WIN SOME, LOSE SOME… 

     VERSUS     

For the second consecutive game, the Hartford Wolf Pack blew a lead late in the game, but this time there would be no overtime heroics and dropped the first of back-to-back games at The Scope in Norfolk to the Admirals 3-2 in overtime.

Matt Lashoff fired a hard shot from the left side of the blue line in the offensive zone that found the stick of Paul Szczechura and deflected past Pack starter Matt Zaba (37 saves, 4-8-1) with just 1:10 remaining in the extra session. Szczechura was just returned to the Admirals after playing 37 games games with the parent Tampa Bay Lighting earlier in the day.

Szczechura’s heroics would not have happened had the Pack been able to hold a lead they had worked so hard to achieve. With just 3:05 remaining in regulation, much like the overtime killer, it was a deflection, this time off the stick of Justin Keller that found it’s way past the Pack netminder. Ryan McGinnis took the shot, again from the left point, off a feed from Szczechura for the equalizer.

The Pack got the games’ first goal for the first time in the last seven games.

With Brodie Dupont in the penalty box to start the second period after taking a hooking call with just 20 seconds left in a scoreless first period, Jared Nightingale, who had another strong game on defense for the visitors, got the puck and made an outlet pass to Dane Byers. Byers in turn fed Locke and rushed up the ice with him. Byers got ahead of Ty Wishart coming up the slot and Locke went to feed him from the right circle. Locke’s pass thought hit Wishart’s stick and deflected in past Jaroslav Janus (29 saves, 3-6-0).

The Pack continued to play strong defensively from the net out. Zaba made strong stops and controlled rebounds and looked particularly strong stopping Matt Fornataro on a rush where he had gotten by Dupont shortly after the Pack had taken the lead.

At 10:56 Andres Ambϋhl took a lazy hooking call and sent the Admirals 25th ranked power play back out to the ice for the third time and this time it cost them.

Wishart fed Fornataro the puck from the point to the left side half boards. Fornataro saw a seam in the Pack defenders and fed Mitch Fadden on the right side. The Admirals center then ripped a blast that found it’s way past Zaba over the short-side shoulder and glove for his third of the season and the score was even at one as the two headed to the dressing rooms to prepare for the third period.

Kenny Roche, who has played exceptionally well for the Wolf Pack since being signed to a Professional Try-Out contract on January 23rd. He blasted a rocket of a slap shot from the left circle off feeds by Evgeny Grachev and Nightingale that caught Janus and Lashoff out of position for his second goal in six games. The tally gave the Pack the 2-1 lead at 8:45.

This game was lost in what is becoming the common thread of problems for the Pack this season, the inability to cash in on the power play and the failures on the penalty kill.

In New Jersey against Lowell the Pack were one-for-seven. Against Norfolk they were shut out in six man-advantage situations. They are just two-for twenty-four in their last four games. For the season, they are 41-for-234 or 17.5%. Since November 21st, the team is 15-for-135 or 11.1%. The Penalty kill, which has struggled all season, is 22nd overall allowing 46 power play goals in 239 chances or 80.8 percent. The Pack have also allowed nine shorthanded goals, tied for fourth worst and have on the other hand scored 14 shorthanded themselves, good for the league best.

If the Pack are going to have any sort of chance at making a record thirteen straight playoff appearances they will need to do four things in the remaining 29 games.

First and foremost they are going to have to get healthy. But that is something that is out of their control. Injuries heal when they heal and there’s nothing anyone can do about that.

Second, their overall play on the ice must be raised. There is talent on this roster and they must all raise their level of play, none more so than forward, Evgeny Grachev. The highly touted forward has looked, for the better part of the season, more like Claude Rains than Claude Lemieux. The other veterans on this team must also raise their games and lead this team moving forward.

Third and perhaps most importantly, the Pack must get their special teams functioning at a more effective level. A power play rate of 11.1% is not acceptable for a team with playoff aspirations. A penalty kill mired at the bottom of the league will not produce playoff bonuses for the players on the ice.  How much of this Head Coach Ken Gernander and his assistants J.J. Daigneault and Pat Boller have laid out what the players need to do. It’s up to them to now execute.

Fourth, the goaltending is just going to have to be better. Chad Johnson has been VERY solid in the games he has played, but he is likely to spend the rest of the season in New York with some spot starts here and there. Matt Zaba has played well, but has had lapses this season that he didn’t have last. He has also struggled at times with some poor defense in front of him. The major question mark at this point is Steve Valiquette. He currently has an injured hand, but he has not played well at all since coming back from New York. He’s been pulled from a number of games and has been shaky in ones when he hasn’t. He has the talent to do it. Whether he can or not is anyone’s guess. Lastly, do the Pack give Miika Wiikman another chance between the pipes. He has been excellent in Charlotte and feels he has his confidence and game back. Given how the season has gone in the cage for Hartford, he should be given a chance.

The Pack will have just 28 games left to get themselves at least five points better than Portland who they trail for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Atlantic division. They can start that run Saturday night when they finish their back-to-back matches in Virginia against the Admirals.

Bob Crawford filed this report at Hartfordwolfpack.com.  Jim Hodges has the story from Norfolk’s perspective with this report in The Virginian-Pilot.

Here’s a rarity, a television report:

GAME SUMMARY and OFFICIAL SCORERS SHEET

STANDINGS

NOTES:

* If you have yet to sign up for our new service to our readers on Twitter, you’re really missing out on the most extensive coverage of the Wolf Pack and Checkers you’ll find anywhere. In addition to keeping you posted here on all major news stories, visit www.twitter.com/howlingstoday for in-game coverage of both Wolf Pack and Checkers games. Please “Follow” us on Twitter.

* Howlings would like to extend our deepest condolences to Brian Burke who’s son Brendan, his youngest son, who was killed Friday as a result of a car accident in Indiana. He was 21.

* The Pack lead the AHL in OT games played and with wins. The Pack are 8-3-5 in the extended frame.

* Hartford attendance has risen the past few games and now is 19th in the AHL with an average of 3,964 per game. They are ahead of Bridgeport now in that capacity as the Sound Tigers are 20th with attendance of 3,932. To put it in perspective, Hershey leads the AHL with an average attendance of 9,080 per game. Hartford has drawn 95,124. Bridgeport, 94,377. Hershey has 236,073 through the gates.

* Corey Locke is the Pack’s leading scorer (20g, 36a, 56 pts) through 51 games played. Keith Aucoin leads all scores with 71 pts (28g, 43a) in just 41 games and ex-Pack Alex Giroux is second with 66pts, (26g, 40a) in just 39 games. P.A. Parenteau is the second leading scorer on the team with 32pts (63rd overall in the American League) over 26 games played while Dale Weise is third with 30 points (78th overall) in 48 games.

* Photo of Devin DiDiomete chasing down Ryan Craig courtesy of The Virginian-Pilot

LINES:

Byers © – Locke – Weise
Grachev – Dupont – Roche
Soryal – Crowder – Ambϋhl
DiDiomete – Owens – Couture

Williams – Nightingale
Heikkinen – Schaeffer
Urquhart – Potter

Zaba
Wiikman

(Assistant Captains Bold and Italicized)

SCRATCHES:

Julien Brouillette – Healthy
Ryan Garlock – Undisclosed – Day-to-Day
Steven Valiquette – Hand Injury – Day-to-Day
Michael Sauer – Undisclosed – Day-to-Day
Bobby Sanguinetti – Lower Body – Day-to-Day
P.A. Parenteau – Concussion – Indefinite
Mathieu Dandenault – Lower Body – Indefinite
Chad Johnson – On recall with the NY Rangers
Brent Henley – Knee  – Season
Mike Hoffman – Shoulder – Season

THREE STARS:

1. NOR – P. Szczechura
2. NOR – J. Keller
3. HFD – K. Roche

ON ICE OFFICIALS:

Referee:
Francis Charron (46)

Linesmen:
Mathieu Chenier (28)
Paul Reid (62)

NEXT GAME:
”Saturday Night is Alright for Fighting” with the Norfolk Admirals as the Pack play the second of two in Norfolk. Bob Crawford will have the pre-game at 6:45 and then the call of the contest starting at 7:15

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:

Hartford Wolf Pack 2 At Norfolk Admirals 3 (OT) – Status: Final OT

Feb 5, 2010 – Norfolk Scope

Hartford 0 1 1 0 – 2

Norfolk 0 1 1 1 – 3

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Hall Nor (hooking), 4:04; Simek Nor (double minor – high-sticking), 8:21; DiDiomete Hfd (hooking), 13:26; Dupont Hfd (hooking), 19:40.

2nd Period-1, Hartford, Locke 20 (Byers, Nightingale), 0:52 (sh). 2, Norfolk, Fadden 3 (Fornataro, Wishart), 11:56 (pp). Penalties-Keller Nor (hooking), 4:57; Lawrence Nor (high-sticking), 8:25; Ambuhl Hfd (hooking), 10:56.

3rd Period-3, Hartford, Roche 2 (Grachev, Nightingale), 8:45. 4, Norfolk, Keller 8 (McGinnis, Szczechura), 16:55. Penalties-served by Simek Nor (bench minor – too many men), 5:12; Dupont Hfd (holding), 11:28; Nightingale Hfd (holding), 14:45.

OT Period-5, Norfolk, Szczechura 7 (Lashoff, Keller), 3:50. Penalties-No Penalties

Shots on Goal-Hartford 14-7-9-1-31. Norfolk 7-13-14-6-40.

Power Play Opportunities-Hartford 0 of 6; Norfolk 1 of 5.

Goalies-Hartford, Zaba 4-8-1 (40 shots-37 saves). Norfolk, Janus 3-6-0 (31 shots-29 saves).

A-3,716

Referees-Francis Charron (46).

Linesmen-Mathieu Chenier (28), Paul Reid (62)

MEANWHILE DOWN IN CHARLOTTE:

     VERSUS     

CHECKERS WITH SOME REDEMPTION, DUMP EVERBLADES 3-2
Charlotte Grabs Sole Possession Of Second In South Division

CHARLOTTE, NC—The Charlotte Checkers fell behind on two quick shots in the second period but battled back for the 3-2 win over the Florida Everblades on Friday night in Uptown Charlotte.

Aaron Slattengren led the way offensively with a goal and an assist while Ryan Munce stopped 18 of 20 shots for his 10th win of the season. With the win, the Charlotte took a two-point lead in the standings over Florida and grabbed sole possession of second place in the South Division.

The Checkers got things going early on when Tyler Doig broke in alone, firing a shot off the crossbar before Ethan Graham laid a big hit on Everblades forward Jordan Morrison.

The hit seemed to provide the team with energy as they went on the attack and outshot Florida 18-1 in the opening period. Everblades goaltender Chris Beckford-Tseu turned aside all 18 shots and the teams carried a scoreless tie into the locker room after 20 minutes.

The Checkers eventually opened the scoring, three and a half minutes into the second, when Matt Schepke broke down the left wing wall and centered a pass to Jean-Philipp Chabot who was driving to the net. Chabot redirected the pass off the far post and in for his seventh goal of the season.

Less than a minute later, and with only their second shot, Florida tied the game when Ernie Hartlieb tucked the puck between the legs of Munce.

The Everblades then went ahead 2-1, just over a minute after their first goal, when former Checker Ryan Lang beat Munce between the legs for his 11th of the season.

Charlotte would tie it up in the second half of the period on a goal by Slattengren, his eighth in his last seven home games. Slattengren took a pass down low from Andrew Carroll, circled the net and fired a shot that deflected off an Everblades defender’s stick and in.

Just under nine minutes into the third period, the Checkers took the lead on a bit of a controversial goal. Everblades defenseman Brad Zanon put the puck toward his own net and Mike Taylor stuffed it in for his second goal of the year. The go-ahead tally was initially waved off by referee Nick Krebsbach and his decision was overturned following a meeting with the goal judge and linesmen.

Late in the third and final period, Charlotte was assessed three consecutive penalties and killed off a lengthy five-on-three Florida power play.

With 1:31 remaining on the clock, and the Checkers up 3-2, Munce made a game-saving stop as he gloved a puck that was centered and one-timed his way. Charlotte successfully killed off the late-game pressure applied by the Everblades and walked away with the victory.

Charlotte (25-15-6) will host Toledo Sunday at 2 p.m. 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 14-3-2 in its last 19 home games…

* Andrew Carroll has 10 goals and eight assists in his last 15 games and his five game-winning goals are the second highest total in the entire ECHL…

* David Marshall has five goals in his last six games…Aaron Slattengren has eight goals in his last seven home games…

* T.J. Reynolds leads the ECHL with 193 penalty minutes and is third in overall plus-minus with a +18 rating…

* Julien Brouillette, Derek Couture, Kenny Roche and Kevin Schaeffer remain with Hartford (AHL) while Matt Ford and Randy Rowe are with Lake Erie (AHL)…

LINES:

Carroll –Leveille © – Doig
Slattengren – Tkaczuk – Schepke
Taylor – McNicoll – Marshall
Chabot

Graham – Ward
Berube – Reynolds
Dowzak

Munce

(Assistant Captains Bold and Italicized)

SCRATCHES:

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

THREE STARS:

1. CHR – A. Slattengren
2. CHR – M. Taylor
3. CHR – R. Munce

ON ICE OFFICIALS:

Referee:
Nick Krebsbach (8)

Linesmen:
Joe DeMizio
Terry Wicklum (98)

NEXT GAME:

Checkers continue their four game homestand with their third game and take on the Toledo Walleye at 2pm on Sunday. Be sure to check out www.twitter.com/howlingstoday for coverage.

You can buy tickets for any Checkers game home or away at Ticketmaster.com.

Should you want to watch this very exciting team from the comfort of your computer chair, all Checkers games are available on B2Live.

SCORE-SHEET:

 Florida Everblades 2 At Charlotte Checkers 3 – Status: Final

Feb 5, 2010 – Time Warner Cable Arena

Florida 0 2 0 – 2

Charlotte 0 2 1 – 3

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Ward Chr (interference, unsportsmanlike conduct), 8:53; Thelen Fla (charging), 11:48; Lang Fla (hooking), 13:51; Bayrack Fla (cross-checking), 15:26; Duffy Fla (slashing ), 18:57.

2nd Period-1, Charlotte, Chabot 7 (Schepke, Slattengren), 3:31. 2, Florida, Hartlieb 8 (Zanon), 4:25. 3, Florida, Lang 11 (Baker, Morrison), 5:38. 4, Charlotte, Slattengren 12 (Carroll, Leveille), 13:42. Penalties-Zanon Fla (cross-checking), 0:40; Berube Chr (slashing ), 6:42; Carlson Fla (tripping), 11:28; Carlson Fla (cross-checking), 17:55.

3rd Period-5, Charlotte, Taylor 2   8:49. Penalties-Carroll Chr (high-sticking), 1:13; Carlson Fla (roughing), 9:07; Reynolds Chr (roughing), 9:07; Tkaczuk Chr (cross-checking), 9:28; Berube Chr (slashing ), 10:07; Lang Fla (hooking), 14:35.

Shots on Goal-Florida 1-8-11-20. Charlotte 18-10-11-39.

Power Play Opportunities-Florida 0 of 6; Charlotte 0 of 8.

Goalies-Florida, Beckford-Tseu 6-5-0-1 (39 shots-36 saves). Charlotte, Munce 10-9-1-1 (20 shots-18 saves).

A-6,817