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Usually you would see that headline in the final game of a season where the team featured played its last game of the campaign.

That’s not true here, as the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins are headed to the Calder Cup for the 16th straight season.

But, with nothing to play for and their seeding locked in at two, the Penguins dressed a young, inexperienced lineup in Hershey today.

They all looked like cagey veterans. Penguins win 3-2 in Hershey Sunday afternoon and will face the Charlotte Checkers in Round One of the Calder Cup Playoffs that open Friday in Charlotte.

But let’s get back to the Penguins and their regular season for a second. 45 wins, 99 points, second in the Atlantic. 10-0-1-1 against Hershey, the most dominant one opponent was against the other in this storied rivalry.

The Penguins enter the 2018 Calder Cup playoffs as a team looking for a Calder Cup for their captain. No other heavy expectations as a number one overall seed like they were last year when they went out in five games over the Providence Bruins. Much of that same core returns and is upgraded greatly, defense is one area.

But we can get to all that in the coming week. For tonight, Anthony Peters opposed Vitek Vanecek.

Lines were…

Adam Johnson – Gage Quinney – Daneil Sprong
Christian Thomas – Jarrett Burton – Jan Drozg
Ryan Haggerty – Sam Lafferty – Anthony Angello
Troy Josephs – Cam Brown – Patrick McGrath

Niclas Almari – Ethan Prow
Andrey Pedan – Jeff Taylor
Kevin Schulze – Dane Birks

Anthony Peters – Tristan Jarry

Lineup Notes: With this basically being a free game to play withnothibg on the line, Clark Donatelli rested the likes of J-S Dea, Tom Kostopoulos, Teddy Blueger, Zach Trotman, Tom Sestito and the like. Dane Birks and Jan Drozg made their pro debuts and Cam Brown made his WBS debut.

First Period: If first impressions are lasting ones, then the number one impression I got when watching the first period on AHL Live is that these newcomers that Donatelli put in the lineup today are good. Hershey, dressing a lineup full of regular players, got all they could handle from the ATO players.

Daniel Sprong put the Penguins ahead 1-0 halfway through on a power play on this wrist shot that beat Vitek Vanecek.

Hershey had a power play come and go, then Jarrett Burton scored in the final minute of the period when he unleashed a writer that beat Vanecek and double the Penguins lead.

Jan Drozg was credited with the secondary assist on the play, his first AHL point.

Second Period: Was a quick pace to the period, with the Bears failing to score on a power play, Daniel Sprong and Adam Johnson failing to connect on a 2-on-1 and Dustin Gazley scoring in the final minute of the second to cut the Penguins lead to one. Anthony Peters stopped a few shots, never corralled the rebound and the puck squirted to Gazley in the slot for the goal.

Third Period: Daniel Sprong put a shot on and Gage Quinney put in a rebound to extend the lead to two again for Wilkes-Barre…

Bears would score on a 6-on-4 power play with Vitek Vanecek pulled when Jeremy Langlois tipped in a shot from the point to bring the Bears to within one, but Hershey would not get any closer.

Three Stars: 3) Garrett Mitchell (milestone 400th AHL game) 2) Dustin Gazley (goal, +1) and 1) Daniel Sprong (+1)

Around the Division: Providence beat Springfield 4-2 to briefly jump to third, but Charlotte beat Bridgeport 4-1 to take third and the first round matchup with Wilkes-Barre. Everyone else ended their season but for Lehigh Valley who open round one against Providence.

Video Highlights: 

Here is the first round schedule that went live moments after the Charlotte game went final:

Here’s Clark’s thoughts on the Checkers series after the game…

But, but, you told me it was going top be Providence all along! What’s up with that?!

The great Mark Divver caught up with a Springfield player who shared his thoughts on Wilkes-Barre…

I would have asked a follow up about the Checkers, but I guess you had to be there.

Anyway, as for this week, Week 28 AHL Power Rankings hit the blog Monday at 4. The Western Conference Playoff Preview will be out Tuesday and the Eastern Conference Playoff Preview will run Wednesday. Pens / Checkers breakdown will be Thursday with the full Gameday setup Friday at 3.

Let’s Go Pens!

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A defensive battle and a goaltenders duel between Michael Leighton and Alex Lyon tonight in Allentown as the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins battled the Lehigh Valley Phantoms to a scoreless draw late in the third period.

Garrett Wilson finally broke the deadlock with a goal when he muscled a puck past and through Lyon to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead.

What happened after that, really was inconsequential.

The Phantoms, who battered Leighton with shot after shot in the third period, finally broke through with under a minute to play with Lyon vacated for the extra attacker with a goal from Chris Conner. It was a goal that Leighton would want back.

But it was inconsequential.

No scoring in overtime, Nicolas Aube-Kubel scored in the top of the fourth for the Phantoms and gave the Atlantic Division Champions an extra point to their already impressive season. Pens lose 2-1 in a shootout.

Yep, there is that five syllable word again: Inconsequential.

But why? Why is it inconsequential?

All the Penguins needed was one point to secure home ice in the first round. They got it with the play of Michale Leighton and the goal by Wilson. It seems funny to me that in instances where the Penguins need a big performance, like clinching a playoff spot last weekend and sewing up home ice in round one, it’s Michael Leighton that always ends up in the starting rotation.

The Penguins released their home schedule, what is still not known is the opponent. Providence shutout Springfield 5-0 in Springfield Saturday to keep their hopes at a three seed alive. It will come down to the final games Sunday afternoon. Providence hosts the Thunderbirds in a rematch and Charlotte closes out the regular season with a game in Bridgeport. The Penguins will probably dress a young lineup, much like the Phantoms did tonight Sunday afternoon in Hershey.

I’ll give the home schedule to you at the end of the blog story. I usually, when the Penguins are on the road, write the first and second period recaps in between intermissions. I would just use what I wrote above and just call it a night but since it’s already written, may as well use it.

So the lines were….

Garrett Wilson – J-S Dea – Daniel Sprong
Adam Johnson – Gage Quinney – Anthony Angello
Tom Sestito – Jarrett Burton – Christian Thomas
Joseph Cramarossa – Teddy Blueger – Tom Kostopoulos

Chris Summers – Lukas Bengtsson
Niclas Almari – Kevin Czuczman
Jarred Tinordi – Zach Trotman

Michael Leighton – Tristan Jarry

Lineup Notes: Two Penguins draft picks made their WBS season debuts. Anthony Angello was in for Ryan Haggerty and Niclas Almari was in for Andrey Pedan.

First Period: If you are going to read about the game in the papers Sunday, the best summary of what happened in the first period in Allentown may read, “After a scoreless first period…” That’s because nothing really of substance happened beyond teams trading a few power plays.

Second Period: Reverse of fortunes for the teams. The Penguins started off slow in the first period and turned it on, then the Phantoms started slow in the second and turned it on as the period went on. The Penguins had to kill a 4:00 double minor and did so successfully. Niclas Almari busted up a would be breakaway for the Phantoms after his defense partner Kevin Czuczman was stopped point blank by Alex Lyon.

Third Period: Leighton was dialed in, stopping Radev Fazleev and Aube-Kubel on two separate attempts.

Garrett Wilson finally broke the scoreless deadlock.

With Lyon out, Chris Conner scored to tie the game. Leighton caught slightly off balance and Conner won the race to the puck near side and poked it home.

Overtime: Decided nothing. Pens had a power play that they did not score on. They were 0-for-4 tonight.

Shootout: Lyon and Leighton stopped the first three shooters they faced. Aube-Kubel scored on Leighton in the top of the fourth and Lyon stopped J-S Dea in the bottom of the fourth to secure the extra point for the Phantoms.

Three Stars: 3) Nicolas Aube-Kubel (shootout game winning goal, -1) 2) Michael Leighton (30 saves on 31 shots) and 1) Alex Lyon (26 saves on 27 shots)

Around the Division: Hartford beat Binghamton 4-2, Hershey beat Bridgeport 2-1 in the insignificant games in the Division, Providence shutout Springfield 5-0 to pull within a point of idle Charlotte to pull within a point to third place in the Atlantic in the only other game in the Division which mattered.

Standings: Lehigh Valley and Wilkes-Barre have home ice locked up round one. Charlotte has 94 points and are a point ahead of Providence. Bridgeport, Hartford, Springfield and Hershey round out the division.

If Lehigh Valley runs a highlight package I will put it here.

Here is your Round One home schedule for Wilkes-Barre / Scranton. What is NOT known is opponent yet. Penguins will employ the 2-3 format because of distance to Providence or Charlotte.

“One More Kick at the Cup” appears to be the playoff motto. With this being Tom Kostopoulos’ final run, appropriate marketing.

Here are you scenarios for opponent.

If Charlotte wins or are tied with Providence in points, Charlotte is the three seed.

If Providence wins AND Charlotte loses in regulation, Providence is the three seed.

I’ll have more answers on this for sure tomorrow. Gameday setup for the final regular season home game in Hershey hits the blog Sunday at 1.

Let’s Go Pens!

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I have been blogging about this team for what will be eight years in July. I have been a season ticket holder for the Penguins for a few more years than that, call it ten years.

This has been probably the most uninspired late season win by my beloved Penguins that I can remember. Why?

Because I know what’s coming.

The Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins have qualified for the Calder Cup Playoffs for sixteen straight seasons. There are people at the Arena that have brought their kids to the games that all those children have known is the Penguins playing in the playoffs.

No championships to show for those trips. In fact, I have never blogged a Calder Cup Finals game on this blog for this team yet. 2008 was the last time the Penguins were in the Finals. Remember that? We are all old.

I don’t like their chances this season to even get out of the first round.

Not to be Debbie Downer on a night where the Penguins manage to sweep the Springfield Thunderbirds with a 3-2 win and, coupled with outside results solidify their chances at home ice in the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs over either Charlotte or Providence.

But I know what is coming.

The Penguins stormed out to a 2-0 lead on a Springfield team that its playing their final games this weekend before the summertime and had a large shot advantage. Wilkes-Barre ended up putting 49 shots in total at Harri Sateri and the Thunderbirds defense. It looked like another hard fought, but easy win for the Penguins.

Then the magic disappeared.

The Penguins let the Thunderbirds back in the game, Springfield tied it, Wilkes-Barre had two opportunities to nudge back ahead on a power play and failed, but it was Zach Trotman scoring that gave the Penguins the lead for good in the third, a lead that the Penguins didn’t relinquish.

When the playoffs start next week, the Penguins are either facing the Charlotte Checkers or the Providence Bruins. If you are a Penguins fan, you want Providence because the Penguins and Bruins are so evenly matched. Both teams have their NHL counterpart playing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Checkers will have a full compliment of players at their disposal and are as hot as you can be coming into the playoffs.

Moral of the story is, Penguins gritted this one out over a Springfield team that is better at coming up short and losing and were overall the better team, barely. They aren’t going to enjoy that same luxury in a week or so.

Charlotte has one game left, Sunday in Bridgeport. Providence has two, but we will get to that in a minute.

Tristan Jarry opposed Harri Sateri.

Lines were…

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

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

Tristan Jarry – Michael Leighton

Lineup Notes: Tom Sestito was in for Patrick McGrath. That was the only lineup change from Sunday in Bridgeport…Alex D’Orio was sent back to his junior team. That is not uncommon. Give the kids a taste of the pro life then send them on their way.

First Period: Started out as an evenly matched game between two teams on the opposite end of the success meter here in the AHL’s final weekend of regular season play. Shots were 7-7 somewhere around halfway when the Pens exploded and finished on a 12-0 shot run and got this jaw dropping goal from Daniel Sprong who scored on Harri Sateri, who is the AHL’s reigning Player of the Week and who was stymieing everything sent his way from the Penguins….

Another angle…

Garrett Wilson put it on a tee for Sprong who, in tight quarters, put it top corner and scored his 31st goal of the season, which broke the franchise record for goals scored by a rookie (Michel Ouellet)

Second Period: Penguins extend their lead to two with this nice goal from Teddy Blueger. As I was watching the game on AHL Live yelling for Blueger to pass off, he unleashed this shot that go past Sateri that made it 2-0…

Penguins continued to increase their shot total over the Thunderbirds and it was looking like they were setting up for cruise control, but then the Penguins found themselves in penalty trouble.

Dryden Hunt scored on a pretty tic tac toe play barreling down the slot that cut the Penguins lead to one.

Off the face-off, thrill a minute hockey for both teams. Sateri comes way out to stop Tom Sestito but doesn’t cover the puck. Penguins continue the shooting gallery on the Thunderbirds goal keeper but he turns them all away. Then, Springfield clears the puck away and then Andrey Pedan trips Thunderbirds defenseman Ed Wittchow.

Turning point.

Matters made worse, Tom Kostopoulos was sent to the box. Long 5-on-3 for the Thunderbirds.

But they tossed the puck around the top of the zone and never really manufactured a shot at Jarry. But it was a complete implosion of structures by the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins who were lucky to get out of all the penalty madness with a 2-1 lead heading into the…

Third Period: Curtis Valk got a piece of a shot from the point from Brad Hunt and tied the game.

Turnover. Total breakdown. Pens up big on shots, two goal lead, then get stupid with penalties and cute with exits and the Thunderbirds tie the game.

Better yet, Wilkes-Barre had two chances after the Walk goal to score on a power play and failed. There is going to come a time in the next couple of weeks when the Penguins will need a power play goal either in a situation like this or down one or two. Mark my words. Whether or not they get one remains to be seen, but the trends are not positive.

Zach Trotman put a shot on that found its way Sateri, who was really dialed in tonight and the Penguins squeaked out in front again.

May have deflected in front. Doesn’t matter.

With Sateri vacated, the Thunderbirds never found the equalizer.

Three Stars: 3) Harri Sateri (46 saves on 49 shots) 2) Teddy Blueger (goal, +1) 1) Zach Trotman (goal, +1)

Around the Division: Games that don’t matter are Lehigh Valley beating Bridgeport 5-2 and Hartford edging Binghamton in a shootout 2-1. The game that did matter was Charlotte beating Providence 5-3 in Providence to improve to 8-0-1-0 in their last nine games and are third place in the Atlantic.

Standings: Lehigh Valley won the division last weekend and have 102 points with one more game to play tomorrow against the Penguins. The Penguins are second with 96 points and two games left, Saturday in Lehigh Valley and Sunday in Hershey. Charlotte is off until Sunday when they face off against Bridgeport. They have 94 points. Charlotte has the first tie breaker on the Pens. I believe that the magic number to sew up home ice would be just one point. Providence has two games left with 91 points. They visit Springfield Saturday and then host the Thunderbirds Sunday afternoon. The rest of the division is Bridgeport, Hartford, Springfield and Hershey in that order.

If Springfield puts up a video highlight package, I will edit it in here.

Pens bus down to Allentown for a 7:15 start against the lame duck Phantoms. It will be interesting to see what Lehigh Valley puts out for a lineup in their last regular season home game with nothing left to play for. Check out the gameday setup Saturday at 3 here on the blog.

Let’s Go Pens!