The returns of Andrew Hutchinson from injury and Miika Wiikman from the bench and seeing a team that they have feasted on all season long inspired the Hartford Wolf Pack to get back to their winning ways in a 4-1 victory over the Worcester Sharks (26-30-4-6) in front of 5,317 at the DCU Center Sunday afternoon. Sunday’s win coupled with the Portland Pirates 2-1 loss to the Philadelphia Phantoms, who visit Hartford (40-19-2-6) Wednesday night, gives both teams 88 point. However the Pack are back into second place in the Atlantic Division by virtue of their two games in hand on the Pirates.
Hutchinson’s return to the Pack line-up was a welcome sight. With Hutchinson out of the line-up for the past six games with a hip injury, there’s been a general lack of overall cohesiveness and a power play that seemed rudderless going 0-24 over that span. Sunday afternoon, the power play returned to form with Hutchinson on the point going 2-for-4. Hutchinson had a hat-trick of assists including the main assist on what turned out to be Mike Ouellette’s game winner in the first period. In his last ten games, dating back to Feb. 8th, Hutchinson has 18 points on 6 goals (including the team’s first hat trick by a defensemen) and 12 assists.
In addition to Hutchinson’s successful return, there was the magnificent play of the well earned “First Star of the Game” in Wiikman (39 saves). The Swedish goaltender has not been on the ice since losing 3-0 to the Portland Pirates back on March 2 primarily because of the outstanding play of newcomer, David LeNeveu. Wiikman was simply everywhere for the Wolf Pack all afternoon.
In the first period with the Pack shorthanded, Wiikman made huge stops on Tom Cavanaugh and J.D. Forrest. His second period performance was even more impressive. Wiikman stopped a breakaway attempt by Oren Eizenman and saved some of his best work for the Pack’s :32 second 5-on-3 disadvantage. Wiikman stoned Dan Sprang twice in the crease and then again came up huge with T.J. Fox right on top of him. In the third period, Wiikman stood on his head making tremendous diving stops on Marc Busenburg, Dennis Packard and stood tall on Graham Mink’s breakaway opportunity with just 1:45 to play.
On the offensive side of the ledger, this has been a coming-out party of sorts for the Pack’s Jordan Owens. The 6’0″ 180 pound Toronto, ON. native had the Pack’s only goal in last night’s 3-1 loss to Manchester and had two this afternoon. Owens has his first scoring streak with three of his five goals on the season and a lone assist over the last three games.
Owens first goal came just 1:23 into the contest. Artem Anisimov fed the puck to Hutchinson who fired a shot on goal from the top of the left face-off circle. The puck went wide and bounced off the back wall directly to Owens who put it past Thomas Greiss (27 saves) and just like that the Pack had the lead.
15 minutes later the Pack struck again. With Craig Valette in the box for a slashing penalty, this time Hutchinson fed Anisimov on the left point. Anisimov’s shot was deflected in by Mike Ouellette who was cutting across the slot. Ouellette has been excellent since his recall has put in 8 goals and 10 assists for 18 points in 56 games and has been called upon for taking most defensive zone face-offs and penalty killing and is plus-3 on the season.
The only puck that got past Wiikman came on a fluke goal at 11:57 of the second period when Busenburg fed Brad Staubitz who put a shot on goal from the low half boards that changed direction when it hit Hutchinson and just got past Wiikman’s foot and off the post.
In the third period the Pack got the score to 3-1 when on a delayed penalty with an extra skater on the ice, Hugh Jessiman fed Hutchinson who made an extraordinary pass while cutting in on the net and found Owens all by himself on the left doorstep. Greiss tried to get back but was helpless as Owens lifted the puck into the open net.
The Pack put their final notch on the scoreboard 2:30 minutes later while on a 5-on-3 power play. Ivan Baranka fed a pass from the right point down to Lauri Korpikoski along the half boards. Korpikoski moved in on Griess with Greg Moore holding his ground on the defender and Korpikoski made a brilliant pass across the crease to P.A. Parenteau who was all alone for the easy tap in.
Bruce Berlet will have the view from the press box and the thoughts on the win in his column in the Hartford Courant while the Worcester perspective will come from Bill Ballou in the Worcester Telegram and Gazette.
For game stats there are the usual Game Summary and Scorer’s Sheet.
*****NOTES*****
* The Pack are 7-0 including 4-0 at Worcester this season and have not trailed for even a second over that entire span outscoring the Sharks 29-11.
* The Pack will look to sweep the season series when they play Worcester one last time in Hartford on March 28th.
* The Pack power play rebounded to 20.7% from the 20.3 it entered the game at and will remain in third place.
* On the other side of the ledger the penalty kill added an 0-5 night and should move up in the standing now that they are at 82.9% on the season 54 goals on 316 times short-handed.
* You can’t get more consistent than this. On the road the Pack are 20-8-1-3 and at home are 20-11-1-3.
* The team continues to be “lights-out” when leading going into the third period as they are now 34-0-1-3.
* The Pack like to take advantage of their shot opportunities as they are 17-3-0-3 when being out shot and a much closer 23-15-1-3 when they out shoot their opponents.
* With 6,946 in attendance at the XL Center, the Pack have moved up in average attendance from 20th out of 29 to 19th.
* With his two assists in the game, Hutchinson now has 55 points in 55 games (15G, 40A). He leads all AHL defensemen in scoring. As an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season, and only a $500K salary this season, it stands to reason that the Rangers would give the soon to be 28 year old Evanston, Illinois native a decent contract and a real shot at making the big club next season especially given his incredible improvement on both sides of the puck. He is an excellent point-man on the power play, something the Rangers desperately need.
* From the how much crazier can things get department, a Sound Tiger versus Wolf Pack Wrestling Match?
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sqy9y_V1IXM&hl=en]
*****LINES*****
Korpikoski – Moore – Parenteau
Owens – Anisimov – Pock
Gratton – Ouellette – Jessiman
Lee – Constant
Brown – Baranka
Hutchinson – Potter
Sauer – Taylor
Wiikman
*****SCRATCHES*****
Byers – last game of suspension
Dupont – Apparent flu – Day-to-Day
Liffiton – Concussion – season
Bourret – Concussion – Indefinite
Lessard – Knee – Season
Fritz – Shoulder – Undetermined
*****THREE STARS*****
1. HFD – 62 Miika Wiikman
2. HFD – 44 Mike Ouellette
3. HFD – 46 Jordan Owens
*****OFFICIALS*****
Brian Pochmara (43), Referee
Joe Ross (92), Linesman
Brian MacDonald (13), Linesman
(Miika Wiikman photo courtesy of Chris Rutsch via hartfordwolfpack.com, Lauri Korpikoski with Oren Eizenman photo courtesy of Steve Lanava via telegram.com)
Related
Mitch Beck
Related posts
1 Comment
Leave a Reply Cancel reply
Top picks
SWAMP RABBITS DROP GAME 1 in OT
Spencer Kersten ends a 72-minute game to steal Game 1 from Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – Spencer Kersten ended a marathon goalie duel to give the Orlando Solar Bears a lead in the South Division Semifinals, 1-0, over the Greenville…
CALDER CUP PLAYOFF SCHEDULE RELEASED
By: Jason Chaimovich, American Hockey League SPRINGFIELD, MA – The AHL Playoff Games begin on Tuesday: OPENING SCHEDULES ANNOUNCED FOR 2024 CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS The American Hockey League has released the following schedules for the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs opening series, including the best-of-three First…
WOLF PACK DROP SEASON FINALE 4-2 TO BRUINS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack concluded their 2023-24 regular season on Sunday afternoon at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. A third-period tally from the home side proved the difference, as the Bruins took a 4-2 decision….
WOLF PACK INK D HARRISON REES TO PTO
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers Assistant General Manager and Hartford Wolf Pack General Manager Ryan Martin announced today that the club has signed defenseman Harrison Rees to a professional tryout agreement (PTO). Rees, 24, appeared in 36 games…
CALDER CUP PLAYOFF SCHEDULE RELEASED
By: Jason Chaimovich, American Hockey League SPRINGFIELD, MA – The AHL Playoff Games begin on Tuesday: OPENING SCHEDULES ANNOUNCED FOR 2024 CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS The American Hockey League has released the following schedules for the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs opening series, including the best-of-three First…
WOLF PACK DROP SEASON FINALE 4-2 TO BRUINS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack concluded their 2023-24 regular season on Sunday afternoon at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. A third-period tally from the home side proved the difference, as the Bruins took a 4-2 decision….
WOLF PACK INK D HARRISON REES TO PTO
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers Assistant General Manager and Hartford Wolf Pack General Manager Ryan Martin announced today that the club has signed defenseman Harrison Rees to a professional tryout agreement (PTO). Rees, 24, appeared in 36 games…
WOLF PACK TAKE ON CHARLOTTE CHECKERS IN FIRST ROUND
All Three Games to Take Place in North Carolina By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT—The Hartford Wolf Pack and Charlotte Checkers will face off in an Atlantic Division first-round series to kick off the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs. Due to the distance traveled,…
SWAMP RABBITS ANSWER BACK IN GAME 2
Eberle nets game-winner; three multi-point performers shine in win BY: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC—Tanner Eberle broke a deadlock in a wild third period to headline the Greenville Swamp Rabbits’ Game 2 win over the Orlando Solar Bears by a 4-2 score on Monday…
SWAMP RABBITS DROP GAME 1 in OT
Spencer Kersten ends a 72-minute game to steal Game 1 from Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – Spencer Kersten ended a marathon goalie duel to give the Orlando Solar Bears a lead in the South Division Semifinals, 1-0, over the Greenville…
SWAMP RABBITS SCHEDULE FOR SOUTH DIVISION SEMIFINALS
Swamp Rabbits and Solar Bears begin a best-of-seven series this Sunday in Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, announced the full schedule for the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs…
ANDREW LORD NAMED ECHL COACH OF THE YEAR
Fourth-year bench boss becomes first in both franchise and Greenville hockey history to receive recognition By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC—The ECHL announced today that Andrew Lord, Head Coach/General Manager of the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, a proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los…
They dressed 8’D’ and 8’F’ – amusing.
I am not as optimistic that Hutchinson will get a juicy one-way contract offer from Slats, but I agree, he has earned it.
The big club’s PP needs help.