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A pair of goals by players named Kevin and 35 saves by Casey DeSmith and the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins take down the Hershey Bears 2-1 on Friday night in Wilkes-Barre.

A tight, take what they give you affair. Bears struck in the first period to take an early lead then the Penguins, who only had three shots on goal in the second period, score on their third when Kevin Roy went off on a breakaway after a David Warsofsky blocked shot and scored in the final minute of the period.

Pens went 3-for-3 on the penalty kill in the second period but it was a bend but not break strategy that got them through that and then the game, really.

Kevin Czuczman navigated through bodies and fired and beat Bears goaltender Pheonix Copley that gave the Penguins a 2-1 lead that stood up the rest of the way.

From that angle, it looked like it hit crossbar and went out and would not count.

Parallax is a funny thing. I believe that was referee Alex Ross there perfectly positioned to signal goal. The Bears never protested that it wasn’t a goal at the time.

I kind of wish Coal Street built in a few Casey DeSmith saves at the end, cause he was dialed in and needed as the Bears made their final push. DeSmith never budged. Even when Hershey had a power play late and went with a 6 on 4, DeSmith kept them out.

That’s pretty much it. Sometimes they are bore fests like this one to and extent and there isn’t much to write home about. The Penguins didn’t have a single power play all game and their penalty kill against Hershey went 4-for-4.

Here’s how they lined up.

Lineup Notes: 

Axel Jonsson-Fjallby scored the goal in the first period for the Bears. Niclas Almari’s struggles continued on that one as he was tangled up along the wall allowing for Fjallby to break free and score on a snipe that beat DeSmith clean. Hershey didn’t GIF the goal, but it should be in the highlight package below.

Three Stars: I am kind of writing this in reverse, but it gets better from here.

The Good: Found a way to win when they were outshot 36-19….Penalty kill was 4/4, especially in some key areas like the second trailing 1-0. Had the sense if Hershey went up 2-0 it would have been over.

The Bad: Not too many deficiencies tonight. You could say they were lucky to win and not be wrong.

Turning Point: Czuczman’s goal that put them ahead 2-1 and DeSmith’s play in goal in the closing stages get it here.

Not only that, but where would this team be if it weren’t for Casey DeSmith?

Around the Division: Binghamton beats Charlotte 2-1….Rochester beats Lehigh Valley 3-2 in overtime….Springfield beats Hartford 4-1. Bridgeport and Providence were off.

Standings: Hershey 70 — Hartford 68 — Providence 64 — Charlotte 62 — Springfield 60 — Penguins 60 — Lehigh Valley 54 — Bridgeport 44

Wheeling Update: Nailers are shutout 3-0 in Cincinnati.

Video Highlights: 

They bus to Hartford for a 7 start Saturday. Gameday setup is here Saturday afternoon at 3.

Let’s Go Pens!

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Tyler’s summation of this 3-2 Penguins loss was proper.

This hot, cold, hot, cold action that they are on isn’t good, and they can’t for the life of them, figure out a way to run Bridgeport out and beat them. The Sound Tigers are in last in the Atlantic but you wouldn’t know it by watching them play the Penguins.

Like Tyler mentioned, it wasn’t a bad effort, Wilkes-Barre outshot Bridgeport 36-28, but for a team that will be returning home this week with just two points out of the three game road trip, that isn’t ideal especially when you are battling for playoffs. They had a chance to go two clear of Providence last night and lost then a chance tonight to go back even with Providence and lost again.

Hershey, Hartford, two with Providence and Syracuse are the next five games. You know this if you read the Gameday setups four hours before every game on this blog. Those teams aren’t cakewalks by any means.

It’s frustrating because, despite the call-ups and injuries, they are close but keep losing. A young team does that. Oh well.

Casey DeSmith opposed Jared Coreau.

Lineup: 

Bridgeport didn’t post lines.

Lineup Notes: None. Certainly would have expected Emil Larmi to get the start in net and for perhaps Macon Erkamps on defense, but they didn’t go in that direction.

First Period: Back and forth first half of the period, both teams traded power plays and Coreau and DeSmith also traded good save for save.

Then, Oliver Wahlstrom broke up ice on a delayed call and scored to give the Sound Tigers a 1-0 lead.

Second Period: You were looking for a response from Vellucci’s crew and got it.

First, Jamie Devane on a rebound that tied the game at one.

And then Joseph Blandisi on a rebound for a power play goal that made it 2-1 Penguins.

But then Simon Holmstrom took a nice pass from Bobo Carpenter (yes, that’s his name) and scored on a rocket of a shot that leveled it at two late in the period.

Shots were a hefty 18-11 in favor of the Penguins in the period, so the message of getting pucks to the net was delivered to the on ice personnel by Vellucci.

Third Period: I’m going to let my tweets set up this period. Bridgeport to a power play.

Simon Holmstrom, his second of the game, gives the Sound Tigers a 3-2 lead. Here is how he did it.

Penguins got close a few times, but Jared Coreau shut the door at every chance he could. Even with DeSmith pulled for an extra man they got close, but couldn’t find the equalizer.

A late too many men on the ice call pretty much iced their chances away at a comeback.

Three Stars: 3) Jared Coreau (34 saves) 2) Grant Hutton (two assists) and 1) Simon Holmstrom (two goals)

The Good: They are an Anthony Angello or an Andrew Agozzino away from a playoff team.

The Bad: Those players are still in Pittsburgh.

Turning Point: Holmstrom’s second goal of the game which gave the Sound Tigers the lead for good is the choice here.

Around the Division: Binghamton sweeps Hershey in the home and home series, beating the Bears in Hershey 4-2….Springfield gets a much needed win in overtime against Charlotte. 4-3 was the score….Lehigh Valley loses in a shootout to Hartford 4-3. Providence was idle.

Standings: Hershey 68 — Hartford 68 — Charlotte 62 — Providence 60 — Penguins 58 — Springfield 56 — Lehigh Valley 51 — Bridgeport 44

Wheeling Update: Nailers win big at home against Fort Wayne beating the Komets 6-1. Graham Knott, Ryan Scarfo and Cam Brown all scored goals.

Video Highlights: If the Sound Tigers put some out I will work an edit in here.

They are off until Friday when they host Hershey. I’ll have an update to my charts some time Sunday most likely. They auto update at the bottom of that link there except for games. AHL Power Rankings Thursday. Blog pieces and news as it comes otherwise till then.

Let’s Go Pens!