Comments Off on Three for the Third — Pens WIN 3-2
Posted by nafsnep on March 8, 2024
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After a tumultuous couple of days for the Penguins organization, business had to continue with the issue still in doubt for the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins and their playoff seeding and chances.
They answer with a gritty, gutsy, third period comeback win in Allentown Friday night and win 3-2 and will stay ahead of the Hartford Wolf Pack for another night.
Rematch Saturday night in Wilkes-Barre with these two teams.
Jaxon Castor backs up for Blomma, Ty Smith stays in WBS, Laderoute joins the lineup, and Koppanen is back from Pitt pic.twitter.com/7bXE8ZCW7E
— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) March 9, 2024
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Lineup Notes: More trades. Magnus Hellberg was traded to Florida for Ludovic Waeber. Waeber is a goalie who did time with the Charlotte Checkers. In a corresponding move, Coal Street signed Jaxon Castor to a PTO. The thought process here is twofold. 1) You may see Taylor Gauthier get recalled and stay with Wilkes-Barre. Gauthier has been tearing up the ECHL. Let him back up Blomqvist and if need be, call up Weaber or even Garret Sparks if you have to. 2) Just have Waeber back up Blomqvist.
I am leaning more towards number two, but you have to read on to see why.
I think it is apparent that Pittsburgh is fast tracking Blomqvist for the NHL next season. He’s earned it.
Other moves were paper transactions on Valtteri Puustinen and Jonathan Gruden, making them eligible for assignment to Wilkes-Barre when Pittsburgh’s season wraps up and Joona Koppanen being assigned and playing Friday in Allentown.
On ice, Lukas Svejkovsky and Jack Rathbone were back from their respective injuries. Matt Filipe and Dillon Hamaliuk were out for Svejkovsky and Laderoute. Jack Rathbone for Owen Headrick.
Ty Smith stays in Wilkes-Barre. How? He was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes and is Carolina property. The Hurricanes do not have an AHL affiliate. The Chicago Wolves are independent, opting to go without an NHL affiliate so, for now, Smith stays put.
Whew. That’s a lot. Onto the game.
First Period: I told you in the Weekend Preview that if the Penguins wanted to have success against the Phantoms they had to score a power play goal in each game. Well, it took them four seconds, but they did score a power play goal when Austin Rueschhoff cleaned up the loose change left by a shot from Vinnie Hinostroza from the point.
— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) March 9, 2024
Pace slowed down a bit from there as it usually does when these teams meet.
Second Period: Phantoms jump the Pens from the drop of the puck and Ty Smith and Vinnie Hinostroza get their wires crossed and Jack Rathbone tries to bail them out but the pass is picked off at center ice by Victor Mete who finds Brandon Furry who then finds a streaking Rhett Gardner who goes top corner on a post to post going Joel Blomqvist to tie the game at one.
— Lehigh Valley Phantoms (@LVPhantoms) March 9, 2024
Well past ten minutes and all the Pens had was a grip it and rip it shot from Jagger Joshua.
They picked it up a bit, but then Lehigh Valley was back on it quickly and Rhett Gardner bags his second of the period on a two man advantage for the Phantoms and it’s 2-1.
— Lehigh Valley Phantoms (@LVPhantoms) March 9, 2024
Penguins looked bad that period, out of sync and what have you.
Third Period: Needing a positive response, the Penguins get one in the form of Lukas Svejkovsky for his first of the season in the AHL on an absolute dart.
— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) March 9, 2024
Game started to devolve a bit after that, every whistle had fisticuffs. Pens miss on a 4:00 double minor but looked good on it, credit Lehigh Valley’s penalty kill I guess.
Things settled from there and it appeared as if that they were headed to overtime and we all know the Penguins success or lack thereof in that period.
— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) March 9, 2024
A most ridiculous tip or deflection of a pass from Ryan Shea for Andonovski who has had a mercurial year. If a guy like Andonovski starts warming up, there’s no telling the heights that this team can reach.
Lehigh Valley pulled Cal Petersen for an extra attacker but ere not able to find the equalizer.
Three Stars: 3) Cal Petersen (18 saves) 2) Rhett Gardner (two goals) 1) Corey Andonovski (game winning goal)
The Good: They battled. JD Forrest pushed the right buttons and it’s a huge two points that will help them down the stretch.
The Bad: Game too close for my liking and I didn’t like that second period at all against a non playoff team.
Turning Point: The Andonovski goal is the clear and obvious choice here.
Standings: Hershey 86 – Providence 73 – Penguins 66 – Hartford 65 – Charlotte 62 – Springfield 55 – Lehigh Valley 53 – Bridgeport 45
A note, the Penguins finished last season with 66 points.
Wheeling Update: Nailers are out in Fort Wayne, Indiana. That game started late. Box here.
Back to Gauthier, he started in goal for Wheeling Friday, so the thought is Waeber may be headed to Wilkes-Barre. Who knows, though.
Video Highlights:
A late goal by Corey Andonovski was the difference, as the #WBSPenguins recorded a 3-2 win over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Friday night in Allentown.
Comments Off on Weekend Preview — Three Ghosts
Posted by nafsnep on March 8, 2024
The Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins have three straight games with their in state rival Lehigh Valley Phantoms this weekend and next Wednesday. Two, (Saturday and Wednesday) are in Wilkes-Barre. Gotta protect that home ice.
Music to Set the Mood
I don’t know what this is. I typed in “three ghosts” into YouTube and the came up, so let’s roll with it.
We Have a Trade to Announce…
Jake Guentzel was traded to Carolina with Ty Smith. In return, Pittsburgh got Michael Bunting, Ville Koivunen, Vasily Ponomarev, Cruz Lucius and a bunch of draft picks. Out of that group, Ponomarev has spent time in the AHL with the Chicago Wolves and would have the most impact, as he has 29 points with the Wolves currently.
Pittsburgh has traded away its AHL clubs leading scorer now three times this season. Rem Pitlick in the Fall, Alex Nylander a few weeks ago and now Smith. Jonathan Gruden, you’re next!
One thing that’s worth considering is that Carolina doesn’t have a bonafide AHL team to stash its prospects and Chicago is independent. If Ty Smith isn’t earmarked for the NHL, where does he end up? Does he stay with Wilkes-Barre as a Carolina property (awkward) or go to the NHL with the Canes or the island of misfit toys out in Chicago? I guess we find out soon.
The Setup
Three straight with the Phantoms, starting this Friday in Allentown.
Last weekend, the Penguins split with the Charlotte Checkers with a 4-1 win Friday and a 4-2 loss Saturday, when on Saturday they were up 2-0. Sam Poulin returned from injury and had five assists across two games but that wasn’t enough to get him AHL Player of the Week honors.
Lehigh Valley were shutout in Utica 3-0, lost to last place Bridgeport 2-1 at home Saturday and then at the tail end of their three in three weekend grit out a 1-0 shootout win over the Category 5 superteam known as the reigning, defending, undisputed 12 time Calder Cup Champion Hershey Bears. Go figure.
One thing to note, the Phantoms will travel to Bridgeport on Sunday, completing yet another three in three weekend, then head back to Wilkes-Barre Wednesday, which starts an hour earlier because on the drive up to Connecticut, the Phantoms (and everyone else) will lose an hour when everyone turns their clocks forward one hour this Sunday. Just brutal.
Records
The Penguins are in third place in the Atlantic Division with a 28-19-7-1 record, good for 64 points.
The Phantoms are in seventh place in the Atlantic Division, currently out of a playoff spot with a 23-22-5-2 record, good for 53 points.
The Penguins (55 games played) are chasing second place Providence Bruins, who have also played 55 games. Providence leads the Penguins by 9 points.
The Penguins are trying to ward off the Hartford Wolf Pack (52 games played) and the Charlotte Checkers (54 games played) – Hartford has 63 points and the Checkers have 60.
Who’s Up? Who’s Down? Who’s Out?
Valtteri Puustinen and Jonathan Gruden are on NHL recall. Joona Koppanen joined them on Tuesday. They all will need to be “papered” back to the AHL by Friday in order to be eligible for the Calder Cup Playoffs.
Justin Addamo, Dillon Hamaliuk, Raivis Ansons, Owen Headrick and Lukas Svejkovsky remain on recall from Wheeling.
Max Cajkovic was returned to the Nailers on Monday. Tanner Laderoute was signed to a PTO Thursday morning. He has 20 goals and 41 points.
Injured are Svejkovsky above along with Peter Abbandonato, Sam Houde, Marc Johnstone and Jack Rathbone. I think it’s Rathbone, Abbandonato, and then you’re guess is as good as mine after that as to who returns from injury first.
What can we learn about the Penguins this week?
I think they should beat the Phantoms handily. If they want to remain in the faint discussion for a first round bye, they need at least 5 out of a possible 6 points out of this three game set with the Phantoms. How do they do this?
– Get good goaltending from their backup Magnus Hellberg, who should start Friday or Saturday.
– Limit turnovers. Radim Zohorna had his pocket picked behind his own net Saturday which led to the Michael Benning go ahead goal for the Checkers late in the game Saturday.
– Get a power play goal in each game. I know it’s a heavy lift, but before that Benning goal Saturday they had a power play they squandered in a tie game. If they score there, it’s probably a different outcome.
I mean I think that’s it. What do you think? Everything else should take care of itself. Joel Blomqvist will get two of the three starts here. The defense should take care of itself also. How hurt is Jack Rathbone, who is good on the power play and blocks a boatload of shots?
Force the Phantoms into mistakes, press the issue cautiously and there’s no reason why they can’t beat this team clean for a full six points.
Check Your Surroundings
New feature this week till the end of the season or as I see fit will look at the teams ahead of and behind the Pens in the standings.
Providence has Hartford Friday and Springfield Sunday. You just don’t want overtime Friday and want a Springfield win of some type.
Hartford has the Bruins Friday and Bridgeport Saturday, so no eating into the games in hand.
Charlotte hosts Hershey Friday and Saturday.
So it’s a positive schedule week for the Penguins I think, and important that they handle business against a Lehigh Valley team which is a consistent model of inconsistency.
Who’s in Goal?
Blomqvist Friday, Hellberg Saturday, Blomqvist Wednesday is what I would do if I were running things.
Parker Gahagen and Cal Petersen are the Phantoms current goaltending duo. Figure you see each this weekend and the better of the two Wednesday. It was Petersen who shutout the Bears on Sunday.
Who’s Running the Show?
Mike Sullivan (no, not that one) and Austin O’Rourke are scheduled to be in Allentown Friday with Brandon Grillo and Bill Lyons on the lines.
Saturday, Sully (do they call him that?) and O’Rourke make the drive up the Turnpike and are with us again live and in person Saturday with Grillo in tow and Chandler Yakimowicz on the lines.
Wednesday in Wilkes-Barre sees Jake Kamrass and Jordan Watt as the assigned referees and Yakimowicz again on the lines joined by J.P. Waleski.
Looking ahead…
No games Friday or Saturday for the Penguins. A Sunday game which starts at 3:00 p.m. in Cleveland followed by a Monday game at 7.
I haven’t decided when I put the Weekend Preview out yet. To be determined…
Give us a bold prediction…
Blomqvist finally gets a shutout, or I drop the notion of same in this spot altogether.
Team loss, that is you can’t blame goaltending or lack of offense or anything. The Penguins had a late power play, Charlotte killed it, and scored seconds later to make to 3-2.
Third place is getting tight. The Penguins occupy third with 64 points. Hartford, idle Saturday, is on 61 points with four games in hand and Charlotte is on 60 points.
— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) March 2, 2024
Five assists this weekend for Sam Poulin. Makes me upset (kinda) that they don’t have a Sunday game because I would like to see Poulin take a run at AHL Player of the Week honors. Still an outside chance.
Second Period: Then they hit a roadblock. Couldn’t’ generate any offense. Then Zac Dalpe scores to give the Checkers some jump heading into the third intermission.
— Charlotte Checkers (@CheckersHockey) March 3, 2024
Magnus Hellberg was tested in the period and in parts I thought he was fine but of course he is going to want that one back.
Third Period: Teams ice the puck when they don’t have an answer otherwise when the team they are playing is bearing down on them. Watch for that next time. I picked it up a few games ago and saw it in force in the third period here by the Penguins.
It was inevitable.
Uvis Balinskis with a shot from the point that I thought was deflected but wasn’t and Hellberg was screened badly and it’s a tie game.
— Charlotte Checkers (@CheckersHockey) March 3, 2024
Then the Penguins are given an opportunity for a power play at 13:59 of the third period with Dennis Cesana put in the penalty box for a high sticking minor. The Penguins play with it along the wall, Charlotte throws it out, they fight for possession, then entry, then play with it more along the wall then get some late desperation shots which don’t result in goals.
It was again, inevitable.
Michael Benning scores at 17:02 and Charlotte has a 3-2 lead.
— Charlotte Checkers (@CheckersHockey) March 3, 2024
That’s far too easy right there. Rasmus Asplund just steals it from Radium Zohorna and dishes to a streaking Benning for the goal there.
Penguins then call time out, pull Hellberg and a few patrons over in Section 110 think that they score, but referees Chris Rumble and Jared Cummins didn’t see it that way and then Mackie Samoskevich hit an empty net to ice it away for the Checkers.
Three Stars: 3) Jake Wise (two assists) 2) Zac Dalpe (goal, assist) 1) Michael Benning (game winning goal)
The Good: Stay hot Vinnie and Sam!
The Bad: Pittsburgh may be sellers at the deadline, have we seen the last of these two?
Turning Point: Couple paragraphs up, the Rasmus Asplund robbery of Radim Zohorna setting up Michael Benning for the go ahead goal gets it here.
Rejected Headline: Bennie’s Biscuits. I assume they call Benning ‘Bennie’
Standings: Hershey 85 – Providence 73 – Penguins 64 – Hartford 61 – Charlotte 60 – Springfield 55 – Lehigh Valley 51 – Bridgeport 41
Wheeling Update: Nailers are out in Fort Wayne and are losing last I checked. Box here.
Video Highlights:
The #WBSPens jumped out to a 2-0 first period lead, but the Charlotte Checkers clawed back with three third period goals to claim the 4-2 win on Saturday night at the @MoSunArenaPA
— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) March 3, 2024
Three straight against Lehigh Valley and with the current form of the Phantoms, six points are just laying there begging you pick them up and put them in your pocket.
Gotta get through the trade deadline though. Should be a fun ride.
Comments Off on Sam’s Three Apples — Pens WIN 4-1
Posted by nafsnep on March 1, 2024
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There’s no flies on Sam Poulin.
Coming back from injury, Poulin assists three times and the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins defeat the Charlotte Checkers 4-1 on Friday night in an important game for both teams.
Poulin had been playing well leading up to his recent injury, and he now has 21 points in 27 games.
Vinnie Hinostroza had a pailr of goals, including one on a power play that put the Penguins up 3-1 at the time.
Radim Zohorna had an empty net goal, also on a power play which iced the game away for the Penguins.
Joel Blomqvist stopped 21 shots.
Charlotte’s seven game point streak comes to an end.
These two teams rematch in Wilkes-Barre Saturday at 6.
— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) March 1, 2024
Lineup Notes: Coal Street really buried the lede with missing that Sam Poulin also made his lineup return. Other lineup notes were Radim Zohorna and Avery Hayes (also returning from injury) for Jonathan Gruden (recalled to Pittsburgh) Max Cajkovic and Taylor Fedun.
First Period: They looked flat, Joel Blomqvist bailed them out a bunch of times and got beat by Wilmer Skoog for a goal that put Charlotte on the board first and gave the Checkers a 1-0 lead.
— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) March 2, 2024
The latter of which was a power play goal.
With Valtteri Puustinen in Pittsburgh and Alex Nylander traded, Wilkes-Barre will be leaning heavily on Hinostroza for offensive outputs. So, essentially carbon copies of games such as this going forward.
Third Period: Thing of beauty as Ryan Shea connects with Corey Andonovski who connects with Austin Rueschhoff who slams it home for a 3-1 Penguins lead and some breathing room.
Standings: Hershey 85 – Providence 73 – Penguins 64 – Hartford 61 – Charlotte 58 – Springfield 53 – Lehigh Valley 51 – Bridgeport 39
Wheeling Update: Nailers lose 2-1 in Cincinnati. Justin Lee with the goal for the Nailers. Taylor Gauthier stops 22.
Video Highlights:
Vinnie Hinostroza netted a pair of second period goals to lead the #WBSPens to a 4-1 win over the Charlotte Checkers on Friday night at the @MoSunArenaPA. Sam Poulin recorded three assists in the victory.
Comments Off on Weekend Preview – Checkmate?
Posted by nafsnep on March 1, 2024
So let’s talk about it.
At the beginning of last week I said that they were primed to make a run in March. Then last week happened. Let’s review.
– Alex Nylander given away for Matthew Phillips’ replacement, Emil Bemstrom.
– Colin White was lost on waivers to the Montreal Canadiens.
– Lukas Svejkovsky (good on the power play), Peter Addandonato (good overall) and Radim Zohorna were added to the injured list. Abbandonato was a late scratch in the last two games.
– Sam Houde (lower, week to week), Marc Johnstone (upper, week to week) and Sam Poulin (upper, day to day) remain on the perpetual injured list.
– They lose in overtime because they suck in overtime to Lehigh Valley on Wednesday. They are 1-7 in overtime.
– They lose a squeaker in a penalty marred affair in Hershey on Friday.
– They obliterate a game Bridgeport team on Saturday and end the week with 3 of 6 points.
Meanwhile, the gap to second place Providence is nine points with equal games played and three points from fourth place Hartford with three more games played then the Wolf Pack.
How bad are the Wolf Pack that they are given a head start and still can’t catch up to the Penguins? Hartford is 3-5-1-1 in their last ten and the Penguins are 4-3-2-1.
Don’t look now, but Charlotte is nipping at the heels (paws? webbed feet?) of the Checkers and Penguins.
Can the Penguins catch Providence? Not without help. No more regular season matchups with the Bruins this season. Providence has one game with Hershey left in the season. They have Springfield, Hartford, Springfield, Lehigh Valley, in the first half of the month of March. I think if they take 8 out of a possible 12 points between now and the Ides of March, barring a collapse it’s probably ballgame on the second seed for the Penguins.
Music to Set the Mood…
I don’t have one for you this week. When I YouTubed “Checkmate” I got a rap video and a bunch of chess stuff. Beyond my comprehension so let’s move on.
The Setup
Two with Charlotte this weekend, at home.
I gave you what the Penguins did last week above.
The Checkers lost in overtime Friday at home against Lehigh Valley, then beat the Phantoms clean Saturday. This past Wednesday in Hartford, the Checkers beat the Wolf Pack 2-1 in overtime.
Records
The Penguins are in third in the Atlantic with a 27-18-7-1 record, good for 62 points and third place in the Atlantic.
Charlotte is 26-20-6-0 and fifth in the Atlantic with 58 points. They are a point off Hartford for third and for back of the Penguins. The Penguins have 53 games played, the Wolf Pack have 50 and the Checkers have 52.
Who’s Up? Who’s Down? Who’s Out?
The only guy up is Valtteri Puustinen. Pittsburgh is in Western Canada so he isn’t walking through any doors around here this week or next likely.
Justin Addamo, Dillon Hamaliuk, Raivis Ansons and Lukas Svejkovsky are the recalls from Wheeling.
I gave you the injured list in the opening monologue.
Bit of good news is that Avery Hayes was sent to Wheeling on Wednesday, apparently healed from his upper body injury and good to go.
Max Cajkovic and Owen Headrick joined Hayes on the bus to Wheeling on Wednesday. They all retuned from their 20 minute car ride (Facebook special) and were back with the Pens Thursday.
What can we learn about the Penguins this week?
This very well could be a playoff preview here with Charlotte. If the Penguins stay in third, or even drop to fourth, it’s a good possibility that it’s the Checkers as their first round opponent.
The season series is 3-3. The Penguins would win one, then the Checkers would win the other or vice versa. The Checkers always stack games when they play the Penguins so it is very hard to beat them in back to back games. Is it impossible? Of course not, but in recent seasons the Penguins just can’t solve the Checkers by beating them in back to back games.
So, expect a three game series when these two teams inevitably meet in the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs in late April.
Who is the better team? I think it’s the Penguins. I’d favor Wilkes-Barre over Charlotte in a three game playoff series. Defense and goaltending is what wins playoff games and I think the Penguins have that advantage. Both teams are good on the penalty kill but suck on the power play. The Penguins are 30th out of 32 teams on the man advantage. Where have you gone Rem Pitlick?
But we aren’t there yet, still having to play a month and a half more of regular season hockey.
If the Penguins want to stay ahead of Hartford, Charlotte, et. al and pursue Providence, they need to win both of these games.
Who’s in Goal?
Split the weekend with Joel Blomqvist going Friday and Magnus Hellberg going Saturday. Or flip it, it doesn’t matter.
Same thing applies with Spencer Knight and Evan Cormier. You’ll see both this weekend, I don’t think it matters when.
Who’s Running the Show?
Liam Maaskant and Casey Terreri have the honors on Friday with Chandler Yakimowicz and Dylan Lewis on the lines.
On Saturday, Jared Cummins and Chris Rumble will be ensuring things remain on the straight and narrow. Linesman Yakimowicz returns with J.P. Waleski.
Looking ahead…
Another Friday – Saturday set against one opponent, a home and home against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms; Friday in Allentown, Saturday in Wilkes-Barre and then Wednesday at home against the Phantoms. I am including that Wednesday game in next weeks Weekend Preview because the following weekend they are in Cleveland Sunday and Monday. That means no Friday and Saturday games. I won’t know what to do!
Give us a bold prediction…
Another series split between the Penguins and Checkers.
Comments Off on Space Force! — Pens WIN 4-1
Posted by nafsnep on February 24, 2024
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On Military Appreciation Night, the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins handled a game Bridgeport Islanders team 4-1. Magnus Hellberg was sharp in goal for the Penguins, Jonathan Gruden and Dmitri Samorukov each had a goal and an assist and the Penguins got back to their winning ways.
A bit short staffed with seven players out due to injury, they have a week to heal and regroup for their next game Friday against the Charlotte Checkers.
Hudson Fasching scores a goal at the twenty minute mark but time had expired. After a brief video review, time had run out.
Second Period: Penguins had back to back power plays and missed, a 3-0 lead could have worked here.
Julien Gauthier was awarded a penalty shot. Hellberg got a blocker on it and the puck hit the post but stayed out.
I wish I had a GIF of the Xavier Ouellet breakaway attempt. It would go well with the Price is Right losing horn. Ouellet, a defensemen, lost the handle entirely.
Third Period: Karlson Kuhlman crashes the net and scores on a cross ice play that puts the Islanders the board and cuts into the Penguins lead.
Bridgeport called a time out, pulled Jakub Skarek and Matt Filipe, who was placed in the penalty box for a tripping penalty, scored when Taylor Fedun connected with him for a 4-1 lead.
Three Stars: 3) Dmitri Samorukov (goal, assist) 2) Magnus Hellberg (31 saves) 1) Jonathan Gruden (goal, assist)
The Good: Good win as I just said. Felt like they needed that win and last place Bridgeport was just what the doctor ordered.
The Bad: They still don’t have a shutout on the season and went 0/2 on the power play.
Turning Point: The Samorukov goal was big. Bridgeport was on the come, just got one and were hinting for a second and Samorukov scores a team goal to make it a two goal lead again.
Standings: Hershey 85 – Providence 69 – Penguins 62 – Hartford 58 – Charlotte 54 – Springfield 53 – Lehigh Valley 51 – Bridgeport 37
Wheeling Update: The Nailers are out in Kalamazoo and win 2-1. Two 5-on-3 power play goals for the Nailers in the win. Taylor Gauthier picks up the win for Wheeling with 23 saves.
Video Highlights:
Jonathan Gruden and Dmitri Samorukov each recorded a goal and an assist to lead the attack, as the #WBSPens defeated the @AHLIslanders 4-1, on Military Appreciation Night presented by @MetLife .
Comments Off on Special Disaster — Pens LOSE 4-1
Posted by nafsnep on February 23, 2024
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Wednesday it was face-offs that sunk the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins.
Friday in Hershey, it was penalties.
Chase Priskie’s power play goal late in the third period was the game winner in this one, a 4-1 Bears win over the Penguins. Hershey had seven power plays in the game and Priskie scores on the last one. Hershey turned it into a runaway as the Penguins, who went 0/5 on the power play Friday, were trying to get the game even and pulled starting goaltender Joel Blomqvist when Hershey hit two shorthanded empty nets from over 100 feet away.
Jordan Deckard and Adam Tobias were in charge Friday. Those two make the trek up I-81 and will be with you live again running amok when the Pens host the Bridgeport Islanders Saturday night.
Here’s how they lined up:
Tonight's projected lineup against the Penguins📝
Kevin O'Neil is making his season debut for the Bears tonight!
Lineup Notes: The Pittsburgh Penguins traded Alex Nylander to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday for Emil Bemstrom. Bemstrom is a right wing. Matthew Phillips, who Washington tried to send to Hershey but the Penguins claimed on waivers plays right wing. Phillips was the Calgary Wranglers leading scorer last season. Calgary was the AHL’s best team last season. It’s not a matter of if, but a matter of when Pittsburgh waives Phillips, Washington reclaims him and Hershey obliterates everything in their path like they have in all season. The Bears don’t need the help, but they are going to get it.
That’s the second time this season Pittsburgh has traded Wilkes-Barre’s leading scorer. Rem Pitlick to Chicago for 2026 considerations, now Alex Nylander. Ty Smith, you’re probably next.
Magnus Hellberg was sent back to Coal Street Thursday but it was Taylor Gauthier who backed up.
Matt Filipe and Taylor Fedun were back from injury. They went 11/7 again. Dillon Hamaliuk was assigned to Wheeling in the morning and reassigned back to the AHL in the afternoon. Radim Zohorna was out, with Peter Abbandonato. Seven players injured right now for the Penguins.
First Period: Jonathan Gruden scored a shorthanded goal on a breakaway on this nice setup by Raivis Ansons.
🚨GRUDS SHORTY ALERT🚨
For every shorthanded goal we score this year, Borland and Borland will donate $250 to the Penguins Goals Foundation. pic.twitter.com/AwOICQMuSd
Second Period: Not a lot of action because the period was marred by penalties. Five total. Adam Tobias and Jordan Deckard were getting their monies worth. Foreshadowing in case you missed the lede, the Penguins will see these two whistle blowers Saturday when they host Bridgeport.
Third Period: I mean the penalties continued. It felt like a preseason game. Tensions were running high and it felt like Deckard / Tobias were losing control. When you call 900 penalties in game and become too controlling, you tend to lose control at some point.
Chase Priskie nets a power play goal for the Bears on their seventh opportunity on the night.
Priskie breaks the deadlock with his seventh of the season!
Wilkes-Barre would get a chance at a late power play (Deckard and Tobias didn’t discriminate) so J.D. Forrest called time out. A fumbled pass by Vinnie Hinostroza was picked off by Ryan Strome who scored from about 180 feet away. Later Bogdan Trineyev scored another shorthanded, empty net goal.
Three Stars: 3) Matt Strome (goal, assist) 2) Ryan Hofer (goal) 1) Chase Priskie (goal)
The Good: Despite all of the penalties, they stayed step for step with the Bears. Again, you need to play a perfect game if you want to beat Hershey. Giving the Bears seven power play opportunities is hardly a perfect game plan.
The Bad: The captain had six PIMs. Taylor Fedun has to be the most ineffective captains in the history of the franchise.
Turning Point: It’s Priskie’s power play goal. No sense in overthinking it.
WBS News
Chirps from Center Ice 