LOST AT SEA

     VERSUS      

“Penalties and turnovers undid a lot of hard work,” Hartford Wolf Pack head coach Ken Gernander said after Wednesday night’s 5-4 loss to the visiting Norfolk Admirals. It could just as easily been the same comments after the overtime loss to Springfield last Saturday night or the Sunday afternoon defeat to Manchester. “Sometimes there are critical moments where you need a little bit extra, make a supreme effort or make sure you’re diligent, but we dropped the ball in couple of critical areas. We had some guys produce and elevate their game, and other guys didn’t do as much.”

What made Ken Gernander one of the best AHL players of all time was that he never quit, never made excuses and was a team guy first, second and third and that’s how he coaches now. He’ll never say that his team isn’t good enough to win and when he says it, he means it. When asked after the Springfield loss if he felt that it was an area of concern that his team doesn’t have a legitimate heavyweight enforcer to turn to to keep the peace and that other teams might fee free to take liberties, he was emphatic in his response, “No. NO. NO!” If you asked him now, if he felt he has the players right now that he needs to win, you’d certainly get that same kind of answer. You have to respect a person who is that loyal to his squad.

However, in the case of the Hartford Wolf Pack as they are constructed right now, there’s just not enough talent in the room to get it done on a regular basis. This Wolf Pack team is decimated with injuries to key players. The team’s best two forwards are out with injuries. Dale Weise is recovering from a hand injury, He might be able to play this coming weekend. The team’s best player, P.A. Parenteau has a concussion and there’s no telling when he will be back. Same thing can be said for the Pack’s best defensive pair. Bobby Sanguinetti is out of action for at least a few more days due to a lower body injury he sustained against Springfield. Corey Potter is out indefinitely as well as he also was concussed and there is no telling when he will be back either.  Mike Hoffman, the team’s heavyweight enforcer is done for the season after shoulder surgery as is the team’s other heavyweight, Brent Henley with a knee injury. Mathieu Dandenault, the Pack’s most NHL experienced and versatile player has a lower body injury and is still several weeks away from taking it to the ice.

Now, this is NOT meant as a knock or some sort of derogatory comment in any way towards the effort that is being put out on the ice by this current Wolf Pack squad. They are not losing for lack of effort or desire to achieve. Paraphrasing Gernander, he’s said essentially, that his team is taking penalties, have been loose with the puck and just plain making mistakes. They’re making the kinds of mistakes that a player sent to Charlotte that’s back on a call-up is going to make. As Rangers Coach John Tortorella said, speaking of playing younger guys instead of underachieving veterans, “We’ll go through some bumps in the road with kids…” The Wolf Pack are doing just that as their injured list leaves them no choice.

The one thing that this team has, and comes right down from the coaching staff, is that they don’t quit. Three times in this contest the team worked together to fight back deficits.

Kevin Schaeffer, a Charlotte call-up put the puck out of play just 2:03 into the contest sending out a penalty killing unit that struggled when they were with a full compliment of players. They entered the game 22nd (of 29) overall in success rate at just 80.9%. They’d leave the game 25th at 80.4%.

48 seconds into the kill, Norfolk was able to get one past Matt Zaba, who prior to the game switched places again with Chad Johnson in New York. Norfolk Right wing, NHL veteran Mark Parish and Pack defenseman Jared Nightingale battled in front of Zaba in the crease which created a pretty big wall in front of the Pack netminder. Zaba (21 saves, 3-5-1) never saw defenseman Matt Lashoff’s shot from the left side blue line and the Pack were down a goal early.

But the team battled back.

The Pack capitalized on the power play themselves at 10:05 with Matt Fornataro leaving Norfolk shorthanded after taking a hooking call at 8:41. After Ilkka Heikkinen made a great play to recover the puck in the zone after his own shot was blocked, he forwarded it to another call-up, Kenny Roche. Roche in turn advanced the puck to the Pack’s leading scorer, Corey Locke. The 2010 All-Star then made a spectacular pass through the legs of Lashoff who was stationed perfected between Locke and Dane Byers. The Pack captain got ahead of Parrish defending and crashed the net. Byers, who thrives on those kinds of situations in front of the opposition net, just putted it past Norfolk starter, Dustin Tokarski (24 saves, 14-13-0).

A defensive breakdown led to the second Admirals goal. Parrish, who was all over the ice all night long and deserving of the game’s First Star status, got by Andres Ambϋhl following up a bouncing puck off the stick of Mitch Fadden. The Norfolk center then drew Nigel Williams to the side opening a lane for a soft shot that hit Zaba and went into the net. It was a goal that Zaba should have had and certainly would have wanted back. 

Parrish has been red hot of late with goals now in six of his last seven games.

It didn’t take the Pack long to erase their first period ending deficit in the second period. The Pack came out of the break and just took the game right at the Admirals. After excellent pressure in the Norfolk zone by the line of Paul Crowder, Ambϋhl and Jordan Owens they struck pay dirt. First Owens put a wraparound shot on net and Ambϋhl recovered the puck and also put it on net. Ambϋhl’s shot hit Tokarski and left a rebound just outside the crease. As players scrambled to control it, Crowder got to it first and netted his tenth of the season, flipping it in-between AHL All Star Blair Jones and Tokarski and the game was even at two goals each.

The Pack then worked for and earned their one an only lead of the game 4:07 later. Locke took a turnover on the right wing side in the offensive zone. The Pack center saw linemate Roche coming up the right side of the slot and put a pass right where the former Rangers third round pick (#75 overall) in the 2003 draft could grab it cleanly. Roche then unloaded a hard wrist shot that beat Tokarski cleanly to the glove side for his first goal since joining the Pack four days earlier on a Professional tryout contract up from Charlotte.

But the lead didn’t last long.

After being pinned in their own zone again by the Pack line of Byers, Locke and Roche, Norfolk finally recovered the puck. Veteran NHL Defenseman David Hale, in Norfolk on a conditioning stint from the parent Tampa Bay Lightning, sent a long pass up ice off the boards. The Pack’s Dave Urquhart tried to settle it, but the puck jumped over his stick just outside the defensive zone. As he went back to retrieve it he got tied up with Chris Lawrence up high just inside the Pack zone on the left side. The loose biscuit was picked up by Dana Tyrell who moved to the slot and the center fired a hard snap shot that beat Zaba to the stick side and the game was tied at three.

Nightingale was sent to the sin-bin at 19:29 of the second period. The Pack defenseman was sent to serve a two minute sentence for a Tripping wrap to Fornataro. With just 51 seconds left in the period, the Norfolk power play, which entered the game an anemic 12.2% (28th in the AHL), struck for the second time in three tries.

Hale came up the crease completely untouched and received a pass from the right corner from Radek Smolenak that went through both defenseman Michael Sauer and Byers and onto the defenseman’s stick. Hale ripped the black out of the puck from in tight and Zaba had no shot as it sailed over his glove giving the Admirals the 4-3 lead to end the period.

The Pack players reflected their coach’s hard work ethic in the third period and with just 4:52 left to play in the contest, they found a way to tie the score.

Tyrell interfered with Derek Couture at 13:54 giving the Pack their third power play try of the game and despite the fact that they have been struggling with the man-advantage they made it work for the second time in the contest.

Williams made a tremendous cross ice feed to find Locke on the lower left side. Locke, who entered the game with 12 of his 18 goals on the power play, added his 13th when he went short side in to the upper corner of the net as Tokarski was unable to cover that corner of the net.

It was starting to look like this game was headed to an extra frame to settle it as both teams started to play cautious hockey. But with just 2:46 remaining in the game, Fadden scored what would prove to be the game winner.

Zaba described the play to reporters after the game.

“(Fornataro’s) shot got blocked, and there was a mass of people in front, so I just went down in a butterfly to try to make myself as big as possible, not knowing where the puck was,” Zaba said. “It ended up on (Fadden’s) stick, and in a mad scramble, he puts it in. That kind of sums up how the night was going.”

“I thought we played well, but a couple of mistakes ended up in the back of our net. And I didn’t make the big save when I needed to. It was frustrating all around from the bounces, the timing and the way it ended. But that seems to be the way the puck has been bouncing for me all season. I have to try to find a way to stick with it and get some wins. It’s just one of those things that you have to battle through and eventually things will start going my way and the team’s way more.”

The New York Rangers also lost Wednesday night. After that defeat, Ranger goalie Henrik Lundqvist said, “Some guys might say something but for the most part it is more important that the older guys, starting with me, show it with the way we play.  We need to play better.  It is some small details that just need to be corrected.  We can turn it around.  I know we are a good team.  I know I can stop pucks.  We just need to stay confident and turn this around.”

Zaba added to reporters the following: “I know I can play better than I played tonight, and I’m sure a lot of the other guys are thinking the same way. If we score four goals, we should win the game. There’s no excuse for us not to win the game. Maybe if we get rid of our few mental lapses and I come up with one or two big saves that I need to make, we win the game 4-2. We definitely beat ourselves more than they beat us.”

In Hartford, the coaching situation is being handled about as well as anyone could handle it. Once the Pack goaltenders regain their confidence and if they can get more consistent play in front of them, and get some of their premier talented players back from injury, they should be okay to keep their twelve year straight playoff appearance record moving to a thirteenth.

It will be interesting to see with the Rangers struggling as they have been all season, if they decide to be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline. If they sell, that will open up opportunities in New York for players like Weise, Parenteau, Sanguinetti and the others currently on the injured list. If they decide to buy, some of these same players could be headed elsewhere.

Bruce Berlet has the story from the press box and filed this report at Hartfordwolfpack.com.  For the Norfolk perspective, check The Virginian-Pilot and the Admirals own site.

GAME SUMMARY and OFFICIAL SCORERS SHEET
 

STANDINGS:

NOTES:
* Rumors are still swirling out of New York, and certainly weren’t quieted in any way by Head Coach John Tortorella’s benching of Wade Redden in Wednesday night’s 5-1 loss to Carolina, that the beleaguered defenseman could be put on waivers and sent to Hartford. It is HIGHLY unlikely that any team will claim Redden. How he handles the demotion, if it happens, could be either a great thing for Hartford or a gigantic disaster if he comes in with a bad attitude. Howlings will continue to follow this story and pass it along as things go on

* We are also proud to announce that starting with this weekend’s games, you can follow all the action as Howlings keeps you up to date on Twitter at HowlingsToday.  If you’re a Twitter user, please be sure to follow us.

LINES:

Grachev – Dupont – Couture
Byers © – Locke – Roche
Ambϋhl – Crowder – Owens
Soryal – Garlock – Doig

Urquhart – Sauer
Heikkinen – Schaeffer
Williams – Nightingale

Zaba
Valiquette

(Assistant Captains Bold and Italicized)

SCRATCHES:

Devin DiDiomete – Healthy Scratch
Dale Weise – Hand – Day-to-Day
Bobby Sanguinetti – Lower Body – Day-to-Day
Corey Potter – Concussion – Indefinite
P.A. Parenteau – Concussion – Indefinite
Mathieu Dandenault – Lower Body – Three to Four Weeks 
Chad Johnson – Recall with the NY Rangers
Brent Henley – Knee  – Season
Mike Hoffman – Shoulder – Season

THREE STARS:

1. NOR – M. Parrish
2. HFD – C. Locke
3. HFD – K. Roche

ON ICE OFFICIALS:

Referee:
Francis Charron (46)

Linesmen:
Luke Galvin (2)
Derek Wahl (46)

NEXT GAME:
The next three games for the Pack are huge. They will really determine if the Pack have ANY chance of getting into the playoffs. They will first host the front end of a home–and-home series with the Lowell Devils. Then they’ll face off with Manchester at the XL Center for the last meeting of the regular season and then finish the home-and-home with Lowell at the Tsongas Arena. After that, they’ll face these same Admirals for two straight nights (Friday and Saturday) in Norfolk.

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

If you can attend the cost is as little as $10 a ticket, why not just go? For Ticket information call (860) 548-2000.

Too far away or can’t make it? Listen live at WTIC.com.

SCORE-SHEET:

Norfolk Admirals 5 At Hartford Wolf Pack 4 – Status: Final

Jan 27, 2010 – XL Center Veterans Memorial Coliseum

Norfolk 2 2 1 – 5

Hartford 1 2 1 – 4

1st Period-1, Norfolk, Lashoff 4 (Simek, Hale), 2:51 (pp). 2, Hartford, Byers 12 (Locke, Roche), 10:05 (pp). 3, Norfolk, Parrish 11 (Fadden, Wishart), 14:12. Penalties-Schaeffer Hfd (delay of game), 2:03; Couture Hfd (hooking), 7:42; Fornataro Nor (holding), 8:41.

2nd Period-4, Hartford, Crowder 10 (Ambuhl, Owens), 2:42. 5, Hartford, Roche 1 (Locke), 6:49. 6, Norfolk, Tyrell 2 (Cruthers), 10:10. 7, Norfolk, Hale 1 (Smolenak, Lashoff), 19:09 (pp). Penalties-Mihalik Nor (cross-checking), 3:14; Nightingale Hfd (tripping), 18:29.

3rd Period-8, Hartford, Locke 19 (Williams, Heikkinen), 15:08 (pp). 9, Norfolk, Fornataro 3 (Jackson, Wishart), 17:14. Penalties-Dupont Hfd (hooking), 0:37; Tyrell Nor (interference), 13:54.

Shots on Goal-Norfolk 10-8-8-26. Hartford 7-10-11-28.

Power Play Opportunities-Norfolk 2 of 4; Hartford 2 of 3.

Goalies-Norfolk, Tokarski 14-13-0 (28 shots-24 saves). Hartford, Zaba 3-5-1 (26 shots-21 saves).

A-2,082

MEANWHILE BACK IN CHARLOTTE

     VERSUS                

CHECKERS’ WIN STREAK SNAPPED AT THREE 

David Marshall picked up the lone goal for the Checkers while Barret Ehgoetz and Scott Reynolds each recorded a goal and an assist for the North Division-leading Cyclones. Miika Wiikman, who entered the game midway through the first period in relief of Ryan Munce, stopped 17 of 18 shots.

Just under four minutes into the game, Cincinnati opened the scoring on a goal by Chris Morehouse. Morehouse took the puck in the high slot and fired a shot over the glove of Munce for his third of the season.

The Cyclones would go ahead by two, four minutes later, when the Checkers were unable to clear the zone, resulting in a turnover. The puck made its way back to the point and Cincinnati defenseman Dwayne Zinger let go a slap shot. Munce stopped the shot with his left pad, but Matt Pierce was on the doorstep to stuff home the rebound for his team-leading 23rd tally of the season.

Cincinnati then went ahead 3-0, before the game was 10 minutes old, when leading scorer Ehgoetz stripped a Charlotte defender behind the net and fed Reynolds in the slot. Reynolds made no mistake and found the back of net, ending the night for Munce as he was pulled from the game.

The goaltending change seemed to work as Charlotte cut the Cyclones’ lead to 3-1 just 29 seconds later. Mike Taylor forced a giveaway with a hard forecheck in the Cincinnati end and fed the puck out front to David Marshall, who converted for his ninth of the season.

In the second period, both teams were awarded their first power plays of the game but were unable to score with the man-advantage. The Cyclones held a 25-17 shot advantage through 40 minutes of play.

Early in the third, Cincinnati would score to regain the three-goal lead. Ian McKenzie dropped a pass to Reynolds who put the puck on net and Ehgoetz was there to pot the rebound.

Tempers flared following the goal as Cyclones forward Dustin Sproat took exception to a Jean-Philipp Chabot hit and earned himself an instigator penalty. The Checkers were unable to score on the ensuing power play and Cincinnati goaltender Robert Mayer turned aside the remaining six shots he faced for the 4-1 win.

The Checkers (22-14-5) will continue their northern road trip in Johnstown Friday before returning on Thursday, Feb. 4 to host the Florida Everblades Ticket information can be obtained by calling 704-342-4-ICE or visiting www.gocheckers.com.  

GAME SUMMARY and OFFICIAL SCORERS SHEET 

NOTES:

* Charlotte is 13-3-1 in its last 17 home games

* The Checkers are 5-0-0 against East Division opponents this season

* Andrew Carroll has seven goals and six assists in his last 10 games

* Tyler Doig ranks fifth in ECHL scoring with 48 points (11g, 37a) while Leveille ranks tied for 11th with 42 points (14g, 28a)

* Julien Brouillette has eight points (4g, 4a) in his last eight games and ranks sixth among all ECHL defensemen with 26 points (10g, 16a)

* T.J. Reynolds leads all ECHL defensemen with 168 penalty minutes, and is fourth in overall plus-minus with a +17 rating

* Derek Couture, Tyler Doig, Kenny Roche and Kevin Schaeffer are with Hartford (AHL) while Matt Ford and Randy Rowe are with Lake Erie (AHL)

* Trevor Glass, Chris Snavely and Chris Chappell are on the 21-day injured reserve.

LINES:

Carroll –Leveille © – Burki
Slattengren – Tkaczuk – Schepke
Chabot – Taylor – Marshall

Graham – Ward
Reynolds – Brouillette
Berube – Dowzak

Munce
Wiikman

(Assistant Captains Bold and Italicized)

SCRATCHES:

Chris Snavely – 21-day IR 
Trevor Glass – Close to returning
Chris Chappell – Season ending injury

THREE STARS:

1. CIN – B. Ehgoetz
2. CIN – R. Mayer
3. CIN – S. Reynolds

ON ICE OFFICIALS:

Referee:
Curtis Marouelli (24)

Linesmen: 
Dan Cohen (65)
Judson Ritter (70)

NEXT GAME:

SCORE-SHEET:

Charlotte Checkers 1 At Cincinnati Cyclones 4 – Status: Final

Jan 27, 2010 – U.S. Bank Arena

Charlotte 1 0 0 – 1

Cincinnati 3 0 1 – 4

1st Period-1, Cincinnati, Morehouse 3   3:42. 2, Cincinnati, Pierce 23 (Zinger, Motherwell), 8:00. 3, Cincinnati, Reynolds 16 (Ehgoetz), 9:12. 4, Charlotte, Marshall 9   9:41. Penalties-Reynolds Chr (unsportsmanlike conduct), 15:56; Morehouse Cin (unsportsmanlike conduct), 15:56.

2nd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Berube Chr (interference), 9:47; McKenzie Cin (roughing), 13:53.

3rd Period-5, Cincinnati, Ehgoetz 17 (Reynolds, McKenzie), 4:27. Penalties-Chabot Chr (fighting – major), 5:58; Sproat Cin (instigating, fighting – major), 5:58; Burki Chr (hooking), 8:27; Carroll Chr (tripping), 14:14.

Shots on Goal-Charlotte 9-8-8-25. Cincinnati 15-10-8-33.

Power Play Opportunities-Charlotte 0 of 2; Cincinnati 0 of 3.

Goalies-Charlotte, Munce 8-8-1-0 (8 shots-5 saves); Wiikman 8-2-1-2 (25 shots-24 saves). Cincinnati, Mayer 11-7-0-0 (25 shots-24 saves).

A-1,907