Sill-Veilleux-Walker Dominate, Pens Win 50th Game

Zach Sill has been one of the best players on the team this month. With eight points (4G, 4A) in his last nine games, Sill has enjoyed centering the Pens' best forward line with Keven Veilleux and Geoff Walker.

Ryan Craig played very well between Keven Veilleux and Geoff Walker. When Craig was promoted to center the top line, Zach Sill filled the void and what a job he has done. Sill sealed the deal with his goal in the third, and assisted on the team's only other goal in a 2-1 win over the Charlotte Checkers this afternoon.

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The two teams played a tighter defensive game in a scoreless first period, with the Pens out shooting the Checkers 13-8 after 20 minutes of play.

The second period showcased a highlight-reel goal by Nick Petersen, his first pro goal, and Brad Thiessen stopping the first 16 shots his way. The Checkers starting goalie Mike Murphy seemed to have been injured on a play after the goal and was replaced by none other than Justin Pogge, an enemy at Mohegan Sun Arena.

Zach Sill got the Pens a 2-0 lead in the first minute of the third period on a great play by his line mates Geoff Walker and Keven Veilleux. The Pens were able to hold the shutout until the last minute but in the waning seconds Chris Terry was able to tip a puck past Thiessen and make it a close final score, 2-1.

The win puts the Penguins at 50-18-0-1 with 101 points, currently ten more than Hershey Bears who are in a tight game with the Syracuse Crunch. The Pens also have three games in hand on the second place Bears, one of which they will make up on Wednesday when they take on the Albany Devils at the Mohegan Sun Arena.