Chirps from Center Ice

EDIT: With the news yesterday that Saturday’s game was postponed to a Tuesday and the fact that I write these days in advance and just publishing them day of, please just mind the cross outs below.

The Penguins continue their plate of Canadian teams when they head to Laval, Quebec Wednesday then bus home to rematch again with the Belleville Senators on Saturday.

Music to Set the Mood…

–

Songs like these are why I have cats.

A Quote

High expectations are really intimidating…
– Mya

You can’t say they aren’t making things interesting this season.

The Setup

A trip they are all looking forward to and probably enjoyed a few days in after the Sunday Belleville game, it’s the only trip to Laval to take on the Rocket on Wednesday then a bus trip home, a Friday off and then the third game in eight days against the Belleville Senators.

The Penguins started their Canada trip on the right foot with a big win in Toronto last Wednesday and a 6-3 win. Then they went to Belleville and won 6-1 on Friday but lost on a last second Wyatt Bongiovanni power play goal with 2.2 seconds left to play and lost clean. Belleville wanted that game more and it showed throughout. It sucked because it was a game in hand lost to the Hershey Bears.

Laval was in Cleveland this past weekend ad took three out of four points. The Rocket shut out the Monsters 5-0 then lost a close one 2-1 in overtime.

I gave you what Belleville did above with the Penguins setup, but the Senators will be in Allentown Wednesday to take on the Phantoms, then are in Hershey on Friday before bussing up to Wilkes-Barre. That’s some hellish travel.

Records

The Penguins are 20-9-3, good for second in the Atlantic Division and 43 points.

But they are the number one team overall with a .672 points percentage. That’s tied with the Ontario Reign in points percentage and .010 points better than Hershey.

I know, I know. they don’t rank them by points percentage anymore, but it’s worth mentioning that they are still, despite their shortcomings, are a good team at their base.

The Rocket are 21-10-2-1 and third in the North with 45 points.

Belleville is 15-11-1-4 and sixth in the North with 35 points. No need to cross that out, it’s a fact.

Who’s Up? Who’s Down? Who’s Out?

The Canada trip ripped through the defenders, costing them to Sebastian Aho to a lower body injury week to week and Nate Clurman to a lower body injury also.

Good news is that they can afford a few losses on defense, but not many more.

The Roster Tracker has all the latest here, who’s up in Pittsburgh and down in Wheeling.

What can we learn about the Penguins this week?

I guess the real question is how long does it take for the Penguins to take the lead from the Hershey Bears for tops in the division if they continue their current run of play?

The answer would be, not long, since Wilkes-Barre has five games in hand against the Bears plus a handful of head to head matchups against the 13 time champions.

Provided their run of play continues to trend upwards and they can win games in hand.

Their power play is down right lethal, a term that Nick Hart used to describe it on Friday. I haven’t checked at all this season, but through Sunday, they are second overall, converting at a 23.7% success rate on the man advantage and that’s just unheard of in these parts.

Use a power play to get a goal and, if you are trailing, use that as a push to get you either tied or closer to tied. Or, get a goal to take a tight one goal lead into some breathing room with a two goal lead. It’s a big momentum push.

Barring an absolute collapse, which again we have seen in these parts, it should set up for a great second half.

Oh, and they can absolutely beat Laval and Belleville. Laval may throw up more of a stiffer test, so they have to be careful.

Who’s in Goal?

I don’t want to say Filip Larsson Wednesday, but let’s roll with it. I think he may be surpassing Joel Blomqvist as the number one or at the least the 1B.

That would mean that Joel Blomqvist would get the Saturday start.

Cayden Primeau shut the Cleveland Monsters out with an easy 16 save shutout Friday, he may get the nod Wednesday for the Rocket.

No idea on who Belleville could roll with. The Pens chased Søgaard on Friday and Michael Simpson put up more of a challenge for the Penguins but with all that travel, your guess is as good as mine.

Who’s Running the Show?

Mathieu Menniti and Will Kelly have the assignment Wednesday in Laval with Justin Johnson and Maxime Bédard on the lines.

Looking Ahead…

The Penguins remain an honorary member of the North Division in the foreseeable future, with the Utica Comets coming in and knocking out their part of the schedule with the Pens in a home and home next Friday in Utica, Saturday in Wilkes-Barre, provided they get the repairs done in time, which they should.

It’s also the first three in three as there is a (sigh) Sunday home game against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Give us a bold prediction…

One day I will have kids and will play that rocket ship song above for them before I take them to a Sunday afternoon Penguins home game.

The Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins are heading to Canada for a road trip which will span about 10 days. In it, they will see the Toronto Marlies, the Laval Rocket and the Belleville Senators. Of these three teams, the Penguins will play the Senators three times in the span of eight days.

I’m also calling this a trap trip. Why? They have points in six straight games and are in hot pursuit of the Hershey Bears and the rest of the division leaders. They have a boatload of games in hand on all of the teams in front of them. It’s time to make a move. No time to rest because you may be playing in front of friends and family in Canada.

Music to Set the Mood…

–

The closest thing I can get to mentioning a Senator without profanity.

A Quote…

When they call the roll in the Senate, the Senators do not know whether to answer ‘Present’ or ‘Not guilty.’
– Theodore Roosevelt

That one made me laugh.

The Setup…

I spoiled it in the open. They play four in Canada starting this Wednesday in Toronto then two in Belleville, Friday and Sunday.

Was it a good week for the Penguins or a so-so week? I am kind of in both camps. It was good that they got three of four points with a 5-0 shutout win over Hartford Saturday but a so-so week because they had a 2-0 lead over Charlotte and lost in overtime. They beat a bad team and had a good team where they wanted, but let them back in and lost.

Toronto hosted Syracuse on New Years Day and lost 2-0. Then Cleveland came in for a pair and swept the Marlies. Toronto have lost three straight. They host the Penguins Wednesday then are not back home until February 7. They have TEN road games which take them through the All-Star break and out to California.

Belleville split a pair with Utica and lost to Syracuse.

Records

Penguins are 18-8-3, good for 39 points and third in the Atlantic.

Toronto is 17-8-2-3, good for 39 points and fourth in the North.

Belleville is 14-10-1-4, good for 33 points and are sixth in the North.

Who’s Up? Who’s Down? Who’s Out?

They got a couple of guys back from injury in Valtteri Puustinen and Sebastian Aho. The hope is that Tristan Broz is over his illness and can go Wednesday. They are certainly getting healthier, but are missing a few key defenders. As always, the Roster Tracker has the latest.

What can we learn about the Penguins this week?

Last week I said that they could be the best team in the division but after seeing them blow a lead against a team that is sending their coach to the All-Star event on account of them being the best team percentage wise, I think the Penguins are good, but not really good. I have to keep emphasizing the really here.

This week, there should be an opportunity here to make a serious move. I think they are catching a Toronto team that gives them fits at an opportune time and should hypothetically handle an underwhelming Senators team. All six points are never guaranteed, but I am not going to stop you if you want to expect them this week, given the run of play that the Penguins are on against the current runs of play with the Marlies and Senators.

Who’s in Goal?

Filip Larsson could have a shutout every time he goes out there and Joel Blomqvist would still be the number one goaltender. It’s just the way it is. If I was playing with this team on NHL 25, I would run Larsson out there every game. This week would give you the perfect opportunity to do that since they don’t play any back to back, but that’s not in cards here. It should be Blomqvist – Blomqvist – Larsson or Blomqvist- Larsson – Blomqvist.

For the opposition, I don’t see any reason why they don’t put Matt Murray (yes, him) out there Wednesday in Toronto and then some combination of 6’7 leviathan Mads Sogaard and Malcolm Subban out there for Belleville this weekend.

Who’s Running the Show?

Stephen Hiff and Kurtis Pare have the Toronto assignment with Adam Burnett and Dan Kovachik on the lines.

Saturday in Belleville sees Hiff again (can’t shake the guy) with Mike Sullivan and Nick Arcan and Dan Kovachik (can’t shake him either) on the lines.

Sunday’s matinee in Belleville has been assigned to Mike Sullivan (again) and David Elford with Jeremy Faucher and Spencer Knox on the lines.

Looking Ahead…

Wednesday trip to Laval, then they bus home, get Friday off and then host Belleville Saturday.

Give us a bold prediction…

Joel Blomqvist reminds us why he’s number one around here and gets himself a shutout this week.

So Kirk MacDonald lost out on the possibility to coach the Atlantic Division All-Stars by .005 percentage points when the Geordie Kinnear’s Charlotte Checkers beat the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on New Years Eve.

Had MacDonald’s Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins team had just one extra point (37) that would be good enough for a .685 percentage and the discussion would have been over on Saturday, when the Penguins last played and the announcement from the AHL made already.

It’s the points that get you.

It’s a meaningless job really, because of the souped up three-on-three tournament that the All-Star Classic event is, but a nice honor nevertheless, having your team playing the best of all teams as the calendar switches to a new year.

Music to Set the Mood…

–

A Quote…

Don’t miss out on something that could be amazing just because it could also be difficult.

I don’t know who wrote that. I just Googled, “quotes about just missing out” and that was the first thing to pop up.

The Setup

Two more home games Friday and Saturday against, hey wouldn’t you know it but the aforementioned Charlotte Checkers Friday and the hapless Hartford Wolf Pack on Saturday.

The Penguins beat the Lehigh Valley Phantoms clean 3-2 on last Friday then lost narrowly to the Hershey Bears 3-2 in overtime where the Pens never led but battled back to tie each time.

Charlotte lost to Lehigh Valley 2-1 Saturday, shutout the Bears 1-0 Sunday then beat the Phantoms again on New Years Eve 6-3. Prior to the Lehigh Valley game Saturday going back to the prior Sunday where the Checkers lost 4-1 to the last place Bridgeport Islanders, the Checkers offense mustered just one goal a game.

That doesn’t sound like, “best overall team in the division” to me, but if I was running things I would just make it about points and scrap percentages altogether, but I digress.

Hartford lost to Springfield last Friday 5-2, then Providence 4-1 Saturday before shutting out the Thunderbirds 7-0 on New Years Eve. The Wolf Pack won’t play on Friday.

Records

Checkers are second in the division with an 18-8-1-2 record and 39 points.

Penguins are fourth, 17-8-2 with 36 points.

Hartford clocks in at 14-13-2-1, good for fifth place and 31 points.

The Penguins have the fewest games played in the division with just 27.

Who’s Up? Who’s Down? Who’s Out?

We may get Jesse Puljujarvi down from Pittsburgh after he cleared waivers Tuesday. Mac Hollowell should be back from playing in Switzerland. Don’t know the statuses of Sam Poulin or Valtteri Puustinen. Pittsburgh sent Nate Clurman back January 1 and Coal Street signed Chris Ortiz to another PTO January 2.

The roster tracker here tracks the latest.

What can we learn about the Penguins this week?

I think they should be heavily favored against both Charlotte and Hartford. You take what has ailed the Checkers offense and use that against them to get the win Friday and deal with a struggling Hartford team who should be feeling good after blowing out an equally struggling Springfield team.

I think that a case can be made that the Penguins are the best team in the division overall, and this weekend should, in theory, prove my point.

Who’s in Goal?

I think they go Blomqvist – Larsson but was wrong about it last week, as I usually am in this space making these predictions.

Ken Appleby, who has been a tough nut to crack for Charlotte Friday, and anyones guess for the Wolf Pack, as they have been dealing with injuries to their goaltenders. Talyn Boyko had 32 saves Tuesday against Springfield in his AHL debut.

Who’s Running the Show?

Alex Lepkowski and Austin Rook have the assignment Friday with Shawn Oliver and John Rey on the lines. Saturday sees THE SAME REFEREES and linesman Shawn Oliver again, but Patrick Dapuzzo tags in for John Rey.

Seriously? Are we doing this again? Is Wilkes-Barre some type of Atlantic Division black hole?

Again, there are 88 of these dopes on skates putting their arms in the air with each their own interpretation of what goaltender interference is. Get rid of half of them or send us a different crew on back to back nights.

Looking Ahead…

The Canada trip is upon us. I was wondering why Belleville is on there twice but then remembered they only play Providence four times. I’m not complaining because trying to blog a road game from Providence is next to impossible, but there is your answer.

Toronto Wednesday, Belleville Friday, off Saturday then Belleville again Sunday at 3. Laval isn’t until the following Wednesday.

Give us a bold prediction…

Charlotte won’t get a first round bye in the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs.

Hard to believe it’s the end of the year and 2025 is nearly upon us.

For the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins, it’s walking into the final weekend of 2024 in a fairly better position then they were last season, in third place with 33 points and currently six points off first place Hershey with five games in hand.

So let’s set up the weekend.

Music to Set the Mood…

–

I ran it last year in this same spot and for as long as I continue this silly little project it shall continue. Happy New Year.

A Quote…

This is a new year. A new beginning. And things will change.
– Taylor Swift

The Setup

A rematch against Lehigh Valley and Hershey. Home Friday and on the road Saturday.

The Penguins were shutout at home 3-0 to the Toronto Marlies on Wednesday, had the Friday off then throttled the Lehigh Valley Phantoms 7-2 Saturday and then shutout the Hershey Bears 1-0 on Sunday.

The Phantoms had won four straight before coming to Wilkes-Barre and beat Toronto 7-2 the night before (Friday) after being Providence at home on Wednesday in overtime.

Hershey has been struggling of late, due to some injuries and callups to Washington and saw their double digit lead on the Atlantic Division reduced to a few points this week with gains made by Charlotte, Providence and the Penguins.

The Bears had the entire week off and hosted the Toronto Marlies on Saturday. Toronto, coming into their third game in four days and after a curb stomping in Allentown the night before, turned the tide and put seven on the board in Hershey and won 7-3.

Then Sunday’s 1-0 setback to the Penguins.

Records

The Penguins are 16-8-1 and as stated above are in third place in the Atlantic Division with 33 points and currently six points off first place Hershey with five games in hand.

Lehigh Valley is 12-11-4-1, good for 29 points and sixth place in the Atlantic.

Hershey remains the division leader for now with a 18-9-3 record, good for 39 points.

Who’s Up? Who’s Down? Who’s Out?

Nate Clurman went up for the injured Owen Pickering. Mac Hollowell will be playing in the Spengler Cup this weekend in Davos, Switzerland. Sam Poulin took warmups Saturday but was a mystery scratch. Valtteri Puustinen was injured Saturday.

Right as this post was set to publish, Coal Street recalled forward Jagger Joshua and defenseman Mats Lindgren from Wheeling and signed defenseman David Drake out of Wheeling to a PTO. Read into that what you will. The Transaction Tracker page was updated. If you see anything incorrect or askew with it, please let me know.

I think they are still good. They are insulated because of all the firepower they have up front and on defense. But that’s starting to erode a bit on them as it does with any other team. It’s happening in Hershey, Charlotte and other places. Despite what you think, it doesn’t just happen here.

What can we learn about the Penguins this week?

Pretty much you are the better team against the Phantoms so you should have two more points against what’s probably going to be a surly Phantoms team which will be out for revenge. But Wilkes-Barre scored three power play goals last Saturday with relative ease.

Hershey is always the target. Don’t expect the same result against the Bears because they are extremely well coached and oh yeah, back to back champions.

As long as the Penguins stay out of suspension worthy stuff against the Phantoms (I would think retribution is coming) and come out of that unscathed, they should be in good shape to make up ground on Hershey because of the head to head aspect and the fact they have played the fewest amount of games in the division and Hershey has played the most.

Who’s in Goal?

I don’t see any reason to go Blomqvist – Blomqvist here. It will probably be Filip Larsson on Friday and then Joel Blomqvist Saturday in Hershey, unless you want to flip it and do Blomqvist Friday and Larsson Saturday like they did last week.

Cal Petersen and Hunter Shepard for the opponents in that order and yeah, if that holds, it’s both clubs number ones.

Who’s Running the Show?

Wow! New refs! Liam Maaskant and Sydney Harris are here Friday with Patrick Dapuzzo and Chandler Yakimowicz on the lines.

Harris made ECHL history a few weeks ago as the first female referee in league history to officiate a game at that level. I have seen her name on other AHL games this season, so she’s acquainted with this level. Maaskant has an NHL contract.

Harrison O’Pray and Rob Hennessey are the crew Saturday with Tommy George and Richard Jondo on the lines. We’ve seen these dopes before.

Looking Ahead…

Friday, January 3 against the Charlotte Checkers and then Saturday at home against Hartford. Two tough opponents. Then they hit Canada for four games, but that’s for next week.

Give us a bold prediction…

Power play goals in each, Wilkes-Barre sweeps its way into 2025.

After an up and down week where they spilt with a team they are tied in points with in Charlotte and a thrilling overtime, oh-my-god-they-nearly-blew-it game against Springfield, the Penguins are where they were last week, and the week before and the week before that and…you get the idea. In a group that is locked in tight with one another pursuing a Bear off in the distance that seems like it is getting away, despite the Bears run of play in these recent weeks.

It would appear that one of the teams would need a bit of a push. Hell, it may as well be the Penguins, right?

Music to Set the Mood…

–

A Quote…

No matter the circumstances that you may be going through, just push through.
– Ray Lewis

I don’t think you need to go that deep, just saying.

The Setup…

A midweek visit from the Toronto Marlies then a Friday off, but that comes at the expense of a Saturday home game against Lehigh Valley and a 5 o’clock visit to Hershey on Sunday.

Wilkes-Barre split with Charlotte last week and won a nail biter in OT against Springfield on Saturday. In the games that they won, Boris Katchouk had a hat trick plus a goal Wednesday then Emil Bemström had a hat trick with the OT game winning goal on Saturday. Prior to that, Vasily Ponomarev had a hat trick in Hartford.

In games where hat tricks were not scored resulted in all losses. 4-0 blanking by Charlotte Friday, 5-0 shutout loss last Sunday to Providence and a 6-1 throttling by the Hershey Bears on December 4.

The trend of, “a hat trick gets you a win, otherwise you lose” seems a bit far fetched. Or does it?

Toronto comes in after hosting the Pacific Division’s Bakersfield Condors this past weekend. I have always wanted to do the AHL’s version of six degrees of separation. If the Penguins beat the Marlies, are they then better than the Condors who also beat the Wranglers? I should start with the worst team and work my way to the best team one day and see. I don’t think I will, though.

Lehigh Valley had a run up in Canada against the Marlies and lost 6-3 then split a pair of 3-2 decisions in Cleveland against the Monsters.

Hershey had a down week by their standards, losing 3-0 in Hartford, needing a late goal and some heroics to tie and win in sorry Syracuse and lost to a Charlotte club 2-1 Saturday night.

So, keeping with the theme, the Penguins could use a push because seemingly they are better than all the teams I just mentioned above, save for the Marlies, who they will see for the first time Wednesday.

Records

The Penguins are 14-7-1, good for 29 points and third place in the Atlantic Division.

Toronto is 13-4-2-3, with 31 points and in fourth in the North.

Lehigh Valley is 10-10-4-1, with 25 points and seventh in the Atlantic Division, but will have played Providence and the Marlies Wednesday and Friday respectively.

Hershey leads the Atlantic with a 18-7-3 record and 39 points. The Bears will have played Toronto Saturday before playing the Penguins, so they will be the fresher of the two teams when they meet Sunday.

Who’s Up? Who’s Down? Who’s Out?

No better time to check out the Roster Page for all of the latest and where everyone is. They are seemingly in good shape and doing alright, personnel wise. Nate Clurman went up to Pittsburgh on Tuesday.

What can we learn about the Penguins this week?

Will they make a push or is it going to be like this for a few weeks with Providence, Charlotte, Springfield and maybe Lehigh Valley?

Someone has to step up and take the second seed and be there if the Bears falter hard enough to be caught for the lead. The Penguins have played consistent enough to be considered but, one could argue, that so have the Bruins, Checkers, Thunderbirds and even the Phantoms.

Like, how are the Phantoms only four off of the Penguins when they haven’t looked good at all? Imagine if the Penguins don’t get that key power play goal that gives them the two points or say, more recently, that they don’t have a player like Vasiliy Ponomarev get them a hat trick.

But they have and to date but for some clunkers, are finding ways to win. That’s what I would expect this week. They find a way to win all three games.

Who’s in Goal? 

Blomqvist – Larsson – Blomqvist is what I would go with. Or, call up Murashov and have him get the start in Hershey.

Really good point was made by someone this week was that Murashov is just eating starts in Wheeling which helps acclimate him to the North American game vs. playing backup to Joel Blomqvist.

Artur Akhtyamov, Cal Petersen and Hunter Shepard for the opposition if you made me guess.

Who’s Running the Show?

Mason Riley and Adam Tobias will hand out discipline and Ryan Knapp and Jud Ritter will keep them onsides on Wednesday. Bobby Jo Love and Jim Curtain with Chandler Yakimowicz and Tommy George are here Saturday and Curtain will take the trip down I-81 to meet up with Jake Kamrass with Jeremy Faucher and Richard Jondo on the lines.

I don’t mind seeing Jim Curtain, he’s one of my favorite refs. Calls it straight, let’s them play.

Looking Ahead…

The Penguins close out 2024 with a Friday home game against the Hershey Bears and then a Saturday trip to Hershey.

Give us a bold prediction…

They win a game this week without the requirement of a hat trick being scored for them.

Here’s a snapshot of the Atlantic Division Standings through Sunday, December 8.

2. PENGUINS – 19 GP – 25 points
3. Springfield – 22 GP – 25 points
4. Charlotte – 19 GP – 25 points

Yes. It’s tight. Really tight. And, oh by the way, the Penguins play both of these teams this week, Charlotte twice.

Music to Set the Mood…

–

Not really a country fan, but it kind of fits here.

A Quote…

I need some leg room here…
– Me, only every day.

Lots of tight spaces in cars, under tables, desks and my seat in Section 104.

The Setup…

Three game home stand with the Charlotte Checkers on Wednesday and Friday and then the Springfield Thunderbirds on Saturday, and a gripe about this weeks officiating assignments.

It’s an important week for all three teams, I would say more so the Pens and Checkers, because they play each other twice. And you can argue that the team that say, wins the week, will be in a good position to hold onto the second seed in the Atlantic and maybe, just maybe, pursue Hershey for the lead come January or so.

The Penguins got stomped by the two ursine named teams in the division in Hershey and Providence by a 6-1 score on Wednesday and a 5-0 score on Sunday. Both games stung. They looked great the Saturday before in Hershey and got smoked at home Wednesday against the Bears then get outshot 17-3 in the first period Sunday to a team playing their third game in as many days. It’s unacceptable. I told you Wednesday that Bears head coach Todd Nelson was incensed at his teams effort the Saturday prior to when they lost to the Penguins. Could the same be said about Kirk MacDonald? I have no idea but I guess the answer would be yes. Doesn’t show, though.

The Penguins did beat the Hartford Wolf Pack 6-2 on Saturday on the road scoring a pair of power play goals and a pair of shorthanded goals, so the bounce back after a bad loss is there, it would seem.

Charlotte split shutouts with the Rochester Americans at home last week and the Springfield Thunderbirds sweep the weekend with wins over the Bridgeport Islanders and Rockford IceHogs, both in overtime. The Thunderbirds are one of the hottest teams in the AHL, winning 8-1-1 in their last ten and winners of four straight.

Records

Should have gave those to you in the second paragraph, right? The Penguins are 12-6-1, the Checkers are 11-5-1-2 and the Thunderbirds are 12-9-1.

Who’s Up? Who’s Down? Who’s Out?

They just started to get healthy with Corey Andonovski back Sunday in Providence and then it was announced that Emil Bemström, Raivis Ansons and Jack St. Ivany were all out. St. Ivany is week to week and the other two are day to day. They lost Mac Hollowell and possibly Nikolai Knyzhov Sunday in Providence as well.

Defensemen Justin Lee and Mats Lindgren got the call from Wheeling on Tuesday.

The Roster Tracker has all the latest here.

What can we learn about the Penguins this week?

Oh boy.

How do they come out in the first ten minutes against Charlotte on Wednesday? If they are lifeless, the Checkers may bite them. Then the rematch Friday. Are they scrambling after a bad or close loss Wednesday or in their heads if they win Wednesday? Who knows when Springfield comes in Saturday. Springfield won’t be playing at all this week, so they will get the Penguins playing their third game in four nights while the Thunderbirds are fresh, likely bussing in on Friday.

If Kirk MacDonald is the guy I think he is after one quarter to play in this season, he holds guys accountable and there’s roster shuffling. Although with injuries starting to hit some guys that don’t deserve it may end up playing anyway.

But that’s why you have Wheeling.

Who’s in Goal? 

Have to think Blomqvist – Larsson – Blomqvist this week for the Pens.

Ken Appleby and Cooper Black for the Checkers Wednesday – Friday and then Colten Ellis for Springfield Saturday.

You don’t really think the wrong goalie is in Wheeling, do you?

You are never going to find out what you have with Taylor Gauthier, who has been in the organization for years and won all sorts of awards in the ECHL last year or Sergei Murashov who was named ECHL Goalie of the Month of November if you keep them buried there.

It’s worth having the discussion. Yes, Filip Larsson has two shutouts, but hasn’t won since November 9.

That’s my only gripe with the team right now is that I have zero confidence in Filip Larsson at this time.

Who’s Running the Show?

Okay, so here’s the thing. There are 88 referees on the roster this season. We are getting referee Mike Sullivan again Wednesday with Rob Hennessey and Patrick Dapuzzo and J.P. Waleski on the lines. We had Sullivan up in Providence Sunday. Where’s the variety?

The real kick in the pants is that Jordan Deckard and Jarrett Burton are going to be here Friday with Ryan Jackson and Kirsten Welsh on the lines. Why is that bad? The same crew is assigned to the Springfield game Saturday. Yeah, all four.

There’s no sense in having 88 referees when you only see maybe a quarter of those. You gotta mix it up. Send some of those refs that only work Pacific Division teams East and vice versa.

Looking Ahead…

Toronto stops in Wednesday, a Friday off (nice) and then Leigh Valley home Saturday and then a 5 o’clock start in Hershey on Sunday.

Give us a bold prediction…

We all make dentist appointments next week after we grind our teeth to dust. Pens split with the Checkers and take the Thunderbirds to overtime and find a way to win. Everything stays tight a week before Christmas.

The Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins played just nine games in the month of November. Lots of time in between games but buddy, that’s about to change. There are 11 games on the schedule in the month of December and three of those will be played this week alone starting at home Wednesday against the Hershey Bears.

Music to Set the Mood…

–

I kind of had to. Not really a fan of the song. Not really a fan of December in general, despite it being my birthday month and my favorite holiday (Christmas)

A Quote…

December, being the last month of the year, cannot help but make us think of what is to come.
— Fennel Hudson

Come to think of it, there is a lot of weight in that quote with this team and I will continue to explain.

The Setup

A rematch Wednesday with the Hershey Bears and a Friday off (you will never hear me complain) then a Saturday in Hartford and a Sunday afternoon in Providence.

The Penguins faced a big test against the North leading (at the time) Laval Rocket, fell down big and struggled with the Rocket’s speed, adjusted, scored a few power play goals and won.

Then the next night they went on the road to Hershey, a place they struggle at and won a heavyweight contest against the back to back champs and beat them clean 5-4. They scored a couple power play goals in that one too.

I had someone mention to me the other day that coaching may have a hand in it and I agree. Do we think that a J.D. Forrest coached team adjusts Friday at home against Laval and on the fly Saturday in Hershey? It may be kicking the guy when he is already out the door, but I don’t really know.

Back to the quote, yeah, it is December but you can’t help of what is to come with this team.

For the opponents, it was a rough week for the 13 time champs. They beat Laval 5-3 Wednesday, lost in overtime Friday in Allentown against the Phantoms and then Saturday’s result.

Hartford lost in overtime against the Phantoms 5-4, and got smoked in Springfield Saturday 4-1. The Wolf Pack will be in Bridgeport Wednesday and host the Rockford IceHogs. (Western teams, must be nice) on Friday.

Providence were swept in a home and home with an all of a sudden really good Utica Comets team 5-3 and 3-0 respectively and then hosted Springfield Sunday and lost 3-2. Yeah, the Bruins lost all three games. They are uncharacteristically bad right now.

The Bruins will have a road trip in Utica again Friday and will host Bridgeport Saturday before welcoming in the Penguins.

Records

The Bears are 14-5-3-0 and lead the Atlantic Division with 31 points. The Penguins are in second with a 11-4-1-0 record and 23 points. Hartford is 8-8-2-1 in sixth place good for 19 points and Providence is 8-10-2-0 with 18 points and sit seventh in the Division.

Who’s Up? Who’s Down? Who’s Out?

They are surprisingly getting heathy, with a few guys out but most of their important core healthy and contributing.

They got Jack St. Ivany back from Pittsburgh on a straight reassignment which was a bit of a out of left field add because I wasn’t expecting it on Tuesday. It looks like he and Owen Pickering have swapped spots, which is fine. Pickering is a rookie. If he stumbles, he can come back here and St. Ivany can go back up. It’s a win-win either way for the AHL club.

Jagger Joshua was sent to Wheeling Tuesday also.

The roster tracker here and tabbed at the top of the page keeps dibs on the day to day.

What can we learn about the Penguins this week?

I mean if they play the way they played this past weekend, then you should expect all six points again, right?

I don’t think it’s an unreasonable ask, but things always change in the AHL. Here’s an example: Can you explain how the Utica Comets started 0-10 and all of a sudden have ripped off five straight and are one of the hottest teams in the AHL? Things change. They had a coaching change. Players bought in. They get breaks go their way finally.

You need to beware if you are a Penguins fan. Now, am I saying that they will lose 10 in a row? No, I don’t think the talent and leadership will allow that to happen. But you can’t think that just because they were successful in Hershey Saturday that automatically means they are going to go 12-0 against the Bears.

But it’s nice, going back to the Quote at the top, thinking of what is to come. One game at a time, keep building up that winning credit for when you find yourself in a February slog.

Who’s in Goal? 

I think it’s reasonable to think that Joel Blomqvist starts Wednesday against Hershey and again Saturday in Hartford and then let Sergei Murashov go Sunday in Hartford. Unless they don’t want Murashov to go more than a week in between starts, then Murashov goes Saturday.

Clay Stevenson for the Bears, Dylan Garand for the Wolf Pack and Michael DiPierto for the Bruins if I bet pennies on this, which I don’t.

Who’s Running the Show? 

Mason Riley and Casey Terreri doling out discipline Wednesday with Patrick Dapuzzo and J.P. Waleski on the lines.

Jake Kamrass and Austin O’Rourke will be mediating in Hartford with Dylan Blujus and Dylan Lewis on the lines.

Mike Sullivan and Hayden Verbeek and the Sunday assignment with Stephen Drain and Kenneth Gates on the lines.

Looking Ahead…

Five straight home games for the Penguins, starting next Wednesday at home against the Checkers, Friday with Charlotte and Saturday against the Springfield Thunderbirds.

Give us a bold prediction…

They score two shorthanded goals in one of these next three, winning all three.