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I wonder if Springfield Falcons fans dread playing the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins in recent years. Here’s why…

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Tonight, a 38 save shutout performance, his first of the season, as the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins roll to a 5-0 victory tonight in Central Massachusetts.

Murray opposed Louis Domingue.

Lines were…

Scott Wilson – J-S Dea – Conor Sheary
Tom Kuhnhackl – Carter Rowney – Dominik Simon
Dominik Uher – Oskar Sundqvist – Tom Kostopoulos
Josh Archibald – Matia Marcantuoni – Tom Sestito

Derrick Pouliot – Steve Oleksy
Reid McNeill – David Warsofsky
Will O’Neill – Tim Erixon

Matt Murray – Tristan Jarry

Lineup Notes: Niclas Andersen was out for the newly demoted Tim Erixon, who was re-assigned by Pittsburgh this week. J-S Dea jumped into the spot vacated by the suspended Kael Mouillierat, serving the first of his two games. Tom Kuhnhackl moved up to the second line left wing with Carter Rowney and Dominik Simon. Barry Goers and Tyler Biggs are still hurt.

First Period: This period had everything but a goal. Sustained pressure by both teams, end to end action and 28 total shots by both teams. Penguins went 0-for-3 on a power play that never really threatened. The Falcons matched the Penguins intensity and outshot Wilkes-Barre 17-11.

Second Period: In a game which was settling into a defensive battle, the team that takes advantage of the opponents mistakes usually, if not always, comes out on top. For the the Penguins, the power play has been clicking really well of late, so much so that it is tops in all the AHL.

It worked to their advantage twice in the period. First, it was Derrick Pouliot on this nice shot from the high slot…

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The other, Tom Kostopoulos’ 350th point in a Penguin sweater on a tip in front from a Scott Wilson shot from the high right circle…

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In what was a defensive battle that ended in a draw in the first period with neither team scoring, the second period was a special teams battle with the Penguins scoring twice and the Falcons coming up empty twice in between the Wilkes-Barre power play goals.

One note from the period, Tom Sestito left the game at some point, I think it was in the first period, and did not return.

Third Period: Springfield never pressured Wilkes-Barre to the point of really testing Murray, became desperate as time melted away and the Penguins scored two empty net goals. The first was Scott Wilson, the second was Matia Marcantuoni.

For good measure, the Penguins tacked on another goal, this time with Domingue in the net. Dominik Simon got a piece of this Tim Erixon blast…

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The game was much closer than the score line would indicate, especially in the first period where Springfield came out guns blazing. The Falcons are under a new affiliation with Arizona and are still looking for their first win of the season, so there are growing pains involved in the process.

Three Stars: 3) Tom Kostopoulos (goal, assist, even) 2) Derrick Pouliot (goal, two assists, +1) and 1) Matt Murray (38 save shutout)

Nice breakout game for Pouliot, hitting the scoresheet three times. Have said for a while that his pedigree is something that Wilkes-Barre must use to the fullest, because he is not going to be an AHLer for very much longer.

Around the Division: Portland scored four unanswered at home and beat Albany 4-2, those two will race to the Capital District and rematch tomorrow in New York…Hartford slipped past Syracuse 4-3…Hershey bested Utica in New York in their first matchup since the Utica Devils were a thing by a score 1-0. Hershey’s home opener is tomorrow against Hartford…Providence beat a banged up Lehigh Valley side by a score of 5-3. Bridgeport was the only Atlantic Division team off tonight. The Sound Tigers are in Newfoundland and take on the IceCaps Saturday.

Standings: Bridgeport (.833 percentage points) — Penguins (.800) — Hartford (.800) — Portland (.750) — Providence (.500) — Hershey (.500) — Lehigh Valley (.250) — Springfield (.000)

Wheeling Update: The Nailers were off tonight and host the Brampton Beast at WesBanco Arena in the home opener for Wheeling Saturday night.

SendToNews Highlights: I may check in the morning, but doubt they will go up.

Penguins and Falcons will race to Pennsylvania for the rematch at Mohegan Sun Arena Saturday night at 7:05. Gameday for this will hit the blog Saturday at 3 p.m.

Let’s Go Pens!

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You could say that the Bridgeport Sound Tigers were playing their third game in three games and as with any team that does that, the legs are tired.

But don’t tell Tristan Jarry.

The rookie goaltender won in his professional debut with a dazzling 35 save performance to help the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins defeat the previously undefeated Sound Tigers by a score of 5-1.

The power play came through again and the defense and goaltending looked stout. It was a big win for a Penguin team that got run out of Southern Connecticut on a rail last weekend.

No lineup changes for the Penguins from last nights comeback win against Lehigh Valley. The only change was Jarry making his pro debut, opposing Stephon Williams in net for Bridgeport.

First Period: The Sound Tigers hadn’t trailed at all during the season, winning all five prior contests and beginning the season 5-0. That all changed on a power play when Tom Kostopoulos set up Kael Mouillierat on the doorstep of Williams:

[tweet https://twitter.com/nafsnep/status/655857559476281345]

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Sound Tigers had a good couple shifts after the goal, but everything was to the outside to Jarry he saw with ease. Later, Oskar Sundqvist tipped in this long Will O’Neill shot from the blue line.

[tweet https://twitter.com/nafsnep/status/655860269583872000]

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Second Period: Penguins expanded the lead to three goals with this nice garbage goal by Tom Sestito:

[tweet https://twitter.com/nafsnep/status/655875905559113729]

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Then the Sound Tigers got a puck past Jarry on a four-on-three sequence. With Steve Oleksy and Mike Halmo in the box for roughing after an Oleksy hip check on Taylor Beck, Dominik Simon hooked Kevin Czuczman to make it 4-on3. A Ryan Pulock blast deflected off of the stick of a Penguin on the way in and Bridgeport was on the board to make it 3-1.

But the Penguins would re-establish the three goal lead on the power play again with this nice goal by Conor Sheary.

[tweet https://twitter.com/nafsnep/status/655873719001313280]

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With Reid McNeill in the penalty box for slashing, Tristan Jarry made some nice saves on the penalty kill including this cool glove save of a shot by Czuczman.

[tweet https://twitter.com/nafsnep/status/655874601818419200]

Third Period: The Penguins were buzzing from behind the Sound Tigers net when Carter Rowney knocked this puck in for a 5-1 Penguins lead.

[tweet https://twitter.com/nafsnep/status/655882423209693185]

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Wilkes-Barre had outscored its opponents by a score of 11-2 in the last five periods.

Teams traded a bunch of penalties. Shots at one point were something like 13-3 in favor of the home team but the Penguins locked them down the rest of the way after Jarry kept them out of the net.

Three Stars: 3) Oskar Sundqvist (goal, +1) 2) Conor Sheary (goal, two assists, +1) and 1) Tristan Jarry (35 saves on 36 shots)

[tweet https://twitter.com/WBSPenguins/status/655892502948544512]

Around the Division: Hershey got swept this weekend in Portland, losing today by a score of 5-2…Hartford trounced Syracuse 5-2.

Standings: Bridgeport (.833 percentage points) — Penguins (.750) — Hartford (.750) — Portland (.667) — Providence (.400) — Lehigh Valley (.333) — Hershey (.333) — Springfield (.000)

Wheeling Update: The Nailers bussed back from Norfolk and are getting ready for their home opener with the Brampton Beast this weekend.

SendToNews Highlights: Are here.

Pens have Monday off and will have this week to prepare for the Springfield Falcons in a home and home. The Week 2 Chirps from Center Ice AHL Power Rankings will be up Monday at 4. I’ll update my stats chart board at some point this week based off of this weekends action. Check it out.

Let’s Go Pens!!