Chirps from Center Ice

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

GAMEDAY: vs. Bridgeport 12/31

Comments Off on GAMEDAY: vs. Bridgeport 12/31 Posted by on December 31, 2011

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Home Game: 15

AHL Game: 491

Who: Bridgeport Sound Tigers

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 5:05 p.m. EST

Media Kit

Last Game: On Wednesday in Hershey, the Pens won in a shootout 6-5. Geoff Walker had a goal, assist and the game winning shootout goal in the bottom of the ninth round to win it. For Bridgeport, last night in Norfolk the Sound Tigers lost 3-2. Tony Romano and Casey Cizikas scored the goals in the loss.

Record: For WBS: 17-10-1-4 (39 pts., 3rd place East Division) For BRI: 12-16-3-1 (28 pts., 5th place Northeast Division)

Why you should care: First meeting of the season between the old East Division foes. Pens look to close out 2011 on a winning note. The Sound Tigers have lost nine straight road games. Who starts in net? Thiessen or Munroe?

Referee(s): Chris Brown

Linesmen: Jud Ritter / Mike McDevitt

Twitter: @wbspenguins / @TheSoundTigers

Beat Writers: @CVBombulie / @fornabaioctp

Broadcasters: WBS: Tom Grace @TGracePens and Mike O’Brien @MikeOBrienWBS / BRI: Phil Giubileo @philgpbp

Fan Bloggers: @nafsnep

Radio: For WBS: 102.3 The Mountain / For Bridgeport: AHL Live *

Television: AHL Live

Promotion(s): New Year’s Eve Celebration – Reusable Grocery Bag Giveaway (first 5,000 fans)

Other Game to Watch: I should just rename this section “Hershey and Norfolk” because they are always mentioned here. They square off in Hershey tonight at 6 p.m.

Next Five Games: NOR 1/4, RCH 1/6, SYR 1/7, @NOR 1/10, @StJ 1/14

* – Bridgeport really doesn’t have a true “radio” broadcast. The Sound Tigers-centric radio feed is going to be found on AHL Live under the “radio” tab.

Gameday

Picard / Williams Back; Simon Stays?*

Comments Off on Picard / Williams Back; Simon Stays?* Posted by on December 30, 2011

Alex Picard and Jason Williams were reassigned today by Pittsburgh. With Deryk Engelland back from his suspension and Wilkes-Barre in dire need of a defenseman, the Picard reassignment was to be expected.

Bombulie had the Friday practice update. Carl Sneep, Boris Valabik and Joey Mormina will be unavailable for tomorrow’s game against Bridgeport, all due to injury.

Jonathan also mentioned Simon Despres who is still up with Pittsburgh and speculated as to whether or not it is for good. My blog friends at Faceoff Factor had an interesting read which supplements the Bombulie discussion.

My take? I think Simon is an NHL player. Selfishly, I want him back here. But that said, he is an NHL player in my mind.

Here’s a great read from the guys from PA Puck on Wheelchair Hockey. When you get up to walk away from your computer later, count your blessings.

Bridgeport in town tomorrow for a 5:05 start but not before they take on Norfolk again in Hampton Roads this evening. I’ll be keeping an eye on this on AHL Live and will probably have a retweet of a final score later on. Hershey is idle, so any points the Admirals get tonight would put them in sole possession of second place in the Division.

For a non-divisional game, I am actually really looking forward to it. You see, the inspiration for me to get into blogging, Michael Fornabaio, will be there tomorrow. He’s covered the Sound Tigers beat like a snuggie since their inception and even covered the now defunct Beast of New Haven before that. It’s going to be fun getting a chance to meet him finally.

Gameday will be up here Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.

Let’s Go Pens!

* – if you follow me on Twitter, you’ll notice that I have started using the semicolon more often. Admittedly, I’ve never used the semicolon ever in anything. So if you see any questionable use of the semicolon from me, please let me know. Punctuation rocks!

Pittsburgh, The AHL, WBS

Comeback Kids – Pens WIN 6-5 in Shootout

Comments Off on Comeback Kids – Pens WIN 6-5 in Shootout Posted by on December 28, 2011

Jekyll and Hyde.

If the Pens win in regulation tonight that is the headline that is run on the blog. They didn’t, rather having to battle back from a 5-3 deficit in the third period to even the score at 5 and win in a shootout via a Geoff Walker goal in the bottom of the ninth round, 6-5.

Teams were tied at three heading into the third. Bears got two quick ones. 12 minutes left in the third with the visitors staring at a two goal deficit in front of a sellout crowd of 10,801. 25 of 28 teams fold up shop and go home losers. Not Wilkes-Barre. Read on….

Scott Munroe vs. Dany Sabourin – Bears scratched Joel Rechlicz for Andrew Carroll. Pens called up Peter Merth for the injured Boris Valabik.

First Period: Pens came out much better, limiting chances to Hershey across the board. Wilkes-Barre would buzz, but Sabourin made the saves to keep thing scoreless. Shots were 10-6 Pens this period.

Second Period: Much different from the first, there were six goals this period. Sean Collins would board Bryan Lerg, it looked nastier than it was. Colin McDonald came to challenge and Collins would get 4:00 for roughing and an extra 2:00 for the board and McDonald would get 4:00 for roughing. In the ensuing play, Alex Grant would fire a shot from the blueline which Eric Tangradi would tip in for the goal to put the Pens up 1-0.

Taking this to a second paragraph because the Pens looked like they just stopped playing after the Tangradi goal. Graham Mink scored his league leading 10th power play goal of the season with Paul Thompson in the box for a rough. Then, Cody Eakin scored to make it 2-1 on a 4×4. Then, Geoff Walker scores to make it 2-2 after a Bryan Lerg face off win. Then, Ryan Craig takes a defensive zone holding penalty. Zach Sill scores the shorthanded goal to put the Pens ahead 3-2, but before my tweet on the matter is even a minute old, Tomas Kundratek scores on the power play to even things at three.

Wild period of hockey with two heavyweights trading blows. Shots were 12-9  Bears this period.

Third Period: Pens take an unnecessary too many men penalty, Jacob Micflikier takes a slashing call then Brian Strait high sticks Christian Hanson. Chris Bourque scores on the right dot off a feed from Ryan Potulny to make it 4-3. Then, Peter Merth takes a trip and Ryan Potulny scores to make it 5-3 on a 5-on-3 from the same spot Bourque did minutes ago.

Another paragraph split. Pens would kill off the remaining mess. Then Eric Tangradi scores to make it 5-4. Patrick Wellar and Boyd Kane then take penalties to give the Pens 1:41 of 5-on-3 power play time. Pens take a time out. They don’t score. Nick Petersen finally scores with 1:53 left in the third to even things at 5. Hershey would use their time out late but would not score.

Overtime: Pens outshot the Bears 7-0 in this frame ut would need the shootout to decide it.

Shootout: Cody Eakin and Bryan Lerg score in round three. No one else does until Geoff Walker steps up in the bottom of the ninth to walk-off and win it for the Pens.

Final shots on goal were 36-28 Penguins. Nine straight wins at Giant Center for the Pens going back to last year. Much needed win for a number of reasons. First, we can win in the shootout against a sniper unit in Hershey. Second, we can come back against arguably the best team in the league in its own home down multiple goals late. (I’ve gone as far as calling the Bears a Category 5 superteam)

Any one want to make sense of the 6-0 embarrassment yesterday on home ice and the comeback win tonight in Hershey in the comments? Don’t be shy…

Three Stars: 3) Ryan Potulny (goal, two assists, -2) 2) Eric Tangradi (two goals, even) 1) Geoff Walker (goal, assist, +2 and the game winning shootout goal)

Around the Division: Norfolk beat Bridgeport 2-1. They rematch Friday. Syracuse beat Springfield 5-2 and Binghamton thumped Adirondack 5-2.

Standings: Bears 42, Admirals and Pens 39, Crunch 29 and Senators 28.

Conference: 1-HER (42) 2-StJ (41) 3-CT (40) 4-MCH (40) 5-NOR (39) 6-WBS (39) 7-WOR (36) 8-ALB (33)

Pens are off Friday. So are the Bears. I’ll be watching the Admirals / Sound Tigers game carefully Friday and will have a retweet or something on Twitter and may, depending on outcome, have something here Friday night.

Let’s Go Pens!!!

(blogger note: Gold star to you if you read this novel in its entirety. I need an editor, or another hobby…)

(edit: Carl Sneep’s name wasn’t heard after the second. radio never noted his absence. observers in Hershey tweeted me that Sneep was conspicuous by his absence in the third period. we will see…)

Postgamer

GAMEDAY: @ Hershey 12/28

Comments Off on GAMEDAY: @ Hershey 12/28 Posted by on December 28, 2011

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Away Game: 18

AHL Game: 457

Who: Hershey Bears

Where: Giant Center

When: 7:00 p.m. EST

Media Kit

Last Game / Last Meeting: Yesterday, the Pens were embarrassed on home ice and lost 6-0. Cody Eakin scored two goals and Braden Holtby had a 28 save shutout.

Record: For WBS: 16-10-1-4 (37 pts., 3rd place East Division) For HER: 18-8-3-2 (41 pts., 1st place East Division)

Why you should care: Penguins look to repay the favor from last night in the form of a win tonight. They cannot afford to lose anymore points to the Bears. I am stopping short of calling this a “must win” – but it certainly has the structure to be one.

Referee(s): Darcy Burchell

Linesmen: Bob Goodman / Tom George

Twitter: @wbspenguins / @TheHersheyBears

Beat Writers: @CVBombulie / @timleone

Broadcasters: WBS: Tom Grace @TGracePens and Mike O’Brien @MikeOBrienWBS / HER: Scott Stuccio @ScottStuccio

Fan Bloggers: @nafsnep / @SweetestHockey

Radio: For WBS: 102.3 The Mountain / For Hershey: 1460 The Ticket

Television: AHL Live

Other Game to Watch: Bridgeport is in Norfolk for a game vs. the Admirals who are tied with the Penguins in points.

Next Five Games: BRI 12/31, NOR 1/4, RCH 1/6, SYR 1/7, @ NOR 1/10

Gameday

Whitewashed – Pens LOSE 6-0

1 Comment Posted by on December 27, 2011

Actually fun when, before I sit down to do this, I have a number of headlines in my head to run for the post game recap. Here is the alternative post I was going to run:

Eliminate the Igloo – Pens LOSE 6-0.

I thought the better of it as Pittsburgh Civic Center Arena (thank you Chad in comments section below) where the Pittsburgh Penguins used to play, better known as the “Igloo” is being demolished. I thought that had I run that people would see the headline and see me as heartless.

Regardless, the Pens are now 0-for-the season when they skate out of the inflatable igloo at the beginning of games at home. Hockey players are superstitious. Surely, this has been brought to their attention. Loyal blog reader and twitter follower Shannon took it to the Pens Facebook page:

I may or may not have offered Shannon financial compensation for the blog plug, but the kindness is well appreciated.

Anyway. Oh yeah, the reason you are here! The hockey game! The Pens lost this game in the first five minutes of the game and tried to win it in the second period. They stopped trying in the third and thus were embarrassed on home ice.

Brad Thiessen vs. Braden Holtby

First Period: Pens had to kill a early Hershey power play with Boris Valabik in the box for interference just :28 in. The Pens easily killed the power play. Right after, however, a Hershey dump in saw Tomas Kundratek camped out at the front of the net when Scott Ford tried a wraparound. Thiessen made the initial save but Kundratek stuffed it home. Then, Valabik took a slash to the hand or arm and went to the locker room. He’d return briefly for the second but wasn’t seen afterwards. Julien Brouliette scored from the left dot while Thiessen was screened and it was 2-0. Then things settled a bit, but Hershey went back to the power play late when Cody Wild was in the penalty box for a high stick and Patrick McNeill had all day to pick a spot on Thiessen off of a Christian Hanson feed.

In between the Brouillette and McNeiil goals the Pens had two chances to get on the scoresheet with Colin McDonald and Bryan Lerg both denied on mini breakaways.

Second Period: The Pens outshot the Bears this period 9-3. They would have outshot them more if about seven of the attempts at goal were actually on goal, but I digress. I’m going to let my tweets summarize the events in the order of which they came:

Sometimes you need luck to win hockey games. Tonight, Lady Luck was wearing Chocolate and White.

Third Period: Pens lost all chances to get back in when Jacob Micflikier scored to make it 4-0 on the power play. Cody Eakin scored two goals after that for good measure and the Bears skated away the victors 6-0. The teams rematch tomorrow.

Recaps from WBS Official here and the Hershey fan blog Sweetest Hockey on Earth here.

Three Stars: 3) Cody Eakin (2 goals, +4) 2) Julien Brouillette (goal, assist, +2) and 1) Braden Holtby (28 save shutout)

Around the Division: Norfolk, Binghamton and Syracuse all watched us tonight as they were not in action.

Standings: Bears open a four point lead over the Penguins and Norfolk. With the next meeting between the Bears and Penguins not until February after tomorrow, things could get out of reach soon. 1) HER 41 2) NOR 37 3) WBS 37 4) SYR 27 5) BNG 26

Conference: 1-HER (41) 2-StJ (40) 2-CT (40) 3-MCH (40) 4-StJ (39) 5-NOR (37) 6-WBS (37) 7-WOR (34) 8-ALB (33)

Penguins and Bears rematch tomorrow at 7 p.m. from Hershey. Gameday up here on the blog at 3 p.m.

Let’s Go Pens!

Postgamer

GAMEDAY: vs. Hershey 12/27

Comments Off on GAMEDAY: vs. Hershey 12/27 Posted by on December 27, 2011

vs. 

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Home Game: 14

AHL Game: 454

Who: Hershey Bears

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

When: 7:05 p.m. EST

Media Kit

Last Game: Last Tuesday at home the Pens lost to the Albany Devils 2-1. Ben Street had the lone goal. For Hershey, last Wednesday at home vs. Syracuse, the Bears won 5-2. Julien Brouillette and Patrick McNeill had a goal and an assist each and Dany Sabourin made 38 saves.

Last Meeting: December 10 in Hershey the Pens won 4-2. Bryan Lerg and Eric Tangradi had a goal and an assist each in the win and Scott Munroe made 33 saves.

Record: For WBS: 16-9-1-4 (37 pts., 3rd place East Division) For HER: 17-8-3-2 (39 pts., 1st place East Division)

Why you should care: First game back for both teams from the extended Christmas holiday. The Pens need this one to even up the points and get back even with the Bears.

Referee(s): Darcy Burchell / David Banfield

Linesmen: Matt McNulty / Scott Adams

Twitter: @wbspenguins / @TheHersheyBears

Beat Writers: @CVBombulie / @timleone

Broadcasters: WBS: Tom Grace @TGracePens and Mike O’Brien @MikeOBrienWBS / HER: Scott Stuccio @ScottStuccio

Fan Bloggers: @nafsnep / @SweetestHockey

Radio: For WBS: 102.3 The Mountain / For Hershey: 1460 The Ticket

Television: AHL Live

Promotion(s): None

Other Game to Watch: Albany visits Connecticut in a battle of the Atlantic Division leaders.

Next Five Games: @ HER 12/28, BRI 12/31, NOR 1/4, RCH 1/6, SYR 1/7

Gameday

These Three Things…

Comments Off on These Three Things… Posted by on December 22, 2011

Three-pack of information on a Thursday:

–> Deryk Engelland was suspended three games. Here’s the video explaining the reasoning.

–> So a recall from Wilkes-Barre will be made. Who? Looks like it may be Brian Strait:

https://twitter.com/EricP55/status/149968368978501633

–> Hershey beat Syracuse last night 5-3. The Bears hit the Christmas break atop the East Division standings with 39 points and sit second in the conference overall.

I’m really dragging out the blog updates. I may or may not have anything else AHL wise until after Christmas. Who knows. Keep checking back.

Let’s Go Pens!

Pittsburgh, The AHL, WBS

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