My goodness this team is deep. When you have Rookie Defensive Defenseman Carl Sneep getting two goals and chasing starting goaltender Mike McKenna on a night where the Pens would win 4-1 it just speaks volumes to the depth that this Wilkes-Barre team has.

John Curry vs. Mike McKenna. Jesse Boulerice was back in the lineup after his 10 games suspension. The Pens sent Ryan Schnell to the Wheelhouse and scratched Bryan Lerg while Keven Veilleux centered the fourth line. Joey Mormina also was scratched.

First period: Devils had all the chances early in the period. Curry really had a great night in goal. About half way Brett Sterling boarded Brad Mills and picked up a five minute major for boarding. Mills would go to the locker room but would return. The Devils couldn’t do anything with it as the Pens only allowed two shots on goal for the entire five minute major. Late, the Pens were aggressive on the forecheck and then Carl Sneep uncorked a shot from the top of the right circle which found its way past McKenna to put the Pens up 1-0. Then with under a minute to play in the first Dustin Jeffrey would draw two defenders and feed a pass to Eric Tangradi right on Mike McKenna’s doorstep to put the Pens up 2-0 going into the first intermission.

I thought that the Devils won the first half and the Pens the seocnd half (clearly) that period.

Second period: At 2:02 of the second, Carl Sneep throws a routine wrist shot from a rookie defensive defenseman at McKenna which found it’s way in for a 3-0 lead. That was it for McKenna as Head Coach Rick Kowalsky went with Dave Caruso in goal. Caruso really settled things down I thought after that as about two minutes later Dan Kelly puts the Devils on the board. Then very late in the second Mattias Tedenby was just putting on a stickhandling and dangling clinic as the Devils sustained pressure in their zone for a bit. Curry made some neat pad saves and kept the score at 3-1.

Third period: Again, John Curry with some huge 10-bell saves in the third. Albany had established themselves in their offensive zone for at least a good three minutes and Curry kept them off the scoreboard. Late in the game, Olivier would sit for a tripping call and Nick Johnson would bury the rebound left by Caruso for the power play goal. Really that was it. Albany sent a lot of guys down for conditioning and the like but it was clear that they just could not run with Wilkes-Barre this evening. John Curry wins his 98th game as a member of WBS.

Three stars were Dan Kelly, Carl Sneep and Eric Tangradi.

Around the Division: Bingo lost to Hershey 3-2. Don’t look now but the Bears have won five in a row. If you ask me, no way that Binghamton loses two in a row this weekend. I am not saying expect the Pens to lose tomorrow, all I am saying is that tomorrow night’s game with the Senators just got that much more interesting in my opinion. Charlotte beat Adirondack 2-1. Springfield beat Norfolk in a shootout 3-2. Tough loss for the Admirals on a night where WBS, Hershey and Charlotte all win. Toronto beat Syracuse 5-2.

Miscellany: This gem from Bears beat writer frightens me a little bit. The Milwaukee Admirals pumped the Western Conference leading Peoria Rivermen 8-1 tonight.

Standings: WBS has 72 points in first. Hershey has sole possession of second now with 59 points. Norfolk has third with 58 points. Charlotte is a point behind with 57 points. Binghamton almost has to win to stay relavant tomorrow in fifth with 51 points. Right now they would cross over into the Atlantic Division if the playoff started tomorrow. Albany, Syracuse and Adirondack sit six, seven, eight with 39, 38 and 33 points respectively.

Tomorrow: I am traveling to Binghamton tomorrow for the game. While I am on my way to Binghamton, Charlotte and Hershey will play in Titletown at 2 p.m. Springfield and Norfolk will have a rematch.

Before I leave Binghamton tomorrow I would ideally like to have the postgamer up and posted. I am not taking my computer or my iPad with me to Bingo, rather will be taking “notes” for each period and throwing it all together at the conclusion of the game. Links to other action may not be immediately available, but if you have clicked on them before in the past, I trust you know where to find them.

Let’s Go Pens!

Pens needed to respond to the 9-5 whooping Charlotte put on them Sunday and they did in grand fashion tonight winning 6-4. They nearly let the game slip away in the second period though. More on that in a minute.

John Curry vs. Justin Pogge. Dustin Jeffrey was back from Pittsburgh, so Carl Sneep was the scratch along with Ryan Schnell. Jesse Boulerice served his last game on suspension and will be available Friday.

First Period: Pens came out flying. Maybe too much, as Brett Sterling was in the box serving a roughing call none other than Dustin Jeffrey scored shorthanded to make it 1-0. Then right after that, Ryan Craig scored and it was 2-0. Then, the Pens would find themselves shorthanded again having to kill off 1:04 of a 5 on 3 penalty. Andrew Hutchinson would interfere with a Checker then Brain Strait would get called on a bush league cross check. Brett Carson needed little time from the point to make it 2-1. The Pens responded right back, however and Joey Mormina would fire a shot from the point that Dustin Jeffrey would deflect while getting cross checked in the back. Soon thereafter, Tim Wallace would chase Justin Pogge with a garbage rebound.

Eric Tangradi was apparently slashed later in the period behind the Charlotte net and referee David Banfield didn’t see it. Eric said something to Banfield that he didn’t like and gave Tangradi an unsportsmanlike penalty. Well, Oskar Osala made the Pens pay to make it 4-2 after one period.

Second Period: John Hynes apparently had enough of Eric Tangradi’s antics and benched him the whole second period. Meanwhile, Riley Nash and Jerome Samson scored for Charlotte to tie the game at 4.

Thoughts this period: The power play is seriously a huge concern going forward for this team. Right after the Samson goal, Brad Herauf of the Checkers said something to the Pens bench Banfield didn’t like and sat him in the box for unsportsmanlike conduct. Pens couldn’t do anything with it. That single period alone was the worst period we have had all season being well rested and healthy.

Third Period: Old Penguin teams play not to lose and are defeated something like 5-4 or 6-4. Not this team. Jon Matsumoto would sit for slashing and none other than the Captain, Ryan Craig would score to make it 5-4. Then after a face off win late Tim Wallace would score again to make it 6-4 and put the game finally out of reach.

Three Stars: Tim Wallace, Dustin Jeffrey, Ryan Craig.

Thoughts: I said when it was 4-1 that the game was far, far from over. Turns out I was right. Three hat trick watches tonight with Craig, Jeffrey and Wallace all with two goals apiece. The Pens designated me the “Red Robin Season Ticket Holder of the Game.” I got a hat and a gift certificate to Red Robin. Thanks Pens!

Around the Division: Norfolk lost to Manchester 4-2. Adirondack beat Binghamton 4-3. Houston beat Syracuse in overtime 4-3. Hershey’s game with Springfield was postponed until tomorrow because of snow.

Standings: Huge opportunity for Norfolk to step up and get close but they cannot and are now behind Wilkes-Barre by 13 points. 70-57. Hershey is third but can, with a win tomorrow, draw to a tie with Norfolk. They have 55 points. Charlotte has 55 points. Binghamton squanders a chance to get closer to the Bears and are still in fifth with 51 points. Albany is a distant sixth with 39 points. Syracuse has 38 points in seventh. Adirondack has 33 points in last.

Tomorrow and Friday: Hershey plays Springfield in the make-up game. Then they travel to Binghamton to play the Senators on Friday. Charlotte goes to Adirondack. Norfolk hosts Springfield.

Let’s Go Pens!