Chirps from Center Ice

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

AHL Power Rankings – Week 28

Comments Off on AHL Power Rankings – Week 28 Posted by on April 21, 2025

It’s the final Chirps from Center Ice AHL Power Rankings of the season. How I generally run these as in the past is all 23 teams that made the playoffs are the top 23, with the division leaders 1-4.

With playoffs dead ahead, let’s wrap up the regular season and look towards a long Calder Cup Playoff slog.

1. Laval Rocket

Last Week: 3rd (up 1)
Playoffs? Yes, a bye.

League’s best regular season team gets the top spot. How does that fare in the Calder Cup Playoffs? Spoiler for tomorrow’s full preview, I have the Rocket losing in seven in the Conference Finals.

2. Colorado Eagles

Last Week: 2nd (no change)
Playoffs? Yes, a bye.

Depending who you ask, possibly Colorado is the league’s best team. I think they are primed to go deep, but have to navigate a bees nest in the Pacific Division.

3. Milwaukee Admirals

Last Week: 8th (up 5)
Playoffs? Yes, a bye.

Central Division Champions may likely go all the way back to the Conference Finals. I think they have a tougher slog than some of the other teams. This team is dangerous, and won a top heavy Division.

4. Hershey Bears

Last Week: 4th (no change)
Playoffs? Yes, a bye.

Hershey is either going back to back to back or flaming out in the division. I think there’s no in between. I am leaning towards the latter, just because it’s so hard to win one, let alone two in a row. Three in a row? I just don’t think so.

5. Abbotsford Canucks

Last Week: 1st (down 4)
Playoffs? Yes, vs. Tucson in the First Round.

I think it’s a crime that Abbotsford is this far down the list because, another spoiler, I have the Canucks in the Western Conference Finals in tomorrows full preview.

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Power Rankings

This Kid is a Goat — Pens WIN 3-0

Comments Off on This Kid is a Goat — Pens WIN 3-0 Posted by on April 19, 2025

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To steal a wrestling term, Taylor Gauthier maximized his minutes Saturday.

A 32 save shutout for Gather making his Penguins season debut in the final game of the regular season and the Penguins win a tight contest 3-0 over the visiting Cleveland Monsters.

A nice way to roll into Wednesday’s Game 1 of the First Round of the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Or is it? The Penguins shutout their opponent in the 72nd game of the season last year, and were swept.

I get the sense this team is built different, however.

Here’s how they lined up

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Lineup Notes: Jack Beck, Matty De St. Phalle, Boris Katchouck and Pietila the forward were out for Valtteri Puustinen, Vasily Ponomarev, Joona Koppanen and Sam Poulin up front. Pietila the defenseman was in for Sebastian Aho.

First Period: No scoring. I don’t want to call it a feeling out process, but it felt like it. Penguins made short work of the only power play in the period, awarded to Cleveland.

Second Period: Dan Renouf slams home a ridiculous pass from Tristan Broz and the Penguins were up 1-0.

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Only Renouf’s second goal of the season. He will replace Boko Imama on scoring on your poverty franchise.

Third Period: A pair of goals just :19 apart.

It’s spring time in Wilkes-Barre and Avery Hayes is getting hot again. You love to see it.

This tip of a shot from Tristan Broz gave the Penguins some breathing room.

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Penguins were killing a 4:00 Zach Gallant double minor for high sticking at the time but that goal came four on four. Then Joona Koppanen scored on this ridiculous pass from Vasily Ponomarev and the floodgates opened.

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There was a bit of a fracas at 17:28 when Harrison Brunicke was back body dropped which set off both lines.

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Seven Monsters players and six Penguins players were all given ten minute misconduct penalties.

All that was left was whether or not Gauthier would get a shutout. He was dialed in, with saves like this:

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Three Stars: 3) Vasily Ponomarev (assist) 2) Joona Koppanen (goal) 1) Taylor Gauthier (32 save shutout)

The Good: Good to go out of the regular season with a shutout.

The Bad: You can’t come up with anything after a shutout.

Turning Point: The Hayes tip set the Monsters off, they get scored on again :19 later and then half their team gets ejected.

Around the Division: Providence beats Bridgeport 3-2 and that means the what I said two months ago will come true. Get ready for the first round series with Lehigh Valley, buddy.

Other scores essentially irrelevant, Lehigh Valley beats Hershey 4-3, Charlotte shutout Springfield 5-0.

Final Standings: Hershey 96 – Charlotte 94 – Providence 90 – Penguins 88 – Lehigh Valley 80 – Springfield 74 – Bridgeport 37

Wheeling Update: Nailers await Game 3 with Norfolk down 2-0 in the series.

Here’s your First Round Schedule…

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Blog wise, the final AHL Power Rankings will go up Monday and then the Calder Cup Preview Tuesday. How far do the Penguins go?

I can give you a bit of a preview. I think they get by Lehigh Valley easy. Providence does the same to Springfield. That leaves Pens / Bears, Checkers / Bruins in Round 2. I can see both series going five. Slight edge I think to the Penguins and Bruins, based on run of form.

Then it’s Pens / Bruins for the Division Finals, best of five. Well, you better hope someone else takes out the Bruins because you won’t get me to pick anything other than the Bruins in a sweep or four games.

Video Highlights: 

That’s as we sit here on Saturday. Things can change, and likely will.

Let’s Go Pens!

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Play Your Kids, Part 1 – Pens LOSE 4-2

Comments Off on Play Your Kids, Part 1 – Pens LOSE 4-2 Posted by on April 18, 2025

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With the thoughts of a bye a distant memory, the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins dressed a younger lineup in game 71 of 72 in Hershey and were valiant, but were defeated 4-2 Friday in Hershey.

It is looking more and more like the Penguins and Lehigh Valley Phantoms will be meeting in a rematch of the First Round Series from last season. More on that Saturday night, I would suppose.

On Friday though, here’s how they lined up…

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Lineup Notes: Hart on radio stated that there were guys banged up, but they are all banged up and it’s a likely excuse to get the kids in. Hollowell, Pickering and St. Ivany are “day to day” with upper body injuries and so is Emil Bemstrom. Only Filip Kral, who was reassigned from Pittsburgh earlier in the day, was in Friday.

On the ice and in contrast to Wednesday, Brent Johnson and David Breazeale made their WBS debuts. Johnson up front with Jack Beck were in for Sam Poulin and Emil Bemstrom. Filip Kral for Owen Pickering on defense.

First Period: The Penguins were getting run out of the building and before they even registered a shot on goal they were down 1-0 on an Ivan Miroshnichenko goal on a rebound.

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Hunter Shepard wasn’t seeing a lot of rubber, so you figured that a weird shot could beat him and wouldn’t you know it, it was a Zach Gallant low angle shot that beat Shepard and tied the game at one.

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As heavily tilted the ice was in favor of the Bears (shots 12-3) the game was tied heading into the…

Second Period: Teams traded power plays but were not able to score, but Hendrix Lapierre scored his 11th point in seven contests against the Penguins when he scored after Wilkes-Barre was unable to get a clear.

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Third Period: Both teams traded early power plays but didn’t score, then at even strength it was Bodgan Trineyev getting a goal that made it 3-1 Bears.

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But the Penguins turned it on in the last seven or so minutes to play and Jack Beck, playing his third game in as many nights, scored his first AHL goal to bring the Penguins to within one.

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Penguins fought like hell with Blomqvist pulled to get the next goal, but the Bears finally pushed the puck out of their zone after a few icing calls and Matt Strome put enough english on the puck and it rolled safely into the empty net.

The Hershey Bears are your Atlantic Division Champions.

Three Stars: 3) Ivan Miroshnichenko (goal) 2) Bogdan Trineyev (goal) 1) Hendrix Lapierre (goal, assist)

The Good: Kids played decent, but were outgunned. With 11 players missing, they played the Bears close.

The Bad: Next Wednesday can’t come soon enough.

Turning Point: The Strome goal gets it here, which is weird to say on an empty net goal, but the Penguins were pressing. Who knows.

Around the Division: Lehigh Valley wins 7-3 over Cleveland … Hartford beats Bridgeport 4-1 … Charlotte wins 4-2 over Springfield.

Standings: Hershey 96 – Charlotte 92 – Providence 88 – Penguins 86 – Lehigh Valley 78 – Springfield 74 – Hartford 69 – Bridgeport 37

Wheeling Update: Nailers are off until next Wednesday when they host Norfolk in Game 3.

Video Highlights: I am not going to search for them.

Back at it Saturday for the regular season home finale against Cleveland.

Let’s Go Pens!

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The Calvary is Here

Comments Off on The Calvary is Here Posted by on April 18, 2025

With Pittsburgh’s season over, the following players were assigned to Coal Street around noon Friday…

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Absent this list is Rutger McGroarty, who is injured and you can’t send an injured player up or down. Ideally Coal Street is around long enough to where he can still be assigned, but that would mean getting out of the first round of the playoffs, of which the Penguins have announced their first two home dates.

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Nothing yet on the cadre of players packing bags and heading to Wheeling, who is in an 0-2 hole to the Norfolk Admirals in the North Division Semifinal. Wheeling dropped both games in Norfolk by a score of 4-0. Game 3 goes off Wednesday April 23 in Wheeling.

I’ll drop an edit here once the players headed to Wheeling are announced.

More later after the Pens / Bears game in Hershey.

WBS, Wheeling

Tufte Luck – Pens LOSE 3-2

Comments Off on Tufte Luck – Pens LOSE 3-2 Posted by on April 16, 2025

Nothing fancy as I write this in the fly on a busy (for me) Wednesday. Short week with being off Monday and again this Friday, so it’s a three day work week. Instead of boring you with the details, let’s get into it.

Kiss the bye goodbye. A Riley Tufte shot with 26.3 seconds to play in regulation give the visiting Providence Bruins a 3-2 regulation win Wednesday night in Wilkes-Barre. The Penguins cannot finish any higher than third now and are guaranteed to face either the Lehigh Valley Phantoms or Springfield Thunderbirds in a first round best of three series likely starting next week.

Here’s how they lined up:

Lineup Notes: Matty De St. Phalle for Nolan Renwick up front, Sebastian Aho for Filip Kral (recalled) on defense. Taylor Gauthier backed up Joel Blomqvist.

First Period: Both teams killed the others penalty. I was surprised Providence went DiPietro in net. Atley Calvert slammed home a goal at the expiration of a power play for the Penguins.

Striking first was likely in the game plan.

Second Period: Bruins outshoot the Penguins 16-10 in the period, dominate zone time, puck possession, you name it. The Pens stayed disciplined and didn’t take a penalty but it was a Dans Lačmelis deflection of a Chris Ortiz shot that tied the game at one for the visitors.

For as dominant that the Bruins were for the period, getting beat on a deflection is something that you can live with.

Penguins failed to score on the only power play awarded to them in the period.

Third Period: Joel Blomqvist was under bombardment in the period, facing 20 shots. The Penguins managed only six.

One of those shots was here when Emil Bemstrom through a backhand shot at the net in the rare offensive zone time the Penguins did enjoy in the period that gave them a 2-1 lead.

But Providencewould respond in kind with a power play goal by Bruins captain Patrick Brown who willed a puck past Blomqvist and in that tied the game at two.

Questionable interference call made by referee Patrick Hanrahan. I thought he and Rob Hennessey understood the assignment coming in, only calling what needed to be called, which wasn’t a ton, but this call didn’t need to be made in my opinion.

Wilkes-Barre sweats through another power play for Providence late and with time dwindling it looked like we were headed to overtime.

Nope.

Get ready for that First Round series with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, buddy.

Three Stars: 3) Patrick Brown (goal) 2) Dans Ločmelis (goal, assist) 1) Riley Tufte (game winning goal)

The Good: Joel Blomqvist had a hell of a game and was the only reason it wasn’t a blowout for the Bruins. There should be no doubt that he isn’t up to the task when playoffs start next week.

The Bad: Bruins win their 12th straight against the Penguins, sweeping the season series and keeping the league’s 2nd best power play off the scoresheet. This club masters the Penguins and, despite the fact Wilkes-Barre will be loaded by Pittsburgh in about 48 hours, I don’t like their chances against the Bruins in a five game series.

Turning Point: Do you need me to spell it out in crayon? Tufte’s goal gets it here.

Around the Division: Doesn’t matter really, but Charlotte wins 3-2 over Hartford and Syracuse beats Hershey 3-2 in overtime.

Standings: Hershey 94 – Charlotte 90 – Providence 88 – Penguins 86 – Lehigh Valley 76 – Springfield 74 – Hartford 67 – Bridgeport 37

Wheeling Update: Nailers lose Game 1 of their best of seven with Norfolk at the Scope 4-0.

Video Highlights: Aren’t up yet. Don’t think you’d want to see them.

Back at it Friday in Hershey.

Let’s Go Pens!

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Weekend Preview – Let’s Go Back…

Comments Off on Weekend Preview – Let’s Go Back… Posted by on April 16, 2025

It’s the final Weekend Preview of the season and we are going back to the playoffs. The Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins have a lot to play for still as they still gun for the first round bye.

Music to Set the Mood…

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This has been an earwig for me for the past week. So catchy and apropos. Shut the Top 40 garbage off and listen to real music.

Also, let’s go back to playoffs and stay a while.

The Setup

It’s the proverbial stone in the shoe Providence Bruins this Wednesday at home, then the final regular season road trip to Hershey on Friday before closing out they regular season with a home match against the Cleveland Monsters.

The Penguins had a 2-0 lead coming into the third period Friday which was erased by the visiting Hershey Bears in the first five minutes where the Bears would. go on to win 4-2.

The Penguins dominated the Springfield Thunderbirds the next night at home, winning 4-1 and dominating the shots on goal, 44-23.

Then Wilkes-Barre handled business in Bridgeport to close out the last three in three of the season winning 5-2.

For the Bruins, they beat Hartford 6-2 Friday and won against Belleville 3-2 in overtime Saturday.

Hershey lost to Lehigh Valley 5-1 after their Friday meet with the Pens. The Bears will host a Syracuse team which has not clinched a playoff berth yet on Wednesday.

Cleveland split with the Toronto Marlies in a home and home weekend series. The Monsters will be in Rochester Wednesday and Lehigh Valley on Friday.

Records

The Penguins are 39-22-7-1 and on 86 points in third in the Atlantic Division.

Providence has the same number of points and in fourth in the Atlantic with a 39-23-5-3 record.

Hershey leads the Atlantic with a 43-19-6-1 record, on 93 points.

Cleveland sits fourth in the North with a 35-23-5-6 record on 81 points.

Check Your Surroundings

Wilkes-Barre cannot win the division, but can finish as high as second. Charlotte holds that seeding presently.

The Checkers are in Hartford Wednesday before closing out their regular season in Springfield Friday and Saturday. They are 41-22-3-3 with 88 points.

ATO Season

10 minutes before this post went up at 11 on Wednesday, Coal Street signs goaltender Christian Stoever out of Bowling Green University to an ATO.

Who’s Up? Who’s Down? Who’s Out?

Joona Koppanen, Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen are in Pittsburgh. McGroarty could be back this season, provided the Penguins are still around. My guess is 4-6 weeks. Vasily Ponomarev and Valtteri Puustinen are also up.

Emil Bemstrom was sent back last weekend.

Gabe Klassen, Matty De St. Phalle and Logan Pietila are up from Wheeling.

Goaltender Taylor Gauthier was recalled Monday and they sent Sergei Murashov and Jack Beck to Wheeling.

Joona Koppanen cleared waivers Tuesday but was not immediately re-assigned.

Pittsburgh’s season ends this Thursday, so expect a ton of roster shuffling on the wires this Friday with guys coming back from Pittsburgh and going down to Wheeling.

The Nailers start their seven game series with the Norfolk Admirals this Wednesday, with Games 1 and 2 Wednesday and Thursday in Norfolk, then Game 3 not till the following Wednesday. That series is weird because it’s a 2-5 setup, with games 5, 6 and 7 (if needed) being played all in Wheeling.

What can we learn about the Penguins this week?

They are going to get help, but will that help arrive in time for a First Round series against the Springfield Thunderbirds or a second round matchup against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms possibly? None of the bodies in Pittsburgh will be around Wednesday against a Providence team they can’t beat at home to save their arse.

Suffice to say, the Wednesday game against the Bruins is the biggest game of the season for them.

Now, they can lose, hope that Charlotte loses, but then the Bruins would need to lose against the Bridgeport Islanders in their final game Saturday and that won’t happen because the Bruins have only lost once against the Islanders all year.

Again, in my opinion, Wednesday night’s game against the Bruins is probably the most important game for Wilkes-Barre in the last five years, maybe more.

Who’s in Goal?

Up until Monday afternoon it was an interesting conundrum. Whoever gets the start is probably your Game 1 starter when playoffs do begin. Is it Joel Blomqvist or Sergei Murashov? Well, for the time being, it’s Joel Blomqvist.

They dominated Springfield Saturday when Blomqvist was in net and won big. But Murashov also won, albeit against a terrible Bridgeport team who tested him, Sunday. But Wheeling gets going in their Kelly Cup Playoffs this week and they can use him to help them get deep.

Figure Blomqvist – Larsson and then possibly Taylor Gauthier if there isn’t anything left to play for Saturday. If there still is, figure Blomqvist.

Brandon Bussi – Garin Bjorklund – Jet Greaves is my shot in the dark for the opposition.

Wait. What? They really reassigned Murashov to Wheeling?

They want him in high leverage situations. They want a healthy Joel Blomqvist in high leverage situations also. Since the AHL rulebook does not allow you to play two goaltenders at the same time, Murashov was moved to Wheeling to assist the Nailers in their Kelly Cup pursuit. Make no bones, has nothing to prove at the ECHL level any longer, but this is the die which has been cast. It isn’t a knock on Murashov. He doesn’t develop in a ball cap operating a door at the bench during the Calder Cup Playoffs. He will do well and develop helping the Nailers go deep in the Kelly Cup Playoffs.

Who’s Running the Show?

Patrick Hanrahan and Rob Hennessey are the refs assigned to Wednesday’s matchup with J.P. Waleski and Chandler Yakimowicz on the lines.

Friday sees Graedy Hamilton and Chad Ingalls as the referees in Hershey with Jeremy Faucher and Tommy George on the lines.

Hamilton will make the trek up I-81 to meet up with Ben Betker Saturday in Wilkes-Barre with Ryan Jackson and J.P. Waleski on the lines for the regular season finale against Cleveland.

Looking Ahead…

We don’t know yet. Seeding and likely a playoff opponent and schedule will be out Saturday night at the conclusion of the Monsters / Penguins game. Or will it? Will the Penguins have locked up a bye?

Give us a bold prediction…

Get ready for another three game first round series with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, buddy.

Weekend Preview

AHL Power Rankings – Week 27

Comments Off on AHL Power Rankings – Week 27 Posted by on April 14, 2025

One week to play in the AHL season. For some there isn’t a whole heck of a lot to play for, for others, this is their entire season right here as they still haven’t clinched, are close but so are two other teams in the same predicament. Others it’s all about seeding and for others it’s fine tuning for a hopeful deep playoff run. Which side is your team on?

Let’s get right into it…

1. Abbotsford Canucks

Last Week: 1st (no change)
Record: 41-24-2-2

Canucks should be in your Calder Cup Finals pool.

2. Colorado Eagles

Last Week: 2nd (no change)
Record: 42-19-5-3

Looks like the West is coming through Colorado.

3. Laval Rocket

Last Week: 3rd (no change)
Record: 46-18-3-2

Looks like the Rocket will win the regular season title, which really doesn’t mean a thing. 

4. Hershey Bears

Last Week: 4th (no change)
Record: 43-19-6-1

The drive to three straight starts in a week for the Bears.

5. Charlotte Checkers

Last Week: 6th (up 1)
Record: 41-22-3-3

The Checkers are fighting to hold on to the first round Atlantic Division bye.

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Power Rankings

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