Penguins fall to 0-3 on the season losing tonight in their home opener 3-2 to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

News of the day is that Zach Sill will be out 5-6 weeks with an upper body injury. Tom Kuhnhackl and Dominik Uher were recalled from Wheeling earlier today.

Brad Thiessen vs. Kevin Poulin

First Period: Penguins came out the first seven minutes very aggressive, outshooting Bridgeport 6-1. It would continue, until Johan Sundstrum would score for the Sound Tigers. Then, to make matters worse, a Bridgeport dump in at the zamboni corner would hit an end board weird and bounce right in front of Thiessen’s crease where Nino Niederreiter was there to slam it home to make it 2-0. Best way to really describe that was the goal that sunk the Hershey Bears in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals last year. Karma. What goes around, comes around.

Second Period: Dylan Reese, making his Penguins debut, fires a shot from the blue line goal-wards. Beau Bennett was there for a rebound, backhanded it and somehow the puck found Riley Holzapfel for his first as a Penguin to put Wilkes-Barre on the board at 2-1. Late, a Sound Tigers steal on a Penguins defensive zone clear would see John Persson tap in the end of a tic tac toe pass to make it 3-1.

At this point, I felt the Penguins played the front end of the first two periods very well and the back ends poorly, which cost them ultimately the game.

Third Period: Penguins power play was executed very well, but not to perfection several times but unable to score on any. Late, a Simon Despres shot from the blue line would be rebounded and back handed home by Eric Tangradi to pull the Pens to within one. Thiessen stones his ex-teammate Colin McDonald late. Sound Tigers get a penalty shot they don’t cash on when the puck was covered in the crease but they weren’t able to score. Penguins would get a late power play but weren’t able to find the equalizer.

Three Stars: 3) Eric Tangradi (goal, seven shots, even) 2) Nino Niederreiter (goal, even) and 1) Johna Soundstrom (goal, assist, +2)

Penguins have defensive zone gaffes which end up costing them goals. Otherwise, a good game. I thought Thiessen played well.

Around the Division: Boy, goals were plentiful in other East Division barns. Start in Binghamton. The B-Sens are up 5-0 on the Syracuse Crunch. Then a goalie fight between Robin Lehner and Riku Helenius. The Crunch score six unanswered to win 6-5 in overtime. In Hershey, the Bears are up 4-1 on the Rochester Americans only to lose 8-7 in a wild game in Hershey. The Norfolk Admirals still haven’t lost since the Ice Age it seems, winners 6-3 at home vs. the Connecticut Whale.

Standings: Norfolk 8 — Syracuse 7 — Binghamton 5 — Hershey 2 — Penguins 0

Wheeling Update: The Nailers were shutout 5-0 by the host Elmira Jackals.

Syracuse is in tomorrow afternoon at 5:05. Penguins still looking for win number one. Gameday here at 1 pm.

Let’s Go Pens!

Had a feeling driving up to Binghamton today that the Penguins were in for a trap game. I was right. They drop the season opener on the road 2-1.

Really not a bad performance by the Penguins as much as running into the very stout Robin Lehner. He is a Calder Cup MVP and a really good goaltender at this level. He is also very streaky. Ask any Binghamton fan. You can say he won the B-Sens the game tonight and not be wrong.

Jeff Zatkoff vs. the aforementioned Robin Lehner.

Philippe Dupuis, Joey Mormina and Warren Peters wore the A’s tonight. Dylan Reese, Jason Megna and Robert Bortuzzo were out all due to injuries. Carl Sneep was a healthy scratch.

First Period: No scoring this period, but the Penguins controlled the pace of play, firing 17 shots at Lehner but he was up to the task and kept the Penguins out of his net. The penalty kill for Wilkes-Barre was really great too.

Second Period: Not to be outdone, Jeff Zatkoff had some really great saves of his own, denying Binghamton on the rush multiple times. Finally, with just under 7:00 to play in the second, Trevor Smith would score the first and only goal of the young Wilkes-Barre campaign after André Benoit fell down making it a three-on-Lehner attempt for the Penguins. Then, you could feel the momentum the Penguins had built to this point slipping away or altogether stopping. Mark Borowiecki and Eric Tangradi fought with Tangradi slipping and no punches of substance thrown.

Third Period: Penguins solid penalty killing would continue, killing a Brian Strait kneeing penalty easily. Then, Jakob Silfverberg would score on a rebound to make it even at 1-1. More physical play with Warren Peters trucked into the boards hard by Fredrik Claesson. Rookie Adam Payerl sticks up for Peters and fights Claesson. Then, a defensive gaffe led to a Hugh Jessiman goal to push Binghamton out ahead 2-1. This would be all that Lehner would need as the B-Sens would be able to counter any attack Wilkes-Barre put on. Any shot, would normally find the glove of Lehner.

Three Stars: 3) Hugh Jessiman (goal, +1) 2) Jakob Silfverberg (goal, +1) and 1) Robin Lehner (35 saves on 36 shots)

Around the Division: Norfolk runs its regular season win streak to 30 games, albeit with a new season and new affiliation, but they nip the Worcester Sharks 4-3 in a shootout. The Hershey Bears opened in Syracuse tonight and lost 4-3.

Standings: Way early for this, but it’s: Norfolk 4 / Syracuse 3 / Binghamton 2 / Penguins 0 / Bears 0

I’ll get into conference standings next week. It’s the first game! Only 75 more of these postgamers to write!

New feature I want to add this season where possible and that’s keeping tabs on the Penguins ECHL affiliate, the Wheeling Nailers. Here it is:

Wheeling Action: The Nailers opened their season on the road in Cincinnati and lost 3-2 in a shootout. Patrick Killeen was in net for the Nailers and stopped 28 of 30 shots faced.

Penguins are off until next Friday in Springfield. If you will excuse me, with having content every day this past week with the AHL Previews (bring the drop down menu above to check out the divisions) I’ll have what I can between now and Friday here on the blog.

Let’s Go Pens!