vs.           

3                                                2

–

The Toronto Marlies are the three time reigning North Division Champions. They are a formidable opponent and one that opposing teams in the Western Conference probably don’t like to see.

For the fans in attendance today in Wilkes-Barre, the same feelings were had.

Two Marlies goals :39 apart then a goal late with 26.7 seconds left, all in the third period, stun the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins who lose 3-2 today on Fan Appreciation Night.

The Penguins controlled 50 minutes of the 60 minute hockey game, but let it slip away.

A delay of game call by Bobby Farnham put the Marlies on the power play at 8:36 of the third period. Greg McKegg slammed home a Sam Carrick shot to put the Marlies on the board.

:39 later, AHL stud Defenseman TJ Brennan zipped home a shot from the point that plum beat starting goaltender Tomas Vokoun, appearing in his second and final rehab stint for the Penguins.

A stunned crowd and team. Coach John Hynes used his time out. Both teams had good chances. Vokoun had a big save though traffic to keep it square at two.

Marlies head coach Steve Spott then used his timeout with 1:10 left in the game. In what seemed like a blender of bodies, TJ Brennan unleashed a huge shot from the blue line which was blocked.

Left in the slot, seemingly unattended, was Jerry D’Amigo. D’Amigo shoots, and Kenny Ryan in front tips it in. The Marlies are up 3-2.

Not exactly the Mohegan Meltdown from a few years ago against Charlotte in the playoffs, but close.

Penguins got a power play goal from Adam Payerl in the first and a goal from Tom Kostopoulos in the second. They limited the Marlies to only 8 shots through two periods. It seemed like a walk in the park for the Penguins.

You just don’t do that to the Toronto Marlies. That must have been the message that Spott gave to his players in the second intermission because they responded and responded well.

Probably a good thing that this happens to the Penguins on a Sunday in early April as opposed to a Friday in mid-May. Take this lesson and learn from it.

Three Stars: 3) Anton Zlobin (two assists, +2) 2) Tom Kostopoulos (goal, even) and 1) Jerry D’Amigo (was originally awarded GWG, but that was changed to Ryan. D’Amigo assisted)

Lineup Notes: Chuck Kobasew was recalled by Pittsburgh in the morning. If you think that we needed Kobasew in order to win a Calder Cup, you are probably wrong about a lot of things….Matia Marcantuoni made his pro debut, in for Mike Carman….Zach Sill made his return from skate blade injury, his first action since January 25.

Pre-Game Awards: Media Award (Nick Drazenovic) — Rookie of the Year (Scott Harrington) — Community Service Award (Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond) — Most Valuable Defenseman (Philip Samuelsson) — Most Improved Player (Reid McNeill) — Herb Brooks Memorial Award for Spirit and Dedication (Brendan Mikkeslon) — Fan Favorite Award (Bobby Farnham) — Most Three Stars Award (Tom Kostopoulos) — Most Valuable Player (Tom Kostopoulos)

Around the Division: Binghamton lost in overtime 1-0 to the Hershey Bears. With the point, the B-Sens clinched playoffs….Norfolk wins in a shootout 3-2. Ol’ buddy Brad Thiessen started his third game in as many nights and got the win for the Admirals….Syracuse was shutout 4-0 by the Albany Devils. The Devils completed a perfect weekend.

Other Games of Relevance: Providence lost 3-2 to the Manchester Monarchs and have to wait another day to clinch…. The St. John’s IceCaps put an end to the Hartford WolfPack’s winning streak and win 6-2. 

Standings: Penguins 92 — Binghamton 91 — Hershey 86 — Norfolk 86 — Syracuse 72

Conference: 1) MCH (104) 2) SPR (100) 3) WBS (92) 4) STJ (95) 5) BNG (91) 6) ALB (89) 7) PRO (89) 8) HER (86)

Wheeling Update: The Nailers completed their regular season last night. They get the South Carolina Stingrays in the first round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs.

SendToNews Highlights: Are here.

So here’s what the rest of the week holds in the East Division. The Binghamton Senators host the Toronto Marlies Wednesday. The Pens and B-Sens square off Friday for what very well may be the East Division Championship. Then the B-Sens host the Norfolk Admirals while the Penguins travel to Utica.

Blog wise, the Week 28 AHL Power Rankings will be up Monday at 4. I have a bunch of other things in the infant stages I am thinking of for the blog. Stay tuned.

Let’s Go Pens!

          vs.      

  1                                       2

–

You ever get that sense of something being lifted off of your shoulders and a sense of calm, cool, collectiveness all of a sudden?

When the clock hit zero tonight at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza tonight, I had that feeling. In fact, at 10:32 p.m. on a Saturday night, I still have that feeling.

With a 2-1 win tonight against the Binghamton Senators, the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins have clinched a spot in the Calder Cup Playoffs for a twelfth consecutive season.

Twelve years. That is something that, at the level of minor league hockey, just isn’t done. Think about where you were twelve years ago. Only the Milwaukee Admirals in the Western Conference can say that they have the same streak. They clinched last night.

It’s becoming an institution in Wilkes-Barre. It’s a great city to play in. First class facilities. A front office that goes above and beyond. Media that does the same, from Mike O’Brien all the way down the line.

The one thing that has eluded this city and this franchise, is the Calder Cup.

Pretty, ain’t she?

Peter Mannino stopped 15 of 16. Goals by Carter Rowney shorthanded and Scott Harrington on a three on one rush were what the Penguins needed to get by the Senators and overtake Binghamton for first place in the East Division.

Chuck Kobasew was the veteran scratch tonight. Brian Dumoulin did not participate in warmups either after his hit he took in Syracuse last night. Scott Wilson took warmups but was scratched for Josh Archibald.

Penguins do everything right in the first period. Puck possession and a couple of power plays. One where the Pens had extended 5-on-3 time but failed to score.

Then, a puck is thrown in to the left of Mannino. The defenseman wants to take the puck and run it back up and out of the zone but Mannino yells and instructs him to move it along the wall. What ensued was the Senators scoring in the final minute when Ryan Dzingel scored his first goal as a professional to give the Senators a 1-0 lead. Peter Mannino’s shutout streak ends at 154:19.

Carter Rowney does the same for the Penguins in the final minute of the second period. The Pens sail a puck 200 feet down the ice while killing a penalty. Rowney is there to collect it, has all day, makes a couple of moves and roofs a shot in on starting goaltender Andrew Hammond to tie the game with 15.7 seconds left in the period.

Third period saw Binghamton open with some pop but then the Penguins take a puck up ice on a two on one, which became a three on one after the patient Nick Drazenovic dished to a trailing Scott Harrington who had a wide open net to shoot into.

Binghamton then gets two power play opportunities. Peter Mannino came up HUGE in the moment, denying the Senators attempts to tie the game.

With an empty net, the visitors never found the equalizer.

Three Stars: 3) Peter Mannino (15 saves on 16 shots) 2) Carter Rowney (goal, even) 1) Scott Harrington (goal, +1)

Around the Division: Hershey loses to Springfield in a shootout 4-3…. Syracuse beats Toronto in an ugly game 6-3….Norfolk and Brad Thiessen shutout the Worcester Sharks 3-0. Thiessen had a 28 save shutout for the Admirals.

Other Games that Matter: The ridiculously hot Hartford Wolf Pack have been eliminated form playoff contention, but that hasn’t stopped the Pack from playing spoiler. Hartford crushes the St. John’s IceCaps on the Rock 7-2 tonight….The Albany Devils are looking more and more like a playoff team with a 2-1 shootout win over the Providence Bruins tonight.

Standings: Penguins 92 — Binghamton 90 — Hershey 84 — Norfolk 84 — Syracuse 72

Conference: 1) MCH (102) 2) SPR (98) 3) WBS (92) 4) STJ (93) 5) BNG (90) 6) PRO (89) 7) ALB (87) 8) HER (84)

Wheeling Update: The Wheeling Nailers win 5-0 tonight in Cincinnati. The Nailers wrapped up the regular season tonight and will start the Kelly Cup Playoffs this week.

SendToNews Highlights: Better yet, how about YouTube Highlights of the same thing sent to SendToNews?

–

Peaking at the right time? That’s a question that is up for a debate. If you think so, let me know.

Wilkes-Barre closes out the regular season home schedule tomorrow afternoon vs. the Toronto Marlies. Gameday for that will be up at noon.

Let’s Go Pens!!!