Chirps from Center Ice

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The idea of the headline is that when I got back into the car to head home after watching the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins lose 4-1 to the Belleville Senators on Tuesday, America’s “Tin Man” was playing on SiriusXM Radio. It’s a song I commonly hear out by the pool on a lazy summer afternoon listening to Yacht Rock Radio.

So I looked up the idea of a Tin Man Argument and I think I am onto something here. You are defending a position or an argument that doesn’t hold in the end.

Tuesday, the Penguins blitzed the Belleville Senators to a 7-2 shot count which included an Atley Calvert tip in of of a Matt Nieto shot. Belleville’s Leevi Meriläinen was under siege while the Penguins Filip Larsson was in his crease knitting a sweater. It looked like the Penguins were on cruise control.

But then Valterri Puustinen was slashed, or wasn’t, which led to a rush up the ice and Hayden Hodgson scoring a goal that tied the game and changed the complexity of the game entirely.

That’s because the Senators would get called for a penalty and go on to score a shorthanded goal from Zack Ostapchuk which afforded them a lead and Meriläinen to settle and dial in. Belleville never looked back from there. In the second Xavier Bourgault pounded on a juicy rebound of a shot saved by Larsson from Jorian Donovan and it was. then 3-1.

Wilkes-Barre continued to pepper Meriläinen to the tune of 15 shots in the third, but could not get another one past him. With Larsson pulled, Maxence Guenette scored a 190 foot empty net goal.

I looked up Meriläinen’s stats. 11-5-3 with 3 shutouts coming in on 23 games played. He’s good. The Senators would be in a much better position in the North Division standings if he played more. He may have been hurt because I believe this is the first time the Pens saw him all season.

Wilkes-Barre is missing straw stirrers such as Joona Koppanen and Jonathan Gruden who I heard from someone who was slightly later than I to the game are day to day. Good, because this little slide here started when Gruden went out of the lineup. The sooner this pair is back, the better.

Wilkes-Barre went 0/2 on the power play, giving up a shorthanded goal in the first and failing much offense late in the third down a pair. Belleville didn’t have a power play all game. A rare good game from ref Rob Hennessey, depending on who you ask and how much of a slash / no slash there was on Puustinen in the first.

Here’s how they lined up…

Notes: Laferriere for De St. Phalle up front and Aho returning from injury for Brickey, who was put on the injured list. Sergei Murashov backed up tonight, being recalled earlier in the day. Tristan Jarry went up, Joel Blomqvist came down.

Here’s the goals in the order they were scored.

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Three Stars: 3) Atley Calvert (goal) 2) Jorian Donovan (two assists) 1) Zack Ostapchuk (goal)

The Good: I think they stunk top to bottom.

The Bad: 0/2 on the power play and giving up a shorthanded goal in an otherwise tight affair.

Turning Point: Ostapchuk’s shorthanded goal sucked all the air out of the balloon in one fell swoop. Leevi Meriläinen locked it down from there.

Around the Division: Springfield does the Pens a solid, shutting out Charlotte 3-0.

Standings: Hershey 71 – Providence 68 – Penguins 66 – Charlotte 64 – Lehigh Valley 63 – Springfield 62 – Hartford 51 – Bridgeport 30

Wheeling Update: The Nailers were off.

Video Highlights: 

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Back at it Friday in Hartford. I’ll probably run the Weekend Preview in the morning to stay out of the noise which is the NHL Trade Deadline.

Let’s Go Pens!

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They had them seemingly right where they wanted them, up 3-0 and seemingly cruising against the back to back to back Calder Cup Champions who were at just about 100% and well rested. I noted this, and as I was typing it out I was wondering if it was a bit of foreshadowing…

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A nice way to say that a Penguins team who has sucked these past weeks was cruising against a team that makes it look easy.

Foreshadowing, kid, foreshadowing.

Hershey then goes on to score three straight to tie it, Pens score eight seconds later to re-take the lead, Bears score again late and then again in overtime to win 5-4.

Stunning way to lose. They bussed straight from Syracuse and blitzkrieged past Wilkes-Barre sometime late last night and woke up in Hershey. Players talked about. how it was an important game per Nick Hart on radio. To meltdown like this, feels like a low point. No lead is safe when you are trailing against the Penguins.

It ain’t that deep, but it still sucks going down like this.

Here’s how they lined up. I hope the embeds work!

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Lineup Notes: Only lineup was Klassen making his AHL debut as noted above for Mathias Laferriere.

First Period: Tristan Jarry was bailed out by his posts twice. One puck leaked through him bounced off the post and rolled on the line but never crossed and the other hit the post and stayed under him. Two Penguins goals sandwiched these sequences. One from Rutger McGroarty on the Penguins now second ranked power play and the other from Valtteri Puustinen off a great feed from Ville Koivunen from the blue line. Here’s those goals and again I hope the embeds work here.

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Also, Avery Hayes had a great chance in the slot and tried to lift a backhander but Clay Stevenson was up to task on the bid.

Second Period: There were a lot of power plays for both sides in the period, but both teams struck at even strength with Ville Koivunen netting a goal here that made the score 3-0 for the Penguins.

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Just a clean wrister that beat Stevenson there.

Mind you, this Hershey Bears team is at just about 100% here and well rested, having only played six games in the month of February and idle Friday.

But even when that thought creeps into your head that, “hey the Pens are really running up the score here, how will Herhey respond?” They respond.

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Ivan Miroshnichenko nets himself a goal for the home team.

They sweat through a few late Hershey kills and had to kill a leftover penalty heading into the…

Third Period: Penguins were under bombardment to open the period and did not have a shot on goal for ten minutes.

There aren’t many teams that can withstand this and fewer that can on the road against the 13 time Champions. It was inevitable.

Mike Vecchione tip in front. It’s 3-2.

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Miroshnichenko again and it’s a tie game.

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But eight seconds later, Boris Katchouk feeds Valtteri Puustinen and the Penguins somehow are back in the driver seat.

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Pierrick Dube scores and it’s tied again.

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Couple things. It’s cool to make a save. It’s also cool to maybe stop them from o-zone time and having shot after shot after shot shoved down your goaltenders throat. It’s also cool to call timeout and reset the group because if I could see it from my couch, what are they seeing from the bench feet away?

I don’t want to think low point of the season, given standings position and all.

They managed to get it to…

Overtime: But no matter the outcome here, Hershey would stay in first.

Didn’t matter.

Pierrick Dube scores in overtime to give the Bears the extra point and send a crowd of over 10,500 fans happy.

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Three Stars: 3) Valtteri Puustinen (two goals, assist) 2) Ivan Miroshnichenko (two goals) 1) Pierrick Dube (two goals, assist)

The Good: I guess a point is cool.

The Bad: More points given away to the opponent. I am telling you, get ready for the First Round series against Lehigh Valley, buddy.

Turning Point: Dube’s goals that tie it and win it here.

Around the Division: Hartford loses in a shootout 3-2. That had to hurt because the Wolf Pack scored an own goal.

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So it isn’t all that bad, in scope.

Elsewhere, Charlotte wins 4-1 over Cleveland, Lehigh Valley beats Bridgeport 5-3 and Springfield wins in a shootout over Providence 4-3.

Standings: Hershey 69 – Penguins and Providence 66 – Charlotte 64 – Lehigh Valley 63 – Springfield 60 – Hartford 51 – Bridgeport 30

Wheeling Update: Adirondack turns the tables on the Nailers and beat them 7-4.

Video Highlights: Only if you dare.

Back at it Tuesday against the Belleville Senators from the comfort of home. Power Rankings Monday and the Weekend Preview for you Tuesday.

Let’s Go Pens!

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A 31 save shutout for Filip Larsson, his fifth that ties him with Devon Levi of Rochester and Ken Appleby of Charlotte for the AHL lead, and the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins snap their three game losing streak with a 2-0 win in Syracuse.

I think it is a bit of a “get right” game because Syracuse pressured Larsson and the Penguins in the second half of the game and Larsson’s counterpart Brandon Halverson was equally as excellent in net, stopping the Penguins, Ville Koivunen especially at every opportunity.

We will see how this transfers down I-81 to Hershey Saturday night.

Here’s how they lined up:

https://twitter.com/SyracuseCrunch/status/1895621253266104439

https://twitter.com/WBSPenguins/status/1895618233870487643

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Lineup Notes: They retuned to the standard 12/6 format and Matty De St. Phalle, Matt Nieto (waived from Pittsburgh) and Atley Calvert were in up front. Colton Poolman on defense was out.

Injury and Other Transactions: Gabe Klassen was recalled from Wheeling Thursday but didn’t dress. Joona Kopppanen, Sam Poulin and Jonathan Gruden are all day to day.

First Period: First shot of the game resulted in a goal from Valtteri Puustinen who maximized his first line minutes. This gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead.

https://twitter.com/WBSPenguins/status/1895628891882168661

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Brandon Halverson stopped a sure Ville Koivunen goal with about five minutes left to play in the period.

Second Period: No goals in the period and the Penguins had two power plays. I think the rest of the League has a book on the Penguins power play, just clog up the middle. There was one power play where the Penguins had the power play in the Syracuse zone the entire two minutes but they did a good passing exhibition but every attempted shot was met with a block or more dazzling goaltending display by Brandon Halverson.

The Pens held the Crunch to a low shot count and despite the lead and the low shot totals it was a feisty period where Scooter Brickey and Dylan Duke fought and that was followed 10 seconds later with Declan Carlile and March Johnstone doing the same.

https://twitter.com/SyracuseCrunch/status/1895651726298136711

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Third Period: Syracuse had the Penguins hemmed in their own zone for a good two minutes plus, Wilkes-Baer could not get a clear after multiple icings but they finally get one and then Rutger McGroarty sets up Atley Calvert for his first AHL goal.

https://twitter.com/WBSPenguins/status/1895665747311149450

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With Halverson pulled, the Crunch could not break Larsson.

Three Stars: 3) Declan Carlile (5 PIMs) 2) Brandon Halverson (35 saves) 1) Filip Larsson (31 saves)

The Good: Felt like a get right game on a lot of levels like I said at the top. Syracuse is a good team that plays in a great division.

The Bad: 0/3 on the power play. It was a close game that could have shaken that aura with a couple power play goals for.

Turning Point: Calvert’s first AHL goal gets it here as it served as the insurance that the Penguins so desperately needed.

Around the Division: Cleveland beats Charlotte in a shootout 2-1, Hartford beat Springfield 4-3, Lehigh Valley beats Bridgeport 5-2.

Standings: Hershey 67 – Penguins and Providence 65 – Charlotte 62 – Lehigh Valley 61 – Springfield 58 – Hartford 50 – Bridgeport 30

Wheeling Update: Nailers beat the Adirondack Thunder up the road from where the Penguins were playing 3-1. Sergei Murashov stops 25.

Video Highlights: To the AHL VideoCenter you go!

Back at it Saturday in Hershey where the Penguins can tie the Bears for tops in the division.

Let’s Go Pens!

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A terrible first period where the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins go down 3-o, then failure to come up with a power play goal on two opportunities in the games final ten minutes doom the away team Wednesday night as the Americans win 5-2, handing the Penguins their third straight loss.

Here’s how they lined up, note that Rochester didn’t post lines:

https://twitter.com/WBSPenguins/status/1894894059036004460

Lineup Notes: They went 11 forwards and 7 defensemen because Sam Poulin has an undisclosed, day to day injury. Mathias Laferriere was in for Atley Calvert from Sunday and Scooter Brickey was the 7th defenseman.

First Period: Flat period for Wilkes-Barre / Scranton. Devon Levi is the reigning AHL Player of the Week, and he didn’t have to do much in the period.

Amerks get on the board first at 3:14 when Ryan Johnson shakes off Laferriere and scores through a heavy screen that makes it 1-0.

https://twitter.com/AmerksHockey/status/1894906455926677938

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Wilkes-Barre found themselves on a penalty kill and Mason Jobst made them pay high slot that made it 2-0.

https://twitter.com/AmerksHockey/status/1894907671599300673

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Okay. I can live with these two goals. Through a screen? It happens. Getting sniped on a power play goal high slot by the number one team in the Eastern Conference? Sure, OK, whatever. Not going to lose sleep over it.

But this goal here is what bothered me.

https://twitter.com/AmerksHockey/status/1894910052932141236

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It’s Nic Aube-Kubel with the wrist shot for a goal. It’s a save that Tristan Jarry has to make. It’s off the rush, OK, make the save. You are a NHL All-Star making $5,000,000 a year. Aube-Kubel has 32 NHL goals in 301 NHL games. Your team is reeling, make a save to keep it a two goal deficit.

It didn’t happen.

Second Period: Things settled down a bit here in the middle frame. Graham Slaggert and Marc Johnstone fought after Johnstone didn’t like a hit from Mr. Slaggert.

https://twitter.com/WBSPenguins/status/1894922657751277758

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That little boost may have given the Penguins some life as less than two minutes later Rutger McGroarty scored to put Wilkes-Barre on the board.

https://twitter.com/WBSPenguins/status/1894922521142517971

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Wilkes-Barre had one late rush as time expired but were unable to get a second past Levi.

A note here, Joona Koppanen took a heavy hit in the first period and was not on the bench at the start of the second.

Third Period: Noah Östlund gets an early goal that re-establishes the Rochester three goal lead.

https://twitter.com/AmerksHockey/status/1894932201440997887

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But then Boris Katchouk scores his fourth goal in as many games to make it a two goal lead for the Amerks again.

https://twitter.com/WBSPenguins/status/1894931070899847570

Hell of a shot.

The Penguins didn’t get a power play chance until after the ten minute mark of the third period. I had no issues with the way Chris Rumble or David Elford officiated this game at all.

On the ensuing power play, the Amerks bent but didn’t break. A good effort by the Penguins who still have the #1 power play in the AHL but a better effort by Rochester on the kill.

Penguins would get another crack on the power play after Rochester messed around in the faceoff dot after an icing. That’s a no-no and the Penguins received another power play as a result.

Rutger McGroarty hit a post, that was all to write home about.

With Jarry pulled for an extra attacker and the Penguins still scrambling to pull it back to a one gioal deficit, Tristan Broz loses a puck in the neutral zone and Isak Rosen walks the gift in for an empty net goal that makes it 5-2.

Three Stars: 3) Devon Levi (28 saves) 2) Noah Östlund (goal, assist) 1) Nic Aube-Kubel (goal, assist)

The Good: Boris Katchouk keeps scoring and that’s a good thing.

The Bad: Falling in a first period hole and failing to come up with a power play goal late to bring it back to one is a recipe for disaster against the Conference’s best team.

Turning Point: Rochester’s first kill of the evening in the third against the Penguins #1 power play gets it here.

Around the Division: Providence blows out Bridgeport 5-1 to take sole possession of second place in the only other action in the Atlantic on Wednesday.

Standings: Hershey 67 – Providence 65 – Penguins 63 – Charlotte 61 – Lehigh Valley 59 – Springfield 57 – Hartford 48 – Bridgeport 30

Wheeling Update: Nailers were off.

Video Highlights: AHL VideoCenter is the place for you if you so dare.

They will try to get back in the win column Friday in Syracuse.

Let’s Go Pens!