Chirps from Center Ice

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Yeah, you read that right. The Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins win 5-0 Saturday night over the Rochester Americans who coming in had won six in a row.

A 36 save shutout for Filip Larsson, who looked awesome having not played in the past two weeks. Sure, there is practice, but game action is a different thing.

I think this was the finest win of the young season for this young team. Reason being is that Rochester is one of those quick teams that scare you due to their speed.

The Penguins withstood the first five minutes, where Rochester’s seeped was on full display and tested Larsson, but the young goaltender withstood it and his team was off to the races from there.

Here’s how they lined up. Rochester didn’t post lines.

Lineup Notes: Matt Nieto was sent down on conditioning. Tristan Jarry was recalled on Saturday in the same transaction. Otherwise as you saw above Knyzhov was in for Phip Waugh on defense and Corey Andonovski was in for Raivis Ansons and Avery Hayes (Nieto)

First Period: Off the hop, I was worried, as it looked like the Amerks were going to score every time they entered the zone, every time they touched the puck. Shots were something like 5-1 Americans.

But then, Corey Andonovski cleaned up the loose change in front of Michael Houser’s net and the Penguins were off and running.

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Later, Jonathan Gruden led Matt Nieto on a two on one and dished to the conditioning forward who jukes Houser to the New York State line and scores to double up the score for the home team.

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Second Period: While four on four, it was Tristan Broz that scored from a ridiculous angle and made it 3-0 Wilkes-Barre.

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Rochester pressured, but really after the first goal against and definitely the second, it seemed to slack off.

Third Period: So when Broz scored that goal, at the time, his fifth of the season, I was wondering when Rutger McGroarty was going to ever get going.

I didn’t have to wait long.

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On the power play. Get the kid going on the power play. It worked.

Tristan Broz again for good measure…

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And from here the only question would be whether Larsson would do the thing and get the shutout.

36 saves later and no goals against and yes, he did the thing.

Three Stars: 3) Tristan Broz (two goals) 2) Rutger McGroarty (goal) 1) Filip Larsson (36 saves)

The Good: Lots. Power play was clicking, young defense looked cagey and a guy that hadn’t played in over two weeks looks like he never lost a step. This was a statement win over a good, possibly not great Rochester team that has the Penguins off to a very good start here approaching mid-November.

The Bad: Nothing to speak of. They type of game you wish you could bottle up and use when you are down a pair on a lazy Wednesday against Hershey in mid-January.

Turning Point: I think the point of no return in games like this where you are beating a team so bad they aren’t going to win comes after the third goal, especially in shutouts. So let’s just go with that.

Around the Division: Lehigh Valley beats Utica in overtime 4-3….Toronto beats Charlotte 4-3 clean….Providence doubles up Bridgeport 8-4….Hershey wins 3-2 over Springfield to stay tops in the Division.

Standings: Hershey 17 – Penguins 16 – Charlotte 13 – Leigh Valley 13 – Hartford 12 – Providence 10 – Springfield 8 – Bridgeport 6

Wheeling Update: Nailers are in action against Trois-Rivières again Saturday and win 4-3. Sergei Musharov with 27 saves, Matty De St. Phalle with a goal and an assist.

Video Highlights: 

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They are back at it Wednesday again in Lehigh Valley. Power Rankings here Monday afternoon and then the Weekend Preview Wednesday afternoon.

Let’s Go Pens!

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3                            5

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The Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins were roughed up in the second period and never really recovered after that and lose 5-3 Friday night in Allentown, bringing an end to their four game winning streak.

I’d argue that this was the worst of the five games that Tristan Jarry played during his tenure here on this AHL conditioning stint, which will end as this is the 14th day. You will see in a few seconds.

Rochester has to make a 4+ hour trip to Wilkes-Barre overnight, bringing a six game winning streak when these teams meet Saturday night.

Here’s how they lined up:

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Lineup Notes: As noted above, Filip Kral was back. He replaced Lindgren on defense. Corey Andonovski for Raivis Ansons up front. Earlier in the day the Pens signed Nikolai Knyzhov to a PTO. Yes, another defenseman but there was no other defenseman hurt.

Injury Updates: 

Taylor Gauthier (lower body, week to week)
Nate Clurman (upper body, day to day)
Dan Renouf (lower, week)
Boko Imama (day to day, unspecified)
Sebastien Aho (same)
Jimmy Huntingdon (lower, week)
Scooter Brickey (lower, week)
Jagger Joshua (upper, week)

Oof.

I will update the Roster Tracker.

First Period: Penalty marred period, but that did not deter the Penguins, who score a power play goal and a shorthanded goal to go up 2-0 in a very, very good period.

Ville Koivunen and Sam Poulin, respectively.

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Snapped a low shot that beat the goaltender five hole. Nice.

Even better? This play from Sam Poulin. A+ effort…

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Wilkes-Barre dominated the Phantoms from the drop, outshooting them 8-3.

Second Period: Tale of two periods for the Penguins.

Three goals, 1:40 apart, saw the Phantoms tie it within a span of :46, then Jonathan Gruden re-established the Penguins lead :54 after that.

It seemed like the wheels were coming off, and with penalty happy Liam Maaskant and Casey Terreri relentlessly dishing out infraction after infraction, it was not a good sign for the Penguins.

Sure enough, it wasn’t.

Phantoms score a pair within a :36 time frame and took a 4-3 lead heading into the third.

Let me set these up…

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Penguins had a carryover penalty kill that they got scored on here by Louis Belpedio.

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Tristan Jarry is going to want that goal he gave up to Alexis Gendron back here. You can tell from his body language that he knows that he should have had that.

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Nice work by Jonathan Gruden to work hard, create a turnover and get rewarded with a goal.

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Troubling theme here as Lehigh Valley gets yet another power play goal here and this one came off of a rebound.

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Just to confirm, that’s $5M / year NHL All-Star goaltender Tristan Jarry spilling rebounds all over the place.

Whew.

Third Period: Penguins with an early power play but failed to capitalize on same. Later, they had a second crack but weren’t able to solve Eetu Makiniemi.

Then, with Jarry pulled for an extra attacker with about 3:30 left to play, veteran defenseman Mac Hollowell coughs up a puck and Oscar Eklind took advantage of the opportunity and scored to ice the game away into the empty net.

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Three Stars: 3) Rhett Gardner (two assists) 2) Oscar Eklind (two goals) 1) Alexis Gendron (two goals)

The Good: Hot start. They struggle in the opening frames.

The Bad: Everything else. I had a feeling they were cooked when Lehigh Valley scored to tie the game. Just had a sense.

Turning Point: Have to go with the :36 sequence where the Phantoms went back up, this time for good, late in the second period.

Around the Division: Rochester wins 6-3 at home against Hartford….Providence beats Bridgeport clean 3-2. The rest of them were off.

Standings: Hershey 15 – Penguins 14 – Charlotte 13 – Hartford 12 – Lehigh Valley 11 – Springfield 8 – Providence 8 – Bridgeport 6

Wheeling Update: Nailers lose in overtime to Trois-Rivières 5-4. Atley Calvert, Matty De St. Phalle all with goals in the contest.

Video Highlights: If I see them I will post them here.

Rochester in Saturday. Talk to you then.

Let’s Go Pens!

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Quick one tonight because Wednesday is a work night.

If you don’t understand the headline (and why would you if you are under 30) I got the idea when I stood up and left my seat to head home Wednesday after Tristan Broz’s overtime game winning goal beat the Lehigh Valley Phantoms 2-1 in overtime. The Penguins got there because Tristan Jarry dragged them there, making 33 saves.

Broz was first star, Jarry was second.

OK here, if you still don’t get the reference.

I asked in the Weekend Preview how much magic the Penguins would still have left when Jarry finally goes up. From what I heard on Nick Hart’s postgame show it sounded like he indeed will be on the bus with them to Allentown on Friday before being recalled Saturday. What will they be like on Saturday against Rochester playing in front of Filip Larsson?

Shots were 11-4 and 24-12 at the end of the first and second period respectively for the visitors. Tristan Jarry flat out kept them in it.

It was the type of game that required a greasy goal and sure enough that came off the stick of Marc Johnstone after a deft pass from Avery Hayes late in the second period.

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They played better in the third, which seems to be an early, perhaps troubling theme, but Hunter McDonald managed to level the game for the visitors with this shot…

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Newcomer Phip Waugh and Mats Lindgren hit two posts in the matter of seconds.

Garrett Wilson took a late, call it reputational penalty for interference with 16.7 left in regulation. No one scored and it was off to overtime.

The Penguins didn’t score on the power play, but a boffo turnover by Adam Ginning led to Tristan Broz’s heroics.

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Ballgame.

Three Stars: 3) Marc Johnstone (goal) 2) Tristan Jarry (33 saves) 1) Tristan Broz (OT game winner)

Here’s How they Lined Up:

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Lineup Notes: Marc Johnstone for Raivis Ansons up front, newcomers Phip Waugh and Mats Lindrgen for the newly injured Nate Clurman and Scotter Brickey.

So add two more to the injured list. The injury list reads like a high school graduation roll call.

The Good: Gritted out a point I don’t think they deserved, stole a point they earned.

The Bad: Tristan Jarry has one more game (we think) before the goaltending goes back in mortal hands. They have to play better. They just do, because they are playing with a cheat code right now in goal.

Turning Point: The Ginning turnover to Broz gets it here.

Around The Division: Springfield scores five unanswered and beats Bridgeport 5-3 in an early school day kids game….Hartford beats Syracuse 2-1 in overtime. The rest of them had the night off.

Standings: Hershey 15 – Penguins 14 – Charlotte 13 – Hartford 12 – Lehigh Valley 9 – Springfield 8 – Providence and Bridgeport 6

Wheeling Update: Big night for Sam Houde and the Wheeling Nailers who roll the Cincinnati Cyclones 5-2. Houde had two goals. Sergei Murashov had 18 saves.

Video Highlights: 

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Back at it Friday in Allentown.

Let’s Go Pens!

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1                               2

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It was MageBoySA on Twitter (or X, whatever you call it) that had the summation of the way the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins navigated past the Hartford Wolf Pack 2-1 on Saturday night.

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Very good observation, considering the Penguins were out shot 12-6 in the first period and 26-16 through two periods.

Shots ended at an even 31 a side.

Coaching? Maybe. Regardless, it’s two points in early November.

Here’s how they lined up.

Hartford didn’t post lines.

Lineup Notes: Vasily Ponomarev was sent back to Wilkes-Barre from Pittsburgh on Thursday and replaced Marc Johnstone. No other changes from Wednesday.

First Period: Went by in a flash, little stoppages, both teams 0/1 on the power play and Corey Andonovski hit a post late.

Second Period: Isaac Belliveau scores his first professional goal just :33 in.

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Good stuff there.

A delayed call on the Wolf Pack saw Ville Koivunen score and beat old pal Louie Domingue to the short side to give the Penguins a 2-0 lead.

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What a pass by Bemström there.

But then, Dylan Roobroeck scored here on a goofy little play.

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I think it was more the lead pass from Blade Jenkins that set the thing up for Roobroeck to tap in. Also, is it fun to spell Roobroek or not?

Third Period: Uneventful for scoring, the Penguins outshot the Wolf Pack 15-5 and to MageBoy’s point in the open, played like they were behind and managed to win.

(they also didn’t score, but that may me overanalyzing)

Three Stars: 3) Tristan Jarry (30 saves) 2) Isaac Belliveau (goal) 1) Ville Koivunen (goal, assist)

The Good: Managed to get two points clean off a good Hartford club who are well structured.

The Bad: Is Jarry ever going to get a shutout?

Turning Point: That third period was something else, more I think of it. They stayed on the Wolf Pack and never let off.

Also, tip of the cap to refs Graedy Hamilton and Mason Riley, who stayed out of the way and let them play. There was a sequence where Domingue covered a puck, there was no whistle and Corey Andonovski took a couple jabs at it. Hartford didn’t like that and knocked Andonovski over. I think it was Hamilton who declined to penalize Hartford for the extracurricular because Andonovski knew what he was doing and knew what was coming. That’s good refereeing.

Around the Division: Laval is 8-1 and navigated past Providence 6-3…Charlotte beats Hershey 4-2…Lehigh Valley beats Springfield 5-2.

Standings: Hershey 13 – Charlotte and the Penguins 12 – Hartford 10 – Lehigh Valley 8 – Springfield, Providence and Bridgeport 6.

Wheeling Update: The Nailers had their home opener Saturday and beat the ECHL’s newest team the Bloomington Bison 2-1. The Bison happen to to be the ECHL affiliate of the Hartford Wolf Pack.. Jaxson Castor had the start and stopped 24. Atley Calvert had a goal.

Video Highlights: 

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Back here Monday for the AHL Power Rankings then Wednesday afternoon setting up a Wednesday home game against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Let’s Go Pens!

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So, that was interesting.

After blitzkrieging the Bridgeport Islanders for two goals in the games first three minutes, the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins see the offense dry up, the home team score three goals three different ways in the second period and need a Jonathan Gruden goal late in the third to force overtime and takedown Bridgeport 4-3 in a shootout.

Two points anyway you can get them.

Here’s how they lined up….

https://twitter.com/WBSPenguins/status/1851754609536073812

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Bridgeport didn’t post lines.

Lineup Notes: Marc Johnstone for Boko Imama up front and Isaac Belliveau comes off the injured list to make his season debut on defense replacing the newly injured Sebastian Aho. Aho is day to day with a lower body injury.

First Period: They didn’t waste any time. Nick Hart mentioned on radio that the Penguins were waiting for their turn to play on a weekday and were looking forward to getting the opportunity to do so.

Before the Islanders had a shot on goal, the Penguins were up 2-0.

https://twitter.com/WBSPenguins/status/1851766371740258355

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Koivunen is a guy you want to get hot.

https://twitter.com/WBSPenguins/status/1851766753488941515

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Another guy you want to get hot is Gruden.

A pair of goals in less than 90 seconds apart is a good way to jump on an opponent.

Second Period: I didn’t count face-off wins / losses, but one thing I noticed was all the shots the Penguins took that went high or wide.

The Islanders responded in kind with a power play goal, a shorthanded goal and an even strength goal to overcome the 2-0 deficit and take a 3-2 lead heading into the third. Here were the goals.

https://twitter.com/AHLIslanders/status/1851786085866598737

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Nothing Jarry can do with that one there where he was partially screened.

https://twitter.com/AHLIslanders/status/1851787272338780178

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Brian Pinho leads the AHL with shorthanded goals. This was his third. If I had to nitpick an NHL All-Star goaltender down on assignment making $5M a year, it would be this goal here. You have to do a better job here.

https://twitter.com/AHLIslanders/status/1851787920052506921

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Defensive breakdown.

Third Period: Penguins do everything they can on a power play but do not score. Setup and execution were there, finish was not.

Jonathan Gruden scored when he stayed camped out at the goal mouth and waited to pick up the loose change.

https://twitter.com/WBSPenguins/status/1851796264788365577

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Hope he stays hot heading into November.

Overtime: Solved nothing. Penguins had a power play and again the. setup and execution were there but the game winning goal was not.

Shootout: Emil Bemström scored in the top of the first, Ville Koivunen in the top of the second. Matthew Maggio scored in the bottom of the second but Tristan Jarry stopped Alex Jeffries and Chris Terry. Tristan Broz also participated but was denied.

https://twitter.com/WBSPenguins/status/1851803382987592114

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Three Stars: 3) Brian Pinho (goal, assist) 2) Jonathan Gruden (two goals) 1) Ville Koivunen (goal, shootout goal)

The Good: Found a way to battle back and win.

The Bad: 0/5 on the power play.

Turning Point: The Gruden goal that forced overtime gets it here.

Lots for the coaching staff to look at and work on with a Friday off. You can’t go up 2-0 that early against a last place team that was obliterated in Charlotte last weekend and let off and nearly lose. They should have had six or seven, but that’s a knock against Marcus Hogberg, who started in goal for Bridgeport and was fantastic after the first three minutes of the game.

Around the Division: Hartford takes down Grand Rapids in overtime 3-2…Lehigh Valley beats Hershey clean in Hershey 2-1...Providence beats Belleville 3-2 in a shootout.

Standings: Hershey 13 – Charlotte and the Penguins 10 – Hartford 9 – Springfield, Lehigh Valley and Providence 6 – Bridgeport 4

Wheeling Update: Nailers were off.

Video Highlights: If I see them, I will edit them in here on the blog only.

Enjoy the Friday off and we will talk to you again Saturday against the Hartford Wolf Pack.

Let’s Go Pens!