Chirps from Center Ice

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So the Lehigh Valley Phantoms beat the Hershey Bears Friday night. Not many teams beat the Hershey Bears.

The Phantoms are pushing for a playoff spot, sitting seventh in the division and right behind sixth place Springfield.

But the Penguins are a resilient bunch, who fought back from three goals down Friday in Hartford to lose in overtime.

They know that when you play a non-playoff team like the Phantoms, there is an opportunity for two points.

Penguins win 3-1 in what was a solid game all around.

Well, expect for special teams. But I don’t want to spoil it for you. Please read on…

Here’s how they lined up…

Lineup Notes: I learned on the broadcast that Jack St. Ivany was injured on Wednesday and they haven’t yet thrown a timetable on his injury. This presents a problem for them as they just have Owen Headrick as the only non-veteran defenseman not named Xavier Ouellet or Taylor Fedun, who were both in the lineup Saturday for the Penguins.

John Ludvig was out, will probably get recalled from his conditioning stint. Matt Filipe was in for Jesse Puljujarvi. This is where you run into a potential problem.

Puljujarvi is a veteran, but since St. Ivany is hurt that necessitates either Ouellet or Fedun drawing in, using up a veteran spot. I’m hoping it isn’t a bad injury because this is a bad spot to be in.

First Period: Well, that bad spot didn’t look like it at all in the first period. A dominating period by the visitors who dominated in shots (10-2) and in the face-off dot (12-3) and went up 1-0 on a Ty Smith shot that squeaked through Parker Gahagen.

Second Period: Talked Friday about how the Penguins power play was 3/39 in January. So a full 2:00 two man advantage should heal this ail, correct?

Wrong.

They ran into Parker Gahagen and he shut down the entire two minute two man advantage. It was frustrating to watch, honestly.

Wilkes-Barre still led heading into the…

Third Period: So it’s funny because the Penguins played a disciplined game, couldn’t score on a two man advantage and ten seconds into a Phantoms power play, their first of the night, Joona Koppanen scores shorthanded to make it 2-0.

But the Penguins would lose Marc Johnstone when he was tripped / checked into the boards by Emil Andrea late and was writhing in pain. Later Sam Poulin looked like he took an elbow to the face by Ronnie Attard.

Jon-Randall Avon busted up the Blomqvisyt shutout bid with 1:54 left to play in regulation. No GIF of this.

But then :30 later with Gahagen pulled, Jonathan Gruden would strip Avon and score into the empty net to ice the game away for the Penguins.

Three Stars: 3) Ty Smith (goal) 2) Joel Blomqvist (20 saves) 1) Joona Koppanen (goal, assist)

The Good: Nice to see that they get to the all star break third in the division all things considered. Could be slightly better, sure, but could be a lot worse.

The Bad: The power play is a mess, but they are better (if that makes sense) shorthanded.

Turning Point: The Koppanen shorthanded bid gets it here. You could feel the Phantoms making a push, then they go on a power play in the third down one but Koppanen lets all the air out of the balloon.

Around the Division: Providence beats Charlotte 4-2 … Springfield beats Hartford 6-3 … Hershey shuts out Bridgeport 4-0.

Standings: Hershey 74 – Providence 61 – Penguins 54 – Hartford 51 – Springfield 47 – Charlotte 46 – Lehigh Valley 43 – Bridgeport 31

Wheeling Update: Nailers win 4-3 over the Orlando Solar Bears. Justin Addamo with the OT game winning goal and a goal in regulation.

Video Highlights: I will check for them and edit where I can, but bookmark the AHL Video Center.

They are off till next Friday and I am assume will enjoy the week. You do the same. We will be back here Friday for a Gameday setup against these same Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Yep, I am going old school next Friday as next Friday is the only game they are playing next weekend.

Let’s Go Pens!

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The Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins took a 4-1 deficit and manufactured a point out of a Hartford Wolf Pack team that has five games in hand on them. Hartford wins 5-4 in overtime.

It’s technically a three game losing streak, their longest of the season, but they gritted a point out of a game where at time it looked like hope was lost.

I think it shows the tenacity of the team to pick themselves up and get themselves something positive.

I don’t want to call Saturday in Allentown must win, but you want to head into the All-Star Break with a win.

Here’s how they lined up… Hartford didn’t post lines.

Lineup Notes: Xavier Ouellet for Jack St. Ivany was the only line up change.

First Period: It didn’t take them long to score the last time these two teams met, and it didn’t take them long to score on Friday.

That’s Joona Koppanen scooping up a blocked Xavier Ouellet shot and scoring it to give Wilkes-Barre an early 1-0 lead.

But then bodies started to pile up in front of Magnus Hellberg and Adam Sykora tipped in a shot past Hellberg to tie the score.

Vinnie Hinostrioza split two defensemen and had a good look, Valtteri Puustinen hit a post. The Penguins were the better team I thought.

Second Period: Penguins take back to back icings and Alex Belzile scores on a play similar to Joona Koppanen from the first period; initial shot blocked to Belzile who scores to give the Wolf Pack a 2-1 lead.

Then Hartford scores again when Matthew Robertson finished a four on two with guys in black standing around.

And then Brennan Othmann scored :07 into a Hartford power play to make it 4-1.

I know that half the team is standing around and sleepwalking through the game, but it’s two shots over the glove now. The Penguins are not getting reliable goaltending from their backup of late.

Peter Abbandonato scored to cut the lead back to two and there was a little bit of a push.

Third Period: That Abbandonato goal was foreshadowing, because they got two gritty goals and outshot the home team 18-7.

Vinnie Hinostroza on a deflection of a Jack Rathbone shot. One thing I will say about Rathbone was that it looked like he was shot out of a cannon all game and was everywhere.

Penguins didn’t have a power play goal in this game but I liked the setups on the two that they had in the game, here in the third period. On one of them Domingue robbed Radim Zohorna point blank.

With Hellberg pulled, the Penguins did find an equalizer when Vinnie Hinostroza scored his second of the game that tied the game at four.

Overtime: 

That’s Brett Berard scoring a goal that wins the game for the home team. He essentially takes on the entire team and wires a shot past Hellberg to win it.

Nothing you could do there. Guy was shot out of a cannon. Great shot. Take the point and move on.

Three Stars: 3) Alex Belzile (goal, assist) 2) Vinnie Hinostroza (two goals) 1) Brett Berard (game winning goal)

The Good: Good point to put in tour pocket and get out of there with.

The Bad: Power play went 3 for 39 in January and was 0 for 2 Friday. They got a goal that got them to overtime, but there’s a 2-1 loss on the horizon where they get two third power plays and don’t score.

Turning Point: The Berard game winner gets it here as any game winning overtime winner would.

Around the Division: Springfield’s woes continue, losing 5-1 to the Bridgeport Islanders….Providence beats Charlotte 4-2….Lehigh Valley beats Hershey 4-1.

Standings: Hershey 72 – Providence 59 – Penguins 52 – Hartford 51 – Charlotte 46 – Springfield 45 – Lehigh Valley 43 – Bridgeport 31

Wheeling Update: Nailers race out to a 4-0 lead and hang on to win 4-3. Taylor Gauthier picks up another win, barely.

Video Highlights: AHL VideoCenter I think is your best bet.

Back at it Saturday in Allentown against the Phantoms.

Let’s Go Pens!

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I am not one of those fans that expect to win every game 10-0 and then when they do, complain that it wasn’t 11-0.

Tonight, however, was a game I was expecting them to win.

The Penguins got a shot of reinforcements from Pittsburgh in the form of Valtteri Puustinen, Ryan Shea, John Ludvig and the returning from injury Jonathan Gruden.

But it was the Toronto Marlies who win 4-1 Wednesday night. The Marlies dominated the game in all facets, and despite the fact they scored two empty net goals late in the third, controlled the game in large enough stretches to come to Wilkes-Barre on a Wednesday night and grit out a win.

I won’t keep you if you have work (like me) or school tomorrow. Heard it may rain tomorrow, you may get a delay. Kids are soft these days.

Here’s how they lined up…

Lineup Notes: As I mentioned off the jump, four reinforcements were in. Yielding were Corey Andonovski and Matt Filipe up front and Xavier Ouellet and Owen Headrick on defense.

First Period: Harbinger of what was to come was the fact that the Penguins went over ten minutes in the period without registering a shot on goal. The Marlies registered the first nine with the assistance of a power play. Wilkes-Barre made a bit of a push but wasn’t able to solve Marlies All-Star goaltender Dennis Hildeby.

Second Period: Needed a dirty goal to get the jump and it was Toronto that struck first when Josiah Slavin cleaned up loose change like a bum on the sidewalk when a shot went off the mask I thought of Blomqvist and swept in by Slavin.

Penguins had :43 of two man advantage and later a 4 on 3 power play they were not able to cash on. A good power play would have got them one here and it was frustrating seeing Puustinen back and not getting anything on a power play.

Third Period: Jonathan Gruden got a goal to go on this play here.

No immediate point from ref Mason Riley, but after a very brief video review it was clear that the puck crossed the line.

John Gruden is the Toronto Marlies head coach and father of the Penguins forward.

Gruden’s pop took a puck off the side of the face back in the first and didn’t bat an eyelash.

Just :18 later, Toronto responds in kind when Nick Abruzzese scored to push the Marlies back out in front again.

I did not like that goal. They were caught with their pants down and caught watching and it cost them.

It was elementary after that. They didn’t really threaten, even with Blomqvist pulled with about three minutes left in regulation and the Marlies scored a pair of empty net goals (Logan Shaw at 17:28 and Zach Solow at 18:08) to rub additional salt in the open wound.

Three Stars: 3) Johnathan Gruden (goal) 2) Dennis Hildeby (31 saves) 1) Nick Abruzzese (goal)

Rejected Pun Headlines: A play on Abruzzese’s name to the tune of zzz’s signifying sleepwalking or Solow signifying the lone goal they scored.

The Good: Nice to see Gruden didn’t really miss a beat for the 10 or so days he was out of work for.

The Bad: Rest assured, these are two points they are going to want come April.

The Bad 2: 0/3 on the power play when you really, really could have used one.

Turning Point: Nearly a minute of two man advantage when they were chasing a goal in the second. They didn’t get it. Toronto overcame and used their All Star goalie to win.

Around the Division: Not all bad, all things considered. Hartford loses 4-2 to Charlotte (good) – Providence was off (bad, Pens burned a game in hand and lost) – Springfield loses 3-1 to Bridgeport (good) – Hershey wins against Lehigh Valley 4-2 (indifferent, the Bears are 50 miles ahead of everyone in the AHL)

Standings: Hershey 72 – Providence 57 – Penguins 51 – Hartford 49 – Charlotte 46 – Springfield 45 – Lehigh Valley 41 – Bridgeport 29

Wheeling Update: Nailers were in Cincinnati and won 6-3. Issac Belliveau had a pair of goals. Justin Addamo had three assists Lukas Svejkovsky had a goal and an assist. Taylor Gauthier picks up another win and had 22 saves. Wheeling is third in the Central with 46 points, ten off first place Toledo, who are always at the top of whatever division you put them in.

Video Highlights: Not up yet. Check AHL’s Video Center if you really want to put yourself through the misery.

Back at it Friday in Hartford. More then.

Let’s Go Pens!

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Sam Poulin’s goal with 5.9 seconds left to play in regulation and the Penguins on a power play with Joel Blomqvist pulled was called back on account of a high stick.

100% the right and correct call. I knew it the second I saw it and half celebrated in disbelief that the officials would allow the goal to stand.

But alas, after a brief conference, the goal was disallowed.

You can’t redirect pucks with your stick if the stick is above the cross bar. Poulin’s stick was way above that.

Penguins lose 3-2.

Felt like a playoff game, same intensity. Same back and forth. I had the feeling that the Penguins were playing with house money a bit based off of their recent run and Hershey was due for a loss. No, Hershey is levels above at this juncture. The Penguins kept it close. But it really is like wrestling a bear. You may tire the bear out, but the bear in the end is going to eat you alive if you make a mistake.

Grotesque comparisons aside, let’s get into this one. Here’s how they lined up…

Lineup Notes: Xavier Ouellet for Taylor Fedun on defense is was the only change.

First Period: Just 1:05 in, Radim Zohorna catches Hershey playing patty cake with the puck and scores to make it 1-0 Penguins.

But then Ethen Frank, who you don’t want to give time and space to, got himself time and space and just watch this…

If Joel Blomqvist wants to succeed at the next level, he has to stop these because every shot is going to look something like this.

Second Period: Pierrick Dube at 6:24 of the period on the power play. Looked methodical.

You gotta move him out of the dot.

But then Vinnie Hinostroza evened it on a power play (second in as many games, woo!)

Third Period; Momma, there goes that man again.

I think I have developed enough of an eye to see it coming at this level and I saw this one coming. Just an absolutely filthy shot by Frank.

Then the Penguins found themselves on a 4:00 power play with 3:01 left. A timeout. Blomqvist pulled.

Sam Poulin scores but with a blatant high stick. Goal was initially awarded by referee Andrew Bell but taken off the board by conference from Chandler Yakimowicz, John Rey (linesmen) and fellow referee Patrick Hanrahan.

The right call. Not reviewable, which I disagree with. If Hanrahan and Bell want to move up to the NHL, where they have reviews on the type of stuff, they should have this at the AHL level also. It a developmental league for officials too.

Three Stars: 3) Vinnie Hinostroza (goal) 2) Mike Sgarbossa (three assists) 1) Ethen Frank (two goals)

The Good: Hung in there and went 15 rounds with the champions. Lost on points.

The Bad: Weren’t able to score late on a power play that would have gotten them at least a point. That thing I have bee saying about them needing an opportune time to score a power play goal?

Turning Point: Then they had a 4:00 power play late and needed to score, it was either a good thing and they get a point or a bad thing and they walk away empty handed. Victory was snatched from the jaws of defeat, as the Poulin goal was too high to count.

Around the Division: Springfield beats Charlotte 6-1…Hartford sweeps Cleveland and wins 3-2….Providence scores three in the third to win in Bridgeport 3-1…Toronto beats Lehigh Valley in a shootout and win 4-3.

Standings: Herhey 68 – Providence 55 – Penguins 51 – Hartford 49 – Springfield 45 – Charlotte 44 – Lehigh Valley 41 – Bridgeport 27

Wheeling Update: The Nailers may never want to leave Reading or may ask to be placed back in the Eastern Conference. They smash the Royals for the second time in as many nights and win 8-2. Lukas Svejkovsky with a pair of goals. Tanner Laderoute with two assists. Dillon Hamalkiuk, who was reassigned today had a pair of goals.

Video Highlights: 

They are off a few days before Toronto stops by for their only visit around these parts this season on Wednesday. Weekend Preview is yours around lunch time then.

Let’s Go Pens!