Chirps from Center Ice

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

AHL Power Rankings: Week 27

Comments Off on AHL Power Rankings: Week 27 Posted by on April 9, 2018

It’s the penultimate week of the Chirps from Center Ice AHL Power Rankings and things are coming into focus for the Calder Cup Playoffs.

No change to the top three, Toronto, Lehigh Valley and Tucson are the top three teams. Rockford stays in fifth, needing just one point to clinch a playoff spot.

The Charlotte Checkers are fourth in the order, and are on a tear and a team you don’t want in the first round of the playoffs.

To check out the other 25 teams, click past the Rockford capsule and enjoy.

1

 Last Week: UTI 2 @ TOR 3 (OT), TOR 2 @ UTI 3 (SO), TOR 5 @ RCH 6 (OT)
Regular season champs should be odds on favorite to claim the Calder Cup, but were all know how that went last season with last years regular season champion Penguins.

n/a

 This Week: @ LAV 4/13, vs. LAV 4/14, vs. BEL 4/15
Record: 51-18-2-2

2

 Last Week: LV 1 @ CHA 3, LV 1 @ CHA 6, LV 2 @ HFD 3 (OT), LV 6 @ PRO 3
Wrapped up home ice in the first and second rounds this weekend. We will give them the advantage over a date with Providence. Charlotte? Not so much.

n/a

 This Week: vs. BRI 4/13, vs. WBS 4/14
Record: 45-19-5-5

3

 Last Week: GR 0 @ TUC 3, GR 4 @ TUC 1
Have proven it all season long, now look to prove it where it matters the most.

n/a

 This Week: @ SD 4/11, vs. SD 4/13, vs. SD 4/14
Record: 39-20-5-1

4

 Last Week: LV 1 @ CHA 3, LV 1 @ CHA 6, HER 3 @ CHA 7, HER 1 @ CHA 3
Five wins in a row and an eight game point streak. Checkers getting hot at the right time.

+4

 This Week: @ PRO 4/13, @ BRI 4/15
Record: 44-26-1-3

5

 Last Week: RFD 4 @ SA 2, RFD 3 @ TEX 2 (OT), RFD 3 @ TEX 4
IceHogs are a point away from clinching a spot. Barring a meltdown, should happen before Friday.

n/a

 This Week: @ IA 4/10, vs. CHI 4/13, @ CHI 4/14
Record: 39-26-4-4

Click through here to see teams 6 through 30

Power Rankings

Taming a Tiger — Pens WIN 5-2

Comments Off on Taming a Tiger — Pens WIN 5-2 Posted by on April 8, 2018

       @       

5                                          2

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Anthony Peters hasn’t played in a meaningful hockey game in about three weeks, so you couldn’t fault him if he was rusty coming into the tail end of a three in three weekend on the road against a team that beat the Penguins on Friday night at home.

But Peters closed the door on the already eliminated Bridgeport Sound Tigers, and the Penguins, bolstered by a 4-0 start at the end of the first, win 5-2 to hold onto second place in the Atlantic Division with three games to play in the regular season. Peters stopped 41 of 43 shots.

Peters opposed Eamon McAdam.

Lines were…

Garrett Wilson – J-S Dea – Daniel Sprong
Adam Johnson – Gage Quinney – Ryan Haggerty
Patrick McGrath – Jarrett Burton – Christian Thomas
Joseph Cramarossa – Teddy Blueger – Tom Kostopoulos

Andrey Pedan – Lukas Bengtsson
Chris Summers – Kevin Czuczman
Jarred Tinordi – Zach Trotman

Anthony Peters – Tristan Jarry

Lineup Notes: Anthony Peters first start in goal for the Pens since March 18, McGrath’s first action since February 17. Tom Sestito was out for McGrath. Tristan Jarry backed up Peters.

First Period: Much like Saturday night against Binghamton, the Penguins jumped out to a 4-0 lead.

Adam Johnson on a power play scored his first of the period.

Stepped into the high slot and let it rip into the top corner.

Johnson, 1:17 later, chases down a puck, gets it to the point for a shot then collects the rebound and scores to double the Penguins lead.

Tom Kostopoulos caused a turnover and fed Christian Thomas for a goal that made it 3-0.

Bridgeport called a time out. It didn’t seem to help.

Zach Trotman put a shot on net and Pat McGrath tipped dit home to make it 4-0.

An all out blitzkrieg to finish out the weekend three in three. But, there were two more full periods to play.

Second Period: Kristers Gudlevskis led the Sound Tigers out for the second period and took over for Eamon McAdam, and it was the kick in the pants that the Sound Tigers needed to get something going.

Slight problem though, they didn’t execute.

Bridgeport had a long spell of 5-on-3 power play to work with, yet only registered about two shots on net and spent the other time passing and chasing the cleared pucks sent in their end.

John Stevens scored to break up the Anthony Peters would be shutout bid after a turnover at just past half way, and Bridgeport led the Penguins in shots 17-5 in the period, so the Penguins had a three goal lead to defend heading into the…

Third Period: Anthony Peters remained strong in net for the Penguins, making saves swimming in the crease. Gage Quinney scored a goal when. shot from the point rebounded right to Quinney for the put in which made it 5-1.

Penguins fell asleep defensively and Steve Bernier hacked and whacked at a puck and scored to bring the Sound Tigers to within three.

But three would be as far as Bridgeport got. A quick moving period the rest of the way and the penguins would hold on to win.

Three Stars: 3) Gage Quinney (goal, assist, +2) 2) Anthony Peters (41 saves on 43 shots) 1) Adam Johnson (two goals, +1)

Around the Division: Charlotte continues to tear it up, they beat Hershey 3-1 today…Lehigh Valley wins the Atlantic Division Championship with a 6-3 win over a slumping Providence Bruins team…Springfield shutout Hartford 2-0.

Standings: Lehigh Valley (100 points, division winners) — Penguins (94 points, 3 games remaining) — Providence (91 points (3 games left) — Charlotte (92 points, two games left) — Bridgeport, Hartford, Springfield, Hershey.

Wheeling Update: The Nailers season ended yesterday, I expect a caravan of players headed to Coal Street this week.

Video Highlights:

Check back here Monday for the AHL Power Rankings at 4.

Let’s Go Pens!

Postgamer

GAMEDAY: @ Bridgeport 4/8

Comments Off on GAMEDAY: @ Bridgeport 4/8 Posted by on April 8, 2018

@     

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Who: Bridgeport Sound Tigers

Where: Webster Bank Arena

When: 3:00 p.m.

Last Game: Last night at home against the Binghamton Devils, the Penguins locked up their sixteenth straight trip to the Calder Cup Playoffs with a 7-4 win. Christian Thomas had a pair of goals and assisted on another. For Bridgeport, the Sound Tigers were defeated by the Providence Bruins 4-2 and that loss ended the Sound Tigers chances at a postseason berth.

Last Meeting: This past Friday in Wilkes-Barre, Mitch Vande Sompel scored twice and the Sound Tigers defeated the Penguins 4-3. Daniel Sprong and Tom Kostopoulos scored for the Pens in the loss.

Record: For WBS: 42-22-6-2 (92 pts., 2nd place Atlantic Division) // For BRI: 36-28-5-3 (80 pts., 5th place Atlantic Division)

Referee(s): Chris Ciamaga / Olivier Gouin

Linesmen: Luke Galvin / Petr Hejna

Why You Should Care: Pens punched a ticket last night but playoff seeding remains in the balance with nothing guaranteed and nothing confirmed. That said, do the Penguins make lineup changes tonight? All other teams in the division that qualified for the postseason are in action today. Penguins can’t afford a slip up here.

Other Game to Watch: Lehigh Valley visits Providence. Pens still have an outside shot at tops in the division, albeit slim.

Remaining Games: @ SPR 4/13, @ LV 4/14, @ HER 4/15

Gameday

It’s the Postseason, Tom — Pens WIN 7-4

Comments Off on It’s the Postseason, Tom — Pens WIN 7-4 Posted by on April 7, 2018

       vs.       

4                                          7

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The Penguins are headed to the playoffs for a sixteenth consecutive season. 

Tonight was Penguins captain Tom Kostopoulos’ final regular season home game.

There are two nice older people that sit ahead of me at the games that call me Tom for some reason. I was raised to respect my elders, so Tom it is.

It’s the postseason, and the players are going to rally around their grizzled captain and do it for Tom. The real one, not the the one mistaken for one.

It’s been a solid season for the Penguins overall. They probably won’t win the Atlantic Division, have not played at the level to win the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy (that went to the Toronto Marlies) so Wilkes-Barre will fly under the radar as a strong, maybe even a dark horse team. 

A 7-4 win against a scrappy Binghamton Devils team tonight. After a 4-0 bombardment in the first period on goaltender Cam Johnson making his first professional start after a college season at the University of North Dakota in the first period, the Penguins may have let off heading into the second. 

That’s where Binghamton scored twice to totally change the dynamic of the game. But just :35 in to the third period, J-S Dea found Daniel Sprong for his thirtieth goal of the season that made it 5-2 Penguins. 

Michael Leighton started the game, and got the Penguins through the game. He was far from perfect, but guided the Penguins to a scrappy win in a game which featured a ton of offense. I still believe that Tristan Jarry is the Game 1 starter in the opening round against Providence whoever the Penguins first round opponent will be, but Head Coach Clark Donatelli has options if he needs them to switch to Leighton if he needs to.

No lineup changes for the Penguins tonight.

First Period: Penguins scored on a power play goal that should not have counted on account of offsides. J-S Dea scored and the Pens were off to the races.

The play was offsides though, and left to stand as a good goal. You can’t review offsides in the AHL.

Terrible call by the officials. Binghamton was robbed and you could say it completely changed the dynamic of the game. I’m not happy about it because of how terrible the call was. The Devils were robbed.

Tom Sestito scored seconds later and the rout was on.

Jarrett Burton got into the act with a highlight reel goal. Burton flipped the puck over a stick laying on the ice, hit two posts and then followed his own shot and scored to make it 3-0 Penguins.

Pens made it 4-0 as a power play expired when Zach Trotman scored to make it 4-0. I thought Burton got a stick on it, but it was Trotman’s goal.

Rout was on.

Until it wasn’t.

Second Period: Binghamton got two back in this period, and met the Penguins chance for chance in the period.

Jake Wallman scored unassisted when Leighton was screened to break up the shutout and make it 4-1.

Binghamton started to drive and get chance after chance. Leighton remained strong in net, but Wallman set up Blake Pietila to with a lot shot that Pietila deflected in to make it a two goal lead for the Penguins.

Wilkes-Barre fell asleep, or were too amped due to it being the final regular season home game, their captains final regular season game, and forgot that the game of hockey is played in three, twenty minute increments.

So comeback city for the Devils right?

To quote Lee Corseo, “not so fast, my friend.”

Three Stars: Dea and Sprong worked a two on one deep in the Binghamton zone and Sprong scored his 30th of the season to make it 5-2 Penguins.

Christian Thomas wired a wrist shot from high in the slot on a rush and it was 6-2 Penguins.

But Binghamton is scrappy. The North is so top heavy with their top four teams but watch out for this Devils team next year, they can scrap. They will probably finish fifth in the North this season.

The Devils get a power play goal from Jake MacDonald, a player that has killed the Pens all season, with Leighton again screened that made it 6-3.

A Jan Mandat snap shot handcuffed Leighton and it was all of a sudden 6-4.

Devils pulled Johnson and Christian Thomas scored to make it 7-4 to ice it away.

Three Stars: 3) Tom Sestito (goal, assist, +4) 2) Christian Thomas (two goals, assist, +4) 1) Tom Kostopoulos (you don’t need a reason)

Players switched to 29 practice jerseys during warmups:

And all the Devils players came over to give Kostopoulos a handshake after the game.

Around the Division: Providence beat Bridgeport 4-2. That eliminated the Sound Tigers. Providence clinched a spot also. The Charlotte Checkers, who you don’t want round one, crushed the Hershey Bears 7-3. Charlotte is in as well. Hartford beats Lehigh Valley in overtime 3-2. Springfield was off.

Standings: Lehigh Valley (98 points, 3 games left) — Penguins (92 points, 4 games left) — Providence (91 points, 4 games left) – Charlotte (90 points, 3 games left) — Bridgeport, Hartford, Springfield and Hershey. The AHL ranks by percentage.

With playoffs set, things are still very much in flux for the Atlantic Division.

Pens (at Bridgeport), Charlotte (vs. Hershey), Lehigh Valley at Providence are the games in the Atlantic to pay attention to tomorrow.

Wheeling Update: Nailers win their final game of the season with a 7-3 thrashing of the Fort Wayne Komets. Reid Gardiner had a goal and an assist.

Video Highlights: 

Pens are in Bridgeport Sunday at 3. Depending on prerogative, Donatelli may rest some guys, or he may push for home ice. I honestly don’t know. Gameday setup hist the blog here Sunday at 11 a.m.

Let’s Go Pens!

Gameday

RAPID RECAP – Pens WIN 7-4

Comments Off on RAPID RECAP – Pens WIN 7-4 Posted by on April 7, 2018

Well, they did it.

With the 7-4 win tonight over the Binghamton Devils, the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins have clinched a 16th straight appearance in the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Game really wasn’t in doubt. After going up 4-0 after the first period, who could fault the Penguins for letting off a bit. Binghamton came out in the second and pushed to make it 4-2.

But in the first minute of the third, Wilkes-Barre scored to make it 5-2, then 6-2 and added an empty net goal after Binghamton scored two more.

Game story will be delayed a bit cause it’s 10 pm and I haven’t left the building.

Rapid Recap

GAMEDAY: vs Binghamton 4/7

Comments Off on GAMEDAY: vs Binghamton 4/7 Posted by on April 7, 2018

vs.     

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Who: Binghamton Devils

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Last Game: Last night at home against Bridgeport, Daniel Sprong figured into every goal the Penguins scored, scoring one and assisting on two others. but Wilkes-Barre was handed a 4-3 loss by the Sound Tigers. For Binghamton, the Devils defeated the Syracuse Crunch at home 4-3 in a shootout. Nick Lappin had three assists in the contest.

Last Meeting: March 24 in Binghamton, the Penguins won 5-4 in a shootout. Andrey Pedan and Jarred Tinordi both had a goal and an assist each, Micheal Leighton stopped 37 of 41 to improve to 4-0 for the Penguins.

Record: For WBS: 41-22-6-2 (90 pts., 2nd place Atlantic Division) // For BNG: 24-36-7-4 (59 pts., 5th place North Division)

Referee(s): Reid Anderson / Jason Faist

Linesmen: Richard Jondo / Matt McNulty

Why You Should Care: Expect Michael Leighton in net for the Pens tonight as Wilkes-Barre plays it’s final regular season home game before concluding the 2017-18 season with four on the road. There is still some work to do as the Penguins need one point to cinch up a spot in the postseason. They are most likely turning to their veteran net minder to get them across the line.

Promotion(s): McDonald’s Fan Appreciation Night

Television: Tonights game will be broadcast locally on WBRE which is Channel 28 on my TV dial, I don’t know about yours.

Other Game to Watch: Providence travels to Bridgeport. A Bruins win will clinch the playoffs for the Penguins no matter what happens tonight with the Devils.

Remaining Games: @ BRI 4/8, @ SPR 4/13, @ LV 4/14, @ HER 4/15

Gameday

Postseason Postponed — Pens LOSE 4-3

1 Comment Posted by on April 6, 2018

       vs.       

4                                          3

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The Calder Cup Playoffs are still a few weeks away, yet one team came into tonight acting like they started yesterday. 

Facing a must win situation, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers came into Wilkes-Barre tonight and won 4-3. If they lost, they would have been eliminated from the playoffs. 

Bridgeport always plays the Penguins tough. Moreso than previous years it seems. Styles make fights. There wasn’t one thing, save for a defensive gaffe in the third period, that I can place my finger on that the Penguins were deficient in. Sometimes in matchups with two evenly matched teams the team that makes less mistakes wins the game. That team tonight was the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. 

Tristan Jarry opposed Chris Gibson.

Lineup wise, the only change was Gage Quinney returning after a five game hiatus due to a lower body injury, replacing Sam Lafferty, who warmed up. 

First Period: Penguins scored quickly on a power play when Daniel Sprong’s shot from the point was deflected in front by Tom Kostopoulos. 

But Bridgeport responded quickly on a power play of their own when Josh Ho-Sang dropped a pass to Mitch Vande Sompel who wired one far side past Jarry to make it a tie game. 

Ryan Bourque put a shot / pass down low a few minutes later to John Stevens who wheeled around the net then put a pass right on the tape of Steve Bernier in front for a goal that made it 2-1 Sound Tigers. 

Shots after one were 11-8 Bridgeport. But for a late power play for the Sound Tigers, an even overall period. 

Second Period: Mama, there goes that man again. Mitch Vande Sompel snipes his second of the game short side on Jarry to give the Sound Tigers a 3-1 lead. 

Penguins get it back to one when Teddy Blueger won a faceoff to Daniel Sprong who shot it quickly. 

That goal kick started the Penguins who started to come in waves and attacked the offensive zone. 

Slight problem though. Christopher Gibson was stopping everything. 

Penguins fail to tie it on a late power play. So it was off to the…

Third Period: Bridgeport reestablished their two goal lead when they sustained pressure by the Penguins in their defensive zone. Kyle Schempp took it out and a trailing Andrey Pedan, gassed at the end of his shift, was not able to defend Josh Holmstrom for the easy tap in. 

I mean, take a penalty or something. 

Penguins kept pushing, but time was running out. 

On a power play, Teddy Blueger would tip in a Daniel Sprong shot that brought the Pens to within one :28 into a power play. 

They continued to press, but time remained the enemy. With Jarry out for an extra attacker and through timeouts and even a late power play, Wilkes-Barre’s 16th consecutive trip to the playoffs would have to wait another day. 

Three Stars: 3) Daniel Sprong (goal, two assists, -1) 2) Ryan Bourque (two assists, +2) and  1) Mitch Vande Sompel (two goals, +1)

Around the Division: Hartford visited Providence and got thumped 6-3. Springfield traveled to Laval and beat the Rocket 5-1. Everyone else was off. 

Standings: Lehigh Valley (.674 percentage points) — Penguins (.634) — Providence (.627) — Charlotte (.611) — Bridgeport (.563) — Hartford (.493) — Springfield (.479) — Hershey (.465)

Wheeling Update: Facing a must win to keep their playoff chances alive, the Nailers lost to the Brampton Beast 4-3. The Nailers will miss the playoffs.

Video Highlights: 

Pens are in action for the final regular season home game against Binghamton. It’s a TV game, so if you can’t make it down, watch it on TV locally. Game day setup hits the blog Saturday at 3. 

Let’s Go Pens!

Postgamer

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