Pens win tonight 2-1 to put Norfolk on the brink of elimination for tomorrow night’s Game 6 in Wilkes-Barre, the road teams winning all of the games and the team that scores first 5-0 in the series.

This nugget from head of Media Relations for the Norfolk Admirals is disconcerting a bit from a Wilkes-Barre perspective. But only by a little, as the League is 75 years old and it’s only been done once.

Brad Thiessen vs. Dustin Tokarski – Angelidis, Ritola and Jones back in for Norfolk and Marshall in for WBS with Bryan Lerg the scratch.

First Period: Nick Petersen went from zero to hero in that he took a hooking call to put the Admirals on the power play then gets spring from the box and nearly scores on a breakaway but then scores on a 5×3 via  a cross crease pass from Brett Sterling to put the Pens up 1-0. The Pens just downright stifled the Admirals as the shots were 7-1 halfway thru the first period. Then, Joey Mormina would plow Marc-Antoine Pouliot and Pouliot would take offense and be sent to the box. In the power play that would ensue for the Pens, David Marshall would score again on a nifty wraparound to make it 2-0. It was a Brett Sterling point shot blast that got deflected off of the boards behind Tokarski which Petersen just wrapped around the cage and in. Dustin got caught looking on that one.

Second Period: Defensive zone clears would plague WBS all period and all game really but any time Norfolk would call, Thiessen woould simply disallow any attempt at a goal. Lots of intense back and forth hockey late with both teams getting chances aftter chances but both Tokarski / Thiessen held their ground to keep the period scoreless. Ryan Craig won big faceoffs late for WBS as the period would end.

Third Period: Brad Thiessen would come up with an enormous save about haflway through the period. But, it would not matter as the Admirals would finally crack Brad Thiessen while David Marshall would be in the box on a holing penalty via Mark Barberio. Thiessen would end up coming up huge the rest of the period with some key saves late. Norfolk would pressure but with under two minutes left the Pens would trap the puck in behind Tokarski so he could not be pulled. With under a minute to go he finally would bolt to the net. Norfolk would call a timeout late but to no avail as the Pens would take the game 2-1 and a 3-2 series lead coming back to Wilkes-Barre for Game 6.

Three Stars: Brett Sterling (2 assists, even) Mark Barberio (goal, even) and Nick Petersen (two goals including game winner, even)

Only concern is that the road team has won all five games. Game 6 is tomorrow and Game 7, if necessary, is Monday in Wilkes-Barre.

Elsewhere with the East Division teams, Charlotte scores FIVE unanswered goals to put the Hershey Bears on the brink of elimination winning 5-3. Game 6 is Easter Sunday. Binghamton lives to play another day, forcing Game 7 tomorrow in Manchester after winning 2-1 in double overtime tonight in Massachusetts.

Tomorrow, the Pens can advance to the East Division Finals. Puck drop is at 7:05 from Mohegan Sun Arena.

Let’s Go Pens!

Pens win tonight 4-2 to even the series, reclaim home ice and force a Game 6 in Wilkes-Barre Saturday night. But before that a crucial Game 5 will be had on Friday night from Scope. Someone is returning back to Wilkes-Barre on the brink of elimination.

Brad Thiessen vs. Dustin Tokarski

Lineup Changes: Joe Vitale returned from Wilkes-Barre after the birth of his daughter. David Marshall was scratched. For Norfolk, they rolled NINE defensemen tonight as Mattias Ritola, Blair Jones (recall to Tampa Bay) and Paul Szczechura and Chris Durno were injury scratches. Mike Angelidis took warmups but was a scratch.

First Period: Jesse Boulerice boarded Vladimir Mihalik which led to Joe Vitale getting 2 minutes for boarding and 2 for roughing and Boulerice 5 for fighting. In the scrum, Jesse Boulerice and Radko Gudas fought so Gudas got 5 for fighting. This was all at :18 in. Mihalik went to the dressing room for something but did ultimately return. Pens would kill it then Corey Potter would score on an NHL-caliber snipe to put the Pens up 1-0. Then, Potter would get whistled for holding, would lip off to the refs and get an unsportsmanlike penalty and the Pens would have to kill off a 4:00 penalty. They would succeed. Huge kill. Later, an inability to clear the puck in the defensive zone would lead to a Johan Harju goal which tied the game.

Second Period: After the Pens failed to score on a carryover power play from the first period (a Mathieu Roy board) Brian Strait would score to make it 2-1 Pens as the puck would deflect off of a Norfolk skate. This was after Norfolk would carry the mail pretty much since they scored in the first. Big goal and potentially a back-breaking goal for Norfolk. Later, Norfolk would score on a lucky bounce which would be like, their 100th of the game so far via Marc-Andre Pouliot. Then, the Pens would get a power play when Ben Street was high sticked by Radko Gudas. Ryan Craig would score the power play goal and the Pens would take a 3-2 lead into the locker room.

Third Period: Pens would protect the lead. Some stressful moments would ensue as the Pens would endure another failed clear as Zach Sill would be in the box for a delay of game call. Pens would kill it. Sill would actually leave the game with trainer patrick Steidle with a probable cut as radio described that he left quick. May have been a cut. Then, the AHL Live feed would cut out on me and during the fracas to get a radio feed, Joe Vitale would score a goal to put the Pens up 4-2. That would be all the Pens would need as the game would end.

Series is now tied 2-2 heading into an off day Thursday and a pivotal Game 5 Friday night from Scope. Someone is returning back to Wilkes-Barre Saturday night on the brink.

I gotta say something. I never panicked when the Pens were down 0-2. Meanwhile lots of fans were saying to me “see you next year” – I told everyone I could talk to that I would see them Saturday. Please believe people. Please believe.

Three Stars: Corey Potter (goal, assist, +1) Marc-Antoine Pouliot (goal, assist, +1) and Ryan Craig (game winning goal, +1)

Game 5 is Friday like we said. Check me out on Twitter for the latest regarding moves made on the Norfolk side with guys returning to the lineup from injury or recall for Norfolk.

East Division happenings: Charlotte evened up their series with Hershey via a 3-2 win. Binghamton survives in overtime winning 5-4 via a Kaspars Daugavins snipe to keep the B-Sens alive in their series with Manchester as that series shifts back to New Hampshire. Everyone listed here in this paragraph, Wilkes-Barre included, plays again Friday night.

Day off tomorrow. It’s now a best of three series. Let’s Go Penguins!!!

Pens win tonight in Norfolk 2-1 to make the series 2-1. Game 4 tomorrow in Norfolk, VA.

Brad Thiessen vs. Dustin Tokarski

Lineup changes: John Curry backed up Thiessen. Joe Vitale and his wife welcomed their first child today. Tim Wallace was back in. For Norfolk, Blair Jones and Mattias Ritola were called up in the wake of some injuries and suspensions in Tampa Bay.

First Period: Pens would get two power play opportunities early via Johan Harju’s slashing. Pens would not be able to convert on the power play. Pens would have a ton of offensive zone time but weren’t able to crack Tokarski. Later, in the same shift, the Admirlas would hit the post which led to a Brett Sterling breakaway in which he would hit the post. Then, after an icing call and whistle, Brian Strait would throw Paul Szczechura into the boards and Szczechura would twist what looked like a leg and would need to be helped off. Brian would sit for roughing. Then, as a Norfolk power play was on, Mark Barberio would get whistled for interference on Ryan Craig and the teams would skate four on four. During this a Norfolk turnover would see Keven Veilleux score to give the Pens their first lead of the series at 1-0.

Second Period: Paul Szczechura did not come out and neither did the Captain, Chris Durno. I did not see the hit on Durno. Neither would return the rest of the game. Early, the Pens would get all sorts of chances on Tokarski but kept missing. Street missed, Potter missed, Craig missed, Veilleux missed once then on a rebound. James Wright would hook Tim Wallace and the Pens power play looked bad, bad, bad. Pens would not score. Later, Jesse Boulerice would take an absolute bonehead rough call and the Admirals would score on the power play to even the score at 1. Stefano Giliati scored the goal.

Third Period: Turnovers all across the board for Wilkes-Barre as Thiessen would deny all comers. Later there would be a scary incident as Chris Collins would get elbowed by Mathieu Roy with no call. Collins headed to the dressing room but did return. Then, Steve Wagner was high sticked by Pierre-Cedric Labrie and would bleed. This would lead to a 4:00 double minor for high sticking on Labrie. The Pens did not score on the front end of it but Head Coach John Hynes would call his time out with 2:05 left in the double minor and the Pens would finally breakthrough and score on the power play via Bryan Lerg. Huge goal. I called it on the Twitter side the turning point of the series. Meanwhile later the Pens would come in on a three on one and the puck would jump on Tim Wallace and the Pens would not score. The Pens would preserve the lead and hod on to win 2-1 after some tense moments leading up to the final whistle.

Three Stars: Dustin Tokarski (23 saves on 25 shots) Stefano Giliati (goal, even) and Bryan Lerg (game winning goal, even)

Quick turnaround as Game 4 is tomorrow from Scope. Expect Joe Vitale back and a guy like David Marshall to be scratched. With all the injuries to Norfolk, with Tampa Bay playing Pittsburgh in a Game 4 in Tampa Bay tomorrow don’t expect Blair Jones or Mattias Ritola back and the health of Chris Durno and Paul Szczechura is still in doubt. Despite all this, the Admirals flat out hung with the Penguins tonight. Tomorrow is an important game for both sides.

Elsewhere regarding the East Division teams: Hershey beat Charlotte 3-2 in Charlotte to recapture home ice in the series and take a 2-1 series lead. Game 4 in that series comes tomorrow. Binghamton lost to Manchester 6-3 despite a hat trick from Ryan Potulny. The B-Sens are on the brink of elimination trailing the series 3-1. The Monarchs can wrap up the series tomorrow in Binghamton.

Despite the win for Wilkes-Barre tonight, it is NOT a new series…yet. Lots to be decided tomorrow in Game 4.

Let’s Go Pens!