Chirps from Center Ice

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

Hold Your Holzapfel’s – Pens WIN 5-3

Comments Off on Hold Your Holzapfel’s – Pens WIN 5-3 Posted by on November 30, 2012

Penguins are smoking right now. Just finished off a 10-2 month of November and sit two points back of the Syracuse Crunch after handing the Crunch their first regulation road loss of the season. Everything seems to be trending in the right direction, too. The Pens won the game 5-3.

Things seem to be clicking too. The Penguins were 6 for 7 on the penalty kill and 2 for 8 on the power play. The penalty kills came up huge as the Crunch have a unit which is deadly. The thing I liked the most about this game was the fact that the Penguins smothered the Crunch in the opening fifteen minutes of the game. Not only did they run with the “zoom zoom” that the Crunch are on the ice, they stifled them and held them to only one shot on goal for most of the first period. Winning games in the first period, then a “bend not break” mentality in the late stages and you have a recipe for a team on an absolute tear right now.

Jeff Zatkoff vs. Dustin Tokarski — Paul Thompson was a mystery scratch. You guys know, if you read the blog earlier, that Keven Veilleux and Dominik Uher were sent to Wheeling.

First Period: Strange sequence in the opening three minutes. A Philippe Dupuis backhander hits the crossbar and the Penguins fans in attendance start to celebrate a goal. Play continues, finally a Dylan Reese from the blue line is deflected in by Trevor Smith. Referees looked at the Dupuis offering, but it did hit the post. Late pressure by the Penguins, cycling the puck in the Syracuse zone for a good minute lead by Beau Bennett. No dice. Then, while four-on-four late, Syracuse finally scores when Radko Gudas set up Richard Panik for a slam dunk goal to even it at one.

Second Period: The description of what follows will not do justice to what actually happened. Beau Bennett scored an NHL quality goal in close over Tokarski’s left shoulder. There was literally no room for Bennett to shoot except for a small area above Tokarski’s shoulder in the corner of the net. Bennett fit it there for a 2-1 Penguins lead. Then, while on a power play (after multiple WBS kills of Syracuse power plays) Brian Dumoulin scored his first of the season to make it 3-1.

Penguins only allowed 5 Crunch shots on goal that period.

Third Period: Bennett springs Riley Holzapfel on a 100′ saucer pass that Holzapfel had all day to skate in and score to make it 4-1. Big goal at the time because you could almost feel the Crunch pushback coming. It did come, via a Brett Connolly goal, then a Philip-Michael Devos goal. Score is now 4-3. With Tokarski pulled and an extra attacker on, Cory Conacher fans on a bouncing puck. It then finds its way to Trevor Smith who fires a 180-foot dart to seal it.

Three Stars: 3) Brian Dumoulin (goal, even) 2) Beau Bennett (goal, assist, even) and 1) Riley Holzapfel (goal, two assists, even)

Around the Division: The Binghamton Senators have won seven straight. Oh, they also have two games in hand on the Penguins. They hang seven on the Adirondack Phantoms tonight and win 7-4. The Hershey Bears are also righting the ship, winners of three straight, as they cut down the Bridgeport Sound Tigers 5-2. Norfolk was off.

Standings: Syracuse 26 — Binghamton 24 — Penguins 24 — Hershey 19 — Norfolk 14

Standings: 1) SYR (26) 2) SPR (26) 3) STJ (23) 4) BNG (24) 5) WBS (24) 6) MCH (21) 7) BRI (20) 8) POR (20)

Wheeling Update: Nailers win 4-2 over the rival Elmira Jackals 4-2. Keven Veilleux had a goal.

SendtoNews Highlights: Are here. The Bennett goal is there. Hold onto your stomachs. That goal was a beauty.

St. John’s is in tomorrow. Should be an interesting matchup. If things break the right way, the Pens could be in first place in the division at the end of the night. But then there’s games in hand, percentage points, etc. Gameday for that will be up tomorrow at 3 p.m.

Postgamer

Crunch / Penguins Notebook

Comments Off on Crunch / Penguins Notebook Posted by on November 30, 2012

Sitting here looking at some stats in advance of tonight’s huge tilt between Syracuse and the Pens and wanted to fire off a quick, “notebook” blog of material that would get lost in the shuffle of the live tweeting. Check out the Gameday setup if you haven’t already and enjoy the following notes:

  • Syracuse is the last team in the AHL to lose on the road in regulation. (9-0-0-1)
  • The Crunch are 10-1 when they score first. They are the first team in the AHL to achieve ten wins when they do score first.
  • Syracuse is first overall in the AHL in goals for with 3.82 goals / game.
  • The Penguins are third overall in the AHL in goals allowed with 2.22 goals against.
  • AHL Commissioner Dave Andrews will be in the house tonight.

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In other news today, the Wheeling Nailers were active on the transaction wire this afternoon. They received Dominik Uher and Keven Veilleux for tonight’s game at Elmira and traded for Andrew Hotham (from Cincinatti) and Chris Higgins (from Utah) in ECHL-related moves for future considerations. Nailers’ beat writer Shawn Rine tweeted that the Uher / Veilleux assignments were one night rentals.

Back later tonight for the postgame recap. Let’s Go Pens!

The AHL, WBS, Wheeling

GAMEDAY: vs. Syracuse 11/30

Comments Off on GAMEDAY: vs. Syracuse 11/30 Posted by on November 30, 2012

vs. 

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Home Game: 10

AHL Game: 282

Who: Syracuse Crunch

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m. EST

Media Kit

Last Game: Sunday in Atlantic City vs. The Albany Devils, the Pens won in a shootout 5-4. Both Brian Gibbons and Tom Kuhnhackl had three point nights. For Syracuse, the Crunch were in Worcester last Sunday and beat the Sharks 6-1. Crunch winger J.T. Brown had a hat trick and an assist in the win.

Last Meeting: October 27 in Syracuse, the Pens won 4-1. Eric Tangradi had two goals.

Record: For WBS: 11-7 (22 pts., 3rd place East Division) — For SYR: 12-3-1-1 (26 pts., 1st place East Division)

Why you should care: Syracuse has won nine straight road games and are looking to make it ten. Wilkes-Barre is a team on a roll looking to get to where Syracuse is. The Penguins can get to two points out of the division lead with a regulation win.

Referee(s): Darrcy Burchell / Ryan Murphy

Linesmen: Scott Adams / Bob Fyrer

Twitter: @wbspenguins / @SyracuseCrunch

Facebook: /WilkesBarreScrantonPenguins // /syracusecrunch

Beat Writers: @CVBombulie / @PSCrunchHockey

Broadcasters: For WBS: Tom Grace @TGracePens and Mike O’Brien @MikeOBrienWBS / For SYR: Dan D’Uva @Dan_DUva

Fan Bloggers: @nafsnep / @Allovimo

Radio: For WBS: 102.3 The Mountain / For Syracuse: The Score 1260

Television: AHL Live

Promotion(s): None

Other Game to Watch: The last time the Sharks and Pirates squared off they racked up 143 penalty minutes. They rematch tonight in Portland.

Next Five Games: STJ 12/1, HER 12/7, POR 12/8, @ ALB 12/12, BNG 12/14

Gameday

First Quarter Grades

Comments Off on First Quarter Grades Posted by on November 28, 2012

Quarterly Grades are back for another year. Didn’t plan on bringing these back this year, but it was a matter of me not having nothing to really write about this week. Yay fodder!

The Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins sit third in the East Division, fifth in the Conference after 18 games. Their record is 11-7, good for 22 points. This is after starting the season 0-4, so take away the first four games and the Pens are 11-3 in their last 14 games. Impressive.

Okay, so the Penguins have only played 18 games. 19 games is technically “one quarter” – close enough.

Below is my humble take on the players that have skated for the team so far:

Forwards

Beau Bennett – (4-9-13, -2, 18 GP) – Looked at a score sheet the other day and saw that the first year rookie was leading the team in points. He’s exceeded expectations at this point. That’s all you really can ask for. Grade: A+

Philippe Dupuis – (2-5-7, +1, 18 GP) – Came over from Toronto in free agency. Solid player who centers between a second and third line. I’m projecting a big second quarter for him. Grade: A

Bobby Farnham – (0-2-2, +1, 9 GP) – When Zach Sill went down with injury, Farnham was recalled from Wheeling and signed to a PTO. Constantly plays like his hair is on fire. Is prone to a stupid penalty from time to time. Look up “rat” in the hockey dictionary and Farnham’s name is there. Grade: B

Benn Ferriero – (1-12-13, -1, 18 GP) – Another big free agent get, has surpassed last years assist total with Worcester. (11 in only 20 games) – Ferriero is another player I am projecting a big second quarter from. Grade: A

Brian Gibbons – ( 3-5-8, +2, 13 GP) – Was scratched last 5 games before finally getting in the lineup Sunday vs. Albany. Turned in a three point night, (1-2-3) and played like he never wants to be scratched again. Coaching staff looking for this from him on a nightly basis. If he can sustain that, this team will go far. Grade: B

Riley Holzapfel – (5-5-10, -1, 18 GP) – Prototypical third or fourth line center who plays a balanced game. Holzapfel is currently in a three way tie for second in points on the team. Sometimes sees second line duty, depending on production and situation. Has met expectations so far. Grade: A

Tom Kuhnhackl – (2-2-4, +3, 9 GP) – Before Sunday’s 2-1-3 performance vs. Albany had only one point. I don’t want to say that he’s getting lost in the shuffle with the talent that is currently here on the team because of the lockout, but if he doesn’t shine like he did Sunday, he will get lost in the shuffle with the talent that his here on the team because of the lockout. Grade: C

Steve MacIntyre – (0-0-0, even, 10 GP) – Is a deterrent for other teams goons and rats. Gives the rookies and point producers more room. You aren’t looking for him to produce more than you are to protect. He’s done that so far. Grade: B+

Warren Peters – (2-1-3, +1, 18 GP) – Faceoff stats aren’t registered as a statistic by the AHL, but if they were, Peters would be at the top of the list. Why is this important? When you need to win a big faceoff late in the game, Peters in your guy. He’ll probably be named captain soon. Grade: A-

Trevor Smith – (5-5-10, -1 ,18 GP) – Biggest free agent that the Penguins have landed in recent times. Moonlights between top line and second line. Always a threat to score. Can easily lead the team in goals scored by the end of the year. Grade: A

Eric Tangradi – (9-1-10, -5, 18 GP) – Depending on the camp that you are in, Tangradi either belongs in Pittsburgh or belongs on another team. Needs to put up video game numbers at the AHL level and has so far. If he continues this pace, with the improved projection of Dupuis and Ferriero in the second quarter, the Penguins will be at the top of the division at the halfway point. Grade: A+

Paul Thompson – (6-3-9, -2, 18 GP) – No sophomore slump here. Natural hat trick at Bridgeport upgrades him slightly in the grade department. Yet another I am projecting a big second quarter from. Grade: B+

Dominik Uher – (0-2-2, +1, 12 GP) – This rookie has been in and out of the lineup. Draws penalties like a veteran. Plays with a rat side to him. Will continue to improve. Grade: B

Defensemen

Robert Bortuzzo — (0-1-1, +4, 11 GP) – One of the steadiest defensemen Wilkes-Barre has ever seen. Another stat not kept by the league is blocked shots. Bortuzzo has a ton, and the best part about it is he’s fearless when the other teams sniper is loading up to shoot. Grade: A

Simon Despres – (2-3-5, even, 18 GP) – Despres is streaky. One night he is the best player on the ice, the next he looks lost. I think a lot of it has to do with who he’s paired with defensively. He’s a pedigree that is just biding his time in the AHL while the NHL labor strife gets worked out. Grade: B

Brian Dumoulin — (0-5-5, -2, 16 GP) – It’s okay, I’ll say it for you. I’m not impressed at all with Dumoulin. Granted, this is his first year of professional hockey, but he seems lost out there defensively. Coaching staff wants him to get AHL minutes, so that is why you see more of him than say, Alex Grant or Joey Mormina. Grade: D

Alex Grant — (0-1-1, -2, 6 GP) – Is a scratch more often than not. Guys like Brian Dumoulin and Joe Morrow are getting extended looks over him. I don’t know how, with the cannonade that Grant has in his stick, you justify scratching Grant. But, such is life in the locked out NHL version of the AHL. Grade: C

Joey Mormina – (0-1-1, -2, 7 GP) – Same as Alex Grant. A scratch more often because the younger guys are getting looks. Victim, really, of the NHL lockout because Mormina is too valuable an asset to sit while other guys constantly turn the puck over at the blue line. Grade: C

Joe Morrow – (1-2-3, -5, 14 GP) – You only get better by playing. You learn from your mistakes with experience. Morrow is certainly getting this. A trip to Wheeling would be a waste of his talent. By no means is he NHL ready, though. Grade: B

Dylan Reese – (2-6-8, +3, 15 GP) – Next to Bortuzzo and Brain Strait, one of the more steadier defensemen. May be emerging as a power play quarterback, as four of his points (2-2-4) have come on the man advantage. Grade: A

Philip Samuelsson – (0-1-1, +4, 10 GP) – Samuelsson is improving and not regressing, which is something that young defensemen in their second year are prone to. The lockout isn’t helping him, because he belongs in the lineup on a consistent basis. Grade: B-

Brian Strait – (0-0-0, even, 14 GP) – At his best when paired with Reese or Bortuzzo on defense. Has been a scratch recently. Don’t know what that is all about. Grade: B+

Goaltenders

Brad Thiessen – (3-2, 3.25 GAA, 0.884 SV%, 5 GP) – Has been relegated to backup. Will need to be stellar in order to re-gain number one status again. With the way Jeff Zatkoff is playing, may never happen. Has only been average and the grade that follows is reflective of that. Grade: C

Jeff Zatkoff – (8-5, 1.62 GAA, 0.938 SV%, 3 shutouts, 13 GP) – Said in the newspaper that he wanted to win thirty games this season. If the team in front of him keeps playing the way they are, and he continues to play the way he’s been playing when offense is scarce, will eclipse that easily. Is the teams MVP right now. Grade: A+

I’m sorry, who are you again?

Players with five or less games played fall into this category. No grades given out, just blurbs.

Jayson Megna – (0-2-2, +1, 4 GP) – Is coming off an ankle injury. Impressed enough in training camp to earn a contract to stay. But those games didn’t count, so we are left with an unsigned tryout with a bad ankle. Will need to have a huge second quarter, obviously.

Adam Payerl – (1-0-1, even, 5 GP) – Instead of letting him sit and not play, the Penguins sent him to Wheeling to get minutes. He got hurt, and currently is not playing for the Nailers, who are struggling.

Carl Sneep (0-0-0, even, 1 GP) – played one game then was shipped to Wheeling. If the lockout goes all year, may be there all season.

Zach Sill – (0-0-0, +1, 2 GP) – Injured in the second game. Will slot back into the rotation again when healthy (probably within days) but may have to have a bare knuckles fight with Bobby Farnham to get back in. Imagine that.

Keven Veilleux (0-0-0, -1, 4 GP) – To be fair, Veilleux is coming off of a massive knee injury he suffered in preseason last season and just recently was medically cleared to play. The coaching staff wants to be careful with him, because if he damages it again, it may end his career as a Penguin.

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Feel free to disagree with me in the comments. In fact, I want you to. If I don’t get any comments, it tells me that the reader (you) agree with the grades. That’s not what I am looking for. Let’s embrace debate!

Quarterly Grades

A Chain Only So Strong…..

Comments Off on A Chain Only So Strong….. Posted by on November 27, 2012

So I have a bunch of links to share with you:

–> Jonathan Bombulie Tuesday blog update. He talks about Bobby Farnham, Jeff Zatkoff, Brian Gibbons and pot odds.

–> Michael Cignoli, who covers the Adirondack Phantoms like a snuggie for The Saratogian, had a nice feature on ex-WBS Penguin G Scott Munroe. Couple of interesting things there. His wife can probably kick his rear-end and Munroe was close to re-signing with WBS this past summer. Interesting.

–> The AHL’s Weekly Release has WBS / Syracuse as one of the five games to watch this week. It will definitely be a litmus test for both teams.

–> Ex-WBS Penguin Luca Caputi was shipped to the ECHL’s Fort Wayne Komets today from Norfolk. I find that shocking, really.

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I’ll have the Penguins First Quarter Grades tomorrow. I wasn’t planning on bringing them back this year, but it was a matter of happenstance with the Penguins not playing until this Friday and me having nothing to really write about. Check those out Wednesday at noon.

Not AHL, The AHL, WBS

Scratch Me at Your Own Risk – Pens WIN 5-4 (SO)

Comments Off on Scratch Me at Your Own Risk – Pens WIN 5-4 (SO) Posted by on November 25, 2012

Brian Gibbons has been a scratch lately. It’s perplexed me because it doesn’t seem that he is ever at issue whenever something goes awry for the Pens. John Hynes & Company have seen it another way, because Gibbons hasn’t been seen in a few games now.

Tonight, he drew back into the lineup and made his presence felt for all sixty minutes.

Riding a two goal game by Penguins rookie Tom Kuhnhackl, Gibbons and Kuhnhackl turn in a three point night and the Penguins defeat the Albany Devils 5-4 in a shootout.

A game, by all rights, the Penguins should have lost. Stark contrast by the game last night vs. Toronto. In fact, if the Pens would have lost this game, “Eggs for Sale” would have been the headline for this postgamer.

They didn’t, and are red hot. 8-2 in the last ten games after starting the season 0-4.

Brad Thiessen vs. Keith Kinkaid – The aforementioned Brian Gibbons and Tom Kuhnhackl were back in the lineup joined by Dylan Reese, Philip Samuelsson and Alex Grant. Lots of shuffling going on.

First Period: Simon Despres, who by all accounts had an awful game, had his pocket picked on the Devils blueline by Mattias Tedenby and the Devils were on the board first. Then Brian Gibbons fed Tom Kuhnhackl from below the goal line for the rookie’s first AHL goal. They reversed places later and Kuhnhackl fed Gibbons to make it 2-1. Then, on an Albany power play, Bobby Butler scores from the slot to make it 2-2. A huge goal for the Devils at the time, because their power play is putrid, I mean there is no other way nicely to put it. It is dead last. At the buzzer, Trevor Smith scores to make it 3-2.

Phew. What a period for both teams who played two games before and had to travel to get here.

Second Period: Nice flow between the two teams. Lots of good back and forth. Through a period of penalties, both teams come out unscathed. Then, locked out NHL-er Adam Henrique scores a nifty goal over the glove of Thiessen to even things at three a side.

Third Period: I’ll tell you. The Penguins just let the Devils run around on them. I haven’t seen much of the Devils this season, so really am not intelligent enough to speak on the last place showing they have put up so far, but it almost looked as if the Penguins were playing down to them. Penguins get a power play, Jacob Josefson scores a shorthanded goal on a rush after picking the pocket of Simon Despres. Later, Kuhnhackl set up by Jasyon Megna in the slot and he rifles it past Kinkaid to bring it even at four again. Both teams had chances late but it was on to….

Overtime: Nothing to see here. On to….

Shootout: Four rounds, no one scores. Jasyon Megna with a pretty dangle move and he scored the only goal in the shootout in Round 5.

Three Stars: 3) Bobby Butler (goal, assist, +1) 2) Brian Gibbons (goal, two assists, +2) and 1) Tom Kuhnhackl (two goals, assist +3)

Penguins are off again until Friday when they face the high flying Syracuse Crunch team.

Around the Division: The aforementioned Syracuse team absolutely bombed the Worcester Sharks 6-1. How deep are the Crunch? Eleven players registered a point in the win for the Crunch. The Bears are back in the win column beating the Toronto Marlies 4-2 in Chocolatetown. Hershey’s Jon DiSalvatore registered his 500th AHL point in the game.

Standings: Syracuse 26 — Binghamton 22 — Penguins 22 — Hershey 15 — Norfolk 14

Conference: 1) SYR (26) 2) SPR (24) 3) MCH (21) 4) BNG (22) 5) WBS (22) 6) BRI (20) 7)WOR (20) 8) CT (19)

Wheeling Update: The Nailers were off.

SendtoNews Highlights: Since it’s a neutral site, no idea if highlights will go up or not. Here is the website. If they go up later I will throw a link in.

I have to come up with some blog content between now and Friday. Don’t want this postgamer to sit stale all week up on the blog. Check back.

Postgamer

GAMEDAY: @ Albany 11/25

Comments Off on GAMEDAY: @ Albany 11/25 Posted by on November 25, 2012

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Away Game: 9

AHL Game: 253

Who: Albany Devils

Where: Boardwalk Hall (Atlantic City, NJ)

When: 4:00 p.m. EST

Media Kit

Last Game: Last night at home vs. the Toronto Marlies, the Pens won a gritty game 2-1. Riley Holzapfel netted the late game winner. For Albany, they hosted the Syracuse Crunch last night and lost 4-1. Joe Whitney scored the only goal for the Devils.

Record: For WBS: 10-7 (20 pts., 3rd place East Division) For ALB: 4-7-0-4 (12 pts., 5th place Northeast Division)

Why you should care: Penguins travel to Atlantic City to square off against the Albany Devils on Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. The Albany Devils await, a much improved team looking to get out of the Northeast Division basement.

Referee(s): Chris Cozzan / Terry Koharski

Linesmen: Matt McNulty / Luke Murray

Twitter: @wbspenguins / @AlbanyDevils

Facebook: /WilkesBarreScrantonPenguins // /albanydevils

Beat Writers: @CVBombulie / @Pete_Dougherty and @Bill_Cain_ for Albany

Broadcasters: For WBS: Tom Grace @TGracePens and Mike O’Brien @MikeOBrienWBS / For ALB: Josh Heller @Josh_Heller

Fan Bloggers: @nafsnep / @trace_1114

Radio: For WBS: 102.3 The Mountain / For Albany: 104.5 The Team

Television: AHL Live

Other Game to Watch: Syracuse is in Worcester this afternoon. The Sharks are a better team which will be looking to matchup well against the very good Syracuse Crunch team.

Next Five Games: SYR 11/30, STJ 12/1, HER 12/7, POR 12/8, @ ALB 12/12

Gameday

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