Chirps from Center Ice

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

All-Stars and Non

Comments Off Posted by nafsnep on October 7, 2014

Interrupting the AHL Previews with a note on some news of the day…

Coal Street made cuts today.Tyler Murovich, Patrick McGrath, Jonathan Narbonne, Carter Rowey, Kevin Ryan and Clark Seymour were released. McGrath, Rowney and Seymour will go to Wheeling. The other guys were on ECHL deals elsewhere.

NHL rosters have to have 23 names on them by 5 p.m. Tuesday. Only Chris Kunitz (illness) and Kasperi Kapenen (went home to see family) did not practice today for Pittsburgh. Guys like Evgeni Malkin and Olli Maatta did practice and could be ready for the start of the season, so it’s still possible that we see a name or three find their way back to Wilkes-Barre later today or this week. Front runners in my opinion are Taylor Chorney and Zach Sill, but who knows. Every time I try to talk myself through who can or can’t get sent back here I only end up confusing myself further. Who comes, comes.

Edit: After I published this, Pittsburgh announced that Oskar Sundqvist was returned to his Swedish club, Scott Harrington was assigned here and Andrew Ebbett, Taylor Chorney and Zach Sill were sent to Wheeling of the ECHL. Release here. The ECHL moves are so the team can get under the salary cap. I’d expect Sill, Chorney and Ebbett to be recalled back to Pittsburgh Wednesday.

Springfield announced where they are having the All-Star Classic this year. It’s Utica, home of the Comets. They will return to the East vs. West format that they’ve used in the past. Last year it was a cast of AHL All-Stars vs. Farjestad in St. John’s, while the NHL was on the OIympic break. I think fans like the East v. West format. I know I do. Tickets go on sale November 1.

Big day for minor league hockey as the ECHL announced it has granted membership to the seven remaining Central Hockey League teams; Allen Americans, Brampton Beast, Missouri Mavericks, Quad City Mallards, Rapid City Rush, Tulsa Oilers and Wichita Thunder. Details here. It brings the number of ECHL clubs up to 29, with Las Vegas sitting out this season while they finalize details on a new home to play in 2015-16.

Look for the next non-AHL Preview blog piece to come in the form of the Gameday setup vs. Lehigh Valley Saturday at 3 p.m.

Remember, you can always keep up with me @nafsnep on Twitter.

Pittsburgh, The AHL, WBS, Wheeling

West Division Preview

Comments Off Posted by nafsnep on October 7, 2014

Welcome back to Day Two of the Chirps from Center Ice AHL Previews. Today we close out the Western Conference with a look at the teams in the West Division. If you missed the North and Miwest Division previews from yesterday, you can click here for the North and here for the Midwest or at anytime utilize the drop down menu at the top of the blog.

The West Division lost the Abbotsford Heat to incarnation of the Adirondack Flames and the North Division and gained the Iowa Wild, late of the Midwest Division last season. Wilkes-Barre does not play anybody in this division.

NHL Affiliation: Carolina Hurricanes

Record: 37-36-1-2 (77 pts., 4th place West Division)

Playoffs: Did not qualify.

Head Coach: Jeff Daniels

Arena: Time Warner Cable Arena

ECHL Affiliation: Florida Everblades

Offseason Moves: Kyle Hagel, Alex Aleardi, Drew MacIntyre, Ben Holmstrom

The case for: If things fall the Checkers way, they can contend with the Stars for the division.

The case against: Past history has shown that things rarely fall the Checkers way.

Media Coverage: Charlotte Observer

Fan Blog: Chasing Checkers

Twitter: @CheckersHockey / Checkers In Game

Facebook: /charlottecheckers

Instagram: checkershockey

Broadcaster: Jason Shaya

vs. WBS: Do not play.

—

NHL Affiliation: Minnesota Wild

Record: 27-36-7-6 (67 pts., 5th place Midwest Division)

Playoffs: Did not qualify.

Head Coach: Kurt Kleinendorst

Arena: Wells Fargo Arena

ECHL Affiliation: Alaska Aces

Offseason Moves: Brett Sutter, Jordan Schroeder, Joel Rechlicz

The case for: Any improvement this year is a step in the right direction.

The case against: The Wild stunk out the Western Conference last season. While I don’t expect Iowa to replicate that, they aren’t Calder Cup contenders in the least.

Media Coverage: The Des Moines Register

Fan Blog: None — or I haven’t found it yet.

Twitter: @iawild / Iowa Wild Live

Facebook: /IAWild

Instagram: iowawild

Broadcaster: Joe O’Donnell

vs. WBS: Do not play.

—

NHL Affiliation: Edmonton Oilers

Record: 36-29-2-9 (83 pts., 3rd place West Division)

Playoffs: 8 seed — Lost in three games to the Texas Stars in the Western Conference Quarterfinals.

Head Coach: Todd Nelson

Arena: Cox Convention Center

ECHL Affiliation: Bakersfield Condors

Offseason Moves: Jason Williams

The case for: I do think that you can pencil in the Barons as a playoff contender.

The case against: The Barons walk that line of contender / non-contender. A few bad games can tilt the needle the wrong way.

Media Coverage: NewsOK

Fan Blog: Tend the Farm

Twitter: @okcbarons / OKC Barons Gameday

Facebook: /OKCBarons

Instagram: okcbarons

Broadcaster: Jim Byers

vs. WBS: Do not play.

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NHL Affiliation: Florida Panthers

Record: 30-37-3-6 (69 pts., 5th place West Division)

Playoffs: Did not qualify.

Head Coach: Tom Rowe

Arena: AT&T Center

ECHL Affiliation: Cincinnati Cyclones

Offseason Moves: Blake Parlett, Brett Olson

The case for: Well, will they or won’t they? Will the Rampage put it together and challenge the Stars for the division this season?

The case against: You read that and were like, “you’re joking, right?”

Media Coverage: Tony Uminski for MySA

Fan Blog: Runnin’ With the Herd

Twitter: @sarampage / SA Rampage Live

Facebook: /sarampagehockey

Instagram: sarampage

Broadcaster: Dan Weiss

vs. WBS: Do not play.

—

NHL Affiliation: Dallas Stars

Record: 48-18-3-7 (106 pts., 1st place West Division)

Playoffs: 1 seed — Won Calder Cup. Defeated the St. John’s IceCaps in five games.

Head Coach: Derek Laxdal

Arena: Cedar Park Center

ECHL Affiliation: Idaho Steelheads

Offseason Moves: Greg Rallo

The case for: It’s tough to repeat as Calder Cup Champions, but the Stars should pick up where they left off last season and run roughshod over the competition this season.

The case against: It’s tough to repeat as Calder Cup Champions. The odds are already against the Stars.

Media Coverage: Stephen Meserve for 100 Degree Hockey

Fan Blog: None — or I haven’t found it yet.

Twitter: @TexasStars

Facebook: /TexasStars

Instagram: txstarshockey

Broadcaster: Brien Rea

vs. WBS: Do not play.

—

Tomorrow we begin the process of examining more familiar opponents. The Atlantic Division is up next tomorrow at noon!

The AHL

Midwest Division Preview

Comments Off Posted by nafsnep on October 6, 2014

Back again on Day One for in the Fifth Annual Chirps from Center Ice AHL Previews. If you missed the North Division Preview which posted at midnight, you can click here or at anytime use the handy drop down menu at the top of the blog.

It’s onto the Midwest Division. Like the North, the Penguins don’t play anyone in this division either.

The Midwest Division lost the Iowa Wild to the West Division and gained the Lake Erie Monsters from the North Division.

NHL Affiliation: St. Louis Blues

Record: 45-21-5-5 (100 pts., 1st place Midwest Division)

Playoffs: 2 seed — Lost in four games to the Toronto Marlies in the Western Conference Semifinals.

Head Coach: John Anderson

Arena: Allstate Arena

ECHL Affiliation: Kalamazoo Wings

Offseason Moves: Mathieu Brodeur, Benn Ferriero, Rob Bordson

The case for: You should expect the Wolves to be contenders again.

The case against: It seems that there is just something about this team that’s missing.

Media Coverage: Chicago Sun-Times

Fan Blog: None — or I haven’t found it yet.

Twitter: @Chicago_Wolves / Chicago Wolves Live

Facebook: /chicagowolveshockey

Instagram: chicagowolveshockey

Broadcaster: Jason Shaver

vs. WBS: Do not play.

—

NHL Affiliation: Detroit Red Wings

Record: 46-23-2-5 (99 pts., 2nd place Midwest Division)

Playoffs: 4 seed — Lost in six games to the Texas Stars in the Western Conference Semifinals.

Head Coach: Jeff Blashill

Arena: Van Andel Arena

ECHL Affiliation: Toledo Walleye

Offseason Moves: Andy Miele, Kevin Porter

The case for: Griffs will probably be battling with Chicago for the Midwest Division all season.

The case against: Was last years loss to the eventual champion Stars a bump in the road or a changing of the guard?

Media Coverage: Pete Wallner for MLive

Fan Blog: None — or I haven’t found it yet.

Twitter: @griffinshockey / Griffins Game Day

Facebook: /grgriffins

Instagram: griffinshockey

Broadcaster: Bob Kaser

vs. WBS: Do not play.

—

NHL Affiliation: Colorado Avalanche

Record: 32-33-1-10 (75 pts., 4th place North Division)

Playoffs: Did not qualify.

Head Coach: Dean Chynoweth

Arena: Quicken Loans Arena

ECHL Affiliation: Fort Wayne Komets

Offseason Moves: Zach Redmond, Ben Street

The case for: If Lake Erie can put it all together, they can surprise and contend. Perhaps the new scenery of a division change is what the doctor ordered.

The case against: It’s not hard to name eight playoff contending teams. Is Lake Erie on your list?

Media Coverage: The Plain Dealer

Fan Blog: None — or I haven’t found it yet.

Twitter: @monstershockey

Facebook: /monstershockey

Instagram: monstershockey

Broadcaster: Doug Plagens

vs. WBS: Do not play.

—

NHL Affiliation: Nashville Predators

Record: 39-24-6-7 (91 pts., 3rd place Midwest Division)

Playoffs: 6 seed — Lost in three games to the Toronto Marlies in the Western Conference Quarterfinals.

Head Coach: Dean Evason

Arena: BMO Harris Bradley Center

ECHL Affiliation: Cincinnati Cyclones

Offseason Moves: Triston Grant, Rob Madore

The case for: The thing about Milwaukee is that they are a solid team.

The case against: The thing about Milwaukee is that they aren’t a contending team.

Media Coverage: Dave Boehler for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal

Fan Blog: Admirals Roundtable

Twitter: @mkeadmirals

Facebook: /mkeadmirals

Instagram: mkeadmirals

Broadcaster: Aaron Sims

vs. WBS: Do not play.

—

NHL Affiliation: Chicago Blackhawks

Record: 35-32-5-4 (79 pts., 4th place Midwest Division)

Playoffs: Did not qualify.

Head Coach: Ted Dent

Arena: BMO Harris Bank Center

ECHL Affiliation: Indy Fuel

Offseason Moves: Zach Miskovic, Ryan Schnell, Pierre-Cedric Labrie, T.J. Brennan

The case for: So close, but so far for Rockford these past two seasons. Playoff contenders to the final month but missed out in the final moments. Do they put it together this season and make it?

The case against: If I am betting on teams that miss playoffs at the start of the season, first window I run to is Rockford’s.

Media Coverage: Rockford Register Star

Fan Blog: None — or I haven’t found it yet.

Twitter: @goicehogs

Facebook: /RockfordIceHogs

Instagram: rockfordicehogs

Broadcaster: Mike Peck

vs. WBS: Do not play.

—

We will be back Tuesday at noon to wrap up the Western Conference with the West Division.

The AHL

North Division Preview

Comments Off Posted by nafsnep on October 6, 2014

Gimme five! Welcome to the fifth annual installment of the Chirps from Center Ice AHL Team Previews. This process involves an examination of every AHL team, even the ones that the Penguins do not play.

For those unfamiliar, this process involves NHL Affiliation, record last season, playoff information, Head Coach, Arena, ECHL affiliate information, offseason moves, media coverage and fan blog information, team social media information (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) and how many games the team plays against the Penguins.

I also add the, “case for” and “case against” each team. With these teams that are unfamiliar to the Penguins, I may sound like I have no idea what I am talking about.

The American Hockey League realigned this season, again. The two new teams are the Adirondack Flames and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. I’ll address divisional additions and subtractions in each Division caption.

Don’t forget to follow the AHL @TheAHL on Twitter, /TheAHL on Facebook and TheAHL on Instagram.

Here we go…

Today, we begin in the Western Conference with the North Division. The Penguins do not play anyone in this division, nor do they play any Western Conference opponents at all this season. The changes here in the North Division are the Lake Erie Monsters out and the Adirondack Flames in. The Flames are the reincarnate of the Abbotsford Heat.

NHL Affiliation: Calgary Flames

Last Year: 43-25-5-3 (94 pts., 2nd place West Division, playing as the Abbotsford Heat)

Playoffs: 5 seed — Lost in four games to the Grand Rapids Griffins in the Western Conference Quarterfinals.

Head Coach: Ryan Huska

Arena: Glens Falls Civic Center

ECHL Affiliation: Colorado Eagles

Offseason Moves: Brad Thiessen, Sena Acolatse, Mathieu Tousignant

The case for: The Flames are eager to build off of last seasons success, where they were a contender for a majority of the year, in a new city with a great fanbase.

The case against: Adirondack is probably in the most competitive division in the Western Conference.

Media Coverage: Diana Nearhos for the Post Star

Fan Blog: None — or I haven’t found it yet.

Twitter: @AHLFlames

Facebook: /AHLFlames

Instagram: AHLFlames

Broadcaster: Cameron Close

vs. WBS: Do not play.

—

NHL Affiliation: Montreal Canadiens

Record: 33-35-1-7 (74 pts., 5th place North Division)

Playoffs: Did not qualify.

Head Coach: Sylvain Lefebvre

Arena: FirstOntario Centre

ECHL Affiliation: Wheeling Nailers

Offseason Moves: T.J. Hensick, Jake Dowell, Joe Finley, Eric Tangradi

The case for: Bulldogs showed promise last year but couldn’t put it together. Does another year and the arrival of All-Star Hensick swing things in their favor?

The case against: It’s going to be easier said than done in Hamilton this season. Even with a slight improvement, that may not be enough to make the Bulldogs playoff contenders.

Media Coverage: Teri Pecoskie for The Hamilton Spectator / Dan Kramer for TSN 690 / The Bulldogs Hockey Report

Fan Blog: None — or I haven’t found it yet.

Twitter: @BulldogsAHL

Facebook: /hamiltonbulldogs

Instagram: bulldogsahl

Broadcaster: Matt Holmes

vs. WBS: Do not play.

—

NHL Affiliation: Buffalo Sabres

Record: 37-28-6-5 (85 pts., 2nd place North Division)

Playoffs: 7 seed — Lost in five games to the Chicago Wolves in the Western Conference Quarterfinals.

Head Coach: Chadd Cassidy

Arena: Blue Cross Arena at the Rochester War Memorial

ECHL Affiliation: Elmira Jackals

Offseason Moves: Tyson Strachan

The case for: Amerks look to build off of last years second place finish in the North Division.

The case against: The Amerks always come into a season as marginal playoff contenders. There are a lot of other marginal playoff contenders that upgraded this offseason.

Media Coverage: Kevin Oklobzija for the Democrat and Chronicle

Fan Blog: Amerks Sin Bin

Twitter: @AmerksHockey

Facebook: /RochesterAmericans

Instagram: amerkshockey

Broadcaster: Don Stevens

vs. WBS: Do not play.

—

NHL Affiliation: Toronto Maple Leafs

Record: 45-25-2-4 (96 pts., 1st place North Division)

Playoffs: 3 seed — Lost in seven games to the Texas Stars in the Western Conference Finals.

Head Coach: Gord Dineen

Arena: Ricoh Coliseum

ECHL Affiliation: Orlando Solar Bears

Offseason Moves: Denver Manderson, Spencer Machacek, Brendan Mikkelson

The case for: Last years division champions look to repeat, again. If they put it all together this season, they shouldn’t have a problem.

The case against: Competition is going to be stiff with a hungry Utica squad and a strong Adirondack club.

Media Coverage: Kyle Cicerella (at large)

Fan Blog: None — or I haven’t found it yet.

Twitter: @TorontoMarlies

Facebook: /TorontoMarlies

Instagram: torontomarlies

Broadcaster: Todd Crocker

vs. WBS: Do not play.

—

NHL Affiliation: Vancouver Canucks

Record: 35-32-5-4 (79 pts., 3rd place North Division)

Playoffs: Did not qualify.

Head Coach: Travis Green

Arena: Utica Memorial Auditorium

ECHL Affiliation: Kalamazoo Wings

Offseason Moves: Linden Vey, Dustin Jeffrey

The case for: The Comets need to continue the momentum from late last season, where they were narrowly edged out of a playoff spot despite a terrible start.

The case against: It’s all about the first month of the season for Utica. Another bad start will probably end up dooming the Comets postseason chances again.

Media Coverage: Don Laible for Comets Tales / Utica Observer Dispatch

Fan Blog: Comets Army

Twitter: @UticaComets / Comets In Game

Facebook: /UticaComets

Instagram: uticacomets

Broadcaster: Brendan Burke

vs. WBS: Do not play.

—

In keeping with prior years, we double stack Divisional Previews on Day One, so check back at noon today to check out the Midwest Division.

The AHL

Preseason Game #3 – Penguins 1, Hershey 6

Comments Off Posted by nafsnep on October 5, 2014

News of the day was that Jeff Zatkoff, Taylor Chorney, Andrew Ebbett, Zach Sill all cleared waivers. Zatkoff is headed down. Chorney, Sill and Ebbett remain up with Pittsburgh and can get sent here at any point within the next thirty days or ten NHL games, whichever comes first.

I think it’s a safe bet to say that Nolan Schaefer will be released at some point this week. Edit: Schaefer was indeed released.

Anyway, this game. 220 penalty minutes, 12 fighting majors and four game misconducts.

But none of this will matter, as this was just a preseason game. The Bears dressed a much more experienced lineup while the Penguins dressed, well let’s take a look…

Lines were:

Anton Zlobin-JS Dea-Bryan Rust
Scott Wilson-Matia Marcantuoni-Josh Archibald
Tom Kuhnhackl-Adam Payerl-Dominik Uher
Carter Rowney-Tyler Murovich-Pat McGrath

Reid McNeill-Alex Boak
Nick D’Agostino-Clark Seymour
Jonathan Narbonne-Kevin Ryan

Hartzell-Murray

Scratches were:

Nolan Schaefer, Philip Samuelsson, Brian Dumoulin, Conor Sheary, Nick Drazenovic, Jayson Megna, Harrison Ruopp, Bobby Farnham, Tom Kostopoulos, Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond and Barry Goers

Bears basically blitzkrieged the Penguins from the jump. Stan Galiev on a power play early on, Joel Broda tacks on another off a rebound, Chris Conner toasting Jonathan Narbonne, Broda again on a nice tic-tac-toe pass setup, Garrett Mitchell on the third power play of the game and then Erik Burgdoerfer for the fourth power play of the game for the Bears. Bryan Rust scored in the third period on a power play goal that broke up Philipp Grubauer’s shutout bid for the Penguins.

In between, a lot of fights. I wasn’t at the game and it wasn’t being televised so I relied on my ears. Let’s just say that Patrick McGrath endeared himself to the Hershey faithful by engaging in agitation and fisticuffs. His shenanigans at one point gave the Bears a 9:00 power play. McGrath was ejected afterwards. Whether his performance this weekend was enough to win him a sport for next Saturday night remains to be seen.

Not much else to recap. The Penguins didn’t dress a lineup you should expect to see at any point this season, while the Bears dressed a more experienced lineup. The results showed.

So that’s all for preseason.

At midnight tonight, the first of my Chirps from Center Ice AHL Previews hits the blog. It’s where I do previews of each AHL team. I start in the Western Conference. Here is the schedule for that this week on the blog:

Divison	Time
North	Midnight Monday
Midwest	Noon Monday
West	Noon Tuesday
Atlantic	Noon Wednesday
Northeast	Noon Thursday
East	Noon Friday

–

Plus whatever newsworthy things worth blogging about this week, sandwiched in between these Previews. Be on the lookout for these all week.

Postgamer

Preseason Game #2 – Penguins 4, Hershey 2

Comments Off Posted by nafsnep on October 4, 2014

First, the news of the day was Bobby Farnham and Brian Dumoulin were assigned to Wilkes-Barre and Taylor Chorney, Andrew Ebbett, Zach Sill and Jeff Zatkoff have been placed on waivers. We will know by noon Sunday whether they clear. I’ll leave the speculation as to what can happen amongst yourselves. I’ll have a blurb about what happens in tomorrows recap of the final preseason game in Hershey.

But about tonight’s game against Hershey, a 4-2 Penguins win. Another solid effort by the Penguins, who started out slow, finding themselves down 1-0 early after Nathan Walker was sprung on a breakaway and put one behind starting goaltender Matt Murray. Murray played the entire game and was backed up by Eric Hartzell. Hartzell will go the distance tomorrow in Hershey. These two are battling for the second spot in Wilkes-Barre, depending on what becomes of Jeff Zatkoff Sunday at noon.

The Penguins came to life in the second period. The Bears were on a power play and Jayson Megna stole a puck off of a Bear at the blue line, skated the length of the ice and dishes to Josh Archbald who scored. Murray, meanwhile, was making great save after save, in this sequence robbing Dustin Gazley after a nice setup by Kris Newbury.

Patrick McGrath, the local product in the lineup for the Penguins, fought Mike Cajkovsky, who had a size advantage. I Instagrammed the fight, which you can see here.

Penguins later score on a power play when J-S Dea cleaned up a rebound and pushed the Pens ahead 2-1.

In the third, Jayson Megna stepped by a guy and hit the post and the puck went high in the air, Scott Wilson boxed a guy out and knocked it in and scored to make it 3-1. Later, when the sides were 4-on-4, Nick D’Agostino took a shot from the blue line that never hit the net, but Bryan Rust was there to get the rebound off of the boards to give the Penguins a 4-2 lead.

Bears would get one back but no more as the Penguins would hold on.

Lines were:

Tom Kuhnhackl-Jayson Megna-Josh Archibald
Scott Wilson-Conor Sheary-Bryan Rust
Anton Zlobin-J-S Dea-Tom Kostopoulos
Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond – Matia Marcantuoni – Patrick McGrath

Philip Samuelsson-Barry Goers
Reid McNeill-Harrison Ruopp
Nick D’Agostino-Alex Boak

Murray-Hartzell

Scratches were:

Clark Seymour, Brian Dumoulin, Nick Drazenovic, Carter Rowney, Bobby Farnham, Dominik Uher, Adam Payerl, Kevin Ryan, Jonathan Narbonne, Tyler Murovich.

It’s hard to take anything away from preseason games. I thought that the rookie forwards showed themselves well. It’s probably going to come down to a numbers thing for guys like Alex Boak and Tyler Murovich. I’d like my chances with the first three lines we dressed tonight going into regular season play. No one was a glaring liability out there, really. We will have to see what Hynes & Company come up with this week as far as cuts go.

Pens wrap up the preseason with a 5:00 p.m. visit to Hershey. I’ll have some post game words then.

Programming note: The first of my AHL Previews hits the blog Monday at midnight. Be on the look for my North Division Preview at that time, then the Midwest Division at noon Monday as I go two-for-Monday. The schedule after that is West Division Tuesday, Atlantic Division Wednesday, Northeast Division Thursday and East Division Friday.

Postgamer

Preseason Game #1 – Penguins 4, Utica 2

Comments Off Posted by nafsnep on October 1, 2014

I don’t go heavy with the graphics or silly pun headlines when I type up preseason game recaps. Hey, it’s preseason for bloggers too.

The Penguins beat the Utica Comets tonight by a score of 4-2. Goals were scored by Bryan Rust, Conor Sheary, Scott Wilson and Nick D’Agostino. The Penguins defense really clamped down on the Utica offense, only allowing the Comets two even strength goals through nearly 30 minutes of playing time.

Eric Hartzell started the game for the Penguins in goal and stopped all nine shots faced. Two of those nine were even strength shots, seven came when Utica had extended 5-on-3 time. He split the net with Matt Murray.

Lines were…

Tom Kuhnhackl-Jayson Megna-Carter Rowney
Anton Zlobin-Conor Sheary-Bryan Rust
Scott Wilson-J-S Dea-Josh Archibald
Tyler Murovich-Matia Marcantuoni-Adam Payerl

Reid McNeill-Barry Goers
Nick D’Agostino-Harrison Ruopp
Clark Seymour-Alex Boak

The Penguins scratched Nolan Schaefer, Philip Samuelsson, Nick Drazenovic, Dom Uher, Tom Kostopoulos, Patrick McGrath, Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond, Kevin Ryan and Jonathan Narbonne

Jayson Megna, Adam Payerl and Barry Goers wore the A’s tonight.

I liked the chemistry from the Sheary / Rust line. They played in sync with one another, and with a sniper like Zlobin, will be formidable for the opposition this season.

You don’t want to take much away from a preseason game, but the Penguins defense shut down Utica tonight and it showed. No shots for the Comets for about ten minutes in. What Hartzell saw with his team shorthanded he stopped.

Goals came like this…

— Conor Sheary set up Bryan Rust in the slot after he made a nice play on a pass off the pads of starting Comets goaltender Jacob Markstrom to give the Penguins the lead in the first period.

— Penguins scored a power play goal when Jayson Megna won an offensive zone face-off to Scott Wilson who fired it in from the blue line through traffic and past Markstrom for a 2-0 Penguins lead in the first.

— Another pass off the pads play that finds its way to Conor Sheary who scored to give the Penguins a 3-0 lead in the second period. Setup by a nice play by, who else, Bryan Rust.

— Matt Murray was beat by a slap shot which may have deflected off of a Penguin stick to make it 3-1.

— Nick D’Agostino scored a goal with a shot from the blue line that grew eyes and found its way through bodies, off the post and in. D’Agostino scored his first pro goal against Utica last December from almost the same spot.

— Comets get a late goal to make it 4-2. Murray didn’t look set and it almost looked like it caught him by surprise.

So that’s it. You don’t take too much stock in a preseason game, but the other team is an American Hockey League team with American Hockey League players, so it’s nice to see the Penguins control and dictate the pace of play regardless of whether there is points on the line or not.

Penguins get back at it Saturday night at home vs. the Hershey Bears. I’d expect some roster moves between now and then and if so, we will blog about them.

Let’s Go Pens!

Postgamer

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