Longest-Running WBS Thread Ever | Penguins bounced in 5 games by Syracuse in ECF

[shureshot66]

Yet another instance of me being spectacularly wrong. Never imagined we'd need another one of these after the lockout ended.

For those just jumping in, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is tied 1-1 in the Eastern Conference Final with Syracuse, which has much of the roster of last year's juggernaut that won the Calder Cup (the Lightning switched affiliations from Norfolk).

WBS swept Binghamton in the best-of-five opening round and then rallied from a 3-0 deficit in the Eastern semis against Providence. Brad Thiessen posted two shutouts and is back in the starting job, replacing Jeff Zatkoff.

The Pens took Game 1 in Syracuse before falling flat and snapping their five-game streak with a loss in Game 2. Game 3 is tonight in Wilkes-Barre at 7:05.

London Knights stalwarts Scott Harrington and Olli Maatta have joined the club on ATOs. Don't be surprised if Harrington in particular finds his way into the lineup soon. The Penguins blueline has most recently been manned by captain Joey Mormina, Brian Dumoulin, Philip Samuelsson, Reid McNeill, Alex Grant and ECHL call-up Peter Merth.

Portland's Derrick Pouliot is also expected to join the club soon after the Winterhawks' loss in the Memorial Cup final.

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[wgknestrick]

Yet another instance of me being spectacularly wrong. Never imagined we'd need another one of these after the lockout ended.

For those just jumping in, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is tied 1-1 in the Eastern Conference Final with Syracuse, which has much of the roster of last year's juggernaut that won the Calder Cup (the Lightning switched affiliations from Norfolk).

WBS swept Binghamton in the best-of-five opening round and then rallied from a 3-0 deficit in the Eastern semis against Providence. Brad Thiessen posted two shutouts and is back in the starting job, replacing Jeff Zatkoff.

The Pens took Game 1 in Syracuse before falling flat and snapping their five-game streak with a loss in Game 2. Game 3 is tonight in Wilkes-Barre at 7:05.

London Knights stalwarts Scott Harrington and Olli Maatta have joined the club on ATOs. Don't be surprised if Harrington especially finds his way into the lineup soon.

Portland's Derrick Pouliot is also expected to join the club soon after the Winterhawks' loss in the Memorial Cup final.

I wouldn't think they would be allowed to play. Are you sure about that?

 

[shureshot66]

Yup. It's common for guys whose junior seasons end to be able to join their parent club's farm team on a tryout deal. The CHL only cares about not losing its top talent to the AHL when the season is in session.

Now whether they actually get into the lineup is another story. Tough even for guys with great pedigrees to play with mostly strangers in a new-ish system in a playoff environment. Depends on Hynes' comfort level with them, I'd think.

 

[Shrimper]

Can't see WBS getting past Syracuse but would love them too. Reckon they'll win tonight but lose the series 4-2.

 

[wgknestrick]

Yup. It's common for guys whose junior seasons end to be able to join their parent club's farm team on a tryout deal. The CHL only cares about not losing its top talent to the AHL when the season is in session.

Now whether they actually get into the lineup is another story. Tough even for guys with great pedigrees to play with mostly strangers in a new-ish system in a playoff environment. Depends on Hynes' comfort level with them, I'd think.

If only they were forwards. I don't see them being that much better than any of the current D (aside from Pouliott). You could mask a new forward easier than a new D.

 

[Axman]

I'll be there alternately watching the game and Detroit/Chi at the bar.
Syracuse is a powerhouse; I'm hoping for Theissen to make some big saves and maybe we can grab this win on home ice.

 

[shureshot66]

Very interesting. It's Maatta who gets the call tonight, not Harrington. Would not have guessed that.

Maatta takes McNeill's spot in the lineup. No score, midway through the first.

 

[Valarukar]

Very interesting. It's Maatta who gets the call tonight, not Harrington. Would not have guessed that.

Maatta takes McNeill's spot in the lineup. No score, midway through the first.

That made me wonder if Harrington's injury that he had is still bothering him.

 

[Stad]

They don't televise these games hey?? I'd like to see how Maatta fairs in his pro-debut.

 

[Shrimper]

Only on AHL Live I think. Never seen any streams myself.

 

[Dying Alive]

Wish I could watch this since Pouliot & Maatta are the guys who made Morrow expendable. I'm way more curious about Maatta than I used to be just based on that alone.

 

[shureshot66]

Very chippy game. A dozen penalties called in the first, but no score.

Pens on the power play to open the second.

 

[Beaudangles19]

How's Maatta lookin?

 

[JimmyTwoTimes]

10-6 WBS in shots. Improvement from last game

 

[Jacob]

gotta be weird for Maatta.. he's never even had an NHL training camp or any preseason action. Though I guess with 2 Memorial Cups and 2 WJCs (+1 partial WJC) he's probably used to pressure.

 

[shureshot66]

Penguins down 1-0 after two periods. Namestnikov scored for the Crunch.

Both sides have squandered great opportunities on the power play.

 

[shureshot66]

Syracuse gets an empty-netter and the shutout for the win and a 2-1 series lead.

I didn't have a stream, but it sounded like Maatta jumped in late on an odd-man rush in the third and had a quality scoring chance that was robbed by Desjardins.

 

[Jacob]

Looks like he was on the ice when the EN was scored.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Looks like he was on the ice when the EN was scored.

Bust.

 

[Jacob]

I meant that as a positive actually.

 

[Malkinstheman]

I meant that as a positive actually.

I thought the same. Thinking that hynes trusts him to make offence but still reliable as you tend to put your best players on when theres an empty net.

 

[jmelm]

The only rationale, which is also justifiable, for Maatta getting the call, besides injury -- and I think both he and Harrington are more than capable of stepping in -- is that perhaps they want one additional guy who they perceive as being a slightly better option at creating offense from the back-end. Perhaps that was their rationale.


Would have loved to see him play in that game but didn't, and it will be interesting to see who gets the call in the next game.

 

[Tasty Biscuits]

Apparently Grant had a rough game. Sound like Johnny Bomb thinks maybe Maatta would stay in and then McNeill would go back in for Grant.

 

[Shrimper]

Shame to drop 1 at home but I think they have 2 more before they go back to Syracuse as they use a 2-3-2 format in the AHL.

 

[Malkinstheman]

Any word on who hynes will put in the line-up? Also poliout has joined the baby pens.