Chirps from Center Ice

The Penguins hit the quarter pole of the 2014-15 season with a 5-1 win in Albany on Friday night. To make it easier on me to pass out grades, I have included the stats that went with the 3-2 loss to Manchester Saturday night bringing the total games played by the Penguins to 20 instead of 19. I’ll adjust in future quarters.

The Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins sit at the top of the East Division with a 11-8-1-0 record, good for 23 points. With a lineup full of first and second year guys and not hit by the injury or call-up bug that badly, I don’t think I could come across anyone upset with the start that the Penguins have had.

One thing you will see me refer to from time to time in player capsules is GF%, which is part of my season long examination of goals scored both for and against the Penguins, in all situations. You can link over to that here, but know that the numbers I refer to are only good to before Wednesday night’s game in Hershey.

If you are new to the blog, here’s how the grades work. Anyone who skated in a game for the Penguins gets a grade. Pretty straightforward, right? Let’s get started, after you jump through if you didn’t link in direct.

Read more of this post

Welcome to the fourth and final installment of the Chirps from Center Ice Fourth Quarter Grades!

Before we get to that though, let’s off some news that happened Sunday…

Jeff Deslauriers and Eric Hartzell won the Hap Holmes Award, which is given to the goaltenders with at least 25 games played on the team that allows the fewest goals in the regular season.

As crazy as the hockey world is, Hartzell and Deslauriers are afterthoughts now with the resurgence of Peter Mannino. In fact, in these grades, Hartzell and Deslauriers get “incompletes” for not meeting the 6 game threshold to get a grade. That’s how forgotten those two are.

It’s the third time in four seasons under Head Coach John Hynes that the Penguins have ranked first in goals against.

Elsewhere, when someone talked to you about Westward expansion in the AHL, you’d normally scoff at them. Not so fast my friend. It’s a building crescendo now as this report out of Cedar Park had words from AHL Commissioner David Andrews in it. It may be an interesting next couple of years in the AHL.

Alright, so back to the Grades. Anyone who skated in this Quarter gets talked about. If you didn’t play in at least six games, you get no grade and placed in the “Incomplete” category.

If you didn’t link in direct, hop through for the Grades…

Read more of this post

Welcome to the Third Quarter Chirps from Center Ice Quarterly Grades.

Almost forgot about these, what with the hubbub surrounding the NHL trade deadline, the snow in the Northeast, polar vortexes, big boy jobs and whatever else.

Oh, on that Trade Deadline, if you missed my analysis of the moves surrounding the AHL East Division, click this and then come back.

Anyway, back to the Grades. I included the January 17 game at Providence to make it a 20 game snap shot instead of the standard 19. This is paying off logistics involved in the Second Quarter, where I had to cut it short a game because of the January 17 Providence-Portland-Providence trip.

I have to say, a really flat period for a lot of guys. When I recap games and such I just recap what went on that game or weekend. Looking back at this quarter especially, I see why the Penguins are struggling. You’ll see why when you look at each capsule.

So here they are. Rules are anyone who skated gets a blurb. That means Chris Conner, Cody Sylvester, etc. don’t get grades. If you played six or more games or more you get a grade.

Here we go, after the jump.

Read more of this post

News Du Jour: Pittsburgh re-assigned Defenseman Simon Despres and Forwards Nick Drazenovic and Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond back to Wilkes-Barre Thursday morning.

—

Technically, the Penguins will have hit the half way mark after Friday’s nights game vs. Providence, then play two more games Saturday and Sunday. But for the sake of ease on the blogger, I am only counting 18 games for the Second Quarter instead of 19 games.

Someone just has to remind me to add a game when we get to the Third Quarter, or else the numbers are going to be wrong.

Anyway, the Penguins are an aggregate 22-11-1-3 through 37 games played and have 48 points, good for second in the East Division currently, just one point of the Division leader Binghamton Senators.

The Penguins have been throttled by call-ups. Example: Zach Sill is a name that is synonymous with Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins hockey. He hasn’t played a game for Wilkes-Barre since November 23. November 23! The same applies for Jayson Megna, Andrew Ebbett and Simon Despres. They have been with the Pittsburgh Penguins on recall and hand not played a game in this Quarter.

Yet, WIlkes-Barre has survived and thrived and remain in contention for the East Division lead, despite dressing an ever changing lineup filled with call-ups from the ECHL.

Anyway, here’s how it works in case this is the first time you have seen my grades. Just like the First Quarter, anyone who skated gets a grade. Results are based off of second quarter production only. Stats are second quarter only also.

If you’ll be so kind as to jump through, let’s get started…

Read more of this post

Blogger Note: In case you missed it, Brad Thiessen is back in North America and back in the East Division. Find out where here.

Welcome to the Chirps from Center Ice First Quarter Grades. The Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins passed the quarter pole last night with a 3-1 loss last night up in Glens Falls. The Pens boast a 12-5-0-2 record, good for 26 points and second place in the East Division behind the Binghamton Senators.

So, as tradition here on the blog, here goes my best effort at passing out grades.

This is how it works. Anyone who skated for the team gets a grade. Results based off of first quarter only.

Here we go…

(as soon as you click through the jump if you didn’t link in from somewhere else…)

Read more of this post

The Penguins concluded the 2012-2013 regular season with a 3-1 loss to the Manchester Monarchs at home on Saturday night. They have qualified for the Calder Cup Playoffs for an eleventh straight season. They are the five seed and will face off against the Binghamton Senators.

But before we look ahead to the future, it’s time to pass out grades for the final time this season.

The Penguins finished 12-6-1 in the fourth and final quarter, which included a seven game win streak and undoubtedly sealed the Penguins fate for the playoff push.

Here is a look at each player who participated in the 19 games:

Forwards

Chris Collins — (15 GP, 1-3-4, -2) — With the acquisition of Derek Nesbitt at the trade deadline, may be odd man out for the playoff run. In the fifteen games he appeared in, didn’t set the world afire, but held his own. Grade: C

Bobby Farnham — (19 GP, 1-4-5, even) — Plays with an edge. Sometimes goes over the top. Will get under your skin both on and off the ice. He needs to continue to walk that razor thin line in order for the Penguins to succeed. Grade: C+

Brian Gibbons — (19 GP, 1-8-9, -4) — When I sat down and started working out these numbers, was disappointed in what I saw from Gibbons for the quarter. I expected more. However, you do notice him game to game and normally not for bad things, so there’s that. Grade: B-

Riley Holzapfel — (19 GP, 5-11-16, +1) — Top line player was a huge part in the surge to get into the playoffs. Obviously you hope that the trend continues all the way till June. Grade: A

Chad Kolarik — (18 GP, 11-10-21, +2) — Teams best player for the entire season, even though he didn’t start the season in Wilkes-Barre. (traded by Connecticut for Benn Ferriero) Got close to the AHL scoring lead, but fell short. Grade: A+

Jayson Megna — (18 GP, 2-2-4, -5) — Gives me headaches watching him play. Yet night after night he is there in the lineup. Has the worst +/- on the team for the quarter. Grade: C-

Adam Payerl — (19 GP, 1-2-3, even) — Has become a third / fourth line staple. Not a liability. Although, some nights he’s barely noticed. Good thing? Grade: C+

Warren Peters — (19 GP, 2-3-5, +3) — Numbers aren’t anything to write home about, but if the AHL kept faceoff statistics would probably be tops in the League. Grade: B

Zach Sill — (19 GP, 2-2-4, -1) — Is the heart of the team. If he returns next season, is a front runner for the “C” if Mormina doesn’t return. Grade: B

Trevor Smith — (18 GP, 6-10-16, +6) — Found a home on the top line centering Holzapfel and Kolarik. A line which will be relied on heavily to score in the postseason. He knows what it takes to win a Calder Cup. Let’s hope he hasn’t forgotten. Grade: A

Paul Thompson — (19 GP, 5-1-6, even) — Back from injury from early in the season. Team missed Thompson when he was out. Has heated up of late. You want him to get hot and stay hot. Grade: B+

Dominik Uher — (14 GP, 3-0-3, even) — I love this kid. Plays sound hockey. Surprised everyone scoring all of his points in Newfoundland. If he can chip in offensively here and there in the postseason, we all will be happy. Grade: B

Defensemen

Brian Dumoulin — (19 GP, 2-6-8, +2) — Has improved significantly from the beginning of the season. Played a great fourth quarter for the most part. Grade: B

Alex Grant — (19 GP, 2-10-12, -4) — May be playing for a job next season. Flourishes on the power play. Has maybe been the lone bright spot on the struggling power play this season. Grade: B-

Joey Mormina — (19 GP, 1-5-5, -3) — The Captain. Numbers don’t reflect how much of an important piece he is to the defensive corps and the overall success of the team. Grade: B+

Joe Morrow — (8 GP, 1-2-3, -4) — Morrow was moved at the trade deadline to the Dallas organization where he is now with the Texas Stars. He was a pawn in the trade for Brenden Morrow, a result of Pittsburgh having many defensemen. Grade: Withdrawn

Dylan Reese — (19 GP, 4-5-9, +3) — Best all around defenseman for the Penguins. Has played consistently like this all season long. Grade: A

Philip Samuelsson (19 GP, 0-1-1, even) — Won most improved player at Team Awards Night. I will go ahead and endorse that. Hasn’t been a liability, that’s all you really can ask for. Grade: B-

Cody Wild — (6 GP, 0-2-2, +2) — Because Joe Morrow got traded away, Wild gets to play. Hardly a liability. Has been here before, skating with the Penguins last season. Grade: C+

Goaltenders

Brad Thiessen — Appeared in seven games, posting a 4-2-1 record with a 3.10 GAA and a 0.890 save percentage. Will probably back up Zatkoff in playoffs and may be looking for a new employer next season. Not knocking Thiessen, just saying that he has not played like the #3 goaltender in the Pittsburgh organization for two seasons now. Grade: B

Jeff Zatkoff — Appeared in thirteen games, posting an 8-4 record with a 2.01 GAA and a 0.920 save percentage. Saddle up, we are riding Zatkoff to the promised land. Grade: A

The “five or under” Club

Not grading here, simply acknowledging the players who appeared in five or less games in the quarter.

Beau Bennett — (4 GP, 0-3-3, -3) — Depending on health of the Pittsburgh forward corps, Bennett may be gone totally. Is currently playing in Pittsburgh like he never wants to get sent back to Wilkes-Barre.

Robert Bortuzzo — (3 GP, 0-1-1, +2) — A bit troubling that Bortuzzo’s, +/- is higher in three games than it is for four Penguins defensemen who played the whole quarter. But that may be why Bortuzzo has graduated to the NHL.

Steve MacIntyre — (3 GP, 0-0-0, even) — Baddest man in hockey. Only question is whether he returns next season, retires or goes elsewhere.

Reid McNeill — (2 GP, 0-0-0, +2) — Has shown himself well, that he belongs at this level. Will probably be a full time staple on the WBS blue line come the Fall.

Christiaan Minella — (4 GP, 0-0-0, -2) — Will probably walk the ECHL – AHL tightrope again next season.

Derek Nesbitt — (1 GP, 0-0-0, -1) — Bombulie called him the biggest AHL trade deadline day acquisition in Penguins history. If he can fit in and contribute in the postseason, the Penguins will be an extremely tough out.

So there you have it for another season of grades. If you disagree with my grades, please say so why in comments.

After Saturday’s 2-1 shootout win at home vs. Albany, the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins officially entered the stretch run, that being the fourth quarter. They currently sit 30-24-2-1, with 63 points good for fourth in the division and seventh in the conference after 57 games. The Penguins enjoyed moderate success in the win column, relying heavily on their defense and special teams penalty killing to keep them in close games. Bolstered by two very good goaltenders, the Pens have been involved in a bevy of one goal games.

In keeping with Quarter One and Quarter Two, below is my take on the players who suited up for the Penguins during this quarter. Each player is assigned a grade based off of third quarter performance only. Here goes:

Read more of this post