Chirps from Center Ice

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.

The Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins have not had a lot of action in the past two weeks, but the action picks up with the top teams in the Conference in the Laval Rocket and Hershey Bears on the schedule this weekend, it’s time to see what this team is made of.

Sure, the Penguins are 9-4-1 and better than most teams in the AHL, but they haven’t really had a test yet. That comes this weekend.

Music to set the Mood…

–

Snips and snails and puppy dogs tails? Sounds disgusting to me, but I didn’t write the nursery rhyme!

A Quote…

Sugar and spice and everything nice.
–What Little Girls are Made Of

Much nicer. Anyway, let’s move off this.

The Setup

The North Division leading Laval Rocket head to town on Friday and then the Penguins hit the road for their first meeting of the season with the 13 time Calder Cup Hershey Bears.

Last week the Penguins shutout the Bridgeport Islanders 5-0 with a resounding triumph after the Islanders gave them fits and beat them the week before and they needed a shootout a few weeks prior to beat Bridgeport.

It was an important game because you wanted to see how they responded. I’d say they passed with flying colors but the teams standing in their way are going to be teams like the Rocket and Bears.

The Rocket dropped 2 out of 3 this past week against Rochester and split a home and home against a scrappy Belleville Senators team.

Hershey lost in overtime last Wednesday against Toronto, needed a late Mike Vecchione goal to force OT and then a Vecchione goal to win in OT in Rochester Friday then beat Syracuse in a shootout on Saturday.

The Rocket and Bears met Wednesday and it was the Bears coming out on top 5-3.

Hershey will be in Allentown Friday.

Records

I gave you the Penguins record above. Hershey leads the division with a 14-4-2 record and Laval is 13-4-1

Who’s Up? Who’s Down? Who’s Out?

Owen Pickering is up in Pittsburgh. Vasily Ponomarev was reassigned Saturday. Defenders are getting healthy. I think I saw Dan Renouf in a regular practice sweater on the teams socials this week.

Sam Poulin was reassigned Monday and Taylor Gauthier was sent to Wheeling then too.

The Pens got a bit of a lucky break when no one claimed Valtteri Puustinen on Wednesday. Puustinen was formally assigned on Wednesday.

This page follows all the moves.

What can we learn about the Penguins this week?

Like the headline says, what this team is made of.

You can lose and beat Lehigh Valley, but what does that say when the Phantoms are so mercurial?

You can beat the Islanders and lose to them, but what does that say when the Islanders are so bad as their record indicates?

You have two teams who are at the top of their divisions on the schedule this week. If the Penguins beat both, it’s not a matter of if, but when they catch the Bears and likely see the Rocket again down the road. If the Penguins lose both games, then they are what they are, an above average team that isn’t division leading worthy.

I think there’s a swagger about this team. They are good, I think they know they are good but not cocky about it and have coaching they are receptive to that puts them in position to win every game.

Getting an injection of three really good forwards in Poulin, Ponomarev and Puustinen helps also.

Who’s in Goal? 

Joel Blomqvist for both games if you are asking me which I think if you are here you kind of are. Do you want to run Filip Larsson out there against Laval and save Blomqvist for Hershey because you see the Bears more then the Rocket and have six games in hand on them, then go ahead.

Jakub Dobeš for the Rocket Friday and likely Clay Stevenson for the back to back champs on Saturday.

Who’s Running the Show? 

Liam Maaskant and Mitch Hardy get the Black Friday assignment at home against Laval with J.P. Waleski and Chandler Yakimowicz on the lines. Saturday sees Maaskant again with Riley Brace with Colin Gates and Tommy George on the lines.

Looking Ahead…

Calendar flips to December (wow!) and the Bears drop in Wednesday for a home game (boo, work night home games, boo!) and then they take to the road to Hartford Saturday (Friday off, alright!) and Providence Sunday and then the next five at home.

Give us a bold prediction…

Four out of four points for the Penguins.

So I think they are getting in the groove. I think they know they have something here and it’s good. They are winning games. They are at the top of the Atlantic pursuing their biggest rival they have not played yet.

They get the Phantoms again midweek, a Friday off and then an Islanders team that gave them fits a few weeks ago but dropped three straight last week. Wilkes-Barre is in a groove, they are looking to stay there.

Music to Set the Mood…

–

You know I had to. Also, I heard this song on the radio on my way home from church Sunday and thought it vibed, in case you are wondering.

A Quote…

When you get a groove going, time flies.
— Donald Fagan

The Setup

Trip to Allentown on Wednesday, a Friday off (yes!) then home against Bridgeport for something the Penguins are touting as, “nerd night.”

Yeah, no idea either.

The Phantoms took 5 of 6 points last week, including a win over the Penguins in Tristan Jarry’s swan song and a huge bump in the AHL Power Rankings.

Lehigh Valley also beat Utica (that’s not impressive, the Comets are still winless) and lost to the Penguins last Wednesday in overtime.

Bridgeport saw Springfield score five straight against them in a kids day game then got swept by the Providence Bruins in a home and home. They hosted Hershey in another kids day game Tuesday and lost 5-4 and will be in Hershey Friday.

Records

Penguins are 8-3, good for 16 points and second in the Atlantic. The Phantoms are 5-3-2-1, on 13 points and in fourth and Bridgeport is 2-9-1-1, good for 6 points and last in the Atlantic.

Who’s Up? Who’s Down? Who’s Out?

I think having Matt Nieto here on a conditioning stint is good for them because it looked like he was a threat every time he was on the ice Saturday against Rochester, scoring a goal in the process.

Sam Poulin went up Monday.

Mats Lindgren went down Monday.

My Roster Tracker has all the up to date information. Please head there.

What can we learn about the Penguins this week?

I am not still totally sold on the defense, but Saturday was a step in the right direction. Do they give Luke Richardson a start? What’s the status of the always injured Taylor Gauthier?

Eventually they are going to have to turn the reins over to Richardson or recall Musharov from Wheeling. How will they look then?

I think it’s a good schedule this week. Lehigh Valley may not be the pushover we think they were, but again playing Utica and beating Utica isn’t as impressive at all. Friday was a fluke I think in parts with they way they played, and Bridgeport didn’t look good at all last week, hasn’t been all season but gave the Penguins fits when they played a few weeks ago.

Don’t take anything for granted and stay in the groove.

Who’s in Goal?

I don’t think there should be any doubts this week. It’s going to be Filip Larsson both games.

Opposition wise, Cal Petersen for the Phantoms and Henrik Tikkanen for the Islanders.

Who’s Running the Show?

Beau Halkidis and Amanda Tassoni have the assignment in Allentown on Wednesday with Patrick Dapuzzo and John Rey on the lines. No info on Saturday’s crew yet.

Looking Ahead…

Just one next week and it is home next Friday against the Bridgeport Islanders again.

Give us a bold prediction…

They sweep the week and score four power play goals.

So the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins always historically rake in points in October, November, and December. Just like raking leaves in your backyard, you pile them up and dispose of them. Only for the Penguins, they rake in points and use them to secure playoff spots.

I think they are fine. I liked the way they came out on Saturday night when they had a slim lead against the Wolf Pack, played like they were losing and came away with a big win.

Music to Set the Mood…

–

Get out there and rake the leaves!

A Quote…

Procrastination is like a credit card: it’s a lot of fun until you get the bill.
— Christopher Parker

Staying with the amassing credit so you are there for a good payoff. Fun fact about me, I always pay my credit cards (I only have two) in full.

The Setup…

A couple more games with our $5M / year NHL All Star goaltender who is 3-0 on this conditioning assignment. A home and home with a surging Phantoms team Wednesday – Friday and Rochester drops in for their only visit this season on Saturday.

I don’t think Jarry will be on the bus headed to Allentown Friday but I am usually wrong about those things. Who knows.

Phantoms beat Hershey clean midweek last week and then beat up a depleting Springfield team so they are riding pretty high. As they should be. I think it’s a good club, I just don’t like their coach.

Rochester obliterated a very, very bad Utica team 8-2 Friday then 3-2 in a shootout Saturday. You think your club is bad? The Comets don’t have a win yet. The Americans are in Cleveland Wednesday then host Hartford Friday before having to bus 4+ hours to Wilkes-Barre for a 6 o’clock game.

Records

Penguins are 6-2, good for 12 points and third in the Atlantic. Phantoms are 3-3-1-1, on 8 points and fifth in the Atlantic and Rochester (coming into the week) are 5-3 and on 10 points, good for fifth in the North.

Who is Up? Who is Down? Who is Out?

They got Vasily Ponomarev back from Pittsburgh last week but their defensive corps is depleted. That’s causing a lot of the younger guys to step up and it’s a trial by fire. They are getting by OK because they have an NHL goaltender moonlighting in the AHL again, but that honeymoon is concluding.

The Penguins made a recall from Wheeling on Monday and yes, you guessed correctly, another defenseman. Mats Lindgren. I don’t know what it means, either.

My roster page is your best bet for up to the day-ish updates.

What can we learn about the Penguins this week?

The question becomes what happens when Jarry goes back up and the goaltending goes back in mortal hands?

That really becomes the bigger issue / question. Can they get three more wins this week? Sure, they can. But they are likely looking at having Filip Larsson in goal for them likely Friday and/or Saturday. How does that spell for a depleted defensive corps?

I guess that’s why you buy the ticket.

I see them as an above average team at this point, but you are obviously grading on a curve because Jarry is on a 3-0 heater heading into the last week of his AHL conditioning stint. They have Lehigh Valley, Bridgeport twice, Laval and Hershey to close out November. No pushovers. Something about that Bridgeport game last week makes me think the Islanders matchup better then you think. Laval may be better then Hershey, and Hershey won back to back Calder Cups.

Do they run the November table? No. That doesn’t happen in the AHL. Will they be competitive in all the games? Yes.

Who’s in Goal?

Tristan Jarry Wednesday, Filip Larsson on Friday in Allentown and maybe Taylor Gauthier? He’s on the roster, I don’t think he’s hurt, so why not?

For the opposition, some combination of Eetu Makiniemi and Cal Peterson for the Phantoms Wednesday / Friday and Michael Houser probably on Saturday for the Americans.

Who’s Running the Show?

Patrick Hanrahan and Samuel Heidemann dole out the discipline Wednesday with Josh Cleary and John Rey on the lines.

Friday sees Liam Maaskant and Casey Terreri doling out the penalties and Brandon Grillo and Jud Ritter on the lines.

Saturday sees Terreri and Grillo head north on the Turnpike and meet up with John Lindner (referee) and Chandler Yakimowicz (linesman)

Looking Ahead…

Another Phantoms game Wednesday in Allentown, then another Friday off (I will never complain) and then Bridgeport stops in Saturday night.

Give us a bold prediction…

5 out of a possible 6 points. Power play goals in every game and Tristan Jarry plays in Allentown on Friday.