Chirps from Center Ice

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4                                        5

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Man, they had them where they wanted them tonight.

Up two, Lehigh Valley rattles off two to tie to get to overtime and win in a shootout on Tyson Foerster’s two goals and shootout winner. Phantoms win 5-4 in the shootout.win 5-4 in the shootout.

Alex D’Orio continues to improve, one game seemingly better than the next. He had some really great saves tonight and stood down the barrel of the loaded Phantoms offense. Hard luck losses tonight will turn to wins.

But this is what Lehigh Valley does. If they don’t blow you out, they scrap with you and get you into the pit of overtime where they usually win. If not, they have way too many offensive threats in the arsenal where they can beat you in the shootout. I thought they stole the win tonight with the way that the Penguins played tonight from D’Orio forward.

D’Orio opposed Zane McIntyre.

Here’s how they lined up:

Lineup Notes: Radim Zohorna was sent back from Pittsburgh’s taxi squad earlier in the day, lines got shuffled and he replaced Nick Schilkey. Tommy Nappier from THEE Ohio State University backed up Alex D’Orio.

First Period: Highly competitive period.

Cal O’Reilly has his shot blocked, collects it out of the skates of the player who blocked the shot and scores to give the Phantoms a 1-0 lead early on.

No puck luck for the Pens, really.

Off a face off, the Penguins score with Felix Robert.

Drew O’Connor got one to go on the power play. Get the power play going and good things happen.

The Penguins were outshooting the Phantoms at a four to one clip to this point.

But the Phantoms are ultra talented, and came right back.

Tyson Foerster scored a goal the same way that Cal O’Reilly scored.

Alex D’Orio had a ten bell save on a Phantoms power play.

Pierre Olivier-Joseph scored on this dart that gave the Pens a goal heading into the second.

Nifty goal. Not a seeing eye, lucky shot, but a really highly skilled shot for a goal.

Second Period: Jan Drozg capitalizes on a Phantoms turnover and scores to make it a 4-2 Penguins lead.

Phantoms continued to press and you wanted to see the Pens carry a two goal lead into the third, but Wade Allison had other ideas.

Second period didn’t have any penalties.

Third Period: It was becoming the Alex D’Orio show, with more saves like this one.

Penguins were keeping it tight with the Phantoms and killed an early penalty (the only one in the period) and time was dwindling on the Phantoms. They pulled Zane McIntyre and found the goal they were looking for.

So it was off to…

Overtime: Familiar territory for both teams. 50/50 for both teams.

Shootout: 

No other way to put it. The Phantoms just steal points and when given the opportunity, wins.

Three Stars: 3) Zane McIntrye (32 saves) 2) Cal O’Reilly (goal, assist) 1) Tyson Foerster (two goals)

The Good: Taylor picked this thought of mine while I was watching the game and tweeted it and included video.

D’Orio had the look tonight, and hard luck losses like tonight will turn into wins eventually.

The Bad: You had the Phantoms down two and couldn’t close.

Turning Point: There were a lot of them, but in a game which was tight, the Foerster shootout goal in the top of the first gets the nod here.

Back in action next Saturday.

Let’s Go Pens!

Stay safe.

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It was a little deflating watching the Penguins, up to this point of the game do everything they needed to win the game, watch Binghamton score with an extra attacker late in the third.

Tie game. Here we go for a place where the Penguins, mired in a seven game losing streak, are familiar with.

Devils possessed for a majority of overtime but when the Penguins finally did, Jordy Bellerive scored and ended the Penguins seven game losing streak. Penguins win 3-2 in overtime Wednesday night in Newark.

They have, for a lot of this losing streak, done a lot of things right but never got the result they wanted. It all came together Wednesday for them.

Do it again Saturday.

Here is how they lined up:

Lineup Notes: Drew O’Connor replaced Luke Stevens, Josh Maniscalco also was back, his first game action since the middle of February.

First Period: The Penguins were the better team in the period, but for the first :28 of the period.

Terrible defense, Clarke is unmarked in front of the net and scored easily.

But Wilkes-Barre tightened up, and outshot the Devils at a two to one clip, but couldn’t get anything to go.

Enter Jan Drozg.

Three on one and a goal. Good response.

The Pens outshot the Devils 15-7. Good momentum heading into the…

Second Period: Nick Schilkey scored on a 5-on-3 power play and the Pens had the lead.

Force them into mistakes and make them pay.

Third Period: Pens continued to do a lot of things right, killed a couple penalties, continued to outshoot the Devils at a 2-to-1 clip, but Binghamton scored to tie it with Gilles Senn pulled.

That was Nolan Foote’s goal.

Overtime: Hello darkness, my old fr–

Not this time.

Three Stars: 3) Gilles Senn (40 saves) 2) P-O Joseph (two assists) 1) Jordy Bellerive (game winning goal)

The Good: I think they are going to be OK in goal. Tristan Jarry is day to day with something up top and Max Lagace went up Tuesday. Alex D’Orio didn’t have to make many saves but the ones he did were of high quality. A few games don’t make a career but I have liked what I have seen out of the kid so far.

First AHL win for Alex D’Orio also. First of many at this level, I think it is safe to say.

Oh, and the seven game losing streak is over.

The Bad: Gotta find a way to close these things out. Does this happen against Hershey or Lehigh Valley tonight?

Turning Point: Bellerive’s goal is the obvious choice.

Let’s do it again Saturday in Allentown against Lehigh Valley.

Let’s Go Pens!

Stay safe.

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Heh. The HTML copy from the last time the Penguins were in Hershey is exactly the same from Sunday’s result, another narrow loss to Hershey. Last time it was Connor McMichael which torched the Penguins at Giant Center. This time, as was the case Friday back in Wilkes-Barre, it was Matt Moulson. Pens lose 3-1 and the streak is now at seven for the Pens since they last won a game in regulation.

Just :18 into the game Sunday, it was Brian Pinho who opened the scoring with a shot that somehow beat Penguins staring goaltender Max Lagace.

Penguins clamped down a bit and started to pushback but couldn’t get anything to go at all in the period offensively. With how tight things were and how much of a rivalry game it was, there were no penalties to speak of in the first period.

The power play woes continued for the Penguins as Wilkes-barre was unable to score on consecutive power play attempts.

Finally Tim Scahller broke through for his 100th AHL point to tie  the game at one.

Really nice play by Nick Schilkey there, setting the whole thing up.

Third period saw tensions mount as some big hits were being thrown out there…

But Matt Moulson would get the Penguins again on a power play when he scored here…

The Penguins have every right to be upset at the officiating this weekend. A clearing attempt on Friday was inadvertently blocked by a referee which led to Moulson scoring then and then again today, when a play maybe should have been blown dead, the Hershey Bears cash, yet again.

When it rains, it pours.

Bears add a Shane Gersich empty netter for good measure.

Here were the three stars…

Pretty straightforward.

And the highlights…

Lineups: 

The Good: In it till seemingly the end, progress I suppose from Wednesday.

The Bad: You have got to find a way to capitalize on your opportunities. Going 0-for-7 on Friday didn’t help and it cost them. Failing to score on consecutive power plays in the third, then seeing Hershey, with the help of the refs or not, score on their chance isn’t going to win you many games when the game is as razor thin as this one was Sunday afternoon.

Turning Point: I don’t drink anymore but if I did, I would probably reach for a few Molson’s (I know, I know, it isn’t spelled the same, whatever)

Back at it Wednesday in Newark against the Binghamton Devils.

Let’s Go Pens!

Stay safe.

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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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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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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.

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5                                              2

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There is a lot to say about the headline tonight. I think that the way that the Crunch approach the gameplay against the Penguins gives Wilkes-Barre fits and they can’t seem to overcome.

After a two goal first, the Crunch use a two goal second to race away from the Pens Friday night in front of the first home crowd of the 2021 season and spoil the festivities by winning 5-2.

Emil Larmi opposed Chris Gibson. One goalie was fantastic, the other not so.

Here’s how they lined up:

Lineup Notes: Zach Trotman returned, replacing Billy Sweezy. Up front, Drew O’Connor replaced the recently recalled Radim Zohorna.

First Period: Pens had the only two power play opportunities of the period, but didn’t score. The story here was that seconds after each penalty was killed, the Crunch would score.

Gabe Fortier with this goal, which should not have happened this way.

😬😳

Later, the Crunch would score on a more conventional play, a drop pass to Sean Day and a hell of a shot.

On the power play, the setups were there but the finishes weren’t.

Second Period: Two goals within the games first five minutes and within approximately 70 seconds of one another were the Pens undoing.

Boris Katchouk with a snap shot which beats Larmi for a 3-0 Syracuse lead.

Then Sean Day again.

The defense was, um, not good? Can’t really put it all on Larmi really, but J.D. Forrest decided to make the change in net. In comes Shane Starrett.

Starrett settled things down from there, the bucket of cold water woke up the Penguins defense and they started to tighten up, but faces a steep hill to climb.

Tim Schaller got one back a couple minutes later to get Wilkes-Barre on the board.

Third Period: Penguins pepper Gibson for 17 shots in the third, allow Syracuse only 4, get two early power plays to try to set momentum, and come up with bupkis.

Drew O’Connor does get one to go on a four on three after tensions boiled over to get the Penguins to within two…

But Gibson and the Crunch made sure they didn’t get any closer.

Brady Keeper hits a long empty netter to seal it.

Three Stars: 3) Tim Schaller (goal) 2) Otto Somppi (two assists) 1) Sean Day (two goals)

I would have gave Christopher Gibson the second star. He made 39 saves.

The Good: Progress is a return to normalcy. I am not planning on returning until at least the Fall, but damn was it good to see live humans in the stands at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.

The Bad: You can’t get boat raced 4-0 and expect to win. Not against any team and certainly not against the Syracuse Crunch.

Turning Point: Boris Katchouk’s goal early in the third set the tone and broke the back of the Penguins.

They are scheduled to play Sunday in Allentown, depending on what the Lehigh Valley situation is with COVID and how well they have it under control. Syracuse has their game with Utica postponed, so who knows, maybe the Pens return the favor and head to Syracuse Sunday. Stay tuned.

Let’s Go Pens!

Stay safe.