Chirps from Center Ice

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

RAPID RECAP: Pens WIN 3-2

Comments Off on RAPID RECAP: Pens WIN 3-2 Posted by on October 27, 2017

Well, Hershey didn’t look like the 1-4-1 team coming in.

A furious rush at the end for the visitors isn’t enough as the Penguins win their fourth straight and beat their I-81 rivals 3-2.

Tristan Jarry looked solid in goal, Dominik Simon had the game winner, Teddy Blueger and J-S Dea scored for the Penguins.

More in a bit.

Rapid Recap

GAMEDAY: vs. Hershey 10/27

Comments Off on GAMEDAY: vs. Hershey 10/27 Posted by on October 27, 2017

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 the Hartford Wolf Pack, the Penguins won 3-2 in a shootout. The Penguins battled back from an 0-2 hole to force overtime and then the shootout round and then J-S Dea scored in the top of the second. Casey DeSmith denied all three Wolf Pack shooters. For Hershey, they were shutout in Rockford on Sunday, wrapping up their Midwest road trip.

Record: For WBS: 4-2-0-0 // For HER: 1-4-0-1

Referee(s): Furman South / Chris Schlenker

Linesmen: Libor Suchanek / J.P. Waleski

Why You Should Care: You shouldn’t need a reason to get up for a game against the Hershey Bears but I’ll give one to you anyway. The Bears come in winning just one game and are missing their two top goaltenders due to injury. They were shutout in their last game and thus far their season has been a disappointment. What better way to get back on track on the road in Wilkes-Barre. Now the Penguins aren’t going to allow that to happen so easy, but that is what makes this rivalry so much fun.

Promotion(s): Pittsburgh Penguins Calendar (first 3,000)

Other Game to Watch: Providence visits Binghamton in what I believe will be an interesting match up.

Next Five Games: @ BRI 10/28, @ LV 11/3, HER 11/5, TOR 11/8, PRO 11/11

Gameday

Colin Stevens Signed to PTO 10/25

Comments Off on Colin Stevens Signed to PTO 10/25 Posted by on October 25, 2017

Coal Street announced Wednesday morning that they have signed goaltender Colin Stevens to a professional tryout contract. Stevens, as you may recall, was in training camp with Wilkes-Barre.

His numbers with the Wheeling Nailers are a small sample size; 2-0-1 record, .907 save percentage and a 3.27 goals against average.

The save percentage and goals against are bad, but that’s because Stevens actually won a 7-6 game that the Nailers played in Greenville on October 14. Hunter Fejes had four goals in the contest. Stevens won a 4-2 game against Cincinnati on October 21 and lost a 2-1 game in overtime the next day in Reading.

Regardless, he’s the best man for the job for right now.

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The reason the Penguins didn’t recall Sean Maguire is because he is injured right now. From what I have been able to gather he was wearing a splint on his arm the last time he was seen.

Stevens comes highly recommended from those who have seen him play and those who cover the Nailers…

https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/923195986469642240
https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/923200888700833792

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I do not see Stevens getting a game this weekend unless Friday’s game against the Hershey Bears is a physical one. Pens are in Bridgeport Saturday then off until next Friday, November 3 in Allentown then off Saturday and home Sunday November 5 against Hershey. Conceivably, Tristan Jarry starts all four games. But then again, if the Penguins want to see what they want to do with Stevens from a perspective of signing him to an AHL contract for good, he’s probably going to need to see a game. Maybe that comes this weekend. Who knows.

One other bit of non-goaltender related news before I go…

https://twitter.com/WBSPenguins/status/923199805098164225

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I believe Obie meant Colin Smith, not Colin Stevens in this tweet.

I don’t think I will have anything of note Thursday, so check back Friday for the Gameday setup against the Hershey Bears.

WBS, Wheeling

Niemi Claimed by Florida

Comments Off on Niemi Claimed by Florida Posted by on October 24, 2017

Noon Tuesday came and went in Wilkes-Barre with the news that the Florida Panthers placed a claim on goaltender Antti Niemi.

That places the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins in a bind at the backup position. What was a 1A-1B situation with Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith is essentially Tristan Jarry and a gaping hole at the backup position.

Sean Maguire in Wheeling is hurt. He didn’t play in either of the Wheeling Nailers games this past weekend and didn’t even dress. Wilkes-Barre has no other goaltender under contract.

Silver lining, if there is one, is that the Penguins don’t play a three in three weekend for the foreseeable future. They are home and away this weekend with Hershey and Bridgeport respectively and are off next Saturday, November 4.

That gives the brass at Coal Street a few weeks to make a move for a backup. You have to think at this point the pool is pretty picked over, but there could be a diamond in the rough out there, somewhere.

Situation may not be permanent. Pittsburgh could still get a backup for Matt Murray and send DeSmith back to Wilkes-Barre. Florida could waive Niemi, whereby the Penguins could presumably claim him back and assign him to Wilkes-Barre.

While anything can and most likely will happen, I wouldn’t bank on that last paragraph as much.

More as it comes, if not then back here Friday for the Gameday setup against the Hershey Bears.

Pittsburgh, WBS

Shake It Up – Niemi Waived; DeSmith Recalled

2 Comments Posted by on October 23, 2017

Around noon Monday, news broke that the Pittsburgh Penguins placed backup goaltender Antti Niemi on waivers.

Niemi boasted horrible numbers while with the Pittsburgh Penguins serving as the backup to Matt Murray, posting an 0-3 record and a 7.49 goals against average and a .747 save percentage. He was just not working out for the Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins.

So the Penguins waived him. The other 30 teams have till noon Tuesday to put a claim in on him. Question is, who? You have the Vegas Golden Knights who are without Marc-Andre Fleury and Malcolm Subban right now due to injury. Does Vegas see Niemi as a viable stop gap until Subban or Fleury recover?

In a lateral move, Pittsburgh recalled Casey DeSmith from Wilkes-Barre.

For those who are thinking, “why not Tristan Jarry?” The answer is simple. DeSmith has played better.

DeSmith is 3-0 and has a .965 save percentage. He’s yet to give up a goal at even strength this year.

Jarry is 1-2 and has an .883 save percentage. He’s fighting through a slump and needs to work out of it. Recalling him to serve as backup now would shatter his confidence levels the way he’s currently playing.

So that leaves Wilkes-Barre in a bit of a bind.

Option A: Niemi clears. It’s already been said that he’d be assigned here if that happens. He comes down, finds his game, and makes Pittsburgh recall him again.

Option B: Niemi is claimed. That leaves Wilkes-Barre with a hole at the backup position. A recall from Wheeling (Sean Maguire most likely) becomes a short term solution while Coal Street attempts to swing a deal for a backup to Jarry.

We will see what happens. The situation is hardly ideal for the organization as a whole but Niemi’s play left no choice.

More Tuesday after noon, presumably.

Pittsburgh, WBS

AHL Power Rankings: Week 3

Comments Off on AHL Power Rankings: Week 3 Posted by on October 23, 2017

We are through the third week in the American Hockey League and there are a lot of teams looking for an identity.

Some, like this weeks top team in Providence, have found that identity. The Bruins, as advertised, are a great team. Others, like last place Ontario Reign in the 30 spot this week, are still looking for a win and that identity.

Lots to get to this week, like every week, so let’s get ripping by showing you the top five teams and then jumping through to 6-30 if you didn’t link in direct from anywhere. Starting off in Providence….

1

 Last Week: PRO 5 @ SPR 2, BEL 2 @ PRO 3 (SO), LAV 1 @ PRO 4
P-Bruins won three games with three different goaltenders. The teeth on that buzzsaw in Rhode Island are getting sharper.

+10

 This Week: @ BNG 10/27, @ HER 10/28
Record: 5-1-0-0

2

 Last Week: HER 1 @ MIL 4, RFD 6 @ MIL 2
Were the last team to lose in the AHL, only yield to the Providence Bruins this week in the Rankings because of it. Nice tests this week.

-1

 This Week: @ RFD 10/27, @ CHI 10/28
Record: 4-1-0-0

3

 Last Week: SA 3 @ TEX 2 (SO), SA 6 @ TEX 2, TEX 1 @ SA 3
Rampage sweep in-state Texas this week and are probably the best team in the AHL you don’t think of right now.

+4

 This Week: vs. SJ 10/27, vs. SD 10/29
Record: 5-1-0-0

4

 Last Week: CHA 0 @ TOR 4, CHA 6 @ TOR 4
Split a pair with the Checkers this week. Still lead the North, and should keep on their winning ways this week.

-1

 This Week: @ SYR 10/27, vs. LAV 10/28
Record: 5-2-0-0

5

 Last Week: BRI 2 @ LV 5, LV 4 @ BNG 3
Phantoms are off to an expected good start. How long can they sustain it remains the question.

+5

 This Week: vs. SPR 10/25, @ SPR 10/27, vs. HFD 10/28
Record: 5-1-0-1

Click through here to see teams 6 through 30

Power Rankings

Have a Nice Dea — Pens WIN 3-2 (SO)

Comments Off on Have a Nice Dea — Pens WIN 3-2 (SO) Posted by on October 21, 2017

       vs.       

2                                          3

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With about five minutes to play in 2-2 tie late in the third period, I thought to myself that this game that the Penguins were play ing was probably the most complete game that Wilkes-Barre has played in their sound season. You really can’t put your finger on a team until ten games into it I have always felt, but this game was a great overall game by Wilkes-Barre, who take down the Hartford Wolf Pack 3-2 in a shootout.

Casey DeSmith still has not allowed a goal at even strength. That streak is up to 117:45. The two goal scored on Casey tonight were on first period power play goals.

DeSmith opposed Alexandar Georgiev.

Lines were…

Zach Aston-Reese — J-S Dea — Tom Kostopoulos
Garrett Wilson – Gage Quinney – Daniel Sprong
Tom Sestito – Teddy Blueger – Thomas Di Pauli
Dominik Simon – Jarrett Burton – Christian Thomas

Andrey Pedan – Lukas Bengtsson
Kevin Czuczman – Kevin Spinozzi
Chris Summers – Frank Corrado

Casey DeSmith – Tristan Jarry

Lineup Notes: Freddie Tiffels and Adam Johnson yielded to Zach Aston-Reese and Jarrett Burton up front. Dylan Zink was out for Kevin Spinozzi, making his AHL debut.

First Period: Hartford didn’t take long to kick off the scoring on a power play. Frank Corrado lost his stick, a shot by Adam Tambellini deflected off of Corrado to Scott Kosmachuk far side and he put it past DeSmith for a 1-0 Hartford lead…

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The Penguins got a power play but couldn’t kick start anything and then Andrey Pedan took a tripping call and Hartford capitalized again on the man advantage going up 2-0 on this shot by Vinni Lettieri that beat a screened Casey DeSmith….

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:34 later, Gage Quinney responds…

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As Taylor mentioned, that is the third straight game where Gage Quinney has scored in. He’s coming for Sprong!

Second Period: Both teams traded power plays then Jarrett Burton put one off the post and in the tied the game for the Penguins…

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Play was really setup by this save by DeSmith on Letteri prior to the Burton goal…

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Daniel Sprong did not score in the game tonight but did look to set up his teammates several times tonight. He led a three on one and passed to Garrett Wilson but Wilson missed high, which would have gave the Penguins the lead.

Wilkes-Barre showed more aggression in the period and fought back to tie it.

Third Period: Nothing really went down notable in the third for either side. Pens had a power play they couldn’t score on. DeSmith didn’t see much rubber in the period, but he stopped the late flurry that the Wolf Pack put on him.

Overtime: Felt like Sprong was due for his goal, but it was a better save by Georgiev, in the splits, that denied him. Late, at the buzzer, Gage Quinney missed wide on a breakaway.

Shootout: Dominik Simon and Scott Kosmachuk failed to score in round one.

J-S Dea scored in round two…

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Casey DeSmith stopped Joe Whitney in the bottom of the second…

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..Daniel Sprong had a puck poke checked away from him in the top of the third by Georgiev which would have won it, so DeSmith had to come up with a save to win it.

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Ballgame.

Three Stars: 3) Alexandar Georgiev (41 saves on 43 shots) 2) Jarrett Burton (goal, +1) and 1) J-S Dea (shootout game winning goal, even)

Around the Division: The Providence Bruins get two goals in the third period to takedown the Belleville Senators 3-2 in a shootout of their own tonight….Lehigh Valley beats Binghamton in New York 4-3….Syracuse beats Springfield 4-1, the Thunderbirds are still winless to start the season at 0-6….Laval beats Bridgeport 6-3…Charlotte is shutout in Toronto 4-0 and the Hershey Bears are in the win column with a 4-2 win against the defending Calder Cup Champion Grand Rapids Griffins.

Standings: Providence 8, Lehigh Valley 11 (percentage), Charlotte and Wilkes-Barre with 8, Hartford with 7, Hershey with 3, Bridgeport with 2 and Springfield with 0.

Wheeling Update: The Nailers held their home opener tonight and won 4-2 against the Cincinnati Cyclones. Derek Army had first star honors with a goal and an assist. Cam Brown, who was in camp with Wilkes-Barre in preseason, had a goal and two assists. Colin Stevens picked up the win for the Nailers.

Power Rankings Monday at 4. If the Penguins put out highlights, I will edit them in.

Let’s Go Pens!

Postgamer

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