VERSUS
Despite winning their last three-in-a-row it is clear that the 2008-2009 edition of the Hartford Wolf Pack are a team still searching for their identity. On the other hand, if the team continues to get the stellar goaltending they've been getting from second year pro, Miika Wiikman, the team could settle on Droopy Dog's personality and they'll be just fine.
Wiikman carried the Wolf Pack to their third straight,a 3-2 overtime win over the visiting Portland Pirates. It was also Wiikman's third straight performance as the game's First Star. Over the last three games all at the XL Center in Hartford, the Pack netminder has put up Lundqvist-ian-like numbers. The Mariestad, Sweden native has faced 95 shots and stopped 91. Of the attempts he's been facing, and too many of them have been of the insanely-difficult-variety-to-make, Wiikman has posted a .958 save percentage and a 1.33 goals-against average. If he doesn't receive goaltender of the week consideration by the AHL it will be a disgrace.
After starting off the season slowly, mostly due to inactivity in the pre-season, Wiikman's performance has continually improved. His stats certainly show that. His record is now
4-2-0-1 with a very stingy 2.08 GAA and .925% good for 12th overall.
In assessing his own game, Wiikman told reporters. “I feel I’m in good shape and just want to go on playing my
own game and have the other guys do their job, I hope.”
The 5'11" netminder also gives credit to his teammates for the turnaround in his play. “I’m
seeing the puck a lot better the last few games. The guys are clearing out in
front of me, so I can see the puck all the way.”
In his post game comments to reporters, Wolf Pack head coach Ken Gernander said, “We were very lacking in a lot of areas, and Miika is the
main reason we got a point, let alone two,” Gernander added.
“We have to sort things out and get our guys playing better before Friday night
(against Worcester).”
At 3:16 in the extra frame, Greg Moore drew two Portland defenders to him in the slot. Moore then left a perfect drop pass for line mate Dane Byers who fired a lightning bolt low to the glove side of losing Pirate goaltender, Adam Dennis (20 saves).
Of the shot that ignited the 1,927 in attendance, Byers spoke to reporters saying, “I was yelling for the puck, and Greg made a very nice play,” Byers said. “I hit
it as hard as I could and got a good piece of it.” The goal was Byers fourth of the season and gives him the team lead. P.A. Parenteau is second on the team with three.
But the Wolf Pack would never have even seen overtime to get the win if not for Wiikman's sparkling play late in the third period. Nathan Gerbe tied the score at two on the power play at 8:11 by weaving through the Pack like they were traffic cones. Gerbe completley undressed Pack defenseman Corey Potter and beat Wiikman high.
The goal ignited the Pirates and they pressed the Pack for the game winner and had two opportunities late. Wiikman made a diving save with 4:30 left in the third period. He then followed that up with a highlight reel save when with just 1:10 remaining Potter's neutral zone turnover led to a two-on-one rush, Wiikman stopped Mathieu Darche cold.
The Pack had an early opportunity to get the lead when Mike Card and Colin Murphy took penalties 1:13 apart which gave the home team a 47 second, 5-on-3 opportunity. Dennis stood up tall when he stopped Byers’ backhander on a breakaway off a terrific pass from Tommy Pyatt.
Potter, who did not have a good game, put the Pack on the penalty kill at 7:26 of the first period with a delay of game call. On the ensuing power play, Chris Butler fired a long hard shot from the left point that missed the net but hit the boards and popped out to the right of Wiikman. Murphy played the role of Johnny On-The-Spot and slammed the puck under Wiikman's legs.
The Pack answered back at 14:52. Moore made a terrific drop pass to Vladamir Denisov who fired a rocket at Dennis. The Pirate netminder didn't see the puck and Dale Wiese got his second goal of the season when he tucked it under Dennis.
3:08 later the Pack jumped ahead when Artem Anisimov saw Justin Soryal coming off the bench on a line change and fed him the puck perfectly. Soryal got his first AHL goal as he blasted a monster of a shot from high in the slot that beat Dennis who had no chance.
For stats fans, there is always the AHL's Game Summary and everyone's favorite, the Official Scorer's sheet.
Bruce Berlet tells the Wolf Pack story while the closest you'll get to a report from Portland is in int Press Herald.
NOTES
* WIth another goose-egg on the power play, including two wasted five-on-three opportunities, the Pack are now 5 for 45 for 11.1% which puts them 25th of 29 in the AHL.
* Meanwhile shorthanded the team is doing much better with a two-for-seven performance and is 9 for 43 for a 79.1% which also puts them at 25th overall.
* P.A. Parenteau who had a streak of five points over the previous three games, including the game-winner over Manchester, was kept off the scorer's sheet.
* From the former Wolf Pack player department comes news that defenseman Joe Rullier was released from his 25-game professional tryout
agreement with the Binghamton Senators. While out in Houston, former Pack enforcer Francis Lessard was suspended for four games by the AHL for his on ice actions.
* Speaking of Former Wolf Pack, congratulations to Chris Holt who was signed today by the St. Louis Blues. The team's President John Davidson announced today the club has signed the former Pack goaltender.Terms were not released.
Holt, 23, has played in two games with the Peoria Rivermen this season,
posting a 2-0-0 record, a .915 save percentage and a 2.00 goals against
average.
Holt spent the last three seasons in Hartford and Charlotte.
The 6-3, 221-pound netminder saw one game of NHL action in 2005-06 with
the Rangers. Last season, Holt saw time with the Checkers, (15-13-2, 2.72 GAA, .915%), and in Hartford (5-3-0, 2.42 GAA,
.906 save %).
The South Surrey, British Columbia native was originally a sixth round draft pick by
the Rangers, 180th overall in the 2003 NHL
Entry Draft.
LINES
Soryal – Moore – Owens
BYERS – Pyatt – PARENTEAU
Dupont – Anisimov – Weise
DiDiomete – Ouellette – Jessiman
POTTER – Sanguinetti
Denisov – Fahey
Murray – Graham
Wiikman
(Alternate Captains in CAPS)
SCRATCHES
Sugden – Injured
Sauer – Knee
Korpikoski – Healthy
THREE STARS
1. HFD – 62 Miika Wiikman
2. HFD – 34 Dane Byers
3. POR – 19 Nathan Gerbe
ON ICE OFFICIALS
Shaun Davis (31), Referee
Brent Colby (7), Linesman
David
Spannaus (8), Linesman
(Miika Wiikman photo courtesy of Heather Rutsch via Hartfordwolfpack.com)
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