Chirps from Center Ice

No goofy pun headlines or graphics for preseason games. I don’t even think I can link into a boxscore.

Anyway, the Penguins won tonight 4-3. They blitzkrieged with three goals in the first period, were blitzkrieged for three goals in the second before Adam Krause scored in the final minute in the second. Backup goaltender Casey DeSmith played a perfect third period in relief of starter Brian Foster.

Pens opened up the scoring early on in the first period. A Matthew Maione shot from the blue line was tipped in by Tom Kostopoulos in front for a quick 1-0 lead. About a minute later, the Pens rushed into the zone and Clark Seymour ripped one from the point for a 2-0 Penguin lead.

Penguins would go on the games first power play. Good looks, but did not score. Seconds after, Brett Stern fired one in from long range for a 3-0 Wilkes-Barre lead.

Lehigh Valley settled in after that, benefitting from two power plays, but Brian Foster was solid.

Phantoms opened the second with goals at the beginning, middle and end of the period. Wilkes-Barre would have last laugh though when Adam Krause stole a puck at center ice and raced in and scored to make it 4-3.

Phantoms goals were Taylor Leier on a backhander to make it 3-1, Kevin Sundher after a long sequence of play that saw the Pens fail to score on a 4-on-1. They were trapped deep and Sundher made it 3-2. Late, Lehigh Valley crashed the net, Dan Martel parked in front and muscled one past Foster to make it 3-3.

Here’s video of a second period fight involving Clark Seymour:

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Casey DeSmith came in for Foster in relief in the third and played a fine game. He had to kill off two Phantoms power plays. He had some nice stops while Lehigh Valley were bearing down. Penguins had some chances with the most memorable being Ty Loney on a breakaway.

I don’t want to get took insightful on a preseason game with what the Penguins were / weren’t working on or focusing on in the third. Obviously, protect the lead and try to insulate the young DeSmith. When called upon, he was more than up to the challenge.

Fights included Patrick McGrath and Shane Bakker. Nothing memorable with McGrath and Bakker. Both are fighting for a spot come October 9 in Providence. Nick Petrecki, another one fighting for a spot, fought Derek Mathers in the third period and won on a right hand to Mathers jaw.

Anyway, so that’s that. The three stars were Shayne Bakker, Clark Seymour and Adam Krause in that order.

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There were cuts made today. Pittsburgh sent goaltender Tristan Jarry; defensemen Barry Goers and Niclas Andersen; and forwards Tyler Biggs, Anton Zlobin, Josh Archibald, Dominik Simon and Matia Marcantuoni to Coal Street. They placed forwards Dominik Uher and Kael Mouillierat and defensemen Will O’Neill, Reid McNeill and Steve Oleksy on waivers. All five will also be assigned to WBS if they clear waivers on Thursday afternoon at 12 p.m. Pittsburgh cut Tom Sestito, who is free to sign with any team, anywhere.

Later, as in right after their preseason game with Detroit, Pittsburgh sent Matt Murray, Conor Sheary, Scott Wilson and Oscar Sundqvist to Coal Street.

Players still up with Pittsburgh that could get sent to Wilkes-Barre include Adam Clendening, Tim Erixon, Dave Warsofsky, JS Dea, Bobby Farnham, Tom Kuhnhackl, Kevin Porter and Bryan Rust. Of these players, Bobby Farnham, Adam Clendening, Tim Erixon, David Warsofsky, Tom Kuhnhackl and Kevin Porter would require waivers.

If anyone gets claimed at the noon deadline Thursday, I’ll drop a blog in then. Same goes if there are any moves made Thursday too. Otherwise, look for the next blog update to come Friday, when the Penguins play host to the Albany Devils in more preseason action.