Chirps from Center Ice

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So they nearly blew this one. Against a last place team in Bridgeport.

Wilkes-Barre races out to a 3-0 lead, but then Bridgport scores three unanswered of their own and its a tie game, but a shot that deflects off of Jonathan Gruen with under two minutes left stands up as the game winner and Wilkes-Barre wins 4-3 in Bridgeport Saturday night.

Don’t ask how, but they have points in five straight games.

That’s good, but the pessimist in us all will lose a few minutes of sleep wondering how a last place team in the Islanders could manage to come back against the Penguins, especially from down 0-3.

Again, don’t ask how. Also, Bridgeport won’t be in last for long if they continue to play like I saw them play against the Penguins Saturday.

Here’s how they lined up, note that the Islanders didn’t post lines…

Lineup Notes: Colin White was recalled and Ryan Shea was returned to and from Pittsburgh respectively about an hour and a half before the start Saturday. Jordan Frasca was recalled from Wheeling.

As far as on ice is concerned, Taylor Fedun replaced Will Butcher on defense and the forward lines were all jumbled up.

First Period: Seemed like the Penguins played mad, because they looked it and raced out to a quick 2-0 lead on goals from Jagger Joshua and Sam Poulin on a breakaway.

Ty Smith, who helped setup the Joshua goal, took a closing hand on puck penalty and Bridgeport’s power play, which is good, threatened but didn’t score. That was the only work that Magnig Hellberg really had to do in the period.

Second Period: Corey Andonovski with an absolute dart, made it 3-0 for the Penguins.

That was in and out quicker than you can say in and out.

Then they got sloppy. Well, both teams did really, but the Penguins had a power play and you know that you miss your trigger man when you ice it on a power play like the Penguins did here.

Wilkes-Barre with a massive 1:43 kill of a five-on-three against but Magnus Hellberg killed it all off with a yeoman like effort.

Off of a fantastic penalty kill, the Penguins could not get a power play goal to go.

Then William Dufour breaks through for the Islanders and scores to make it a two goal game again.

Third Period: Reese Newkirk rifles a shot over the glove of Hellberg and it’s a one goal game.

Hell of a way to score your first AHL goal.

The Islanders were absolutely buzzing after that Newkirk goal, cycle after cycle. But the Penguins got a power play and it looked threatening, but they didn’t score.

Then Trevor Cosgrove scores his first AHL goal.

Again, a hell of a way to score your first AHL goal and also eerily similar to the goal scored in Providence last night by Reilly Walsh.

But then, Corey Andonovski, who I thought had a decent game, took a shot that Jonathan Gruden got a stick on (or just his body) and the Penguins were back out in front.

Bridgeport wasn’t able to find the equalizer.

Three Stars: 3) Trevor Cosgrove (goal) 2) Robin Salo (two assists) 1) Jonathan Gruden (goal)

The Good: Found a way to win.

The Bad: Almost found a way to lose, too.

Turning Point: Massive goal by Jonathan Gruden gets it here.

Around the Division: Utica beats a slumping Springfield team 6-3….Lehigh Valley beats Hershey in a shootout 4-3….Hartford beats Providence 3-2 in overtime and Charlotte beats Rochester 5-2 in an outdoor game at the home of the AAA Charlotte Knights.

Standings: Hershey 59 – Providence 45 – Penguins 45 – Hartford 43 – Springfield 41 – Charlotte 40 – Lehigh Valley 38 – Bridgeport 24

Wheeling Update: Nailers had a 7-2 lead at one point in the third period but their opponent, the Indy Fuel, some back for six unanswered and win 8-7. These types of loses crush hockey teams.

Video Highlights: Check the AHL VideoCenter for these.

They will remain in Bridgeport Sunday, then make their way to Springfield for the MLK Day 3 p.m. start on Monday. Talk to you then.

Let’s Go Pens!

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I think the writing was on the wall here.

The Providence Bruins kept shooting, and shooting and shooting at Penguins All Star goaltender Joel Blomqvist.

40 shots. You can’t pin this 3-2 overtime loss on Blomqvist.

It’s a team sport, yadda yadda. The Penguins simply didn’t do enough to generate offense to get themselves over the hump in this game.

Sure, they lead 2-0 on goals by Sam Poulin and Ty Smith, but they only managed 24 shots.

Providence is a good team. The Penguins, if they want to have any kind of success as the page turns to the second half of the season after tomorrow’s match in Bridgeport, they are going to have to find ways to close these games out.

Yes, they get the point and take the overtime loss and it’s a game they probably lose 4-1 last year. But they gotta close these games out.

Onto Bridgeport Saturday.

Here’s how they lined up…

Lineup Notes: Alex Nylander in, Colin White out. Peter Abbandonato top line up front. On defense, Jack Rathbone and Will Butcher back in for Owen Headrick and Taylor Fedun.

First Period: I had a thought that this period had a playoff like intensity. Lots of action, few penalties. I also felt that there was going to be a goal in the period and there was.

Vinnie Hinostroza, who Nick Hart on radio stated has never played in the building before (because he played primarily in the AHL’s Western Conference) opened the scoring.

Joel Blomqvist was sharp for the Penguins, stopping all 12 Bruins shot which headed his way.

Second Period: The first Penguins goal was changed to Sam Poulin, who got a piece of the Hinostroza goal on the way through.

The Penguins power play misses Rem Pitlick, because the first one they received in the second period was an abject disaster. So much so that Blomqvist had to stack two pads old school stopping Marc McLaughlin here on this stellar save.

Sam Poulin is thriving on the top line, and nearly nabbed his second goal of the night on a breakaway but ran out of room.

But Ty Smith broke through and scored for the Penguins, doubling their lead.

Felt like a heavyweight bout with these two teams. Had a feeling that the Penguins hadn’t yet been dealt Providence’s best blow.

Third Period: I’m not going to bother to try to look for the Bruins goals because the production in Providence is comical.

Reilly Walsh scored at 12:50 on a shot from the point that Blomqvist was screened on. Then Justin Brazeau scored at 18:35 on a deflection that tied it.

Penguins lost Matt Filipe who went to the locker room before the Brazeau goal that tied it.

Overtime: Ian Mitchell 1:13 into overtime ended it. The Pens had possession and a shot deflected out of play. Bruins win the face-off and Mitchell spun his magic.

Three Stars: 3) Reilly Walsh (goal) 2) Justin Brazeau (goal) 1) Ian Mitchell (overtime game winning goal)

The Good: It probably would have been a clean loss had it not been for Blomqvist.

The Bad: The Penguins power play is in a funk, going 0/2 Friday. They miss Rem Pitlick. They need to figure that out because with a power play goal tonight, it’s probably a different story.

Turning Point: The Mitchell OT GWG gets it here.

Around the Division: Rochester beats Charlotte 3-2….Springfield doubles up Syracuse 4-2….Lehigh Valley beats Hartford 4-1.

Standings: Hershey 58 – Providence 44 – Penguins Hartford and Springfield 41 – Charlotte 38 – Lehigh Valley 36 – Bridgeport 24

Wheeling Update: Nailers lose 5-2 at home to the Indy Fuel.

Video Highlights: LOL, you really think Providence knows how to edit and cut up highlights?

More Saturday after Bridgeport.

Let’s Go Pens!

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So we are running out of superlatives to describe the play of Joel Blomqvist in goal for the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins. He’s won five straight games and has only given up a goal in each game. With All-Star rosters set to be announced for San Jose any day now, Blomqvist is making an extremely strong case to be one of the goalies named.

Wilkes-Barre wins 2-1 Sunday afternoon over Hartford, who beat Hershey the night before snapping the Bears nine game winning streak. A gritty, gutsy win for the Pens, who take five of six points this weekend. A shorthanded goal by Jonathan Gruden in the second period stood up as the game winning goal and Blomqvist did the rest.

I mean this is how good teams win games. Are we there yet? I don’t know, but I think we are getting closer.

Here’s how they lined up. Hartford didn’t post any lines.

Lineup Notes: Jack Rathbone and Will Butcher out, Owen Headrick and Xavier Ouellet in on defense and Alex Nylander was out, not injured, and Jesse Puljujarvi was back in.

First Period: Dylan Garand stops a Colin White shot but Sam Poulin, who was promoted to the top line with Nylander out, cashed in on the rebound.

The Penguins jumped all over the Wolf Pack to start, limiting Hartford to just five shots in the period.

Second Period: Penguins find themselves on a penalty kill, but eight seconds later Jonathan Gruden scores on a nice snapshot that doubled the Penguins lead.

The Penguins had 1:43 of two man advantage they got close on a few times but could not cash in on. I think it is too soon to say that they miss the traded Rem Pitlick because he was with them in Springfield Friday night, but the Pens didn’t score any power play goals this weekend, for what it’s worth.

The bottling up of the Wolf Pack continued, limiting the visitors to just three shots.

Third Period: Wolf Pack blitz for thirteen shots on goal, finally getting one to go when Ryan Scanlin scores from the point on a shot that Blomqvist was screened on that put Hartford on the board.

But with Garand pulled and with a time out, the Wolf Pack did not find the equalizer.

Three Stars: 3) Sam Poulin (goal) 2) Joel Blomqvist (20 saves) 1) Jonathan Gruden (shorthanded goal)

The Good: You are going to need homegrown replacements when you give away your leading scorer for essentially nothing, and it was good to see Sam Poulin get a goal being put on the top line Sunday. Does he stick? If he sticks does he continue to thrive?

The Good Part Two: Five of six points isn’t anything to bat an eye at. I think this is a pivotal point in their season and to collect five out of six is pretty good. It shows that there is there there with the team. You want to see it continue. Can they catch Hershey? Unlikely, but can they catch Hartford and be a two seed? Absolutely. That should be the goal.

The Bad: But seriously, when is the team going to get Blomqvist his elusive shutout?

Turning Point: The Gruden shorthanded goal gets it here.

Around the Division: Bridgeport wins 4-3 in overtime against Charlotte….Herhsey does the same against Lehigh Valley 3-2….Providence doubles up Springfield 6-3.

Standings: Hershey 58 – Providence 42 – Hartford 41 – Penguins 40 – Charlotte 38 – Springfield 37 – Lehigh Valley 34 – Bridgeport 23

Wheeling Update: Nailers were off today, they play Orlando again Monday.

Video Highlights: 

Three on the road next weekend, starting Friday in Providence. If there is notable stuff this week I will have it for you here, otherwise have a great week.

Let’s Go Pens!

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So things have been going good for the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins. I checked the overall standings this morning and they are ninth overall in the AHL. Sure, Hershey is playing in its own stratosphere but there are teams that are statistically better than the Penguins that the Penguins have beat. Cleveland, Hartford, Providence, Syracuse to name them.

Then there are the Phantoms, who are in the bottom third of the AHL that the Penguins just lost 4-3 in overtime to on Saturday night. The Penguins had a 2-1 lead coming into the third period and had been previously undefeated when leading after two periods when the scrappy Phantoms battled back to tie it and win it off of Samu Tuomaala’s overtime game winning goal. Tuomaala scored two kick off the comeback in the third for Lehigh Valley.

Regroup. You get these folks 11 more times and a bunch in February.

Here’s how they lined up:

Lineup Notes: Austin Rueschhoff and Joona Koppanen in for Jesse Puljujarvi and Rem Pitlick up front and Will Butcher and Taylor Fedun for Xavier Ouellet and Owen Headrick on defense.

A Word About Rem Pitlick: He was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks today for peanuts. A seventh round pick in the 2026 (yes, 2026) NHL Draft. The deal with Pitlick was that he made too much, $1.1 million against the cap for the Penguins and no shot at a recall. He was the teams leading scorer and a help on the power play. It sucks for Coal Street and if you want to feel mad about it go ahead, but at the end of the day it’s a business.

First Period: Phantoms raced out to a big shot advantage with the aid of a power play, but it was the Penguins who struck first when Matt Filipe tipped in a Jack St. Ivany shot from the point that gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead.

But then a few minutes later, Olle Lycksell wheeled around Taylor Fedun and found Cooper Marody streaking to the neat who tipped a puck past Hellberg that brought the Phantoms level.

Second Period: Something from the first period felt off, and that sense of uncertainty continued in the second period. The Pens came out of the chute on fire, drawing a penalty but weren’t able to capitalize with a power play goal.

The Penguins played disciplined, stayed out of the box, but still were looking for something to click.

They finally twisted the right way and…

That’s a big time goal from a big time player in Alex Nylannder to give the Penguins a 2-1 lead. A goal scorers goal, if you will.

Third Period: Penguins extend the lead when Peter Abbandonato scores to make it 3-1 for Wilkes-Barre.

But then the Phantoms started the comeback. Remember how on Friday I said it felt like the third period in Springfield zipped by with the Penguins clinging to a lead? The exact opposite happened Saturday in Wilkes-Barre.

Samu Tuomaala got the comeback started with a perfect shot that straight beat Magnus Hellberg that made it 3-2.

Before the Penguins knew what hit them, just over a minute later, Ronnie Attard is left unattended in the slot and scores to make it three all.

Pens lost a puck battle.

It was at this point when the clock zipped by and the teams were off to…

Overtime: Penguins with initial possession, but then 90 seconds in Tuomaala scores from the far side and the Phantoms win.

Three Stars: 3) Cooper Marody (goal, assist) 2) Ronnie Attard (goal) 1) Samu Tuomaala (two goals, OT game winner)

The Good: I mean they got to a lead, but just couldn’t hold on.

The Bad: Something felt off and you would have thought that they were really lucky to win the game or the Phantoms were really bad. Well the Pens weren’t that lucky and the Phantoms are better than we think.

Turning Point: Tuomaala’s game winning OT goal gets it here, as OT game winning goals usually always do.

Around the Division: Charlotte beats Bridgeport 4-3 in overtime….Hartford snaps Hershey’s nine game winning streak with a big 5-3 win in Hershey….Providence beats Springfield 4-3 in a shootout.

Standings: Hershey 56 – Hartford 41 – Providence 40 – Penguins 38 – Charlotte and Springfield 37 – Lehigh Valley 33 – Bridgeport 21

Wheeling Update: While we are dealing with snow, the Nailers were in 79 degree Orlando, Florida weather taking on the Solar Bears. Wheeling wins 5-2.

Video Highlights: 

Hartford Sunday. More then.

Let’s Go Pens!

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So with the calendar flipped to 2024, every point is going to matter.

Looks like they got off on the right foot, as the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins go into Springfield and win 2-1. A clean two points over a team who was above them in the standings.

Springfield knows how to win from behind and nearly did, scoring a goal just :30 into the third period and pouring it on from there. Joel Blomqvist was stout in goal, only allowing just one goal and if you are sensing a pattern you are onto something, it’s the fourth game for Blomqvist where he has just allowed one goal.

Onto Lehigh Valley Saturday…

Here’s how they lined up:

Lineup Notes: Vinnie Hinostroza was back, Jesse Puljujarvi and Owen Headrick made their WBS debuts. Austin Rueschhoff and Joona Koppanen yielded for Hinostroza and Puljujarvi up front and Ty Smith was back from the Spengler Cup. Taylor Fedun and Will Butcher stepped out for Smith and the aforementioned Headrick.

First Period: Pens roared out to an 11-4 shot advantage and got one of them to go when Hinostroza nd Jack Rathbone played give and go on a nice play that resulted in a Hinostroza goal.

But then the Thunderbirds raced back to even shot total at 11 a piece and got themselves a late power play.

Second Period: They kept the pressure on Springfield, who knows how to win games after falling behind, and nearly had a goal when Jack St. Ivany threw a shot at the net that Vadim Zherenko absorbed and sort of fell into the net with. A brief video review by referees Chad Ingalls and Stephen Hiff confirmed Ingalls’ initial call of no goal.

But then, at the expiration of a power play, the Penguins would double their lead when Peter Abbandonato scored to make it 2-0 Penguins.

Nice setup by Sam Poulin and Rem Pitlick to get the puck to an unmarked in the slot Abbandonato.

Third Period: Thunderbirds capitalize off of a Colin White turnover and Adam Gaudette scores just :30 into the period.

The last thing you wanted to see as a Penguin fan with how good the Thunderbirds are at coming back from behind.

But the Penguins used the clock and two really good penalty kills to get through it all and hang on and with Zherenko pulled for the extra attacker the Thunderbirds never found the equalizer.

Three Stars: 3) Adam Gaudette (goal) 2) Peter Abbandonato (goal) 1) Joel Blomqvist (35 saves)

The Good: How good has Joel Blomqvist been here? Pulling the team through a tough game, on the road, against a team they may run into come last April?

The Bad: No but seriously, is he every going to get his first AHL shutout?

Turning Point: The Abbandonato goal that put the Penguins up 2-0 gets it here. Do they win this game in overtime?

Around the Division: I don’t know how this is possible, but it is indeed Friday in the AHL and there are no other teams in the division playing on this day.

Standings: Hershey 56 – Hartford 39 – Providence 38 – Penguins 37 – Springfield 36 – Charlotte 35 – Lehigh Valley 31 – Bridgeport 20

Wheeling Update: Nailers are in Florida and lost 4-1 to the Orlando Solar Bears.

Video Highlights: AHL VideoCenter will have them Saturday morning as you wait for the snow to fall.

More tomorrow for the first meeting between the Penguins and Phantoms.

Let’s Go Pens!