Chirps from Center Ice

A fan blog about the AHL's Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins

GAMEDAY: vs. Springfield 11/15

Comments Off on GAMEDAY: vs. Springfield 11/15 Posted by on November 15, 2019

vs.   

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Who: Springfield Thunderbirds

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Wednesday at home against Hershey, the Penguins were shutout but also shutout the Bears. Wilkes-Barre was the better team and won 1-0 in the shootout. For Springfield, the Thunderbirds hosted Lehigh Valley and won 2-1. Chris Driedger stopped 41 shots en route to the victory.

Last Meeting: November 2 in Springfield, the Penguins were dealt their first shutout loss 4-3. The Penguins outshot the Thunderbirds 44-23, Philippe Desrosiers stole the show with a 41 save performance and went 5 for 6 in the shootout round.

Record: For WBS: 8-5-1-1 (18 pts., 3rd place Atlantic Division) // For SPR: 10-6-0-0 (20 pts., 2nd place Atlantic Division)

Referees: Jake Rekucki / Jason Williams

Linesmen: J.P. Waleski / Michael Magee

Why You Should Care: Low key excited about this game between two defensively stingy teams right now with goalies playing out of their heads presently. If you like offense, tonight might not be for you. Expect another 2-1 or 3-2 affair. You don’t think a team gets shut out tonight, do you?

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

Watch: AHLTV is back for another season and better than ever.

Promotion(s): $15 lower bowl tickets, $2 draft beers presented by PA Prostate and postgame autographs from a pair of Penguins players.

Other Game to Watch: It’s always fun when Utica and Syracuse play each other and tonight should be no different as the two teams meet in Syracuse tonight.

Next Five Games: vs. LV 11/16, @ SPR 11/22, vs. CHA 11/23, vs. LV 11/27, @ LV 11/29

Gameday

AHL Power Rankings: Mid-November 2019

3 Comments Posted by on November 14, 2019

We are halfway through November and just two weeks away from American Thanksgiving and there has been some shake up in the Power Rankings.

Hartford and Springfield were the first teams in the Eastern Conference to ten wins. I don’t think anyone predicted that a month ago. They are winning with goaltending and the ability to win close games in regulation, unlike some teams who play close games but can’t either get that extra goal or that extra point.

Tucson was the first AHL team to ten wins this season and while they are not in the top five this week, they are in the top ten.

Top five go this way this week; Hartford, the leaders in the Atlantic look to widen the gap while other teams in the division figure things out.

Stockton, firing in over four goals a game, are locked in an early battle with Tucson, who they have seen a ton of recently, are second this week.

Laval, the surprise team in the AHL so far, are third and lead the North Division. They are a lot like Hartford that even in defeat they are piling up loser points.

Milwaukee is fourth this week. They are hot in a division which has gone cold.

Discount Toronto, our fifth place team this week, at your peril.

After the Marlies, jump in and see where your favorite team ended up this week if you didn’t link in direct. Enjoy.

1

 Last Games: HFD 1 @ LAV 2 (SO), HFD 4 @ BEL 5 (SO), HER 1 @ HFD 2, BEL 4 @ HFD 3 (SO), HFD 2 @ PRO 1
Don’t adjust your computer screens, this is a very good team. Even in losses, they get points.

+2

 Next Games: @ PRO 11/15, vs. PRO 11/16, vs. SYR 11/20, @ ROC 11/22, @ SYR 11/23
Record: 10-1-0-4

2

 Last Games: SJ 2 @ STK 3 (SO), TUC 4 @ STK 3 (OT), STK 2 @ TUC 3 (SO), STK 6 @ TUC 7, SD 3 @ STK 6
Tops in goals for (an eye popping 4.08) and also in power play have the Heat just running teams over in the Pacific. It’s going to be fun watching them counter punch with Tucson in this battle through the winter.

+3

 Next Games: vs. TUC 11/15, vs. SJ 11/16, @ BAK 11/21, @ SD 11/23, @ ONT 11/27
Record: 8-2-1-2

3

 Last Games: HFD 1 @ LAV 2 (SO), TOR 5 @ LAV 6 (SO), LAV 2 @ CLE 1, LAV 4 @ CLE 0, BEL 5 @ LAV 4 (OT)
I think it’s safe to call Laval the surprise team in the the North a month and a half into 2019-20. Rocket lead the North with 20 points and even in defeat are getting points.

+13

 Next Games: vs. MIL 11/15, vs. BRI 11/16, @ TOR 11/20, vs. UTI 11/22, vs. UTI 11/23, @ BEL 11/27
Record: 9-5-2-0

4

 Last Games: IA 1 @ MIL 0, CHI 2 @ MIL 5, MB 4 @ MIL 6, MIL 3 @ SA 1, MIL 4 @ SA 3 (SO), CHI 3 @ MIL 6
Admirals sit atop the Central in the middle of November. Their run of seven wins in their last ten game shot them there. Interesting games ahead for Milwaukee.

+7

 Next Games: @ LAV 11/15, @ BEL 11/16, @ IA 11/19, @ GR 11/22, vs. GR 11/23, vs. MB 11/27
Record: 9-3-1-2

5

 Last Games: TOR 7 @ BEL 4, TOR 5 @ LAV 6 (SO), TOR 1 @ RFD 3, TOR 1 @ GR 4, TOR 5 @ GR 2
Marlies are setting up fine, just two regulation losses and don’t have to travel at all now till Thanksgiving. Who thought that the Laval Rocket would be keeping pace with Toronto like this?

-3

 Next Games: vs. TEX 11/16, vs. TEX 11/17, vs. LAV 11/20, vs. MB 11/23, vs. MB 11/24
Record: 8-2-2-1

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Power Rankings

Lights! Camera! Shutouts!

Comments Off on Lights! Camera! Shutouts! Posted by on November 13, 2019

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Dueling shutouts by both goaltenders and back to back shutouts by Casey DeSmith, the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins win 1-0 Wednesday night against Hershey.

The Penguins have not allowed any goals to be scored at all under this new LED lighting system. I don’t know if it’s just a matter of happenstance, something or nothing, but it’s one thing to get a shutout, it’s another to get back to back ones.

Stefan Noesen’s slap shot goal in the top of the first in the shootout round was the only goal to pierce the goal line all night and the Penguins take the game and third place in the division.

Casey DeSmith opposed Pheonix Copley.

Lineups:

Lineup Notes: Thomas DiPauli returned from injury and replaced Justin Almeida. No other changes from Saturday against Syracuse.

First Period: Pens came out flying, outshooting Hershey 8-1 at one point. Hershey had two consecutive power plays, regained some of the momentum but then the Pens took it back and outshot the Bears 14-5 in the period. No one scored, though.

Second Period: Same as the first. Momentum flipped a bit, Bears hot, then the Pens and then the Bears. If I was writing this paragraph from a scratch post instead of in the second intermission, it would have instead read, “After a scoreless first and second period where a bunch of nothing or almost happened goal wise…”

Third Period: Same as the first and second. No power plays here. Back and forth, but off to…

Overtime: Pens had a three on one and flubbed a shot. Andrew Agozzino had a breakaway and had a bad shot. No. One. Was. Scoring.

Shootout: Stefan Noesen scored on a slap shot in the top of the first, everyone else missed. Casey DeSmith doesn’t allow goals even in gimmick shootout rounds.

Three Stars: 3) Pheonix Copley (29 save shutout) 2) Stefan Noesen (shootout goal) 1) Casey DeSmith (28 save shutout)

The Good: Defense looked great last weekend. It looked downright stingy tonight against Hershey and all of that offense.

The Bad: Would rather the OT or regulation win, but this category after a game like this is nitpicking.

Turning Point: Noesen’s goal in the shootout gave the Pens the 1-0 lead that, ultimately won them the contest.

Around the Division: Only other action today was a kids day game in Springfield between the Thunderbirds and Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Springfield wins 2-1 and are the third AHL team, second in the division behind Hartford, to win ten games. Certainly unexpected. Everyone else was off.

Standings: Hartford 24 – Springfield 20 – Penguins 18 – Providence 18 – Hershey 18 – Lehigh Valley 16 – Charlotte 12 – Bridgeport 11

Wheeling Update: The Nailers were off.

Video Highlights: Brief. Bears had em first. Here they are:

Back at it Friday against Springfield. Gameday setup for that will be at 3 Friday. Power Rankings Thursday at 11 first.

Let’s Go Pens!

Postgamer

GAMEDAY: vs. Hershey 11/13

Comments Off on GAMEDAY: vs. Hershey 11/13 Posted by on November 13, 2019

vs.     

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Who: Hershey Bears

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Saturday at home against Syracuse, the Pens won 2-0. Zach Trotman scored a third period shorthanded goal and Casey DeSmith posted a 35 save shutout. For Hershey, the Bears won a shootout Sunday ta home against Lehigh Valley 3-2. Mike Sgarbossa scored a highlight reel goal in the top of the fourth round. Vitek Vanecek stopped all four Phantoms shooters and had 25 saves in the game.

Last Meeting: October 13 in Hershey, the Bears posted a 5-1 win. Niclas Almari scored a garbage time power play goal to spoil Pheonix Copley’s shutout bid. Hershey scored twice on the power play and Travis Boyd had two goals and an assist.

Record: For WBS: 7-5-1-1 (16 pts., 6th place Atlantic Division) // For HER: 7-5-2-1 (17 pts., 5th place Atlantic Division)

Referees: Beau Halkidis / Peter Schlittenhardt

Linesmen: Tyler Loftus / Luke Muuary

Why You Should Care: Two different teams since the last meeting. The Penguins penalty killing unit isn’t a punchline to a joke anymore and Wilkes-Barre has clamped down defensively and only allowed one goal in the last two games. Should be an interesting setup with the dynamic forward group the Bears boast here on a Wednesday in Wilkes-Barre.

Listen: Nick Hart on the call on WILK.

Watch: AHLTV is back for another season and better than ever.

Promotion(s): None.

Other Game to Watch: Belleville heads to Laval in a battle of two very improved teams in the North Division.

Next Five Games: vs. SPR 11/15, vs. LV 11/16, @ SPR 11/22, vs. CHA 11/23, vs. LV 11/27

Gameday

Asked and Answered 11/13

Comments Off on Asked and Answered 11/13 Posted by on November 13, 2019

Let’s open up the Mailbag and get to your questions with some answers.

Best Pens Defenseman? Any younger D making an impression? -Rob

The answer is Jon Lizotte to both questions. In the larger sample size, he’s far and away the best Penguins defenseman when it comes to overall goals for and at even strength. I think in the long run Zach Trotman may give him a run for his money, but the answer, right now, is Jon Lizotte.

Honorable mentions to Nicolas Almari and Michael Kim. Almari moreso than Kim. Almari I feel is more polished because he played overseas and more NHL ready right now if you needed a recall.

If Stefan Noesen continues to play well do you think the penguins or another NHL team offers him a NHL contract. – Jim

Pittsburgh no, other NHL teams, possibly. I think Noesen likes it here and him leading the team and AHL in goals scored shows this. Guys that drop out of the NHL can go back to the AHL where they played 10-15 years ago and pout and go through the motions. Not Noesen. You’re not coming here and in a month start tearing the AHL to shreds if you don’t like it here.

Is Noesen playing in the NHL again this season? No, I don’t think so. An NHL team would have to be desperate enough to be out of options with their own AHL affiliate to offer Noesen a lucrative contract and at best he’s a fill in.

If you had to answer right now, Do you think Jake Lucchini will make the NHL for the Penguins? – Matt

He’s got to button up his own end defensively, 37.5% overall GF%, 42.11% at even strength, but yes I think he’s on the right track and his NHL debut for Pittsburgh shouldn’t be too far off.

Thanks for the questions. Gameday setup for tonight’s game vs. Hershey will be up at 3. I have to remember to not run a mailbag feature when there are Wednesday games.

Mailbag

Stat Board Update / Mailbag

Comments Off on Stat Board Update / Mailbag Posted by on November 10, 2019

I updated the Big Stat Board through November 9, 2019 vs. Syracuse. You can link to that here or just click into the menu bar at the top of the blog to be taken there.

Some notes:

– How critical is Zach Trotman right now for the Penguins? Wilkes-Barre’s defense was a mess before his arrival, but now have allowed just one goal in two games against some offensively explosive AHL teams.

– No surprise that Jon Lizotte, Trotman’s defensive partner last night, is right at the top of the board in Even Strength Goals For (ESGF) percentage for defenseman. Lizotte has been far and away the best Penguins defenseman so far into the season and an argument can be made that he’s the most consistent Penguins rookie as well.

– For forwards, no surprises. Adam Johnson, Stefan Noesen and Andrew Agozzino are the best at overall goals for (GF) average. All are over 60%. Johnson is at 75% in a small sample size.

– I think the market will correct itself on all of the sub-50% ESGF’s, which is more than half the team when you factor out the injured or recalled guys. I want more from Joseph Blandisi (28.57) Anthony Angello (28.57) and Jake Lucchini (42.11) – again, I think the market will correct itself as it goes, but Blandisi is a legitimate NHL recall option, Angello is in his second year and Lucchini doesn’t want to carry a tag of a guy who doesn’t play defense.

– David Warsofsky has the worst numbers at even strength with a 23.81% or five goals on and 16 against. That frankly needs to change, quickly. If you are advocating for a scratch, well he’s the captain and his power play numbers (9 on, 3 against) are too good to take out. The purest definition of risk / reward if there ever was one. Warsofsky is also third on the team in points, so you have to take the good with the bad and again, I firmly believe that there will be a regression to the mean and his even strength numbers will improve.

Take a look, let me know what you think about that and whatever other general questions you may have on the team in this edition of the Mailbag. Get your questions in and I’ll answer them Tuesday for you.

This mailbag is closed and your questions were answered here.

Mailbag, WBS

DeSmith With DeShutout — Pens WIN 2-0

1 Comment Posted by on November 9, 2019

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Here’s a telling little nugget dropped on Twitter by Pens play by play man Nick Hart after the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins 2-0 win over Syracuse Saturday night.

So the defense, which we have kind of singled out as a bit of an early problem, has a bit of of a course correction as the Penguins sweep the weekend and pick up a maximum of four points to remain in contention in the Atlantic.

However, this was all Casey DeSmith tonight. The Penguins didn’t really give him a lot of run support tonight nor Friday night with Dustin Tokarski in Utica, but when you are scoring more goals than your opponent, it doesn’t really make a difference if it’s 2-1 or 1-0.

Syracuse outshot the Penguins 35-22 tonight and went 0-for-6 on the power play. DeSmith dazzled in goal, stopping a few 2-on-1 rushes and was generally dialed in from the drop. Sometimes you can tell early on if a goalie has it, and DeSmith definitely did, picking up his first shutout of the season.

He opposed Spencer Martin.

Lines were…

Syracuse didn’t post any lines that I saw through their platforms.

Lineup Notes: Essentially Andreas Martinsen for Ryan Haggerty vet for vet, Jon Lizotte was back in from injury for Matt Abt.

First Period: Andrew Agozzino got one to go with a weird play where he had a puck deflect off of him and then off of a Crunch defender that went in for a 1-0 Wilkes-Barre lead.

The new LED light system slaps, by the way. 100% better than the old sodium lights they had.

Penguins would go on to outshoot Syracuse 13-11 in the first, but would only muster nine more shots the rest of the way, six in the second and three in the third.

Second Period: Felt at the time that this was Syracuse’s big push period. Syracuse just likes to play run and gun and if you are a slow team or aren’t ready for that transition out of nowhere style, you’ll get buried quick. DeSmith was dialed in. Example:

Wilkes-Barre would see Sam Miletic leave after a nasty hit along the boards by Dominik Masin. Masin would receive a five minute major for boarding which carries an automatic match penalty.

Here’s the excerpt from the AHL Rulebook on the subject of a major penalty for boarding:

41.4 Match Penalty – The Referee, at his discretion, may assess a match penalty if, in his judgment, the player attempted to or deliberately injured his opponent by boarding.

…

41.6 Fines and Suspensions – Refer to Rule 23.6 – Fines and Suspensions – Physical Fouls Category.

When a major penalty is imposed under this rule, an automatic fine of one hundred dollars ($100) shall be imposed.

When a major penalty and a game misconduct is assessed for a foul resulting in an injury to the face or head of an opponent, an automatic fine of two hundred dollars ($200) shall be imposed.

If deemed appropriate, supplementary discipline can be applied by the President at his discretion (refer to Rule 28).

So Masin could be looking at a suspension if warranted. Normally, you’ll only see that if a player is indeed injured. Miletic was held out of the rest of the game because he went face first into the boards and will need to go into the protocol for concussions. The Crunch are back in action Monday in Utica, so Masin could miss that game on a suspension. He may get a game regardless of how bad Miletic is injured anyway.

Third Period: This was all about Stefan Noesen taking penalty after penalty and the Penguins killing said penalty after penalty and DeSmith making save after save.

Noesen ended up with 21 penalty minutes. Ten of those were answering to the hit on Miletic, but you can’t really afford to have the AHL’s leading goal scorer cutting ruts to the penalty box when you are in a close game with an offensively potent team like Syracuse.

Penguins would get breathing room when Zach Trotman blasted one home while the Penguins were shorthanded.

Syracuse, with time running out, pulled Martin for an extra attacker yet were never able to score.

Three Stars: 3) Zach Trotman (goal) 2) Andrew Agozzino (goal, assist) and 1) Casey DeSmith (35 save shutout)

The Good: The penalty kill is really something to behold. The Penguins were better shorthanded tonight than Syracuse on the man advantage if that makes sense. Seems like Syracuse was chasing the game and taking too many chances while the Pens sat back and took what was given.

The Bad: Too many penalties by Stefan Noesen. There’s playing aggressive and playing reckless. Two penalties in the third period while the score was still 1-0 is inexcusable for a veteran player like Noesen. John Hynes would have benched him. Mike Vellucci should have too.

Turning Point: Trotman’s shorthanded goal in the third gave the Penguins a valley of breathing room and proved to be insurmountable for the Crunch to overcome.

Around the Division: Springfield beats Charlotte 4-3 in overtime in an up and down game….Providence runs over Bridgeport 4-1….Lehigh Valley beats Hershey 3-2 in overtime….Belleville takes down Hartford 4-3 in a shootout. The Wolf Pack continue to pile up points like the squirrels in your back yard are storing away nuts for the winter.

Standings: Hartford 22 — Providence and Springfield 18 — Lehigh Valley and the Penguins 16 — Hershey 15 — Charlotte 12 and Bridgeport 9.

Wheeling Update: Nailers lose in Reading 6-4. Jan Drozg had a goal and an assist. He may be headed here if Miletic is too banged up to go, the Pens have a vet problem and can’t just plug in Cramarossa or Haggerty.

Video Highlights: Went up before me. I’m late!

I’ll have a refresh of the charts Sunday afternoon and may, depending on when I get my walk in and if it’s before the MLS Cup final between Toronto and Seattle, open up the Mailbag a day early heading into a busy week. Drop by the blog Sunday anyway.

Let’s Go Pens!

Postgamer

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