VERSUS
Much as an incredible moment can be ruined when the photograph is overexposed by the camera lens, the same can be said of the way the Hamilton Bulldogs came in to the XL Center Saturday night and revealed the gapping holes in the Hartford Wolf Pack Saturday with a 6-2 throttling, that wasn't even that close.
Sure the Wolf Pack outshot their opponents 41-28 for the game, but all demonstrates is how useless a statistic shots-on-goal really is. The real difference is scoring opportunities and ultimately what you do with them. The Bulldogs took twenty shots in the first period and scored on 3 of them and then just four shots on goal in the second and third periods and scored twice in the second and once in the third. Conversely, the Pack had 18 shots in the first and scored once; 11 in the second and didn't score at all; and 12 in the third potting the puck once.
Wolf Pack Head Coach Ken Gernander summed it up best to reporters after the game. “They’re a good, skilled team so they’re going to create their own opportunities,” he said. “But if you’re going to play lax defensively, they’re going to pick you apart.”
In the first period, which saw both Hartford goaltender Miika Wiikman (19 saves) and Hamilton's Cedrick Desjardins (39 saves) get off to excellent starts, the Bulldogs struck first when Chad Anderson came charging up the slot off an odd man rush and took a pass from Ryan Russell, who was originally a NY Rangers seventh round selection (#211 overall) in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, and beat Wiikman high to the glove side at 9:12.
After Patrick Rissmiller was stopped by Desjardins and some red steel on two opportunities at at 10:45, the Pack got as close as they were going to get when they tied the score at 13:18. The only line the Pack have had that has consistently had a positive impact by outworking their opponents and creating opportunities has been the line of Mike Ouellette centering Tommy Pyatt and Jordan Owens. They were put together by the coaching staff on December 12th for the game against Providence and have been outstanding together since. While putting excellent forechecking pressure on the Hamilton defense, Pyatt came away with the puck out of the left wing corner. Owens called for the puck and Pyatt left him a perfect drop pass just inside the left circle. Owens one times the pass and hit it off the heel of his stick and buried it under the crossbar in the top corner.
That was as close as it was going to get as just 1:08 later the Bulldogs would take complete control.
While things appeared bright for a second when Wiikman stopped a great chance by center Brock Trotter at 14:26, on the resulting faceoff, Yanick Lehoux cleanly beat Rissmiller who drew the puck back to Alex Henry on the left point. At 14:30 Henry put his entire 6'5" 220-pound frame into it and unloaded a shot that may have been deflected but nonetheless beat a helpless Wiikman who didn't see it through the traffic in front of him.
Moments later the crowd got one of their few highlights of the night as a heavyweight battle broke out between the Pack's Brandon Sugden, back from the flu, and Hamilton's enforcer Ryan Flinn. After some positioning Sugden got his right hand free and just unloaded bomb after bomb to Flinn's head dropping him down to the ice. In a moment in time that only fighters can understand, as the refs helped him up, Sugden congratulated him on the fight. But then as he headed to the bench to be escorted off, Sugden pantomimed a six gun performance that was really ridiculous and completely unnecessary for a guy with one assist in 18 games. Granted he wasn't brought here for that but it was very bush league to gloat and play to the crowd when the team was in a tight battle…at least to that point they were.
Just 25 seconds after the fight, Yannick Weber's shot from the right circle rebounded off Wiikman and caromed over to the left side where Trotter waited for it. Trotter held the puck for what seemed like a small eternity waiting for Wiikman to react. As he dove to come across, Trotter put a perfectly placed shot over the fallen netminder and it was 3-1.
After the Pack failed for their third time on the power play early in the second period, Connecticut native Max Pacioretty faked defenseman Vladimir Denisov completely out his skates along the left wing boards with a beautiful move sliding the puck between the defenseman's skates and created a two-on-none opportunity with linemate David Desharnais as Michael Sauer rushed to get back. Pacioretty waited for Wiikman to commit and then fed Desharnais who the easy tap in. It was 4-1.
Desharnais got his second goal of the period with just 35.2 seconds left in the second when a series of penalties left the Pack in a 4-on-3 shorthanded opportunity. Desharnais took the puck from Mathieu Carle in the high slot and was unchallenged by any Pack defender and he just ripped the color out of the puck with a shot that beat a helpless Wiikman who never saw it through the screen of 6'2" right wing, Mike Glumac. It was 5-1.
In the third period, Gernander switched goaltenders bringing in backup Matt Zaba. He also shuffled the lines like a Vegas card dealer trying to find a combination that worked. He also needed to replace Brodie Dupont who was shaken up pretty badly in the second period as he got crunched by Oliver Latendresse. Gernander told reporters Dupont could not continue due to a cut, which way well be true, but it certainly looked a lot worse as Dupont struggled to get to the bench on the replay.
P.A. Parenteau forechecking at just 1:13 into the third frame made a great move stripping Chad Anderson of the puck behind the Hamilton cage. He then swung around to the left side and tucked it past Desjardins who had no idea he even had the puck.
Hamilton would complete their scoring deluge, in a game where the Pack tied their season high of surrendering six, while on a four-on-four play where rookie defenseman David Urquhart was stripped by Lehoux who came in alone on Zaba. The Bulldogs leading scorer easily beat Zaba for the goal.
Overall it was just a dreadful performance by the home team and revealed just how outgunned they were and how much more work the coaching staff has in front of them.
“The goals against weren’t pretty,” Gernander said afterwards. “We had guys just swinging through dangerous areas instead of stopping and committing to their coverage, which was a bit frustrating. (Hamilton's) a good team that’s going to earn their chances, but when you’re given 2-on-1s because of poor decision making or lost coverage, then for sure you’re going to make their life easy and they’re going to capitalize.”
If the Pack are to even make the playoffs, the Gernander's observations must be addressed. The Toronto Marlies are the Pack's next challenge. How the team deals with this bad loss can either motivate or set in motion a prolonged losing streak. Does the team that pointed in five straight show up or does the team that took this bad loss take to the ice. It's anyone's guess…
From the media perspective, the Pack made it to TSN.ca while Bruce Berlet works his magic over at HartfordWolfPack.com and there is of course the Hamilton contingent which just regurgitate the same Canadian Press story at TheSpec.com.
For stats we offer the GAME SUMMARY and OFFICIAL SCORERS SHEET.
NOTES:
*** UPDATE *** Goalie
Justin Pogge will NOT be facing the Wolf Pack this afternoon. The Toronto Maple
Leafs recalled Pogge on Sunday from the AHL's Toronto Marlies ahead of Monday's
game against the Atlanta Thrashers.
* You have to grant the defenseman a little bit of leeway given that the level of expectation for most of them coming into the season was ECHL and career AHL guys. That does not excuse though how poorly overall they've played. The only true NHL prospects in the organization right now are Corey Potter (who is traveling with the Rangers and will most likely be headed back to the Pack Monday) who's sporting a plus/minus of minus-3, Michael Sauer is minus-2 and former first round pick Bobby Sanguinetti is sporting a team worst minus-10. As for the rest of the team the injured Brian Fahey is plus-3, somehow Vladimir Denisov is plus-4, and Jared Nightingale and Ethan Graham are all plus-4. Rookie David Urquhart is minus-3.
* Gordie Clark. the Rangers Director of Player Personnel, was Bob Crawford's live guest in between periods. Clark mentioned that the Rangers were VERY impressed with Max Pacioretty who was drafted 22nd overall in the 2007 NHL draft. According to Clark, the Rangers were interested in picking Pacioretty with their 17th pick in the draft, but when Alexei Cherepanov fell to them at 17 they felt they had no choice but to select the high scoring Russian forward. As most of you know, Cherepanov tragically passed away on October 13, 2008 from an undetected heart ailment complicated by inadequate medical equipment and incompetent medical assistance while playing for Avangard Omsk (with Jaromir Jagr) in a KHL game.
* With the loss, the Pack ended a season-high streak of getting a gaining a standings point in five straight games (4-0-0-1).
* Blanking on four man-advantage opportunities put the Pack at 25 for 147 or 17% and overall at 16th. Meanwhile they surrendered a power play goal on three shorthanded chances dropping them to 81.8% which should put them at 22nd in the league.
* P.A. Parenteau resumed his spot as the team's leading scorer with his unassisted goal in the third period bringing him to 12g 15a for 27pts. Artem Anisimov has 26 (11g, 15a). Anisimov is not to be faulted here for only having 3 lone assists over his last 6 games as his running mates have primarily been Justin Soryal and Dale Weise; two players who are not exactly noted for their scoring touch. Between them they have just 5g and 9a for 14 points (Soryal 2g, 5a and Weise 3g, 4a).
* In games where the team outshot their opponents the Pack are now 6-7-0-1.
* When trailing after one period the Pack are 2-5-1-1 and after two they are 2-9-1-2. What does that tell you about this team? If they get behind they are in a lot of trouble. If they lead however, after one, they are 7-3-0-1 and after two have been lights out at 11-2-0-1. This is a team that does NOT come from behind.
* In case you're curious, Hamilton is now 14-0-1-0 when leading after one and 12-1-1-0 when leading after two. When trailing after one, 2-5-1-0 and the same after the second. Hockey is a tough came to come from behind in but what these stats tell you is that Hamilton does NOT play from behind very often. They also don't mind being on the road…in fact they seem to prefer it with a 7-6-1-0 record at home but an impressive 11-3-1-0 on the road. The Pack are now 10-5-0-2 at home and 4-7-1-1 on the road.
LINES:
Dupont – RISSMILLER – PARENTEAU
DiDiomete – MOORE – Sugden
Soryal – Anisimov – Weise
Owens – Ouellette – Pyatt
Nightingale – Denisov
Graham – Sanguinetti
Urquhart – Sauer
Wiikman
(Alternate Captains in BOLD CAPS)
SCRATCHES:
Stefanishion – Healthy
Fahey – Concussion – Indefinite
Byers – Knee – Season
THREE STARS:
1. HAM – 36 David Desharnais
2. HAM – 23 Max Pacioretty
3. HAM – 30 Cedrick Desjardins
ON-ICE OFFICIALS:
Chris Cozzan (68), Referee
Marty Demers (79), Linesman
Rich Patry (52), Linesman
NEXT GAME:
Regardless of the weather conditions, the team announced that the game against the Toronto Marlies at the XL Center scheduled for Sunday at 4 WILL be played. For those willing to brave the weather there is a post game skate with the team on the XL Center ice and it is a Family Value night which includes three tickets to the game, three hot dogs or pizza slices, three sodas and a Wolf Pack souvenir for $39. Not too shabby.
Comments (5)
Wicky229says:
December 21, 2008 at 1:20 PMMitch,
Just a quick question here. You seem a bit shocked that Denisov is a plus player. I honestly thought he was the kind of player the big club could use on the blueline.
Is he really not that good of a player?
Thanks for all the work you do!
Mitch Becksays:
December 21, 2008 at 1:41 PMWicky,
Let me start of the response by stating that on a personal level, each and every one of these guys on this team are just terrific young men. It can easily be misconstrued by the tone of this report that I’m down on them. I’m truly not. I would love nothing more than to see the areas of their collective weakness to shore up. It would be amazing to see the problems that are so evident to those of us who see them on a regular basis that know a thing or two (I would qualify I think as a thing…the two I’m not so sure) about the game shore up in a big way. However, that does not mean that we should all collectively stick our heads in the sand and pretend that those problems don’t exist.
I could act like some writers who act like an apologist for the team’s they cover and pretend that reality doesn’t exist. To not tell the truth, regardless of how I feel about these kids on a personal basis, I think would be just as dishonest.
Having said that, this defensive core, on the whole, in games against team’s like Hamilton, look slower than Global Warming. A skill filled rookie in Max Pacioretty was able to completely undress Denisov. His partner Jared Nightingale since joining the Pack, is also a plus-4. That is just stunning to me. Now a large part of that can be attributed to the fact that in key situations they’re just not on the ice. In those cases, it’s Corey Potter and Bobby Sanguinetti who’ve been on the ice. As you read above Potter is a minus-3 and Sanguinetti has a team worst minus-10 which means a lot of the time when the bad things that have happened have been with those guys on the ice.
You can also attribute that to which offensive forward lines they’re playing with. Potter and Sanguinetti usually get paired with the lower lines to provide some back end support. The problem is that quite often they’re the ones that hang them out to dry. That’s not to say that Sanguinetti hasn’t made his share of blunders, bloopers and head scratchers but remember, he’s a rookie. Denisov is a decent AHL player but nothing special. He has no real NHL future…Sangs, Potter and Sauer do…
I welcome your thoughts…
Wicky229says:
December 21, 2008 at 2:01 PMThanks Mitch.
I really appreciate your response and candor.
The big club obviously needs some more physicality on the blue line (the wings as well). I kind of thought Denisov might provide that, but I do not have a decent grasp on the Hartford players (other than stats), so I really do appreciate all of your info.
davidsays:
December 23, 2008 at 1:26 AMThe blue-liners are all pretty bad this season.
Potter has regressed in my opinion. He is nearly aggressive this season as he was last season. And his mystery passes to nowhere continue. Perhaps being partnered with Hutch was part of Potter’s success last season.
Sauer, it is too early to tell for him, coming back from injury. Though he has shown some aggressiveness. That is encouraging.
As far as Sanguninetti goes — as with all rookies I stay very neutral with my emotions. But from observation, he looked better in October than he does now. He looks like a lost soul on the ice. Saturday night against Hamilton, their 1st and 3rd goals can be laid directly at his doorstep. On the 1st goal, Snaguinetti actually had turned his back to the player with the puck and screened Wiikman. When he touches the puck, he treats it like a hot grenade. He has a lot of work to do before New York is in his future.
These 3 guys have to get much better.
lauriesays:
December 23, 2008 at 3:50 PMDenisov got burned by Pacioretty, yes, but it’s not fair to base an evaluation of his season on one play. That would be like saying Chris Pronger is a bad defenseman because Nigel Dawes made him look silly in Anaheim last week.
While you’re probably right that he doesn’t have an NHL future, he’s been solid for the Pack this season while the guys who are supposed to be the future of the organization have been anything but. Yes, he makes his share of mistakes (he reminds me of Kaspar at times in the way he takes himself out of position for a hit, and that (Belo)Russian temper of his has lead to some really poorly-timed penalties) but his have been fewer and father in between than some others.
As for Sanguinetti and Potter’s numbers suffering due to being matched with the lower forward lines — which I don’t necessarily think is 100% accurate, since that pairing (when it existed) was most often the pairing that got put with whatever line Parenteau was on — I’d point out that what was (until recently) the fourth line of Pyatt – Ouellette – Owens is the only line on the team on which all three players are plus players.
It is getting harder and harder to not blurt out “he’s brutal” when people ask me about Sanguinetti. You want to give a rookie the benefit of the doubt but the lack of improvement is alarming. It seems elementary to me that if your defense partner is already committed to the puck carrier, you don’t commit to the same guy. But he does it again and again. And I’d agree that Potter has taken a step (or three) backwards, but I think that may have as much to do with playing with Sanguinetti as it does with missing Hutch. It would be interesting to do an analysis similar to what Dubi did with Kalinin on Sanguinetti, because I suspect Potter’s +/- without Sanguinetti would be better. Though he’s another one who’s taken entirely too many bad penalties. I think there was a string of three or four games in a row just before he got called up in which he either put the team down two men, or took a penalty immediately after the team had killed one off.
At the moment, I can’t complain too much about Sauer. He’s looked remarkably mobile since coming back from a surgury that’s supposed to set people back for months. But he too has had his moments. I can’t remember if it was Saturday or Sunday, but I watched him chase his defense partner into a corner after a single puck carrier, leaving the forwards to cover the front of the net. Those are the kind of positional mistakes you’d hope guys, especially those in their second or third years, don’t make at this level. (Then again, having watched the Rangers defense this year, I guess I should know better by now. 😉 )