Chirps from Center Ice

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

GAMEDAY: vs. Lehigh Valley 3/9

Comments Off on GAMEDAY: vs. Lehigh Valley 3/9 Posted by on March 9, 2016

vs.     lv14

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Home Game: 28

AHL Game: 870

Who: Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m.

Media Kit

Last Game: Sunday at home against Hershey, the Pens won 5-4. Carter Rowney had a hat trick scored three different ways; shorthanded, even strength and on the power play. For Lehigh Valley, they lost Saturday in Binghamton 3-1. Petr Straka scored the only goal for the Phantoms in the loss.

Last Meeting: March 4 in Allentown, the Pens won 3-0. Tristan Jarry had a 36 save shutout and Dominik Simon scored two goals.

Record: For WBS: 35-19-4-1 (75 pts., 2nd place Atlantic Division) — For LV: 27-28-2-3 (59 pts., 7th place Atlantic Division)

Why you should care: The Penguins need to come out with the same fire they did Sunday in Hershey and match that same intensity against a Lehigh Valley team that is looking to play spoiler here with a month to play in the regular season. Will they? Remains to be seen. Expect Tristan Jarry in net for the Pens.

Referee(s): Peter MacDougall / Terry Koharski

Linesmen: Francois Dussureault / Tom DellaFranco

Twitter: @WBSPenguins and @WBSGameDay / @LVPhantoms

Facebook: /WilkesBarreScrantonPenguins / /LehighValleyPhantoms

Instagram: wbspenguins / lehighvalleyphantoms

Beat Writers: @CVSethLakso and @TLTomVenesky / @SteveGrossMCall

Broadcasters: WBS: Mike O’Brien @MikeOBrienWBS / For Lehigh Valley: Bob Rotruck @BobRotruck

Fan Bloggers: @nafsnep

Radio: For WBS: WILK Newsradio / For Lehigh Valley: Fox 1470

Television: AHL Live

Promotion(s): None

Other Game to Watch: Nothing in the division tonight. Iowa is in Winnipeg rematching against the Manitoba Moose in a matchup against the two worst teams in the AHL.

Next Five Games: BRI 3/12, @ BRI 3/13, HER 3/19, @ HER 3/20, BNG 3/23

Gameday

Hershey’s Garrett Mitchell Suspended Three Games

Comments Off on Hershey’s Garrett Mitchell Suspended Three Games Posted by on March 8, 2016

On Tuesday afternoon it was announced by the American Hockey League that Hershey Bears forward Garrett Mitchell has been suspended three games for what the League is ruling an, “illegal check to the head” to an opponent during Sunday’s game, a 5-4 Wilkes-Barre win.

That opponent was Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins forward Tyler Biggs. This is the video I took off of AHL Live which led to the suspension. Two speeds, real time then replay, slowed down.

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Here is a photo of the hit which ran in the local paper Monday.

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The hit by Mitchell went uncalled by the two referees working the game.

Mitchell will miss Hershey’s St. John’s trip this weekend and the March 19 game in Wilkes-Barre. Mitchell is eligible to return on Sunday, March 20 when the Bears host the Penguins at 5 p.m. at Giant Center.

It was reported by the Wilkes-Barre media Tuesday afternoon that Biggs was going through concussion protocol and that the Penguins sent tape to the AHL offices in Springfield for supplemental discipline on Mitchell.

The AHL, WBS

AHL Power Rankings: Week 22

Comments Off on AHL Power Rankings: Week 22 Posted by on March 7, 2016

There is a new team at the top of the Week 22 Chirps from Center Ice AHL Power Rankings.

This team has been a snake in the grass for the whole season and is taking the opportunity of a few faltering teams to strike at the top spot.

It’s the Hershey Bears.

The Bears claimed the top spot in the Atlantic Division last weekend and maintained that position with a big 6-2 win against the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins, their only serious challenger for tops in the division this past Saturday. Sure, the Bears lost to the Pens Sunday on the road in Wilkes-Barre, but that was at the tail end of a three-in-three using backup goaltenders.

The Toronto Marlies dropped three straight contests this weekend (!!!) and tumble this week.

To see where everyone ended up and how things look as the calendar approaches mid-March, hit the jump if you didn’t link in direct.

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Power Rankings

Track Meet – Pens WIN 5-4

2 Comments Posted by on March 6, 2016

HER        vs.        WBS

4                                         5

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Two sides to this one, a 5-4 Penguins win against the Hershey Bears and the first home win for Wilkes-Barre / Scranton since January 9 of this year against the Utica Comets.

The one side says that take this game and throw it away. Nothing that you can take from the third game in three days for both teams facing off against the backups, Justin Peters for Hershey and Brian Foster for Wilkes-Barre. Both backups were virtual sieves in the first period, a period that saw seven goals. Put it this way, it’s a different game for Wilkes-Barre if Tristan Jarry starts tonight and a different game for Hershey if Dan Ellis started the night.

The other side says that no matter what, a response was needed from the team in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Maybe you throw away the final score and take the Penguins reaction in the games first ten minutes of this one, a Patrick McGrath fight with Liam O’Brien :08 in, two goals for each team and no easy space for either side as something out of it. After getting thrashed in Hershey the night before, firing a limp 14 shots on Bears nets on Saturday, the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins got the jump on the Hershey Bears from within the first ten seconds of the game and sent a message that they were not going to take the Bears smashing them up and down the ice and that if Hershey was going to win the game, they would do so bruised and bloodied.

It was an exciting game. Probably the most exciting game under the Clark Donatelli Era. The Penguins were prepared and reacted to everything.

It was the aforementioned Brian Foster against Justin Peters.

The braintrust at Coal Street did GIFs of the Penguins goals so they will run in this recap. Jump though.

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Postgamer

RAPID RECAP – Pens WIN 5-4

Comments Off on RAPID RECAP – Pens WIN 5-4 Posted by on March 6, 2016

The Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins needed to step up to the bully today in a big way. After getting smacked around by Hershey yesterday in a 6-2 throttling, they need to respond and respond in a big way. 

They did. 

A Carter Rowney hat trick, a couple of assists by Tom Kostopoulos joining the illustrious 600-600 Club, and the Wikkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins draw closer to Hershey for the division lead winning today 5-4. 

More later. 

Rapid Recap

GAMEDAY: vs. Hershey 3/6

Comments Off on GAMEDAY: vs. Hershey 3/6 Posted by on March 6, 2016

vs.     her14_200

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Home Game: 27

AHL Game: 860

Who: Hershey Bears

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 4:05 p.m.

Media Kit

Last Game / Last Meeting: Last night in Hershey, the Pens were blown out 6-2. The Penguins fired just 14 shots at Bears nets, Dustin Jeffrey and Mattias Plachta scored the goals for the Pens. Carter Camper had a goal and two assists in the winning effort for the Bears.

Record: For WBS: 34-19-4-1 (73 pts., 2nd place Atlantic Division) — For HER: 34-15-3-7 (78 pts., 1st place Atlantic Division)

Why you should care: Expect the backups in this Sunday afternoon game. Both Dan Ellis and Tristan Jarry both started their respective teams games Friday and Saturday this weekend, so expect Justin Peters for the Bears and Brian Foster for the Penguins this afternoon. It will probably be something weird that wins this game then, with the team that has the most shots on goal that probably wins the game.

Referee(s): Ryan Fraser / Keith Kaval

Linesmen: Francois Dussureault / Ryan Knapp

Twitter: @wbspenguins / @WBSGameDay / @TheHersheyBears

Facebook: /WilkesBarreScrantonPenguins // /TheHersheyBears

Instagram: wbspenguins / thehersheybears

Beat Writers: @CVSethLakso / @TLTomVenesky // @davesottile

Broadcasters: WBS: Mike O’Brien @MikeOBrienWBS / HER: Scott Stuccio @ScottStuccio

Fan Bloggers: @nafsnep / @ChocHockey

Radio: For WBS: WILK News Radio / For Hershey: 1460 The Ticket 

Television: AHL Live

Promotion(s): Kids FREE (14 and under, with paid adult ticket) | $2 hot dogs

Other Game to Watch: Providence and Portland rematch today in Rhode Island. Both teams are nipping at the Penguins heels for second in the division.

Next Five Games: LV 3/9, BRI 3/12, @ BRI 3/13, HER 3/19, @ HER 3/20

Gameday

Walk By, Gaze at the Campfire, Aaron — Pens LOSE 6-2

Comments Off on Walk By, Gaze at the Campfire, Aaron — Pens LOSE 6-2 Posted by on March 5, 2016

WBS        @       HER

2                                         6

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You will look at this scoreline only and think, “Fire Donatelli!”

Nope.

Okay, then. You look at this scoreline and think, “Foster, right?”

Nope. Try again.

Out of ideas? Okay. I will help you.

The Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins fire a meek 14 shots at the net tended by Hershey starting goaltender Dan Ellis and get blown away by the Bears by a score of 6-2. Carter Camper had a goal and two assists, Nathan Walker scored twice. Dustin Gazley had a goal and an assist. I couldn’t work Garrett Mitchell’s name into the blog headline for some reason. I will try and do better the next time.

The Bears also connected three times on the power play. Just the second time this season the Bears have done that.

Tristan Jarry started the game and was opposed by Dan Ellis. Both goaltenders started least night, so expect Justin Peters for Hershey and Brian Foster for the Penguins tomorrow.

Jump through to see all my amateurish videos of the goals and read the game story…

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Postgamer

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