Comments Off on Saved by the…Power Play? — Pens WIN 5-3
Posted by nafsnep on November 29, 2024
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They looked done and dusted Friday. The Rocket were up 3-1 and the shots were a crazy 27-6 in favor of the Laval Rocket.
But then the Penguins, who already scored a power play goal, scored another.
And then another to tie it.
Then a goal by a guy here on a professional tryout gives them the lead.
Then a goal after a penalty kill gives them the cushion.
Part one of the weekend test is in the clear and the Penguins pass this one with flying colors, winning 5-3.
Hershey tomorrow.
Before we start, I don’t know what’s up with the Twitter / X embeds anymore. Sometimes they work, other times they don’t. Sometimes they do and I don’t think they do and sometimes they don’t and I think they do. If they don’t, you will see the raw link. Click on it then click back. I don’t know, blame Elon!
Lineup Notes: Dan Renouf returned from injury. He replaced Justin Lee. Nikolai Knyzhov, on a PTO, sticks in the the lineup. When they make the announcement that Renouf is going to be named captain, they should also announce an AHL. contract for Knyzhov.
Forward wise, Puustinen, Ponomarev and Poulin were in for Boko Imama, Raivis Ansons and Jagger Joshua in some form or fashion.
First Period: Laval is fast. This was evidenced by the 16-5 shot advantage after twenty minutes and the 2-1 score that the Rocket had after the period.
Rocket opened the scoring on a transition by Josh Jacobs.
But the Penguins had a power play and looked really bad with it for the first half but then Ville Koivunen had a hard shot that spilled to Sam Poulin who backhanded it past Hughes to tie the game.
Thinking that the Penguins would get out of the period relatively clean, but no. Blomqvist and the aforementioned Knyzhov get their lines crossed and Penguins killer Alex Barre-Boulet scores to give the Rocket a 2-1 lead heading into intermission.
Second Period: The Rocket would score a power play goal of their own when Jared Davidson would score a power play goal that would double the Laval lead.
The shots were a boffo 27-6 in favor of the Rocket with about six minutes left in the second period but then William Trudeau takes his second penalty of the game and then Boris Katchouk scored to bring the Penguins within one.
Sign this man to an AHL standard players contract immediately.
Then the Penguins found themselves in penalty trouble when the Rocket had :27 of two man advantage. Not only did the Penguins kill it all easily, but Joona Koppanen was in the box was freed and connected to make it 5-3 Wilkes-Barre.
I mean, just when you thunk the team couldn’t impress you more, they do this.
Quite the turn of events for the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins, who, after I mentioned were being outshot 27-6, scored four unanswered goals and outshot the visitors 14-5. How the tables have turned!
Laval didn’t even bother to pull Connor Hughes for the extra attacker, and I don’t think I have ever seen that before at this level.
Three Stars: 3) Jonathan Gruden (fight) 2) Sam Poulin (goal, assist) 1) Ville Koivunen (goal, assist)
The Good: I like the tenacity of this team. Laval is really good team and quick. But when you see these teams they tend to be one dimensional. They will hit you until you hit back. The Penguins finally hit back and then Laval packed it in and it was only a matter of time.
The Bad: Were the Penguins playing rope a dope? There are better teams in the AHL than the Rocket. I think one of them they play Saturday. We will see.
Turning Point: The Knyzhov goal that put them ahead gets it here.
Standings: Hershey 32 – Penguins 21 – Charlotte 21 – Lehigh Valley 20 – Hartford 19 – Providence 18 – Springfield 17 – Bridgeport 13
Wheeling Update: The Nailers were in action earlier in the day and beat the Cincinnati Cyclones 5-1. Luke Richardson had the net for the Nailers, stopped 19. Jordan Martel had three assists. Gabe Klassen had a pair of goals.
Video Highlights:
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Hershey Saturday and that should be huge. More then.
Comments Off on Weekend Preview – What Are You Made Of?
Posted by nafsnep on November 29, 2024
The Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins have not had a lot of action in the past two weeks, but the action picks up with the top teams in the Conference in the Laval Rocket and Hershey Bears on the schedule this weekend, it’s time to see what this team is made of.
Sure, the Penguins are 9-4-1 and better than most teams in the AHL, but they haven’t really had a test yet. That comes this weekend.
Music to set the Mood…
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Snips and snails and puppy dogs tails? Sounds disgusting to me, but I didn’t write the nursery rhyme!
A Quote…
Sugar and spice and everything nice. –What Little Girls are Made Of
Much nicer. Anyway, let’s move off this.
The Setup
The North Division leading Laval Rocket head to town on Friday and then the Penguins hit the road for their first meeting of the season with the 13 time Calder Cup Hershey Bears.
Last week the Penguins shutout the Bridgeport Islanders 5-0 with a resounding triumph after the Islanders gave them fits and beat them the week before and they needed a shootout a few weeks prior to beat Bridgeport.
It was an important game because you wanted to see how they responded. I’d say they passed with flying colors but the teams standing in their way are going to be teams like the Rocket and Bears.
The Rocket dropped 2 out of 3 this past week against Rochester and split a home and home against a scrappy Belleville Senators team.
Hershey lost in overtime last Wednesday against Toronto, needed a late Mike Vecchione goal to force OT and then a Vecchione goal to win in OT in Rochester Friday then beat Syracuse in a shootout on Saturday.
The Rocket and Bears met Wednesday and it was the Bears coming out on top 5-3.
Hershey will be in Allentown Friday.
Records
I gave you the Penguins record above. Hershey leads the division with a 14-4-2 record and Laval is 13-4-1
Who’s Up? Who’s Down? Who’s Out?
Owen Pickering is up in Pittsburgh. Vasily Ponomarev was reassigned Saturday. Defenders are getting healthy. I think I saw Dan Renouf in a regular practice sweater on the teams socials this week.
Sam Poulin was reassigned Monday and Taylor Gauthier was sent to Wheeling then too.
The Pens got a bit of a lucky break when no one claimed Valtteri Puustinen on Wednesday. Puustinen was formally assigned on Wednesday.
Like the headline says, what this team is made of.
You can lose and beat Lehigh Valley, but what does that say when the Phantoms are so mercurial?
You can beat the Islanders and lose to them, but what does that say when the Islanders are so bad as their record indicates?
You have two teams who are at the top of their divisions on the schedule this week. If the Penguins beat both, it’s not a matter of if, but when they catch the Bears and likely see the Rocket again down the road. If the Penguins lose both games, then they are what they are, an above average team that isn’t division leading worthy.
I think there’s a swagger about this team. They are good, I think they know they are good but not cocky about it and have coaching they are receptive to that puts them in position to win every game.
Getting an injection of three really good forwards in Poulin, Ponomarev and Puustinen helps also.
Who’s in Goal?
Joel Blomqvist for both games if you are asking me which I think if you are here you kind of are. Do you want to run Filip Larsson out there against Laval and save Blomqvist for Hershey because you see the Bears more then the Rocket and have six games in hand on them, then go ahead.
Jakub Dobeš for the Rocket Friday and likely Clay Stevenson for the back to back champs on Saturday.
Who’s Running the Show?
Liam Maaskant and Mitch Hardy get the Black Friday assignment at home against Laval with J.P. Waleski and Chandler Yakimowicz on the lines. Saturday sees Maaskant again with Riley Brace with Colin Gates and Tommy George on the lines.
Looking Ahead…
Calendar flips to December (wow!) and the Bears drop in Wednesday for a home game (boo, work night home games, boo!) and then they take to the road to Hartford Saturday (Friday off, alright!) and Providence Sunday and then the next five at home.
Comments Off on AHL Power Rankings — Week 7
Posted by nafsnep on November 25, 2024
A word on the Rankings, I am traveling over Thanksgiving and don’t know if Week 8 will be next Monday or the Monday after that. I guess stay tuned?
So, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WILL THE NUMBER ONE TEAM STAY THERE FOR A WEEK?
I tried it with Laval, who really should have been there for a few weeks but after a bad week the Rocket fall out of the top spot.
This week belongs to the Grand Rapids. Griffs, can ya stay there for longer than a week? Can ya?!?!?!?!//111/1/1
1. Grand Rapids Griffins
Record: 12-4-1
Last Week: 3rd (up 2)
Griffins could have opened up a 7 point lead on a suddenly stagnant Milwaukee team but lost to a surging Iowa team. I hope that’s not a precursor for next week.
2. Hershey Bears
Record: 13-4-2
Last Week: 4th (up 2)
Bears keep piling points after a good trip through the North Division. Laval visits Wednesday makes for a great pre-Thanksgiving matchup with two really good teams.
3. Cleveland Monsters
Record: 12-4-0-1
Last Week: 6th (up 3)
Pair of wins over Central leading Milwaukee have the Monsters knocking on the door of the North Division lead.
4. Laval Rocket
Record: 13-3-1
Last Week: 1st (down 3)
Rocket salvage their week with a win over the Senators after dropping one to Belleville the night before and Rochester midweek.
5. Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins
Record: 9-4-1
Last Week: 9th (up 4)
Light week for the Penguins who shutout the Islanders Friday. Division leading Laval and Hershey this weekend to see what this team is made of.
Comments Off on ReBemstrom — Pens WIN 5-0
Posted by nafsnep on November 22, 2024
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They had a whole week to stew on it, and man it must have pissed them off.
The line of Emil Bemstrom, Boris Katchouk and Ville Koivunen, snake bit the last time these teams sqared off last weekend, erupt for three goals and four assists as the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins roll the Bridgeport Islanders 5-0 on Friday night in Wilkes-Barre.
Oh yeah. Joel Blomqvist had a tidy 23 save shutout, his first of the season and the Pens third overall. Some of his saves were excellent and timely, notably with about there eminutes left in the game, where referees Jack Young and Rob Hennessey decided it put the Islanders on a full two minute man advantage. We’ll get to that in a minute.
Lineup Notes: No lines for the Islanders. I miss Mike Fornabaio covering this franchise. For the Pens, unchanged up front but Sebastian Aho was back from injury, Phip Waugh was sent back to Wheeling and Justin Lee was in for Isaac Belliveau.
I guess it spells well for a fellow like Nikolai Knyzhov, who is in town on PTO. He has been fine and honestly, they should just sign him to an AHL contract, but getting healthier on D may make the guy expendable. Problem is, one of the 31 other AHL teams is going to see this and sign the guy.
First Period: Wilkes-Barre out to a 2-0 start with goals from Avery Hayes and Emil Bemström, scoring in similar fashion.
In between goals, Joel Blomqvist had the save of the night on a rebound attempt by future AHL Hall of Fame and Islanders captain Chris Terry.
Second Period: No scoring, but the Penguins had the play in the period, highlighted by a 4:00 double minor power play opportunity for the Islanders where the Penguins put on a masterclass of penalty killing and had, in my opinion, the better of the chances during the special teams time.
Oh, and another timely, big time save by Jarry with a blocker in traffic kept Bridgeport off the board.
Third Period: You didn’t want to see them let off and they didn’t, in my opinion, probably their finest period of the season to date.
First a second goal from Emil Bemström and the inspiration for tonight’s headline.
Raivis Ansons and Tyce Thompson fought and it was the loudest the building was all night.
Then Bridgeport goalie Jakub Skarek comes 15 feet out of his net and Avery Hayes runs over him. Out of the melee, Jonathan Gruden is involved. Refs Hennessey and Young put Bridgeport on a full two minute two man advantage.
It didn’t matter.
The Penguins would knock sticks into passing lanes, block shots (as Justin Lee did with a big one) and Joel Blomqvist continued to dazzle and would not be denied his shutout bid.
In a moment of karma, after the Penguins successfully killed the penalty, Hayes and Gruden get spring out of the box. This happened next…
All that was left was to see if they could hold on for a shutout for their goaltender and they did.
Three Stars: 3) Boris Katchouk (goal, assist) 2) Emil Bemström (two goals, assist) 1) Joel Blomqvist (23 saves)
The Good: They responded to their coach who likely challenged them this week in a big way and handled a team that gave them fits the last two times they met.
The Bad: Nothing to see here.
Turning Point: The save Blomqvist made on Terry back in the first gets it here. If Terry scores it’s tied at one. Who knows what happens from there.
Comments Off on GAMEDAY: vs. Bridgeport 11/22
Posted by nafsnep on November 22, 2024
Since there’s only one game this weekend, and oldie but goodie is back. We return to Weekend Previews next week!
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Who: Bridgeport Islanders
Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza
When: 7:05 p.m.
Last Game / Last Meeting: Last Saturday in Wilkes-Barre, the Pens lost 5-2. The Islanders scored two empty net goals to make the score seem worse then it seemed. Tristan Broz stayed hot with a goal for the Pens, but Liam Foudy’s goal on a delayed call broke the 2-2 deadlock and gave the Islanders a lead they would not relinquish.
Record: For WBS: 8-4-1-0 (17 pts., 3rd place Atlantic) — For BRI: 4-9-1-1 (10 pts., 8th place Atlantic)
Referees: Jack Young / Rob Hennessey
Linesmen: J.P. Waleski / Ryan Knapp
Why You Should Care: Penguins had a week to stew on this loss with no Wednesday game. Will they be ready for a tougher then the standings place would indicate Islanders team?
Comments Off on AHL Power Rankings — Week 6
Posted by nafsnep on November 18, 2024
So I don’t know if it’s a curse, or what, but I can’t get a team I put at the top of the Chirps from Center Ice AHL Power Rankings to stay there all of a sudden.
Last week it was the Hershey Bears, but after a rough Friday they fall out of the top spot.
I think the most consistent team right now is the Laval Rocket, but you could have said that about Milwaukee or Rochester a few weeks ago but those teams had rough weeks and dropped. Will the Rocket stick around at the top again next week?
1. Laval Rocket
Last Week: 4th (up 3)
Record: 12-2
Rocket stay hot and get the dreaded top spot this week in the Power Rankings. Three straight wins this week and 9-1 in their last ten.
2. Calgary Flames
Last Week: 2nd (no change)
Record: 12-3-1
3 out of 4 points in San Jose. Flames had the Barracuda where they wanted them, but let them beat them in overtime. Trip to San Diego then over to Tucson.
3. Grand Rapids Griffins
Last Week: 8th (up 5)
Record: 11-3-1
Griffins put some distance on Milwaukee who they beat Saturday and sit comfortably atop the Central.
4. Hershey Bears
Last Week: 1st (down 3)
Record: 11-4-1
Are the Bears vulnerable or was it a bad week? I am thinking it may have been the latter, because after a 6-1 drubbing by the Islanders, Hershey responds in kind and doubles up Lehigh Valley in Allentown the next night.
5. Bakersfield Condors
Last Week: 12th (up 7)
Record: 6-4-2-1
One game this week and boy was it a doozy against San Diego, an 8-7 shootout win. Condors have the next five at home.
Comments Off on Bad Half — Pens LOSE 5-2
Posted by nafsnep on November 16, 2024
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Bridgeport scored two empty net goals so the 5-2 Penguins loss score line is a bit askew, but a bad second half of the third period after Bridgeport edged ahead 3-2 sunk the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins Saturday night.
I think it’s a matchup problem with the Islanders, who game the Penguins fits a few weeks ago up in Connecticut and again Saturday night in Wilkes-Barre. The Islanders went up 2-0, then the Penguins battled back, a would be tying goal in the second period for the Penguins was waved off by referee Nolan Bloyer in the second period on account of a hand pass.
It’s a game that had everything, and not necessarily good things for the Penguins, who have to stew on this loss for an entire week when they rematch against these same Islander next Friday at home.
Here’s how they lined up, note that the Islanders did not post lines.
Joshua and Blomqvist make their returns to the WBS lineup 👀
Lineup Notes: Jagger Joshua and Joel Blomqvist made their AHL debuts. Note that Owen Pickering and Vasily Ponomarev went up to Pittsburgh, joining Sam Poulin. They ended the Matt Nieto conditioning experiment because they were in need of forwards. Otherwise Raivis Ansons, Avery Hayes, Nate Clurman. (returning from injury) and Phip Waugh for the aforementioned Nieto, Ponomarev, Corey Andonovski (listed as injured) and Justin Lee and Pickering.
First Period: Penguins come out flat, Islanders have 10-1 shot advantage and Julien Gauthier connects on a power play goal, the Islanders second, to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
But then, I guess you could call this the turning point, a would be goal was taken off the board when Boris Katchouk appeared to score. But referee Nolan Bloyer was right on top of the play and immediately signaled no goal on account of a hand pass. He and his counterpart Jordan Watt reviewed the play via replay. Bloyer’s initial call stood. He then went straight to Kirk MacDonald and provided a full explanation.
Two things. I think the call was not that Katchouk batted the puck into the net, but the pass to Katchouk was the hand pass in question, if I was reading body language right. Second, full marks to Bloyer, a second year referee in the AHL and I think the first time he has refereed a Wilkes-Barre game, for providing an explanation to the head coach. I have seen many, many, referees in the league who have more years than Bloyer, just skate away from a head coach looking for an explanation.
Third Period: Tristan Broz stays on his hot streak and scores for the Penguins.
But then the Penguins would take a late penalty and with the extra attacker, before the whistle would go to apply the infraction, Liam Foudy would score.
It started to implode from there, Isaac Belliveau took a late penalty, then Mac Hollowell took a slashing penalty. The Penguins had a slimmer of light when Wyatt Newpower hit Katchouk with a high stick that drew blood, and after a time out, the Penguins had an empty net man advantage but Cole Bardreau would hit not one, but two empty net goals.
(The Islanders feel the same way as I do about empty net goals and don’t post them)
Three Stars: 3) Brian Pinho (goal, two assists) 2) Julien Gathier (goal, assist) 1) Liam Foudy (goal)
The Good: I liked the battle that they had Saturday. The AHL is a slog and this is a trial by fire.
The Bad: It seemed that the inch of snow turned into a foot, right? Things went bad in a hurry for the Penguins late and a close game turned into a blowout.
Turning Point: I gave it to you above. You can’t fault the referee for making the call then going back to replay to make sure the call was correct, by the way.
WBS News
Chirps from Center Ice 