ENTIRE RANGERS ORGANIZATION GOES 0-3 SATURDAY NIGHT 

     VERSUS     

It was one of those rare nights where the varsity and JV play against one another on the same night. Interestingly enough, both games resulted in the Islanders organization, playing almost identical games, beat both of the New York Rangers teams, that both suffered from an inability to finish, and both by the same score. In Madison Square Garden, the New York Rangers came from two goals down in the third period with a late goal, in a man-advantage-like situation (Henrik Lundqvist pulled) that sent the game to overtime where they would go on to lose 3-2. Meanwhile at the Arena at Harbor Yard, the Hartford Wolf Pack came back from 1-0 and 2-1 in the third period and capitalized on a man-advantage (power play) with just 1:14 remaining to send the game to overtime. The only difference the Pack were only able to produce a P.A. Parenteau goal in the shootout, while the Bridgeport Sound Tigers got goals from Trevor Smith and rookie Justin DiBenedetto and lost by the same 3-2 score. In Charlotte, the Checkers were shut out by the Florida Everblades 2-0.

The Islanders came at the Rangers hard on the forecheck. After the  game, ex-Pack and current Rangers center, Brandon Dubinsky said to reporters, what any of the Pack players could have said after their matchup, “We knew they were going to forecheck hard and force us to grind.”

While the Pack dominated shots wise early on, at one point leading 11-3, most of the shots came from the outside. “We have an aggressive forecheck.” Sound Tigers head coach Jack Capuano said. “We want to play on our toes and not on our heels. We got caught a few times, a couple of odd man rushes but I thought both goaltenders played real well tonight and kept both teams in the game and especially our guy made some key saves in key moments of the game.”

Wolf Pack head coach Ken Gernander didn’t feel it was as much of an issue. “We outshot them 14-7 in the first. So I don’t know that we were dominated or out worked,” He said. “I thought there were times were we gave up some easy scoring chances but with a breakout here or there but for the most part I thought we played a pretty solid game.”

The Wolf Pack came out hard and fast to start the second period, it was the Sound Tigers that got through first. ON a hard forecheck, Pack defenseman Bobby Sanguinetti coughed up the puck in the left corner to Tigers defenseman Mark Katic. The Porcupine, Ontario native found Jesse Joensuu and got him the puck. Joensuu found rookie left winger Justin DiBenedetto all by himself on the right doorstep and put the puck in perfect position. DiBenedetto showed the patience of a veteran and waited as Steve Valiquette went down to get the puck. DiBenedetto lifted the puck over the fallen Pack netminder and into the net at 3:06.

Valiquette, who continues to struggle to rediscover his game and was sent to Hartford after backing up Henrik Lundqvist the last three years in New York, came up huge early in the third period. After a Dale Weise feed to Brodie Dupont got lost in the translation, ex-Pack captain Greg Moore picked up the puck and went in all alone on a breakaway. Valiquette (27 saves, 2-3-1) flashed the glove and foiled Moore’s bid for his eighth of the season.

The Pack got their chances on Tigers netminder Nathan Lawson, (39 saves, 7-7-1). Lawson was particularly good when he rose to the occasion and denied Mike Hoffman’s breakaway bid moments after Moore’s shot.

A hooking call went to Paul Crowder at 5:12. Nigel Williams intercepted a pass and started a break out as the penalty to Crowder expired with a pass to Parenteau. The duo became a tri as Crowder filled the left wing and turned it to a three-on-two odd man rush back the other way. Parenteau slid the puck past Dustin Kohn to Williams who filled the middle lane. Williams made a touch pass to Crowder who came in hard and fired a shot that went over the outstretched stick of Victor Bartley and through Lawson for the equalizer at 7:19.

Exactly three minutes later the game would turn on a controversial call by referee Geno Binda.

After a scramble in front of the Tigers net created by an Andres Ambϋhl feed that freed Derek Couture to crash the net, a clearing pass by Mark Katic was initially controlled by David Urquhart on the right point. Urquhart was stripped on the play by Matt Martin who beat Urquhart to the puck and raced to the Pack zone on the left wing side. Urquhart was hooking Martin as he crossed the Pack blueline. The Tiger forward clearly fired off a shot that hit the left post and bumped Michael Sauer and fell sliding hard into the boards behind the net. Binda called a penalty shot on the play. Gernander argued the call.

“(Binda) said that the penalty occurred before that (the shot).” Gernander said. “I said that he went in uncontested and got a shot away. That’s not a penalty shot and he disagreed with me.”

On the ensuing penalty shot, Martin came up ice with speed and Valiquette remained stationary and did not come out much from the net. Given the time and space to select from, Martin ripped a shot high to Valiquette’s stick side and beat the Pack netminder for the go ahead goal.

But the Pack did not go quietly off into that good night. They raised their game and pressed for the tying goal.

The fourth line of Devin DiDIomete, Ryan Garlock and Mike Hoffman had the most sustained puck control shift of the game for the Pack and buried the tigers deep cycling and putting shots on net and then retrieving the puck but could not break through.

With 2:20 remaining the AHL’s leading scorer, Corey Locke and Parenteau has an excellent chance turned away by Lawson on what might have been the Pack’s best rush of the game.

14 seconds later Kohn would take a tripping call sending the Pack’s struggling power play unit onto the ice.

Illka Heikkinen, just back along with Bobby Sanguinetti from recall with the Rangers, fired a low hard shot from the high slot. Dane Byers did what he does best and wrecked havoc in front of Lawson. He redirected Heikkinen’s shot to his left to Locke who was all alone and fired it into the empty side of the net with just 1;14 remaining.

“We contained them. It’s tough to shut those guys guys down (The Pack’s top line of Byers, Parenteau and Locke) obviously. That’s about as good of a top line that you’re going to see in the American Hockey League. At the end they got a power play goal but I thought we did a good job to contain them a little bit.” Capuano said.

“I thought we did a good job staying with it and tied the game up.” Gernander said. “I thought we made some mistakes in coverage early in the shift on the first goal. Second goal, penalty shot. Not sure if the guy (Martin) gets the shot off on the original play and that a penalty shot should have been awarded there, but the guys persevered to tie it up.”

In overtime, both teams had excellent chances to score and both were turned away with superb goaltending.

1:23 in it looked like the Pack might win it when Weise’s feed to Dupont in front caused a big scramble in front. “I really thought it went in, but their goalie somehow kept it out.” Weise said.

Then 1:07 later, the Tiger’s Mark Wotten almost ended it on a partial breakaway but was denied by Valiquette’s pad save.

But the Pack would come up short in the shoot out as only Parenteau would break through but the Tigers would get goals from Trevor Smith and DiBenedetto to win it.

“It was a good hockey game for the day after Christmas” Capuano said

Gernander summed it up saying, “Special teams got us a point there at the end. Guys stuck with it and pressured right there to the end. They had three guys back on most of most rushes there. We got pucks deep, drew some penalties got us the PP and we convert to get us the point.”

 Bob Crawford recaps the contest for Hartfordwolfpack.com.  Meanwhile one of our favorite writers, Michael Fornabaio reports from the Sound Tigers perspective at CTPost.com. Fornabaio also has a fascinating story about attendance issues for both the Sound Tigers and the Bridgeport Blue Fish baseball team also in the Connecticut Post.

GAME SUMMARY and OFFICIAL SCORERS SHEET

SHOOT OUT RESULTS:

STANDINGS:

NOTES:

* At the start of the game, the microphone system failed so the singer scheduled to do the National Anthem couldn’t be heard. But in a rather stirring moment, the entire crowd spontaneously began to sing it themselves. It was quite moving. 

* After a terrific streak that saw Hartford look unbeatable at 11-3-0-1, over the past 11 they’ve looked anything but going, 2-5-1-3.

*  The Pack are still winless if after two periods they trail, in those scenarios their record is 0-11-0-2

*  In one goal games, the Pack are 5-4-1-4, when they out shoot their opponents the team record is 8-6-1-2

* Gernander said that Mathieu Dandenault (lower body injury) will begin to skate this week, “but not full skating . Sort of testing the waters. Hopefully after this weekend he’ll be evaluated again and he’ll need a good week to ten days of good conditioning and strengthening. He’s just sort of testing the waters this week.”

LINES:

Byers © – Locke – Parenteau

Grachev – Dupont – Weise

Ambϋhl – Crowder – Couture

DiDiomete – Garlock – Hoffman

Heikkinen – Sanguinetti

Williams – Potter

Urquhart – Sauer

Valiquette

(Captain and Assistant Captains Bold and Italicized)

SCRATCHES:

Jared Nightingale – Healthy

Jordan Owens – Upper Body

Justin Soryal – Facial Injury – Indefinite

Chad Johnson – On recall with the NY Rangers

Mathieu Dandenault – Lower Body – 3-4 Weeks

Brent Henley – ACL – Season

THREE STARS:

1. BRI – J. DiBenedetto
2. BRI – N. Lawson
3. BRI – M. Martin

ON ICE OFFICIALS:

Referee:
Geno Binda (22)

Linesmen:
Luke Galvin (2)
Brent Colby (7)

NEXT GAME:

The Pack go from their southern franchise rival to their northern local rival as they take a ride up I-91 to take on the drowning Springfield Falcons, who’ve lost 12 straight.  Here’s a good chance for the Pack to get back on the right track. Game time is 3:00pm.

To watch the game live, you can purchased it for $6.99 at AHL-live.

The Pack’s next home game is not until December 30th when they will play their last game of 2009. If you can attend the game for as little as $10 a ticket, why not just go? For Ticket information call (860) 548-2000.

Or you can listen live at WTIC.com.

SCORE-SHEET:

Hartford Wolf Pack 2 At Bridgeport Sound Tigers 3 (SO) – Status: Final SO

Dec 26, 2009 – Arena at Harbor Yard

Hartford 0 0 2 0 – 2

Bridgeport 0 1 1 0 – 3

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Couture Hfd (hooking), 8:19; Bartley Bri (interference), 11:58; Smith Bri (tripping), 14:51; Sauer Hfd (roughing), 19:12; Moore Bri (roughing), 19:12.

2nd Period-1, Bridgeport, DiBenedetto 6 (Joensuu, Katic), 3:06. Penalties-Ambuhl Hfd (interference), 5:24; Wotton Bri (interference), 8:10.

3rd Period-2, Hartford, Crowder 7 (Williams, Parenteau), 7:19. 3, Bridgeport, Martin 8   10:19 (ps). 4, Hartford, Locke 14 (Byers, Heikkinen), 18:46 (pp). Penalties-Crowder Hfd (hooking), 5:12; Sanguinetti Hfd (slashing), 10:42; Kohn Bri (tripping), 17:54.

OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties

Shootout – Hartford 1 (Locke NG, Parenteau G, Crowder NG, Byers NG, Weise NG, Dupont NG), Bridgeport 2 (Smith G, Moore NG, Mauldin NG, Joensuu NG, Bentivoglio NG, DiBenedetto G).

Shots on Goal-Hartford 14-10-15-2-0-41. Bridgeport 7-11-9-2-1-30.

Power Play Opportunities-Hartford 1 of 4; Bridgeport 0 of 4.

Goalies-Hartford, Valiquette 2-3-1 (29 shots-27 saves). Bridgeport, Lawson 7-7-1 (41 shots-39 saves).

A-6,143

MEANWHILE BACK IN CHARLOTTE

     VERSUS  

CHECKERS BLANKED BY EVERBLADES
Teddy Bear Toss Spoiled; Florida Gets 15 Power Play Opportunities

The Charlotte Checkers spotted the Florida Everblades two power-play goals and could not bounce back as they were defeated 3-0 on Saturday in front of a crowd of over 10,000 at Time Warner Cable Arena.

Ryan Munce stopped 45 of 47 and the Everblades scored two power-play goals on 15 opportunities.

In a reversal of roles, Florida spoiled the Charlotte fans’ chances of throwing stuffed animals on the ice as part of “Teddy Bear Toss Night” by blanking the home team. On Dec. 12 in Florida, the Checkers shut out the Everblades, 3-0, ruining the chance for fans in Fort Myers to toss their bears.

The Checkers fell behind with less than five minutes to play in the first period. Florida cycled the puck down low in the Charlotte end before Mathieu Roy took a shot at Munce and Matthew Pistilli was there to bang home the rebound for his first of the season.

Early in the second period, the Everblades appeared to go ahead by two but the goal was disallowed as it was ruled that the puck was kicked in.

Florida would, however, take a two-goal lead with six minutes to play in the second period, again on the power play. Ross Carlson took a pass on the goal line from Ernie Hartlieb and tucked it home on the short side past Munce.

Charlotte pressed in the third period and threw 13 shots at Florida goaltender Mike Morrison, however they were unable to solve the former NHL netminder. The Everblades would add an empty-net goal and walk away with the 3-0 victory.

The Checkers (15-10-4-0) will travel to South Carolina tomorrow before returning on Sunday, Jan. 3 to host Gwinnett. Game time is 2 p.m. and ticket information can be obtained by calling 704-342-4-ICE or visiting www.gocheckers.com

GAME SUMMARY and OFFICIAL GAME SHEET 

NOTES:

*  Ryan Munce ranks second among all ECHL goaltenders with a .922 save percentage…

*  Tyler Doig has 11 points in his last 10 games… and currently ranks 7th in the ECHL in points with 8g, 25a, 33pts. Michel Leveille is 19th with 10g, 17a, 27pts.

*  Kenny Roche has six goals in his last nine games, including two game-winners…

*  The Checkers are 8-3-1 in their last 12 home games…

*  T.J. Reynolds leads all ECHL players with 124 penalty minutes, leads all ECHL defensemen with 12 fighting majors and leads the Checkers with a +16 rating…

*  The Checker power play ranks 14th out of 20 and 19th on the PK.

* Trevor Glass, Codey Burki and Aaron Slattengren are on the 21-day injured reserve.

LINES:

Rowe – Leveille © – Doig

Slattengren – Harder – Roche

Carroll – Taylor – Chabot

Marshall – Schepke

Reynolds – Berube

Brouillette – Schaeffer

Ward

Munce

(Captain and Assistant Captains Bold and Italicized)

THREE STARS:

1. FLA – M. Morrison

2. CHR – R. Munce

3. CHR – A. Carroll

ON ICE OFFICIALS:

Referee:

Jason Rollins (13)

Linesmen:

Mark Hamlett (81)

Terry Wicklum (98)

NEXT GAME:

The Checkers take their sixth shot in seven games at South Carolina. They are 1-3-1-0 against the ECHL’s best. Charlotte is currently 8th overall. Game time is 4pm and can be seen at B2TV.com.

SCORE SHEET:

Florida Everblades 3 At Charlotte Checkers 0 – Status: Final

Dec 26, 2009 – Time Warner Cable Arena

Florida 1 1 1 – 3

Charlotte 0 0 0 – 0

1st Period-1, Florida, Pistilli 1 (Roy, Hotham), 15:11 (pp). Penalties-Leveille Chr (hooking), 1:50; Reynolds Chr (roughing), 2:57; Roy Fla (tripping), 7:53; Schepke Chr (roughing), 10:11; Schepke Chr (hooking, unsportsmanlike conduct – disputing decision), 12:44; Buck Fla (interference), 16:45; Berube Chr (boarding), 19:10.

2nd Period-2, Florida, Carlson 10 (Hartlieb, Duffy), 14:03 (pp). Penalties-Roy Fla (interference), 1:28; Morrison Fla (boarding), 5:00; Olson Fla (slashing ), 5:00; Leveille Chr (holding), 5:00; Reid Fla (fighting – major), 7:08; Carroll Chr (elbowing, fighting – major), 7:08; Hartlieb Fla (interference), 7:48; Schepke Chr (hooking), 12:58; Berube Chr (cross-checking), 13:39; Chabot Chr (slashing ), 14:12; Leveille Chr (unsportsmanlike conduct), 14:12; Olson Fla (fighting – major), 17:58; Carroll Chr (fighting – major), 17:58; Reynolds Chr (cross-checking), 17:58; Guthrie Fla (fighting – major, game misconduct – jersey), 19:57; Taylor Chr (fighting – major), 19:57.

3rd Period-3, Florida, Healey 1 (Carlson), 18:33 (en). Penalties-Slattengren Chr (hooking), 3:50; Rowe Chr (elbowing), 6:35; Paquet Fla (interference), 8:43; Zanon Fla (cross-checking), 9:54; Olson Fla (unsportsmanlike conduct, fighting – major), 19:13; Berube Chr (fighting – major), 19:13; Doig Chr (slashing , misconduct), 19:13; Reynolds Chr (unsportsmanlike conduct), 19:59.

Shots on Goal-Florida 18-18-11-47. Charlotte 10-5-13-28.

Power Play Opportunities-Florida 2 of 15; Charlotte 0 of 7.

Goalies-Florida, Morrison 7-8-1-0 (28 shots-28 saves). Charlotte, Munce 5-5-1-0 (46 shots-44 saves).

A-10,980