Chirps from Center Ice

The Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins took 5 of 6 points out of their first three in three of the season.

Music to Set the Mood…

Wait a minute, didn’t Shrek make this song???? Didn’t Smash Mouth write this song???////

Anyway, I digress.

The Penguins are turning me into a believer. It’s all there. They are only two points off of second place in the division.

Counterpoint, they are only three points out of a playoff spot as well, but they have been playing better of late especially mining five out of six points out of divisional opponents and some really good teams.

A Quote…

Believe you can and you’re halfway there.
— Theodore Roosevelt

Like I said last week, I think I am fine with them the way they are. But that was before they traded away Rem Pitlick, their top scorer, and struggled on the power play this weekend including the 1:43 of two man advantage against Hartford on Sunday. They will need to score a power play goal at a key time at some point here in the foreseeable future. It’s how the coaching staff adjusts to this to make it work which remains the question.

Sam Poulin didn’t look out of place much on the top line Sunday, so that’s a start.

The Setup…

A trip to Providence Friday, then the first meeting with the last place Islanders Saturday, a Sunday off (woo hoo!) then a MLK Day matinee in Springfield.

The Pens handled the Thunderbirds on Friday, then had a two goal lead evaporate on them in the third period against Lehigh Valley and lost in overtime then won a gritty contest at home at the end of a three in three against a very snarly Hartford Wolf Pack team on Sunday.

Providence swept the Springfield Thunderbirds in a Saturday-Sunday home and home. On Saturday they beat the Thunderbirds in a shootout and on Sunday they beat them clean.

Bridgeport had an eventful week, keeping it close Thursday at home against Hartford, then took three of four points from Charlotte, winning and losing in overtime in a Saturday-Sunday series with the Checkers.

Fun fact about the Islanders schedule this month, they play nine games at home and the other three road contests are in Providence.

Springfield had a bad weekend. They took one point out of a possible six (the shootout loss against the Bruins on Saturday)

Bridgeport hosted Springfield Wednesday and coughed up a lead and lost 4-3 in overtime. Sound familiar?

The Thunderbirds are in Syracuse on Friday, then Utica on Saturday. So they have a very busy week.

Records

Providence is 19-12-2-2, good for 42 points and second in the Atlantic.

The Penguins are 18-12-4-0, good for 40 points and fourth in the Atlantic.

The Islanders are 10-19-4-0, good for 24 points and last in the Atlantic.

The Thunderbirds are 17-12-3-2, good for 39 points and fifth in the Atlantic.

Who’s Up? Who’s Down? Who’s Out?

Pittsburgh: Jansen Harkins, Ryan Shea and Valtteri Puustinen.

Up from Wheeling: Owen Headrick and Raivis Ansons.

Returned to Wheeling: Dillon Hamaliuk.

Injured: Avery Hayes, Sam Houde and Raivis Ansons. I saw Houde on a knee scooter with a walking boot on his left foot in the locker room video the team posted on social media on Sunday, for what it is worth.

What can we learn about the Penguins this week?

Do they have us fooled that they are actually good or are they actually decent? I think it could be a bit of both and the only reason I say that is because of the way they ran around like chickens with their heads cut off after they scored to make it 3-1 Saturday against Lehigh Valley. They go up two, then the Phantoms start throwing eephus pitches and curveballs at the Pens and they look like they have never held a bat before.

You can’t have that. If you want to be a playoff team, you have to be able to react to anything. You can’t go into a shell and expect to win, not against a rival you play the most on the schedule.

But that’s in the past and hopefully coached out of them and in reality, it was the worst period of the nine that they played this past weekend. Providence worries me because that team is mercurial. Do the Pens catch them on a bad week? They should beat Bridgeport, but the Islanders are playing better of late. Thunderbirds are there to be ran over. They will have played three games in a week before the Monday afternoon game. That two points is there for the taking.

It should be expected that they can amass all six points. You can also make the same argument that they struggle with Providence, underestimate against Bridgeport and sleepwalk in Springfield and walk away with three or less points. It’s all possible.

Who’s in Goal?

This is Joel Blomqvist’s team, full stop. He turned the page after some shaky play and has only allowed one goal in each of the five games he has played. All that is left is a shutout. He will get the start in Providence. Magnus Hellberg will go for the Pens in Bridgeport and Blomqvist will get the nod Monday in Springfield.

Michael DiPietro, Jakub Skarek and Malcolm Subban for the opponents if you made me guess. But for Brandon Bussi who went up to Boston for Providence Thursday, all of the number one goaltenders are ready for the Penguins this week. You should expect every ones best.

Wait, didn’t Smash Mouth from above write All-Star?

Where I’m going with this is that on Wednesday, the AHL announced the All-Star rosters for San Jose on February 4. Joel Blomqvist was the lone Wilkes-Barre representative.

I said on Twitter that there are lot of guys in prior years I would get legit mad they don’t get recognized and not get named for All-Stars. Blomqvist, had he not been named, would have been one of them. I’m happy for the kid. I think he’s by and far the best prospect in the organization.

Who’s Running the Show?

Jordan Deckard and Casey Terreri get the Friday assignment with Matt Heinen and Kenneth Gates on the lines.

Deckard makes the trip south to Bridgeport Saturday to meet up with Tanner Doiron and those two will be joined on the lines by Cameron Carlson and Dylan Lewis.

On Monday, Riley Brace and Amanda Tassoni get the assignment with Trevor Disbennett and Matt Heinen again on the lines.

Looking ahead…

Wednesday at home against Providence, a Friday off, Saturday in Hershey then home against Springfield on Sunday.

Give us a bold prediction…

Power play goal scored in every game, they get five out of possible six points again and are second in the division when they wake up Tuesday morning.

Somehow, the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins have not played their closest rival yet in the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in the 2023-24 schedule.

They have played just about every other team in the Eastern Conference save for Toronto in the North and Bridgeport in the Atlantic, but haven’t played the Phantoms, a team they will play 12 times, so far this season.

That changes Saturday.

Music to Set the Mood…

The Phantoms? They are who we thought they are, a team playing below the Penguins in the standings with a coach that some say (like Wilkes-Barre) has overstayed his welcome behind the bench.

Listen, I don’t think anyone will catch Hershey in the division, so it’s a bunch of other teams playing for the five remaining playoff spots in the division. These are very important games for the Penguins and Phantoms coming up here.

A Quote…

Inconsistency is the only thing in which men are consistent.
– Horace Smith

Again, I think I am fine with them the way they are. I think they are good. Inconsistency befalls them. Inconsistency befalls every team in the division unless you are Hershey. Moreso (Bridgeport) than others (Hartford, for now) So I think it is OK for them to be inconsistent. It means that they are sometimes consistent, but often inconsistent.

The Setup

The first three in three of the season. Road trip to Springfield Friday, Lehigh Valley at home Saturday then an afternoon Sunday game against Hartford.

The Penguins lost in a mistake filled game in Hershey last Wednesday, then split with the Checkers at home Friday and Saturday.

Springfield beat Hartford last Wednesday, lost to Bridgeport in OT Friday then got smoked at home last Saturday against Providence.

Lehigh Valley beat Utica in an up and down game Wednesday, were shutout at home against Hershey Saturday and lost to Charlotte at home on New Years Eve.

Hartford lost in Springfield last Wednesday and beat Bridgeport this past Saturday and yesterday, Thursday.

Records

Penguins are 16-12-3-0, with 35 points and fifth in the Atlantic.

Springfield is 16-10-3-1, with 36 points and fourth in the Atlantic.

Lehigh Valley is 13-13-4-1 with 31 points and seventh in the Atlantic.

Hartford is 17-7-5-0, with 39 points and second in the Atlantic.

Who’s Up? Who’s Down? Who’s Out?

Pittsburgh: Jansen Harkins, Ryan Shea and Valtteri Puustinen.

John Ludvig, who Ryan Shea was recalled for, had knee surgery and is out 6-8 weeks. It’s honestly refreshing to see a detailed injury detail, treatment and estimated length of disability.

Returned from Pittsburgh: Vinnie Hinostroza (was at practice on Coal Street Thursday)

Signed to PTO: Jesse Puljujärvi. Fourth overall pick in 2016 NHL Draft. Should help, provided he is healthy and in shape.

Up from Wheeling: Owen Headrick, Raivis Ansons and Dillon Hamaliuk.

Returned to Wheeling: Taylor Gauthier.

Injured: Avery Hayes, Sam Houde and Raivis Ansons.

What can we learn about the Penguins this week?

How do they play against equally inconsistent teams.

Springfield will be looking to wash off that 8-2 ass kicking Providence laid on them Saturday. The Pens can run with the Thunderbirds.

The Pens will look to get the series with Lehigh Valley off to a good start with a big win Saturday. There are 24 points at stake in this 12 game series. You must figure that the Pens and Phantoms may be in a battle for the 4-5-6 seed as the season starts to wind down. Phantoms have been playing right around .500 all season, so you gotta make these points count.

Catch Hartford, who looked like a contender who can run with Hershey but have skidded as of late, and get all points available.

The question again is will they? Can they? I think yeah. The only team which worries me is Springfield really. I’d buy more stock in the Thunderbirds then I would in the Pens or Phantoms or Hartford. But again, they are a team in a long list of teams, who are battling inconsistency.

Don’t know anything about the Phantoms head to head because they haven’t met yet. They should handle Hartford.

Six points is a strong possibility. So are zero.

Who’s in Goal? 

I’m hoping the sickness that necessitated the Gauthier recall is out of the room and Hellberg can play again. I don’t pin everything on Gauthier in Saturday’s loss, but it did look at times like he was out of his depth but in his defense, so did the five guys playing in front of him. He’ll continue honing his craft with the Nailers in the ECHL.

Hellberg, Blomqvist, Hellberg is what I would do if I was Penguins head coach J.D. Forrest.

Malcolm Subban for Springfield, Felix Sandstrom for the Phantoms and Louis Domingue for the Wolf Pack if you made me bet a penny.

Who’s Running the Show?

Stephen Hiff and Chad Ingalls are the referee crew Friday in Springfield with Matt Heinen and Michael Tarquinio on the lines.

Austin O’Rourke and Chris Rumble are here Saturday with Spencer Knox and Patrick Dapuzzo on the lines.

And on Sunday Philip Kasko and Liam Maaskant are the referees with Spencer Knox again and J.P. Waleski on the lines.

Looking Ahead…

Ooh, who put that 3:05 Monday start in Springfield on the schedule? Before that, a trip to Providence on Friday, the first meeting with Bridgeport in Connecticut on Saturday then the afternoon contest in Springfield.

Give us a bold prediction…

They will sweep the weekend and sit second in the division behind Hershey as we sink our teeth into January.

So they are 6-3-1 in their last ten but lost their last game in Laval in what I called a scheduled loss, but now the doubt starts to creep back in as the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins are now going back into divisional play with a game in Hershey on Wednesday before hosting Charlotte for a weekend set of games Friday and Saturday.

The Bears are a machine. It looks like they will get stronger. Their coach is already headed to All-Stars. Do you smell that? It’s the scent of a repeat.

We will get to that in a minute.

Music to set the Mood…

Happy New Year, one and all.

A Quote…

What are little boys made of?
What are little boys made of?
  Snips, snails
  And puppy-dogs’ tails
That’s what little boys are made of

What are little girls made of?
What are little girls made of?
  Sugar and spice
  And everything nice 
That’s what little girls are made of
— Nursery Rhyme

The Setup

So getting back to Hershey, they have been destroying everything in their path. They are 24-6. No OT losses. No shootout losses. They have 48 points, an .800 winning percentage and a machine. A wagon. An absolute beast of a hockey team. You need to be perfect, as in, you cannot make any mistakes, in order to beat this team.

And it just isn’t the Penguins. They beat everybody. Everybody.

So is it a measuring stick if you are the Penguins and can compete with the Bears? If you beat them are they crowning you the next Calder Cup Champions? Hardly. Go in with low expectations. Hope for the best, expect the worst, especially coming off of a Christmas break and after an ugly loss in Laval.

Charlotte is the other team on the schedule this week for the Pens. They hosted Bridgeport two weeks ago and split, a shutout win and an OT loss then split with Lehigh Valley with an OT loss and a shootout win.

Seems like they spill points all over the place and play fast and loose. I think the bigger tell on what type of team the Penguins are is told against Charlotte then it is against Hershey.

Records

The Penguins are 15-10-3 and have 33 points and sit third in the Atlantic with 33 points, two off Hartford for the two spot, but also two points out of a playoff spot altogether. It’s razor thin.

The Bears are in their own stratosphere. 24-6, 48 points and the number one team in the AHL.

Charlotte is 14-10-3, 31 points and in sixth in the Atlantic.

Who’s Up? Who’s Down? Who’s Out?

Pittsburgh: Jansen Harkins, Vinnie Hinostroza (he cleared waivers last week, was assigned but is still with Pittsburgh?) and Valtteri Puustinen.

Up from Wheeling: Owen Headrick, Raivis Ansons.

Injured: Avery Hayes and Sam Houde.

What can we learn about the Penguins this week?

If they want to get anywhere, they have to go through Hershey. Are they going to play well enough to just be a playoff team only to be obliterated by Hershey en route to back to back Calder Cups? The Penguins are one of the few teams to have beaten Hershey. It was frustrating watching them play Hershey the last time out. But, it’s still December (January soon) and there is still a lot to figure out. Are the Penguins a team playing two points out of second place or two points from out of a playoff spot? Depends on who you ask.

Personally I think they will be fine. I think.

They should beat Charlotte. Charlotte plays like an average to above average North Division team, in my opinion, for comparison sake. They should beat Charlotte, but I have a feeling that the Checkers lull you into playing fast and loose and then all of a sudden you find yourself in overtime or in a shootout.

Who’s in Goal? 

Interesting conundrum in my opinion. I think they were shifting away from Joel Blomqvist as the stone cold lock number one but I don’t know now. I think it’s Blomqvist Wednesday and Saturday with Magnus Hellberg going Friday.

I don’t think it matters for Hershey. Clay Stevenson and Hunter Shepard are the Bears 1A-1B. If the Bears have a weakness, it isn’t in goal. Either one of these two goaltenders will be tough nuts to crack.

Toss a coin for Spencer Knight and Ludovic Waeber Friday or Saturday for the Checkers.

Who is running the show?

Mason Riley and Peter Schlittenhardt are the referees Wednesday with John Rey and Bill Lyons on the lines.

Friday sees referees Beau Halkidis and Laura White and linesmen Jud Ritter and Chandler Yakimowicz.

Saturday sees Casey Terreri and Adam Tobias in orange, black and white with Bill Lyons from Wednesday and Jud Ritter from the night before on icings, offsides and face-offs.

Looking Ahead…

A trip to Springfield next Friday, then a Saturday and Sunday (💆‍♂️) home game against Lehigh Valley for the first time all season on Saturday and then Hartford at 3:05 on Sunday. It’s the first three in three of the season.

Give us a bold prediction…

No complaining about Sunday home games in 2024.

The Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins head to Canada for a Thursday and Friday pair of games against more North division foes in Belleville and Laval before breaking for Christmas.

Music to set the mood…

From me and the cats, Merry Christmas!

A Quote…

Consistency is what transfers average into excellence.
— Unknown

The Penguins are 6-3-1 in their last ten, winning more than losing and finally, just maybe, settling into a consistent winner. You want to see this continue this week with more North Division opponents on the plate.

The Setup

Trip to the Bay of Quinte on Thursday for a visit with the Belleville Senators and then a Friday in Laval to take on the Rocket.

Last week, the Penguins swept all three games, beating the Syracuse Crunch, Utica Comets and Rochester Americans. Rem Pitlick is red hot with nine points in his last eight games. Alex Nylander is scoring goals and they got a goal from a returning Sam Poulin on Saturday.

The Belleville Senators last played on Friday in Cleveland and were swept by the Monsters. They have not won in three games.

The Laval Rocket got pasted in Hershey 7-1 on Saturday. They beat Lehigh Valley the night before on Friday. They played Syracuse yesterday in Syracuse and won 3-2.

Records

The Penguins are 14-9-3-0, good for 31 points and third in the Atlantic Division.

Belleville is 10-10-2-2, good for 22 points and fifth in the North Division.

Laval is 8-13-3-2, good for 21 points and in last place in the North Division.

Who’s Up? Who’s Down? Who’s Out?

Pittsburgh: Jansen Harkins, Vinnie Hinostroza (he cleared waivers over the weekend but was not immediately assigned) and Valtteri Puustinen.

Back from Pittsburgh: Marc Johnstone and Jonathan Gruden. Also assigned was Ryan Shea.

Justin Addamo was returned to Wheeling on Friday. Lukas Svejkovsky and Tanner Laderoute followed suit on Tuesday.

The Pens recalled Owen Headrick from Wheeling. Headrick was acquired in the Peter Abbodonato trade.

Sam Poulin returned from injury and played Saturday.

The Libor Hajek experiment is over, the Penguins released him from his PTO and he returned to his native Czechia.

Still up from Wheeling: Raivis Ansons.

Injured: Avery Hayes and Sam Houde.

What can we learn about the Penguins this week?

They should easily beat a slipping Belleville and a last place Laval team. But if they start to wallow in their past successes, they can and likely will get caught and lose to Belleville in a tight 2-1 game or get caught already into the egg nog and lose by five in Laval. It can happen. It shouldn’t if you are a believer in J.D. Forrest and his coaching staff.

Looks like they may be shifting away from Joel Blomqvist as their rock solid #1 and going more and more to Magnus Hellberg, who started two games last week.

Also they look like they are getting healthier, with just Avery Hayes (who I have to assume is close to a return) and Sam Houde out with injuries.

Finally these points they are accumulating have them ascending the Atlantic Division. Hershey and Hartford look like the class of the field right now. It’s a dogfight between the three through six seeds.

Who’s in Goal? 

I’d go Hellberg Thursday and Blomqvist Friday. I’m hoping to see leviathan Mads Sogaard, all 6’7 of him, for Belleville on Thursday and maybe more towers of power with 6’5 Jakub Dobeš for the Rocket on Friday.

Who’s Running the Show?

Dre Barone and Mathieu Menniti have the referral duties on Thursday with Justin Johnson and Dustin McCrank on the lines. On Friday, Dre Barone will follow the team to Laval and be joined by Alex Normandin with Antoine Bujold-Roux and Anthony Lapointe on the lines.

Looking Ahead…

We will see if there is any lessons learned with this little win streak when the Hershey Bears come back calling and the Pens travel there next Wednesday. The Penguins close out 2023 with a pair of games against the Charlotte Checkers Friday and Saturday.

Give us a bold prediction…

They will finish out the year without a regulation loss.

The Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins will be taking the three teams left in the State of New York head on this weekend, so it’s only fitting…

Music to Set the Mood…

Ol’ Blue Eyes. They don’t make music like they used to. That’s for sure.

Also, yes. I am keenly aware as New York Mets fan that this song is played after Yankee home game wins. Yankee scum.

Regardless, New York City is the greatest City in the world. You can’t change my mind so don’t even try.

A Quote…

I can make it there, I can make it anywhere.
— Frank Sinatra

Sinatra was referring to New York City. I’m referring here to the North Division and the AHL teams Syracuse Crunch, Utica Comets and Rochester Americans. Syracuse is neck and neck with the division leading Cleveland Monsters, just beat the Hershey Bears on Friday ending the Bears nine game winning streak, Rochester is a team full of a bunch of really good prospects and Utica seems like they suffer from the same problems that befell the Penguins in that they are consistently inconsistent.

The Setup

I kind of just gave it to you in the last paragraph, but slightly out of order. Syracuse at home Wednesday, Utica on the road Friday and Rochester at home on Saturday.

The Crunch stopped the Bears nine game winning streak and beat the Bears clean 4-1 on Friday then came back the next night and laid a dud against Utica (sound familiar?) and in the home and home rematch against the Comets in Utica they lost again 4-1, so it was a sweep by the Comets which probably didn’t sit well with the Crunch and their fans. Think Penguins and Bears fans don’t get along? Ratchet that up to ten with Comets and Crunch fans.

Utica beat Bridgeport Friday which isn’t saying much because the Islanders are terrible. They swept their biggest rivals in Syracuse this past weekend, detailed above.

Rochester split in Belleville Friday and Saturday, winning in shootout Friday and losing clean Saturday. The Americans will be in Springfield Wednesday and Hartford on Saturday.

The Penguins had last Wednesday off, beat the Cleveland Monsters decisively and then let one line beat them handily Saturday when the Providence Bruins came to town and spoiled Teddy Bear Toss Night and won 5-1.

Records 

The Penguins are 11-9-3-0, good for 25 points and fifth in the Atlantic.

The Crunch are 13-7-0-2, good for 28 points and second in the North.

Utica is 10-8-3-0, good for 23 points and sixth in the North.

Rochester is 11-7-2-0, good for 24 points and fifth in the North.

Who’s Up? Who’s Down? Who’s Out?

Pittsburgh: Jansen Harkins, Vinnie Hinostroza, Marc Johnstone and Valtteri Puustinen. P.O. Joseph was recalled from his conditioning stint on Sunday.

Dmitri Samorukov was returned back to Wilkes-Barre after clearing waivers.

Up from Wheeling: Justin Addamo, Raivis Ansons, Lukas Svejkovsky, Tanner Laderoute.

Injured: Avery Hayes, Sam Poulin and Sam Houde. Colin White returned from injury Saturday against Providence.

What can we learn about the Penguins this week?

How do they fare against a high flying Syracuse team they shutout then lost 6-3 in a home and home back in November and how do they fare against a brand equal in Utica and Rochester? How do they fare against a Crunch team who was swept by Utica and a Utica team that swept the Crunch? After they navigate through all that, how do they play against Rochester?

I honestly was expecting a reversal of fortune last week, that is a loss against Cleveland and a win against Providence. The opposite happened. They handled Cleveland, who I think is dealing with injuries and callups to key guys and straight let one line score all the goals against them on Saturday. It’s frustrating because there is potential with this team, and I think we all know it. The pattern of being consistently inconsistent is going to be with them for some time and as a result the inability to surprise (winning a game I don’t think they should have won Friday against Cleveland) and a clunker against a division rival they will be at pace with into 2024 and into the Spring.

I keep trying to remind myself that they are who we thought they were, that they aren’t going to get any better and can only marginally get worse and that the bottom can fall out at any time and they are out of playoff spot with how tight things are save for Bridgeport.

They have shown they can run with and beat Syracuse. They have yet to play Utica and Rochester yet but if early returns are to believed, this consistently in consistent team should find some consistency and beat all three teams, provided they do things the right way.

It should be simple to know what works vs. what doesn’t. Don’t let one line beat you. Get a couple power play goals. Stay out of the penalty box. Easy right? We shall see.

Who’s in Goal?

I thought it was Blomqvist’s world that we are are all living in but after these last couple of games I am not so sure.

Blomqvist is 6-4-2 and has lost his last three against Hershey (loss) Springfield (OT loss) and Providence. What was once a sure lock isn’t looking like that so much presently. But this is the AHL and a development league. This is adversity he has to battle through and I think that the skill set is there. The use has to be executed on.

Also being hung out to dry like Tuesday’s laundry like his team let him in parts against Hershey and Springfield and a lot against Providence needs to stop.

I’d go Blomqvist with both home games, Garrett Sparks in Utica.

For the opposition, Hugo Alnefelt for the Crunch, Nico Daws for Utica and don’t be surprised to see old friend Dustin Tokarski out first for the Americans on Saturday.

Who’s Running the Show?

Justin Kea and Jack Young are the scheduled referees on Wednesday against Syracuse with linesmen Patrick Dapuzzo and J.P. Waleski on the lines. On Friday up in Utica, Andrew Bell and Chad Ingalls are the referees and Jeremy Faucher and T.J. Dockery are the scheduled linesmen. Saturday in Wilkes-Barre sees Andrew Bell again with Peter Schlittenhardt and Chandler Yakimowicz and Patrick Dapuzzo on the lines.

Looking Ahead…

Penguins head north of the border for a Thursday game against Belleville and a Friday game in Laval before breaking for Christmas.

Give us a bold prediction…

They shock us all and win all three games by multiple goals.

I don’t know about you, but I thoroughly enjoyed not having a Wednesday game to have to watch or write about this week. Won’t last long, as they have a home game next Wednesday against Syracuse.

This week, it’s Cleveland Friday and Providence Saturday this weekend for the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins, both at home.

Music to Set the Mood…

There’s even a bear! The Providence Bruins! Hooray relevancy!

A Quote…

Don’t let others think for you…
— Unknown

There’s a lot of back and forth I have seen from what’s left of the media in this town about J.D. Forrest and his job performance and job safety. I kind of just laughed it off and kind of ignored it, but if you the fan, think that the head coach sucks and isn’t doing a good enough job in doing what he is paid to do and what you paid money to see, then don’t let someone else who gets paid to cover the game and gets in for free dictate to you how to think. You pay the money to watch the product. Unless or until those who tell you to think otherwise fund or pay for you to attend or watch these games, feel how you want to feel.

I certainly am not going to tell you how to feel.

The Setup

Not your uncle’s Cleveland Monsters and the mercurial Providence Bruins come to town.

The Monsters have led the North Division for a couple of weeks now which made me think of something in the lead up to Friday’s game. Would you rather be a Monsters fan or a Penguins fan? Columbus has a ton of really good prospects in the pipeline in Cleveland and the Penguins have Joel Blomqvist and that’s it. The Monsters have the right mix of veterans (Trey Fix-Wolansky) to blend with exciting prospects (Kent Johnson, currently on recall) that has Cleveland at the top of the North and setup for success all season.

I mean the Penguins have been OK, certainly better than last year, but struggle with great teams (Hershey) and can’t play like the better team when met with equal teams (OT win and loss against Springfield last week)

Providence has been OK, slightly worse than the Penguins, and more inconsistent then the Pens, if you could believe that.

Records 

Wilkes-Barre / Scranton is 10-8-3 and in fifth place with 23 points in the Atlantic.

Cleveland is 14-5-1 and in first place with 29 points in the North.

Providence is 11-8-1-2 and in third place with 25 points in the Atlantic.

The Pens had a 3-1 lead against Hershey at home Wednesday and lost in frustrating fashion 7-5 then split a pair of overtime games with the Springfield Thunderbirds Friday and Saturday in a home and home.

Cleveland split a pair with the Utica Comets at home this past weekend then went to Hartford Wednesday and won in overtime 4-3.

Providence swept Bridgeport in a home and home this past weekend and beat Lehigh Valley at home Sunday. They will be in Allentown on Friday, and have won five straight coming into the weekend.

Who’s Up? Who’s Down? Who’s Out?

Pittsburgh: Dmitri Samorukov, Jansen Harkins, Joona Koppanen, Alex Nylander and Vinnie Hinostroza. I may give Hinostroza the Radim Zohorna treatment going forward and consider him permanently up.

Up from Wheeling: Justin Addamo, Raivis Ansons and Lukas Svejkovsky.

To Wheeling: Owen Headrick.

On Loan from Pittsburgh: P.O. Joseph.

Injured: Avery Hayes, Sam Poulin, Colin White and possibly Sam Houde, who got injured on a hit by Hunter Skinner on Saturday. Skinner was assessed a checking to the head match penalty.

Svejkovsky has been on a tear with Wheeling, as he should be as a guy who spent all season in the AHL. Joseph will be here for the weekend and likely recalled Sunday.

What can we learn about the Penguins this week?

Hypothetically, they should go 2-0. They own Cleveland at home and Providence has more open holes than the Penguins it would seem. Will they? Let’s examine.

If they go up early against either team will J.D. Forrest be able to get his team to maintain the lead and win, which he wasn’t able to do against Hershey at home Wednesday?

If they give either team eight power plays like they did Saturday against Springfield, they may not be so lucky with the offensively powerful Cleveland team.

If they put together a solid twenty minutes consistently, like they did in the third period, down 0-2 in Springfield Friday, then it should be a much easier path for them. Will they? I guess that’s all part of the joyride.

Who’s in Goal? 

Both goalies in Joel Blomqvist and Magnus Hellberg showed well last week. I’d go Blomqvist Friday and Hellberg Saturday.

For Cleveland, you will probably see Jet Greaves in goal Friday and on Saturday likely Michael DiPietro.

Who’s Running the Show?

Riley Brace and Alex Normandin are here enforcing the AHL Rule Book and John Rey and Bill Lyons are manning the lines making sure they stay onside and handling face-offs.

On Saturday, it will be referees Liam Maaskant and Adam Tobias with Bob Goodman and Richard Jondo on the lines.

Looking ahead…

New York, New York! Syracuse at home on Wednesday, a trip to Utica Friday and then Rochester drops by Saturday.

Give us a bold prediction…

One of the Penguins goaltenders gets a shutout this weekend.

The Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins have a home game this Wednesday against the Hershey Bears (these guys again?) and then a home and home against the Springfield Thunderbirds.

Music to Set the Mood….

I love the summer but hate thunderstorms. Go figure.

A Quote…

If there’s thunder in the winter, we’ll have snow 7-10 days later
– Unknown

God, I hope not.

Anyway…

The Setup

Home against Hershey then a home and home starting Friday in Springfield then Saturday back at home against the Thunderbirds.

The Penguins had what I am calling their toughest week of travel last week and came out 1-2. Competitive in Hershey last Wednesday, a scheduled loss after Thanksgiving travel on Friday then a dominant win on Saturday with 44 saves from the best goaltender in the organization in Joel Blomqvist. Not bad, shows to me that they are competitive, but also kinda shows that they don’t have what it takes to lead the division quite yet.

I think that is fine, by the way. They have been like this for the past two months now. Come to think of it, all of the teams pretty much have been what they have been the entire first quarter of the season. Things start to break around the all star break, which we are approaching, so we will see if the Penguins can maybe push to that upper echelon of teams or are content with playing between third and sixth like they have.

Hershey hosted Iowa this past weekend and won both games 2-1. Consistency in Chocolatetown would have been the name of the blog post Sunday after that second 2-1 win over the Wild on Sunday.

Springfield beat Bridgeport on Wednesday, lost to Hartford on Friday and pasted Utica 7-0 on Saturday.

Records

The Bears lead the division with a 15-4 record, good for 30 points and number one overall in the AHL.

Springfield is 10-8-1-0, good for 21 points and fourth in the division and the Penguins are fifth with 20 points and 9-7-2-0 record.

Who’s Up? Who’s Down? Who’s Out?

Up are Justin Addamo, Raivis Ansons from Wheeling.

Up to Pittsburgh are Dmitri Samorukov, Jansen Harkins and Vinnie Hinostroza.

Alex Nylander was returned back to Coal Street from Pittsburgh on Wednesday.

Reassigned to Wheeling on Wednesday was Jordan Frasca. Cedric Desruisseaux was released from his PTO and returned to Wheeling in the same transaction.

Out of the organization: Mark Pysyk was released from his PTO Tuesday.

New to the organization: Peter Abbandonato and Owen Headrick acquired in a trade with the Chicago Wolves for future considerations.

Injured: Avery Hayes, Sam Poulin, Sam Houde, Colin White.

What can we learn about the Penguins this week?

I kinda gave it away in the setup. I think they are a good to great team. I don’t think they are lead the division type team. They aren’t anywhere close to championship contender type.

They can beat Hershey. They are one of only a very few that can lay stake to that claim. What other team gives the Bears fits more than the Penguins? Lehigh Valley? Possibly.

They should beat Springfield, who are a very explosive team that can run you over. Adam Gaudette can score at will and is a sure fire AHL All Star this year. He leads the AHL in goals coming into the week. Are the Thunderbirds one dimensional? Maybe, given the record and seemingly mirror image that they are to the Penguins in points.

Who’s in Goal?

Gotta go Blomqvist Wednesday and probably Saturday. You have two games at home this week. Give your #1 goaltender a break on the road, let Magnus Hellberg get that start and roll with Blomqvist Wednesday and Saturday.

It will likely be Hunter Shepard Wednesday for the Bears and then some combo of Malcolm Subban and Vadim Zherenko for the Thunderbirds Friday and Saturday.

Who’s Running the Show?

Stephen Hiff and Laura White are here on Wednesday with Tyler Loftus and J.P. Waleski running the lines.

Friday up in Springfield sees Justin Kea and Michael Zyla in the orange arm bands and Cameron Carlson and Trevor Disbennett keeping ’em onsides and out of trouble in between whistles.

Saturday in Wilkes-Barre sees Jack Young and Patrick Hanrahan with Patrick Dapuzzo and Chandler Yakimowicz on the lines.

Looking ahead…

No Wednesday game! Look at that! Friday at home against Cleveland then Saturday at home against Providence.

Give us a bold prediction…

The song title for the following weeks games (home against Syracuse, on the road against Utica, home against Rochester) will be Frank Sinatra’s, “New York, New York”

(provided  I remember)