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You can feel good about this game, I think. A 3-1 Wilkes-Barre win over a desperate Pirates team looking to solidify themselves as a playoff team. A sweep of the season series against the Pirates and more space between fifth place in the conference and inching closer to the Hershey Bears for the Division title.

The Penguins did this with the back up, Jeff Zatkoff and many changes to their lineup.

Boatloads of news pre-game. Scott Harrington and Brian Dumoulin were both recalled to Pittsburgh before the game today. The Penguins skated a defenseman short. Here is a look at the lines…

Andrew Ebbett – Tom Kostopoulos
Tom Kuhnhackl – Carter Rowney – Dominik Uher
Bryan Rust – Jayson Megna – Kasperi Kapanen
Pierre Leblond – Matia Marcantuoni – Bobby Farnham and Josh Archibald

Danny Syvret – Clark Seymour
Nick D’Agostino – Alex Boak
Steven Shamanski

Jeff Zatkoff – Matt Murray

Conor Sheary was a scheduled scratch today. Obie said in pre-game that this was the plan, coming off of injury. He is expected back in the lineup Friday at home vs. Albany. Danny Federico took part in the warmups but was scratched. Other notable healthy scratches was Adam Payerl.

Zatkoff opposed Mike McKenna.

First Period: The question of what the Penguins would look like with their two of their best defensemen up in Pittsburgh was answered fairly quickly. The short term answer? OK.

The Penguins haven’t been known at all for their special teams work in wining them hockey games, but it was exactly that which helped them jump out to a two goal lead in the period.

With Bryan Rust in the box for a for a penalty, Josh Archibald read some miscommunication by Portland, stole it and zipped up the ice with a streaking Andrew Ebbett on a two on one, fed Ebbett who scored:

[tweet https://twitter.com/nafsnep/status/587338820435255297]

The Penguins then went to a power play, and off of a three on one, Scott Wilson scored this goal:

[tweet https://twitter.com/nafsnep/status/587339666497675266]

In the last minute, Bryan Rust was blasted from behind on this unpenalized play…

[tweet https://twitter.com/nafsnep/status/587341201243774976]

Second Period: Rust did not return to the ice with the team. Penguins kept things simple playing a defenseman and now a forward down with Rust injured. They were awarded four power plays in the period but unlike the first, were unable to cash on them. New guy Steven Shamanski was one of the players keeping things simple, hit the post. Jayson Megna was robbed twice by excellent saves by Mike McKenna, one on a power play and another on a nice give and go setup by Archibald.

Third Period: There were two tests that I think the Penguins passed with flying colors this period that won them the game. First, the Pirates got the jump on the Penguins to start the period and forced the Penguins into a penalty. They killed it easily.

Then Carter Rowney extended the Penguin lead with this nice blast that made it 3-0.

[tweet https://twitter.com/nafsnep/status/587362733802283009]

The second test that the Penguins passed was a full 5-on-3 penalty that refs Chmielewski and Brenk gift wrapped for the home team. Pirates head coach Ray Edawards elected to go with an extra attacker and pulled McKenna. The Penguins and Jeff Zatkoff weathered the storm. They killed it easily. Steve Shamanski hit the post on the empty net just as the penalties expired. McKenna went back in the net on the fly.

Justin Hodgeman scored in a flurry of bodies afterward that spoiled the would be shutout bid Zatkoff had going. They rode steady defense and stayed disciplined from there on out.

Three Stars: 3) Brendan Shinnimin (goal, even) 2) Jeff Zatkoff (29 saves on 30 shots) and 1) Andrew Ebbett (goal, assist, +1)

Around the Division: Everyone else had off.

Standings: Hershey 96 — Penguins 93 — Lehigh Valley 72 — Binghamton 72 — Norfolk 62

Conference: 1) MCH (105) 2) HER (96) 3) HFD (93) 4) WBS (93) 5) SYR (91) 6) PRO (89) 7) WOR (86) 8) POR (83)

Wheeling Update: The Nailers closed out their regular season in Canada with a 4-2 win over the Brampton Beast. Eric Hartzell stopped 31 of 33. The Nailers now prepare for the Toledo Walleye in the Kelly Cup Playoffs.

SendToNews Highlights: Are not up yet, I will look again later as I finish the Power Rankings.

Pens bus home tonight, will probably have off Monday and maybe Tuesday as they prepare to close out the regular season with home games against the Albany Devils and Norfolk Admirals before closing out the regular season in Allentown next Sunday.

The Power Rankings will hit the blog Monday at 4. The chart refresh will update probably before then. I tweet a link around 12:30 Tuesday.

Let’s Go Pens!!!

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If you have been following the team carefully, you will already know that the third line of Kuhnhackl – Rowney and Uher has been the best line for the Penguins for quite some time. They came through again tonight.

A 5-2 win for the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins, a 40 save performance for Matt Murray, a 5-1 St. John’s win over the Hershey Bears and the Penguins still have a boat load to play for.

The aforementioned Matt Murray vs. David Leggio.

Lines were…

Scott Wilson – Andrew Ebbett – Tom Kostopoulos
Conor Sheary – Jayson Megna – Kasperi Kapanen
Tom Kuhnhackl – Carter Rowney – Dominik Uher
Bobby Farnham – Matia Marcantuoni – Bryan Rust

Scott Harrington – Brian Dumoulin
Danny Syvret – Alex Boak
Nick D’Agostino – Clark Seymour

Matt Murray – Jeff Zatkoff

It was Conor Sheary’s first game back since March 20, he had missed 8 games prior. Bryan Rust was dropped to the fourth line to make room for Sheary. Pierre Leblond was shuffled out in all of this madness. Adam Payerl was the other healthy scratch along with Steven Shamanski, who took warmups.

First Period: I don’t know if it was the fact that the Penguins were off last night, riding a high that they clinched on Wednesday or what, because they were flattened by the Pirates from the jump. Outshot 15-6, Matt Murray really did a fine job of keeping the Penguins in it. Eric Selleck got a step on Scott Harrington and scored on Murray to make it 1-0 Pirates. It was the first goal scored by the Pirates on the Penguins in the season series. The Penguins shut out the Pirates in the two prior meetings. The assault continued, but Murray was to task with some puck luck also.

Second Period: That third line came alive…

Tom Kuhnhackl…

[tweet https://twitter.com/nafsnep/status/587046355698372608]

Then Carter Rowney…

[tweet https://twitter.com/nafsnep/status/587050188084215809]

First goal was a Rowney shot that went wide that Leggio didn’t corral and Kuhnhackl corralled in. The second goal Rowney tip of a Kuhnhackl blast.

Third Period: The Penguins scored three goals on just six shots in this period. Bobby Farnham got the party started with this nice goal off a Conor Sheary setup:

[tweet https://twitter.com/nafsnep/status/587059749566418944]

Alex Bolduc scored to make it 3-2. Murray was screened by a defenseman.

But again, Matt Murray came up huge, stopping 15 of 16 shots this period, and the Penguins pulled away.

Jayson Megna on a rebound of a Nick D’Agostino shot from the blue line…

[tweet https://twitter.com/nafsnep/status/587065491488903169]

Then Dominik Uher finished off this pass from Matia Marcantuoni to make it 5-2…

[tweet https://twitter.com/nafsnep/status/587066526236303360]

Time would run out for the Pirates and the Penguins would take it.

Three Stars: 3) Carter Rowney (goal, assist, +1) 2) Tom Kuhnhackl (goal, assist, +1) and 1) Matt Murray (40 saves on 42 shots)

Around the Division: As mentioned earlier, Hershey gets smoked by St. John’s 5-1…. Norfolk beats Lehigh Valley 3-2 and Binghamton beats Utica 3-2.

Standings: Hershey 96 — Penguins 91 — Lehigh Valley 72 — Binghamton 72 — Norfolk 62

Here is where it is getting weird. I conceded, weeks ago, the division to the Hershey Bears. Every time I do this, Wilkes-Barre inches closer to hope. Every time that happens, it slips. Anyway, if the Penguins win tomorrow, it’s a three point deficit with both teams having three games to play. Bears have two with Lehigh Valley and one with Binghamton left. After tomorrow, assuming the Penguins win Sunday, it’s Albany, Noroflk and Lehigh Valley. Anything can happen. Bears magic number for the Division is 4.

Conference: 1) MCH (103) 2) HER (96) 3) SYR (91) 4) WBS (91) 5) PRO (89) 6) HFD (89) 7) WOR (86) 8) POR (83)

Manchester sewed up the top spot in the East. Best that the Bears (or Penguins, with tons of help) can finish is the second seed. That means, you’ll want to avoid being seven eight. Syracuse is LOL right now and may not even win the division, but I’d favor who ever finishes sixth over Syracuse at three if it shakes out that way regardless.

Wheeling Update: Good on the Wheeling Nailers, decimated almost day by day by call-up from two affiliates, for punching their ticket to the Kelly Cup Playoffs with a 5-3 win in Elmira. Five different Nailers scored.

SendtoNews Highlights: Aren’t up yet and I don’t know if Portland puts them up quite frankly so my amateurish videos will need to do.

Rematch tomorrow at 3 vs. these same Pirates. Gameday for this will be up on the blog at 11.

Let’s Go Pens!!!

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Now you are just being silly.

Another one. This time a 30 save shutout of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms which punches Wilkes-Barre’s ticket to the postseason for the thirteenth consecutive season. Murray’s twelfth shutout, one off of the AHL record, Penguins are in again. 3-0 blanking of Lehigh Valley tonight.

Dammit, let’s make this one count. Lucky 13, or something like that….

Before we get to the recap, some news, old and new. First, the Penguins signed a guy by the name of Steven Shamanski to a PTO this week. He was with ECHL Elmira. He is an offensive defenseman. Call it an insurance policy if any more defensive bodies have to go up to Pittsburgh.

Before his work in the game tonight, Matt Murray was named to the AHL All Rookie Team today. This is going to be the first of many times you will see me and other actual media outlets type, “Matt Murray was named…” regarding postseason awards.

J-S Dea and Josh Archibald were sent to Wheeling as the Nailers visited the Reading Royals. Results of that game later in this post.

Goaltender Tristan Jarry was assigned to Wilkes-Barre from his junior team, the Edmonton Oil Kings.

Matt Murray vs. Rob Zepp

Lines were…

Scott Wilson – Andrew Ebbett – Tom Kostopoulos
Bryan Rust – Jayson Megna – Kasperi Kapanen
Tom Kuhnhackl – Carter Rowney – Dominik Uher
Pierre Leblond – Matia Marcantuoni – Bobby Farnham

Scott Harrington – Brian Dumoulin
Danny Syvret – Alex Boak
Nick D’Agostino – Clark Seymour

Matt Murray – Jeff Zatkoff

Kasperi Kapanen made his AHL debut. New guy Steven Shamanski was a took warmups but was a healthy scratch. Adam Payerl was the only other healthy scratch with Dea and Archibald in Wheeling. Carter Rowney returned from injury.

First Period: On his second AHL shift, with his first shot, Kapanen put the Penguins ahead with this….

Kapanen pounced on a turnover at center ice, swooped in and zipped a shot over Zepp’s glove. He is the first Penguin since Scott Harrington to score on his first shot in his first game.

Oh, Jonathan had mined an absolute gem on Kapanen too….

Here’s a better look in GIF format from Springfield….

Later, Matt Murray made three, maybe four, quick saves in close in succession on Taylor Leier and Andrew Gordon to keep the Phantoms off of the board. Game was opening up a bit with chances at both ends. Penguins had some late power play time that carried over into the….

Second Period: Penguins didn’t score on the carryover power play opportunities. Wilkes-Barre continued to get power play opportunities, then Jay Rosehill took an elbowing penalty, argued and was assessed an additional penalty so it was a 4:00 penalty for the Penguins.

Tom Kuhnhackl made them pay….

What a pass there by Kasperi Kapanen to get the puck to Kuhnhackl and better deflection up high on Zepp. Needed goal given the situation, the Phantoms were basically a shot away from tying the game.

Third Period: The Penguins manufactured 20 shots in the second period, but were held shotless for a large portion of the third period. I wasn’t quite sure that the game had a full on playoff intense feel to it, because the Penguins were up by two and the Phantoms are well out of playoff contention, but it did feel like Wilkes-Barre was nursing the lead for portions of the period.

The Phantoms weren’t rewarded a full 2:00 power play the entire game. Late, Danny Syvret hooked Blair Jones out of necessity as both were pursuing a bouncing puck. It was a Phantoms power play. After a time out, the Phantoms pulled Zepp giving Lehigh Valley a 6-on-4 power play chance. They buzzed and buzzed late, looking to bust up the Murray shutout, but Tom Kuhnhackl buried this empty net, shorthanded goal….

It was just a matter of time at that point.

Three Stars: 3) Tom Kuhnhackl (two goals, +1) 2) Matt Murray (30 save shutout) and 1) Kasperi Kapanen (goal, assist, +1)

Regarding Murray, Michael Cignoli dug up this stat:

In case you missed it…

Around the Division: No one else played.

Standings: Hershey 94 — Penguins 89 — Lehigh Valley 69 — Binghamton 68 — Norfolk 59

Conference: 1) MCH (99) 2) HER (94) 3) SYR (89) 4) WBS (89) 5) WOR (86) 6) PRO (85) 7) HFD (85) 8) POR (82)

Worcester on back to Portland at the eight have a game in hand (70 hames played to the Penguins 71) but that isn’t an issue at this point. A three point cushion on home ice for round one with five games to play.

Wheeling Update: The Nailers won a big game in Reading tonight by a score of 2-1. Josh Archibald had a goal, J-S Dea assisted.

SendToNews Highlights: Courtesy of the Phantoms…

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx4tJnVC5to]

Penguins come home to pack up and hit the road for Portland likely tomorrow. Still lots to play for. I conceded the East Division to Hershey weeks ago, but the Penguins aren’t out of it yet, so who know what can happen. More pressing will be sealing up the four seed for home ice in the first round.

We are back in the best party in town. Don’t get thrown out before the party is over. Be the life of the party. Remember, 13 is the lucky number. Get in.

Let’s Go Pens!!!