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Playoff like intense hockey game played in Providence, Rhode Island between the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins and the Providence Bruins. After a scoreless forty minutes, two defensemen trade goals about five minutes apart but that solved little, and the Penguins need a shootout to take down the Bruins 2-1 Friday night in Providence.

With the win and the Phantoms loss in Syracuse Friday, Wilkes-Barre jumps to fifth in the Atlantic and is four points out of a playoff spot on the Bruins, who occupy that spot.

Tristan Jarry opposed Zane McIntyre.

Lines were…

Lineup: Sam Lafferty centered the top line after J-S Dea departed this week. The third line remained the same. The defense pairing were all shook up with Tim Erixon returning and Chris Wideman debuting, taking the place of Jeff Taylor and the recalled Zach Trotman.

First Period: No scoring in the period. The Bruins were slightly better at even strength. Tristan Jarry was up to the task with the in close shots that the Bruins were throwing at him.

Second Period: Penguins found themselves on a power play to start the period and all of a sudden had a two man advantage for 1:25. They got the perfect setup with Sam Lafferty but Zane McIntyre was there to make the ridiculous save to keep the game scoreless.

Anton Blidh and Chris Wideman fought in the only action that would have brought the fans out of their seats.

Third Period: The goal less drought would finally end when Ethan Prow would score to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead.

Providence then proceeded to slow the game down and through a mass of bodies to the penalty box, would see Chris Breen score a power play goal to tie the game at one. A laser from the point.

Game flipped back into a defensive battle after that. Time ticked down and it was off to…

Overtime: Periscoped below, with the shootout as well. In it, you will see Ethan Prow break up a Bruins scoring bid and the Penguins on a power play to close out regulation. Tristan Jarry stops both shooters he faced, Ben Sexton scored in the second and Joseph Cramarossa with the hammer to win it in the third.

If you don’t want to sit through the entire ~11:30, here is Cramarossa’s game winner in the shootout.

The Good: Pens played a tight, playoff intense affair against a really good team in Providence.

The Bad: Special teams continues to be a concern. Pens couldn’t score on a long 5-on-3 in the second period on a fresh sheet of ice and couldn’t score in overtime.

Turning Point: Tristan Jarry stopping Lee Stempniak, he of 900+ NHL games in the top of the second followed by Joseph Cramarossa’s goal in the bottom of the second proved to be the most important set off events in an otherwise drab, defensively locked down hockey game.

Three Stars: 3) Chris Wideman (assist) 2) Chris Breen (goal) 1) Ben Sexton (goal in shootout)

Around the Division: Charlotte beats Binghamton 4-2….Hershey loses in overtime in Utica 3-2….Lehigh Valley is shutout in Syracuse 4-0 and Springfield beat Hartford 5-1. J-S Dea had a goal for his new team in his Thunderbirds debut. Bridgeport was off.

Standings: Charlotte 81 — Bridgeport 73 — Hershey 68 — Providence 65 — Penguins 61 — Lehigh Valley 60 — Springfield 57 — Hartford 55

Setting up Saturday: Providence travels to Springfield. Lehigh Valley heads to Utica. Hershey hosts a rested Bridgeport team.

Wheeling Update: The Nailers beat Toledo 5-2. Blake Siebenaler, assigned there this week by Wilkes-Barre (technically Pittsburgh) had an assist. Winston Day Chief had a hat trick.

If I see Coal Street put out a video highlight package, I will run it here.

Pens head to Hartford for a 7:30 start Saturday against the Wolf Pack. Gameday setup is yours Saturday at 3:30.

Let’s Go Pens!

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Quite frankly, the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins needed this one. Badly.

A 4-1 win Sunday afternoon at home against the Rockford IceHogs where they got depth scoring, good defense and solid goaltending from Tristan Jarry who made 33 saves.

Two goals from Jimmy Hayes in the second period, who found out Saturday that he and his wife are having a baby boy, and it is a good afternoon for the Penguins who use their game in hand to their advantage on the division and get some help on the out of town scoreboard to keep themselves in the running in the Atlantic Division push for the playoffs.

Jarry opposed Kevin Lankinen.

Lines were…

Lineup Notes: The Penguins recalled Cam Brown and Jeff Taylor from Wheeling Sunday morning. They both went right into the lineup. Taylor for Macoy Erkamps and Brown for Anthony Angello, who despite being listed above was indeed thescrtach. Jimmy Hayes was on the fourth line. Adam Johnson returned from his illness and replaced Linus Ölund.

Lines, from Friday, were all jumbled up. Even the D pairings.

First Period: Jeff Taylor pinches down, wheels around the net, throws a shot on and Ryan Scarfo is there near side to sweep the puck in for a 1-0 Penguins lead.

The Penguins played very well in the opening frame, probably the beneficiaries of having the night off Saturday, and controlled play. They lacked on special teams and gave up two quality chances that Tristan Jarry had to bail them out on. Here is one, on a breakaway.

Rockford tied it when Luke Johnson called for the puck mid slot and flicked one past Jarry low to tie the game at one.

First Intermission: One of the zambonis broke down. It took a team effort to get it off of the ice.

So, you want to work in pro sports?

Second Period: Jimmy Hayes scored the first of two two goals when he throws a puck at the net trying to find Ryan Scarfo parked in front when it goes off of Lucas Carlsson’s skate and in for a 2-1 Penguins lead.

Hayes added a second when he had a clap shot from the near dot with Joseph Cramarossa screening that gave the Penguins a 3-1 lead.

Penguins took a stand in the final thirty or so seconds of the period when Rockford pushed really hard for a goal but they got out of it with the two goal lead heading into the third.

Third Period: Wilkes-Barre was getting badly outshot in the period, but that is where Tristan Jarry went to work. Rockford came up empty with each passing attempt. Jerry attempted another goal at the empty net but his attempt sailed wide.

Adam Johnson beat out a Sam Lafferty bid from around the same area and the Penguins sealed it.

Three Stars:

The Good: I think I mentioned it in my open but I’ll mention it again here. Depth scoring, solid goaltending and defense. Put the three together like you did today and see how far this team can go in the 20 or so games left in the season.

The Bad: Week of practice coming up, I hope they work win special teams. They were a mess today. If not for Jarry being laser dialed in, who knows where this goes.

Turning Point: Jimmy Hayes’ second goal of the period gave the Penguins a two goal lead in the second period and a swagger that felt good for them and even in the stands. It’s a game that you go back and look at and say that they had all the way because of the full effort on display. Hayes goal that gave the Pens a two goal lead was the turning point.

Around the Division: Good afternoon on the out of town scoreboard. Hershey’s point streak is over, Bridgeport beats the Bears 5-1 to open up an eight point lead on Hershey for second place….Hartford beats Providence 4-1. The Bruins are the Penguins next opponent this Friday in Rhode Island in a game with huge playoff implications. Everyone else was off.

Standings: Charlotte 79 — Bridgeport 73 — Hershey 65 — Providence 64 — Lehigh Valley 60 — Penguins 59 — Springfield 55 — Hartford 55

Wheeling Update: The Nailers were off all weekend, are back in action Tuesday.

Video Highlights: 

Trade Deadline is tomorrow. I don’t expect anything major to impact Wilkes-Barre here but have been wrong in the past. If there is anything of note to talk about, my Twitter will have it first followed by a blog probably Monday afternoon or evening. If not, look for news and notes this week if there are any and the Power Rankings on Thursday.

Let’s Go Pens!