.

Penguins will either face the 11 time Calder Cup Champion Hershey Bears or the extremely resilient Charlotte Checkers who, with a win tomorrow, can send the Bears home packing for the season. Game 1 of Pens vs. CHA / HER is Thursday night in Wilkes-Barre.

Brad Thiessen vs. Dustin Tokarski. No lineup changes from last night. Bryan Lerg took warmups but appeared to be in some pain.

First Period: Vladimir Mihalik took an interference call at :40 of the first period. On the power play, a puck would get to Keven Veilleux who would unleash a slapper which would crumble Mathieu Roy who was right in the lane. The puck would then find its way to Steve Wagner who would put it home to put the Pens up 1-0. Next shift, Mike Vernace would send a puck out from his defensive zone for a delay of game penalty. In the ensuing power play, Steve Wagner again would score and make it 2-0. The crowd was electric and hopping. In my mind these quick leads are great, but woe to the person who thinks that a huge lead early means you win the game automatically. Bombulie noted that the Pens power play for the series went 0 for 16 then 6 for 12 since. Scary moments would ensue as Brett Sterling would sit on the bench for an extended period with an upper body injury. He would return for a power play and would complete the game. Later and late in the period, Steve Wagner would complete a natural hat trick to give the Pens a 3-0 lead going into the first. I thought Zach Sill deflected it but the arena never changed it so it’s good.

Second Period: Norfolk would mount a comeback of sorts which lasted all period. They got a Marc-Antoine Pouliot goal after more failed defensive zone clears befuddled the Pens and then a power play goal by Blair Jones after a Geoff Walker interference call. Then, Ryan Craig would get called for holding at 20:00 to put the Admirals on the power play to start the…

Third Period: Joe Vitale while killing the Craig penalty would break in and earn himself a penalty shot. He would draw iron but not score. If we lose this game his failure to score is the turning point in the game. At some point, Andrew Hutchinson was not spotted on the Pens bench. Astute follower @CxJamesx9 sits across from me and picked this one up. He never came out for the third period and the Pens were don to 5 D. Later, Thiessen made a huge save on yet another Pens failed defensive zone clear. Then, Tim Wallace, Chris Collins and Joe Vitale would come in on a 3 on 1 and Vitale finished it to put the Pens ahead 4-2. Ah, but the Admirals weren’t ready to die yet, with Joe Vitale in the box for a weak slash call, James Wright would score on the power play to make it 4-3. Tensions mounted. Zach Sill and Brett Sterling did a 2 on 1 and didn’t score. Then, with Tokarski pulled the Pens would score an empty netter after a big pad save by Brad Thiessen. Tim Wallace did the honors on the empty net. But the Pens weren’t done scoring empty netters as with Tokarski pulled again Zach Sill would score to make it 6-3 and send the Admirals home.

What a series. My hat is off to the Norfolk Admirals for a hell of a series. They battled hard and every game was a war.

Three Stars: M-A Pouliot (goal, assist, even) Joe Vitale (game winning goal, assist, +2) Steve Wagner (hat trick, +1)

Elsewhere, the Binghamton Senators never said die and won in overtime again to advance to the Atlantic Division Finals via a 6-5 final. Ryan Potulny has like, 13 points in that series alone. The B-Sens are going to be a tough out. They will face the Portland Pirates, who defeated the Connecticut Whale tonight 6-4.

Expect a blog post here tomorrow on the result of the Charlotte / Hershey game and stay with me on Twitter for the very latest regarding the Penguins second round opponent, whoever that may be.

Still a way to go, but a few days to celebrate. LET’S GO PENS!

Pens win tonight 2-1 to put Norfolk on the brink of elimination for tomorrow night’s Game 6 in Wilkes-Barre, the road teams winning all of the games and the team that scores first 5-0 in the series.

This nugget from head of Media Relations for the Norfolk Admirals is disconcerting a bit from a Wilkes-Barre perspective. But only by a little, as the League is 75 years old and it’s only been done once.

Brad Thiessen vs. Dustin Tokarski – Angelidis, Ritola and Jones back in for Norfolk and Marshall in for WBS with Bryan Lerg the scratch.

First Period: Nick Petersen went from zero to hero in that he took a hooking call to put the Admirals on the power play then gets spring from the box and nearly scores on a breakaway but then scores on a 5×3 via  a cross crease pass from Brett Sterling to put the Pens up 1-0. The Pens just downright stifled the Admirals as the shots were 7-1 halfway thru the first period. Then, Joey Mormina would plow Marc-Antoine Pouliot and Pouliot would take offense and be sent to the box. In the power play that would ensue for the Pens, David Marshall would score again on a nifty wraparound to make it 2-0. It was a Brett Sterling point shot blast that got deflected off of the boards behind Tokarski which Petersen just wrapped around the cage and in. Dustin got caught looking on that one.

Second Period: Defensive zone clears would plague WBS all period and all game really but any time Norfolk would call, Thiessen woould simply disallow any attempt at a goal. Lots of intense back and forth hockey late with both teams getting chances aftter chances but both Tokarski / Thiessen held their ground to keep the period scoreless. Ryan Craig won big faceoffs late for WBS as the period would end.

Third Period: Brad Thiessen would come up with an enormous save about haflway through the period. But, it would not matter as the Admirals would finally crack Brad Thiessen while David Marshall would be in the box on a holing penalty via Mark Barberio. Thiessen would end up coming up huge the rest of the period with some key saves late. Norfolk would pressure but with under two minutes left the Pens would trap the puck in behind Tokarski so he could not be pulled. With under a minute to go he finally would bolt to the net. Norfolk would call a timeout late but to no avail as the Pens would take the game 2-1 and a 3-2 series lead coming back to Wilkes-Barre for Game 6.

Three Stars: Brett Sterling (2 assists, even) Mark Barberio (goal, even) and Nick Petersen (two goals including game winner, even)

Only concern is that the road team has won all five games. Game 6 is tomorrow and Game 7, if necessary, is Monday in Wilkes-Barre.

Elsewhere with the East Division teams, Charlotte scores FIVE unanswered goals to put the Hershey Bears on the brink of elimination winning 5-3. Game 6 is Easter Sunday. Binghamton lives to play another day, forcing Game 7 tomorrow in Manchester after winning 2-1 in double overtime tonight in Massachusetts.

Tomorrow, the Pens can advance to the East Division Finals. Puck drop is at 7:05 from Mohegan Sun Arena.

Let’s Go Pens!

Pens win tonight 4-2 to even the series, reclaim home ice and force a Game 6 in Wilkes-Barre Saturday night. But before that a crucial Game 5 will be had on Friday night from Scope. Someone is returning back to Wilkes-Barre on the brink of elimination.

Brad Thiessen vs. Dustin Tokarski

Lineup Changes: Joe Vitale returned from Wilkes-Barre after the birth of his daughter. David Marshall was scratched. For Norfolk, they rolled NINE defensemen tonight as Mattias Ritola, Blair Jones (recall to Tampa Bay) and Paul Szczechura and Chris Durno were injury scratches. Mike Angelidis took warmups but was a scratch.

First Period: Jesse Boulerice boarded Vladimir Mihalik which led to Joe Vitale getting 2 minutes for boarding and 2 for roughing and Boulerice 5 for fighting. In the scrum, Jesse Boulerice and Radko Gudas fought so Gudas got 5 for fighting. This was all at :18 in. Mihalik went to the dressing room for something but did ultimately return. Pens would kill it then Corey Potter would score on an NHL-caliber snipe to put the Pens up 1-0. Then, Potter would get whistled for holding, would lip off to the refs and get an unsportsmanlike penalty and the Pens would have to kill off a 4:00 penalty. They would succeed. Huge kill. Later, an inability to clear the puck in the defensive zone would lead to a Johan Harju goal which tied the game.

Second Period: After the Pens failed to score on a carryover power play from the first period (a Mathieu Roy board) Brian Strait would score to make it 2-1 Pens as the puck would deflect off of a Norfolk skate. This was after Norfolk would carry the mail pretty much since they scored in the first. Big goal and potentially a back-breaking goal for Norfolk. Later, Norfolk would score on a lucky bounce which would be like, their 100th of the game so far via Marc-Andre Pouliot. Then, the Pens would get a power play when Ben Street was high sticked by Radko Gudas. Ryan Craig would score the power play goal and the Pens would take a 3-2 lead into the locker room.

Third Period: Pens would protect the lead. Some stressful moments would ensue as the Pens would endure another failed clear as Zach Sill would be in the box for a delay of game call. Pens would kill it. Sill would actually leave the game with trainer patrick Steidle with a probable cut as radio described that he left quick. May have been a cut. Then, the AHL Live feed would cut out on me and during the fracas to get a radio feed, Joe Vitale would score a goal to put the Pens up 4-2. That would be all the Pens would need as the game would end.

Series is now tied 2-2 heading into an off day Thursday and a pivotal Game 5 Friday night from Scope. Someone is returning back to Wilkes-Barre Saturday night on the brink.

I gotta say something. I never panicked when the Pens were down 0-2. Meanwhile lots of fans were saying to me “see you next year” – I told everyone I could talk to that I would see them Saturday. Please believe people. Please believe.

Three Stars: Corey Potter (goal, assist, +1) Marc-Antoine Pouliot (goal, assist, +1) and Ryan Craig (game winning goal, +1)

Game 5 is Friday like we said. Check me out on Twitter for the latest regarding moves made on the Norfolk side with guys returning to the lineup from injury or recall for Norfolk.

East Division happenings: Charlotte evened up their series with Hershey via a 3-2 win. Binghamton survives in overtime winning 5-4 via a Kaspars Daugavins snipe to keep the B-Sens alive in their series with Manchester as that series shifts back to New Hampshire. Everyone listed here in this paragraph, Wilkes-Barre included, plays again Friday night.

Day off tomorrow. It’s now a best of three series. Let’s Go Penguins!!!

Pens win tonight in Norfolk 2-1 to make the series 2-1. Game 4 tomorrow in Norfolk, VA.

Brad Thiessen vs. Dustin Tokarski

Lineup changes: John Curry backed up Thiessen. Joe Vitale and his wife welcomed their first child today. Tim Wallace was back in. For Norfolk, Blair Jones and Mattias Ritola were called up in the wake of some injuries and suspensions in Tampa Bay.

First Period: Pens would get two power play opportunities early via Johan Harju’s slashing. Pens would not be able to convert on the power play. Pens would have a ton of offensive zone time but weren’t able to crack Tokarski. Later, in the same shift, the Admirlas would hit the post which led to a Brett Sterling breakaway in which he would hit the post. Then, after an icing call and whistle, Brian Strait would throw Paul Szczechura into the boards and Szczechura would twist what looked like a leg and would need to be helped off. Brian would sit for roughing. Then, as a Norfolk power play was on, Mark Barberio would get whistled for interference on Ryan Craig and the teams would skate four on four. During this a Norfolk turnover would see Keven Veilleux score to give the Pens their first lead of the series at 1-0.

Second Period: Paul Szczechura did not come out and neither did the Captain, Chris Durno. I did not see the hit on Durno. Neither would return the rest of the game. Early, the Pens would get all sorts of chances on Tokarski but kept missing. Street missed, Potter missed, Craig missed, Veilleux missed once then on a rebound. James Wright would hook Tim Wallace and the Pens power play looked bad, bad, bad. Pens would not score. Later, Jesse Boulerice would take an absolute bonehead rough call and the Admirals would score on the power play to even the score at 1. Stefano Giliati scored the goal.

Third Period: Turnovers all across the board for Wilkes-Barre as Thiessen would deny all comers. Later there would be a scary incident as Chris Collins would get elbowed by Mathieu Roy with no call. Collins headed to the dressing room but did return. Then, Steve Wagner was high sticked by Pierre-Cedric Labrie and would bleed. This would lead to a 4:00 double minor for high sticking on Labrie. The Pens did not score on the front end of it but Head Coach John Hynes would call his time out with 2:05 left in the double minor and the Pens would finally breakthrough and score on the power play via Bryan Lerg. Huge goal. I called it on the Twitter side the turning point of the series. Meanwhile later the Pens would come in on a three on one and the puck would jump on Tim Wallace and the Pens would not score. The Pens would preserve the lead and hod on to win 2-1 after some tense moments leading up to the final whistle.

Three Stars: Dustin Tokarski (23 saves on 25 shots) Stefano Giliati (goal, even) and Bryan Lerg (game winning goal, even)

Quick turnaround as Game 4 is tomorrow from Scope. Expect Joe Vitale back and a guy like David Marshall to be scratched. With all the injuries to Norfolk, with Tampa Bay playing Pittsburgh in a Game 4 in Tampa Bay tomorrow don’t expect Blair Jones or Mattias Ritola back and the health of Chris Durno and Paul Szczechura is still in doubt. Despite all this, the Admirals flat out hung with the Penguins tonight. Tomorrow is an important game for both sides.

Elsewhere regarding the East Division teams: Hershey beat Charlotte 3-2 in Charlotte to recapture home ice in the series and take a 2-1 series lead. Game 4 in that series comes tomorrow. Binghamton lost to Manchester 6-3 despite a hat trick from Ryan Potulny. The B-Sens are on the brink of elimination trailing the series 3-1. The Monarchs can wrap up the series tomorrow in Binghamton.

Despite the win for Wilkes-Barre tonight, it is NOT a new series…yet. Lots to be decided tomorrow in Game 4.

Let’s Go Pens!

Since October, it has been easy live tweeting games and blogging. It is a simple when you are the leagues best team. It is easy interacting with other AHL fans from around the league when their team isn’t doing so well. I have to say that it is a tad difficult for me now having no journalistic experience.

But one thing I will never do is panic. There is no sense. Think about it. I am not getting paid to do this. I don’t think anyone who frequents the blog is getting paid to either. There isn’t any sense in panicking. Why? You’ll drive yourself nuts.

Pens fell in an 0-2 hole losing 2-0 tonight.

Brad Thiessen vs. Dustin Tokarski – no lineup changes for the Pens.

First Period: Keven Veilleux would get whistled for roughing just :08 into the game. Pens would kill it. Right after that a Corey Potter point shot would dribble to the red line and then die and the Admirals would sweep it away. Power play was a problem this period as the Pens would get handed another one as James Wright would get whistled for hooking. The Admirals would kill it. Later, the Pens would have to kill off a 1:09 of a 5 on 3 with Joey Mormina in the box with Chris Collins. Pens would kill it set up by a Robert Bortuzzo huge block. Then, Brett Sterling and Nick Petersen came in two on none and did not score.

Second Period: Corey Potter giveaway would lead to him high sticking. Mathieu Roy would ring a post. Pens would have open ice with a 4×4 with Brett Sterling in the box for interference on the goaltender and Mark Barberio in the box for a hook. Geoff Walker would come in with Joe Vitale on a 2 on 1 and fail to score. Then they would crash the net and Joey Mormina tried to snipe and Tokarski held the fort. Later, Ryan Craig had all day. Doesn’t score. Then Brett Sterling would jump in two on none with the Captain. No dice. Dustin Tokarski has played superb hockey. To make the case even stronger, Tokarski had a diving glove save on a Steve Wagner offering. Then, with :08 left, Paul Szczechura doesn’t give up on a play and makes it 1-0.

Second Period Intermission Thoughts: Lowest point of the year, if we don’t win the series. Sucked the life right out of the team. Norfolk can’t keep it up all series, can it? We just didn’t all of a sudden forget how to play, did we?

Third Period: Bryan Lerg had a chance on the doorstep of Tokarski and was denied. Another Pens breakdown defensively nearly led to a Norfolk goal. Norfolk blocked a ton of shots tonight. Pens would press, press and press but not score. They would pull Thiessen and of all people Marc-Antoine Pouliot would bury the empty netter from the blue line. Game. Set. Match.

Three Stars: Brad Thiessen (25 saves on 26 shots), Paul Szczechura (game winning goal, +1) and Dustin Tokarski (27 save shutout)

This nugget from the League gives Pens fans everywhere hope:

http://twitter.com/#!/TheAHL/status/59435564017000448

More from League observer and good friend Patrick Williams:

http://twitter.com/#!/AHLReport/status/59435561429114880

http://twitter.com/#!/AHLReport/status/59435910382620672

Bombulie’s postgamer rings true.

Game Three is Tuesday and a virtual must win.

It ain’t over till it’s over — Yogi Berra

Go Pens.