Comments Off on Weekend Preview – Three More?
Posted by nafsnep on February 14, 2025
The Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins are going to be the busiest team in the Atlantic Division so of course another three in three weekend is on the menu for them this week. But the good news is they don’t have to go far.
Music to Set the Mood…
–
If you haven’t figured it out by now, the Pens travel to Allentown on Sunday.
A Quote…
Omne trium perfectum – Latin for “everything that comes in threes is perfect”
I don’t think they need to be perfect in this three in three, but I wouldn’t mind.
The Setup
Home against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Friday, the Hershey Bears on Saturday then on the road Sunday afternoon in Allentown against the Phantoms.
Wilkes-Barre shutout the Bridgeport Islanders 3-0 last Friday in a game I didn’t like then gave up four goals in the first Saturday against Cleveland but battled back to win 5-4 in overtime then had a similar fate in Hershey Tuesday but fell 5-4 in regulation.
Lehigh Valley needed a shootout to beat Cleveland Friday and won 3-2 then went to Hartford, who hadn’t won in a while, and lost 4-2.
Hershey was shutout 5-0 at home against Syracuse last Saturday then responded in a big way and beat the Pens 5-4 Tuesday.
Records
The Penguins are in second in the Atlantic with a 26-12-4 record with 56 points.
Lehigh Valley sit in sixth place in the Atlantic with a 22-18-5-1 record and 50 points.
Hershey is in first in the Atlantic with a 29-13-5 record good for 63 points.
Pittsburgh traded Corey Andonovski to St. Louis for Mathias Laferreire on Thursday. Laferreire will report to Wilkes-Barre.
Wilkes-Barre sent Sergei Murashov to Wheeling and called up Isaac Belliveau.
What can we learn about the Penguins this week?
Conceivably the way out of the division is going to have to go through Hershey, whether they are in first, second or worse. They are the defending Calder Cup Champions and the Penguins play the Bears more than any other opponent the rest of the season.
Then there’s the Phantoms who remain a threat, and the team that beat the Penguins in the playoffs last year.
If you think the Penguins are a threat this year, then they need to prove that to you by winning all three games this weekend, or at the very least get 5 out of six points or be valiant in defeat.
I didn’t like the way that they shutout Bridgeport. The Islanders are bad and the Penguins should have also beat them 9-0 like they did to the Bears a few nights prior.
I didn’t like the way they showed in Hershey. The Bears are sick and called up half of their ECHL roster and the Penguins were at full strength. There was no reason the Penguins could not have won that game by multiple goals also.
I did like the way they weren’t out of it at all against the Monsters and battled back the way they did. They played like they weren’t going to be denied.
They need to bottle that up and sprinkle that in and out this weekend. If they do, they will be fine.
Who’s in Goal?
Getting Joel Blomqvist back from Pittsburgh threw a monkey wrench in the plan. I would have started Sergei Murashov against the Bears, but, if Pittsburgh tells you to start Blomqvist (no one will say they did) you do it.
Just to be clear I don’t have an issue with Blomqvist. He’s in the NHL for a reason, he’s really good, but there’s something about Murashov and the Bears.
Sending Murashov to Wheeling means Filip Larsson is good to go.
So… who gets the starts? I’d go Blomqvist / Larsson / Blomqvist, but that means Larsson against the Bears Saturday. If not, Larsson / Blomqvist / Larsson, but that means Larsson starts twice and I can’t see that happening. With them playing a three in three I can’t see a goalie playing back to back, so my original guess of Blomqvist / Larsson / Blomqvist stands.
Opposition wise, Parker Gahagen, Hunter Shepard, Parker Gahagen.
Who’s Running the Show?
Riley Brace and Jack Young with John Rey and Chandler Yakimowicz on the lines on Friday.
Saturday sees Young stick around with Mike Sullivan and his ineptitude swing into town with Bill Lyons tagging in for Rey and Yakimowicz sticking around.
Sunday sees Sullivan follow them to Allentown with Jack Hennigan joining him with Michael Magee and J.P. Waleski on the lines.
Still not a fan of the way these are assigned. We see the same dozen or so referees with some outlier guys like Hennigan come in from time to time. Mix it up more, please.
Looking Ahead
They are on the road the rest of the month and, wouldn’t you know it, another three in three! Friday in Hartford, Saturday in Springfield and Sunday in Providence.
Give us a bold prediction…
Power play goals scored in each game. A shorthanded goal, 5 of 6 points and closer to Hershey Sunday night then when they started the weekend.
Comments Off on Weekend Preview – Working on a Tuesday
Posted by nafsnep on February 7, 2025
The Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins break into the second half of the AHL schedule with a lot of work to do.
No, they aren’t out of a playoff spot. To the contrary, they have the fewest amount of games played in the Atlantic Division and are going to be very busy making up all of the games in hand.
It starts Friday against the lowly Bridgeport Islanders, continues Saturday against the Cleveland Monsters and keeps going Tuesday in Hershey where, the Penguins dropped not five, not six, but NINE goals on the Bears the last time these teams met.
Music to Set the Mood…
–
I always consider myself a Skynyrd fan. Don’t for whatever like this song.
A Quote…
Tuesday is a day to finish what’s left undone on Monday and prepare for what’s coming on Wednesday.
— Unknown
I always like Tuesday. They aren’t Monday’s, Wednesday’s get a rap because, “hump day” Thursday isn’t a Friday and Friday is what we all look forward to.
The Setup…
They dropped nine on the Bears last Wednesday in a 9-0 throttling of the back to back Calder Cup Champions. They went to Charlotte and split against a team they don’t match up well with in my opinion.
This week, as mentioned above, they have Bridgeport, Cleveland and Hershey. All winnable.
The Islanders had nine goals dropped on them last Wednesday by the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and then went to Hershey and lost two close games by a score of 5-4.
Cleveland split a pair of games at home against the Providence Bruins last week and will be in Allentown Friday.
Hershey, mentioned above, lost 9-0 to the Penguins, narrowly beat Bridgeport 5-4 on back to back nights and will host Syracuse Saturday.
If they obliterated Hershey 9-0, they should beat Bridgeport by one hundred on Friday. With their current form, they should beat the Cleveland Monsters and should expect a battle when they get off the bus Tuesday in Hershey.
We are at the point of the season where they are primed to make a push and it’s time to start moving. 5 out of 6 points is an absolute must if they want to make a push for first place and start eyeing a first round bye in about eight weeks.
Who’s in Goal?
As long as Sergei Murashov is the first Penguin to touch the ice Tuesday around 6:20 p.m., I think the rest takes care of itself.
Wanna give Tristan Jarry an ego boost? Put him out there against the team with the fewest amount of goals scored in the Division and start him Friday. Give Murashov the Saturday start against slightly stiffer Cleveland competition. Hope that he gets through that game OK and run him out there again Tuesday.
Henrik Tikkanen, Zach Sawchenko, Clay Stevenson is me taking a shot in the dark for the opposition.
Who’s Running the Show?
Casey Terreri was one of the referees selected to officiate the All Star Classic (Jordan Samuels-Thomas the other) and will be here Friday and Saturday. On Friday, he’s paired with Bobby Jo Love with Dylan Blujus and Jud Ritter on the lines. On Saturday, Will Kelly joins him in the orange arm bands. Blujus and Ritter stick around on the lines.
Again. 88 referees employed in this League with 146 linespeople and they can only swap out one on back to back nights in Wilkes-Barre. They must really get good hotel rates in Wilkes-Barre.
Nothing on the Tuesday crew yet. If you hear a scream Tuesday morning, it was me because some combination of Terreri, Kelly, Love, Blujus or Ritter have the assignment in Hershey.
Looking Ahead…
Next three in three. Friday and Saturday at home against Lehigh Valley and Hershey respectively then a Sunday trip to Allentown which starts a seven game road trip.
Give us a bold prediction…
Six points this weekend, six different referees for next weekends three in three.
Comments Off on Weekend Preview – Going to California…
Posted by nafsnep on January 29, 2025
The Penguins have three games this week and then they and the rest of the league pause for the All-Star festivities in Coachella Valley, California.
Music to Set the Mood…
–
Which leads in to the…
A Quote…
This music is timeless. It transcends generations. My parents listened to it, I listen to it, my teenage sons listen to it. – Commenter on the above video.
There’s a reason they call it classic rock. This is classic rock. Timeless.
The Setup
Home game with the Hershey Bears on Wednesday then they are off to Charlotte, North Carolina for a pair with the Charlotte Checkers Friday and Saturday.
Very important games for the Penguins this week.
The Penguins lost in Utica on Friday and then won at home against the Comets on Saturday and then beat the brakes off of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Sunday to complete their three in three weekend. Emil Bemstrom, who is headed to Coachella Valley to participate in All-Star festivities, had a had trick and an assist on Sunday.
Hershey had their Canada trip and lost in overtime Wednesday in Laval, Friday in Belleville and then beat the Senators on Saturday.
Charlotte gets to have all the fun, taking on the Western Conference’s Iowa Wild and Milwaukee Admirals. They were in Iowa last Wednesday and shutout the Wild 4-0 then spent a weekend in Milwaukee and lost Friday and won Saturday in overtime. They returned to Des Moines, Iowa on Tuesday and won 4-2.
Records
Penguins are 22-10-4, good for 46 points and fourth in the Atlantic.
Hershey is 26-11-5, good for 57 points and they lead the Atlantic.
Charlotte is 23-12-3-2, good for 51 points and tied for second in the Atlantic.
Who’s Up? Who’s Down? Who’s Out?
Atley Calvert was recalled from Wheeling Monday, which didn’t make any sense to me. Jesse Puljujarvi went up to Pittsburgh because Evgeni Malkin went on IR. I don’t think they need any forwards, but who knows.
I think it bears repeating, pardon the pun, but it’s a very important week for the Penguins.
They have a ton of head to heads left with the Bears and a boatload of games in hand. If they just win these, they would be in swell shape. Of course, if they just win those, the rest takes care of itself.
Charlotte is a pain in the ass because they are good but painstakingly inconsistent.
When I mention being able to beat Hershey with the rest being able to take care if itself, this is what I mean. Beat Hershey and you shouldn’t have to worry about beating Charlotte.
But that’s never how it works, does it?
I think they are in a great place based off what we saw Sunday. They were nursing a two goal lead and they got a power play goal, three of them actually, to turn a nail biter into a laugher.
Who’s in Goal?
I think they go to Sergei Murashov Wednesday then split the starts with Tristan Jarry going Friday and then Murashov on Saturday.
I’ll take a stab and say Clay Stevenson for Hershey Wednesday then the same split start with Ken Appleby and Chris Driedger in some combination Friday and Saturday.
Who’s Running the Show?
Jared Cummins and Andrew Bell have the Wednesday assignment with Bill Lyons and Robert Peterkin on the lines.
Adam Tobias and Mike Sullivan have the weekend assignment in Charlotte this weekend. Ryan Jackson and Jake Rennert are the linesmen for the Friday game and Shane Gustafson and Ken Radolinski have the Saturday work on the lines.
Comments Off on Weekend Preview — They Come in Threes
Posted by nafsnep on January 24, 2025
After more than a week off due to ice issues at the Mohegan Arena, the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins return to the ice in Utica, NY for a Friday night matchup then bus home with the Comets to take them on at home Saturday before closing out their first three in three weekend of the season with a Sunday home game against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
Music to Set the Mood…
–
I don’t know. I just put my thoughts into YouTube and this is what turned up.
A Quote…
Quote’s about long layoffs didn’t turn up anything of substance and talked about the actual layoff of employees and the like. Let’s just skip this for today.
The Setup
I kind of gave it to you above. The first three in three weekend of the season and a home and home with the Utica Comets with a (sigh) Sunday home game with the Phantoms.
After coughing up a 3-0 third period lead and losing in overtime last Wednesday in Laval a week ago, ice issues forced the postponement of the scheduled game with the Belleville Senators and all of a sudden the Penguins were off for the weekend while the rest of the League played. That Belleville game will now be played on March 4.
Utica had a pretty decent weekend. They beat the Laval Rocket in Quebec on Saturday then beat the Syracuse Crunch in Syracuse on Martin Luther King Day on Monday and crushed Bridgeport 7-1 on Wednesday. It was 5-0 after the first period and Jack Malone had a natural hat trick.
Lehigh Valley also had a pretty decent week also, beating Belleville last Wednesday then beating the North Division leading Rochester Americans in a shootout before losing a close one to them on Saturday. The Phantoms will host Springfield Friday and Bridgeport on Saturday before bussing up to Wilkes-Barre on Sunday.
One thing I noticed this week was that there were a lot of teams playing three in threes this weekend.
Records
The Penguins are 20-9-4, good for 44 points and fourth place in the Atlantic Division.
Utica is 13-19-2-2 with 30 points and seventh in the North Division.
Lehigh Valley is 19-15-5-1 with 44 points and fifthin the Atlantic Division, but will have played two games before seeing the Penguins on Sunday.
Who’s Up? Who’s Down? Who’s Out?
They recalled Sergei Murashov on Monday, so that would seemingly mean that Filip Larsson is banged up enough to warrant a recall that early in the week. Tristan Jarry was waived here so he’s likely the number one. Jesse Puljujarvi was also waived here and played in Laval last week. Jaxon Castor was cut loose of his PTO and will report back to Wheeling.
Won’t know statuses on the injured guys until around 6:20 Friday night, but I did see Jack St. Ivany practicing in what appeared to be a regular practice jersey on their social channels this past week, so that could be a good sign.
What can we learn about the Penguins this week?
The elephant in the room is protecting a lead. They seem bad at it all of a sudden. They blow one late in Belleville two Sundays ago and lose with 2.2 seconds left then go to Laval last Wednesday, get a goal to go up 3-0 in the third period, but their wet behind the ears débutante in goal Jaxon Castor can’t ride that credit to a win and they lose in overtime to the Rocket 4-3.
They are casting points away when they could be using those points to make up ground on Hershey. Now granted they have a lot of head to heads to go with the Bears and a ton of games in hand, but they don’t mean anything if you can’t win them and they certainly feel like you are just wasting them away losing the way the Penguins have been losing of late.
Conceivably they have had an entire weeks worth of practice and the new car smell is still on Kirk MacDonald, so lets see what they do in a three in three weekend against a pair of resurgent teams in Utica and Lehigh Valley.
They should, hypothetically, have no problems winning all three games, but that said you still never know. How many goal lead is safe with how much time remaining? Up four with five minutes? Up two with less than a minute?
Who’s in Goal?
Tristan Jarry should get the start Friday and Sunday and let Sergei Murashov go Saturday at home.
For the opposition, Isaac Poulter and Nico Daws should get action in net for the Comets and take a guess on who goes for the Phantoms. Cal Petersen? Parker Gahagen? Keith Petruzzelli? Pick one. If you are doing it right, it shouldn’t matter.
Who’s Running the Show?
Mike Dietrich and Rob Hennessey are the referees assigned Friday in Utica with Antoine Bujold-Roux and Tory Carissimo on the lines.
Saturday sees Hennessey again (sigh) with Jake Kamrass as the referees with Kirsten Welch and Chandler Yakimowicz on the lines.
Kamrass sticks around and is joined by Mason Riley in doling out discipline. Welch sticks around on the lines and is joined by J.P. Waleski.
Hotels must be posh in Wilkes-Barre.
Looking Ahead…
It’s February. Already? The shortest month, which means March soon. Then April, then warmer temperatures, then the pool. Cigars. Sun. Beach. Ahhh…
Oh. Sorry. Started daydreaming there. Hershey comes to town Wednesday then they hit the road for Charlotte next Friday and Saturday.
Give us a bold prediction…
The Penguins come from behind in two of the games and win both, sweep the weekend.
Comments Off on Weekend Preview – Great White North!
Posted by nafsnep on January 15, 2025
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.
Comments Off on Weekend Preview – Write Your Senator…
Posted by nafsnep on January 8, 2025
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.
Comments Off on Weekend Preview – It’s The Points That Get You…
Posted by nafsnep on January 3, 2025
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.
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.
WBS News
Chirps from Center Ice 