0-for-3 

     VERSUS     

It was not a good night for any of the New York Ranger’s teams or affiliates. First the Rangers lost to the Alex Ovechkin led Washington Capitals 2-0 while in Toledo the Charlotte Checkers came back from a two goal deficit, then blew one of their own and got a goal late to go to overtime but lost with just six seconds remaining in overtime. Then to finish it all off, the Hartford Wolf Pack came back from a two-goal deficit themselves only to see it all go for naught when they couldn’t slip a single tally past the AHL’s best netminder, Hamilton Bulldogs starter, Cedrick Desjardins in the shootout and lost 3-2.

As Led Zeppelin once wrote, “The Song Remains The Same.” An injury to a key player leaves the team shorthanded in a skill position and then a poor start where the team has to dig themselves out of a hole. That’s been the common theme through almost all of this 2009-2010 Hartford Wolf Pack season.

The player in this case was P.A. Parenteau, who must have been injured in Friday morning’s skate because he was fine after Thursday morning’s practice, missed this game with an undisclosed ailment. Wolf Pack head coach Ken Gernander had the Hull, Quebec native lined up with opposite Brodie Dupont with Corey Locke in the middle in practice Thursday morning. It was a grouping that had shown some potential against Lowell and gave Parenteau his second hat trick of the season, the only two the Pack have had all season, but again, Gernander had to go back to the drawing board. Gernander’s decision was to slide Evgeny Grachev into Parenteau’s spot.

The other Pack ailment that still can’t seem to respond to treatment, is slow starts to games.

Take away the first five minutes of this contest and the Pack win the game. Unfortunately for Hartford, games are sixty minutes and not fifty-five.

Just 36 seconds into the contest, Max Pacioretty went to center the puck but it hit Aaron Palushaj then pin-balled off the goalpost where Ryan White got to it first, despite having Pack players right there and blasted it between the pipes. Pack starter Matt Zaba (25 saves, 6-10-2) valiantly tried to get across the crease but was there a moment late and White had his 15th of the year.

Hamilton elevated their game and were more like sharks than Bulldogs. They smelled blood in the water and went for it. It only took them 4:07 to double their advantage.

Alex Henry took a shot from the left point that was stopped by Zaba. The rebound went into the slot where it was retrieved by Mike Glumac. The Bulldog right winger fired on the net an hit the crossbar. The puck went behind Zaba and Grant Stevenson tapped it into the empty net.

4:42 into the contest and the Pack already found themselves down a deuce.

The Bulldogs had troubles of their own as two of their better players, Pacioretty and Greg Stewart left the bench area with injuries. It seemed to be a shoulder problem for Pacioretty while Greg Stewart reportedly hurt his back. Neither returned to the game.

But unlike other games where they simply fade away, this time they fought back…literally

Since referee Jeff Smith essentially shows up to get his check and seems like he doesn’t want to be bothered to actually call anything, it was up to the players to police themselves, and that they did. 2:12 after the goal by Stevenson, Dupont had had enough of getting whacked and tore a new one into Palushaj and spent the next five minutes to dwell on it.

From that moment on, the Wolf Pack took control of the game and made the most of it.

The second period was perhaps the best played period of the season by Hartford and paid late dividends.

1:19 remained on the home clock when Jared Nightingale rocketed a blast from the left side that wound up into the front corner left side of the net. The goal was Nightingale’s third of the season. Helpers went to Corey Locke and Grachev.

It only took the Pack 19 seconds to tie the game with beautiful play that newcomer Kris Newbury played a big part of in earning his first point since being acquired in the deal that sent Jordan Owens to Grand Rapids at the trade deadline on Wednesday.

Newbury fought through traffic and got the puck to Corey Potter on the right point. Potter fired a wrister on net that hit Desjardins (30 saves, 24-7-2) and bounced to the left where Weise was waiting to help escort the puck to it’s seat at the back of the net. The goal for Weise was his twentieth of the season. Weise set a goal for himself before the season of scoring twenty-five goals and it’s looking like he just might get it as he only needs five more in the next seventeen to get there.

The score remained tied throughout the third period and through overtime.

In terms of scoring chances, the Pack’s best opportunity came in the third period when Grachev was robbed in front of the Hamilton net and in overtime, Zaba was Godzilla-huge in keeping the puck out of the Hartford net.

In the shootout, the Pack were unable to solve Desjardins at all and looked completely overmatched.

Coming back the other way, P.K. Subban made the same move in his shootout attempt that was the same as the one he used at the All-Star game. The shot, where he comes up short and stops and then puts in the puck, upset Gernander and Zaba and they both protested the move as being illegal. Obviously that protest fell on deaf ears.

Brock Trotter also scored for Hamilton to ice the game.

Hartfordwolfpack.com has Bob Crawford’s game summary. We’re talking Canada so of course there’s coverage of the Hamilton Bulldogs. Garry McKay has the story in the Hamilton Spectator.

GAME SUMMARY and OFFICIAL SCORERS SHEET 

STANDINGS

SCOREBOARD:

The Sound Tigers won their second straight and beat Providence 4-1. Sean Bentivoglio and Jeremy Reich each had two goals in the win at the Arena at Harbor Yard. Hershey did what they do best and won big knocking off Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 4-0. As usual, ex-Pack Alex Giroux had a goal. Rochester got a goal from ex-Pack and NY Ranger Mike York in the first and that was it, 1-0 over the Pack’s next opponent, Toronto. Binghamton only needed to spot ex-Pack Chris Holt a goal and he did the rest stopping all 25 shots he faced and gave the Senators a 1-0 win over Adirondack. Manitoba doubled up Grand Rapids 2-1. Grand Rapids was 0-for-7 on the power play at Van Andel Arena. Someone break up the Falcons…oh wait hey did…Falcons get a rare win defeating Lowell 7-5 on two goals from Chris Minard. Albany doubled up Norfolk 4-2. Portland scored three times in the third but it wasn’t enough. Brendan Bell had two tallies to lead Syracuse to a 4-3 win. Greg Moore had an assist. Chicago got past Milwaukee 2-1. Derek Armstrong was one of three who scored as Peoria beat Lake Erie 3-1. Miika Wiikman came in to relive Josh Tordjman after he gave up two goals on nine shots and the e-Pack and Checker stopped 25 of 27 shots but the damage was done as Rockford beat the Rampage 4-1. Duncan Malloy put two past Anton Khudobin as Texas defeated Houston 4-3. Last but not least, the first place Sharks beat Abbotsford on a Dan DaSilva goal with just 3:28 remaining and the Sharks defeated the Heat 2-1.

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.

* Brodie Dupont, Corey Locke and Evgeny Grachev are the only Pack players to be in the lineup for all 63 games this season.

* The Pack are 12-9-5-5 in one-goal games and 16-11-2-3 when they outshoot their opponents.

* Of the remaining 17 games in the Wolf Pack season, only six are against teams with a losing record (Toronto –1, Springfield –4, Adirondack –1). They have first place Worcester twice (both on the road), Lowell twice (both home), Providence twice (both home), Bridgeport twice (one home, one, the last game of the season, in Bridgeport) and Portland once (on the road).

* Of the last 17 games 10 are at home and seven on the road.

LINES:

Byers © – Newbury – Weise
Soryal – Crowder – Couture
Ambϋhl – Garlock – Brashear
Dupont – Locke – Grachev

Eriksson – Sanguinetti 
Heikkinen – Nightingale
Brouillette – Potter

Zaba
Johnson

(Assistant Captains Bold and Italicized)

SCRATCHES:

Dave Urquhart – Healthy Scratch
Nigel Williams – Undisclosed Injury – Day-to-Day
P.A. Parenteau – Undisclosed Injury – Day-to-Day
Steven Valiquette – Hand Injury – Season over
Michael Sauer – Shoulder – Season over
Mike Hoffman – Shoulder – Season over
Brent Henley – Knee – Season over

THREE STARS:

1. HAM – P. Subban
2. HAM – M. Glumac
3. HFD – D. Weise

ON ICE OFFICIALS:

Referee:
Jeff Smith (49)

Linesmen:
Ryan Lachine (83)
Jesse Wilmot (19)

NEXT GAME:

The Pack are just about in a must win game now every night and they haven’t been able to pull it off. Getting into the playoffs in their own division is pretty much over. They still have a chance at getting in the East, but they are going to have to get hot in a hurry if they’re going to make a real run at it. Tonight against the sixth place Toronto Marlies is a game they should win…if they can get goals which lately has not been easy and now with P.A. Parenteau not well, that job just got that much harder. Bob Crawford is on the air at 3:30 and game time is at 4:00.

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

If you can attend the home games, they 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 or from your cell phone or computer visit www.twitter.com/howlingstoday for complete live in-game coverage.

SCORE-SHEET:

Hartford Wolf Pack 2 At Hamilton Bulldogs 3 (SO) – Status: Final SO

Mar 6, 2010 – Copps Coliseum

Hartford 0 2 0 0 – 2

Hamilton 2 0 0 0 – 3

1st Period-1, Hamilton, White 15 (Palushaj, Pacioretty), 0:36. 2, Hamilton, Stevenson 6 (Glumac, Henry), 4:43. Penalties-Dupont Hfd (roughing), 6:55; Stewart Ham (slashing), 11:17.

2nd Period-3, Hartford, Nightingale 3 (Locke, Grachev), 18:41. 4, Hartford, Weise 20 (Potter, Newbury), 19:00. Penalties-No Penalties

3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties

OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties

Shootout – Hartford 0 (Locke NG, Weise NG, Newbury NG, Grachev NG), Hamilton 2 (Subban G, Trotter G, Russell NG, Palushaj NG).

Shots on Goal-Hartford 7-18-6-1-0-32. Hamilton 10-9-4-4-1-28.

Power Play Opportunities-Hartford 0 of 1; Hamilton 0 of 1.

Goalies-Hartford, Zaba 6-10-2 (27 shots-25 saves). Hamilton, Desjardins 24-7-2 (32 shots-30 saves).

A-3,667

MEANWHILE IN CHARLOTTE

     VERSUS              

CHECKERS EDGED IN OVERTIME BATTLE WITH TOLEDO
Leveille Records Career-High Five Points

The Charlotte Checkers forced overtime with a late third period goal but were edged, 6-5, in the extra frame by the Toledo Walleye on Saturday evening.

Michelle Leveille led the way offensively with a career-high five points and his four assists fell one shy of a Checkers single-game record. Leveille now has nine points on a current four-game streak. Ryan Munce outperformed his Toledo counterpart with 45 saves but was unable to get the win.

Munce was solid in the first frame stopping all 16 Toledo shots, including a flurry of scoring chances late in the period.

Early in the second, Toledo opened the scoring on a goal by Akim Aliu who was sent down by Rockford (AHL) earlier in the day. Akiu let go a wrist shot from the left side that trickled in just over the goal line for the 1-0 lead.

The Walleye went ahead by two, 44 seconds later, when Mike Hedden wrapped the puck around the net, picked up his own rebound and stuffed it home for his 15th of the season.

Charlotte would then break out with four goals in an 11-minute span beginning with a tally by defenseman T.J. Reynolds. Leveille broke in alone, was stopped by Pearce but managed to pass the puck back to Reynolds, who one-timed it into the back of the net for his fifth of the year.

Four minutes later, defenseman Ryan Crane took a pass from Leveille in the high slot, stepped around a Toledo defender and fired the puck low on the glove side for his fifth.

The Checkers then took their first lead of the game with less than four minutes to play in the period. Leveille took advantage of a Toledo miscue at the blueline and made a nifty move before dishing the puck to Aaron Slattengren. Slattengren let a shot go and Matt Schepke was on the doorstep to bang home the rebound.

Charlotte went ahead by two with 29 seconds left in the period when Leveille beat a Walleye defender 1-on-1 with a toe drag and let a shot go that was stopped by the Toledo goaltender. Andrew Carroll, who scored the shootout-winning goal the night before, was parked in the crease and stuffed home the rebound for his team-leading 24th of the season.

Early in the third period, Toledo scored two goals 20 seconds apart before taking a 5-4 lead on Aliu’s second of the game with only three minutes to play in the game.

With time winding down, Leveille picked up the rebound off a Matt Stefanishion shot and beat Pearce between the legs for his second goal in as many nights and fifth point of the game. The goal came with just 41 seconds to play and set the stage for overtime.

In the overtime period, the Checkers had a chance to win, however a Toledo defenseman swiped the puck out of the crease as it was rolling toward the goal line. Then, with six seconds to play, Chris Robertson broke in alone on Munce and beat him on the blocker side for the overtime game-winner.

The Checkers (31-20-7) will continue their road trip tomorrow in Toledo before returning home on Thursday, Mar. 11 to host Gwinnett. The puck drops at 7 p.m. and ticket information can be obtained by calling 704-342-4-ICE or visiting www.gocheckers.com. Season tickets for the inaugural 2010-11 AHL season are now on sale and 40-game packages start as low as $200.

GAME SUMMARY and OFFICIAL SCORERS SHEET

STANDINGS:

SCOREBOARD:

Gwinnett scored three times and Florida answered with two in a wild first period of action at Germain Arena. Gwinnett hung on for a 4-3 win. It was Reading over the Johnstown Chiefs 6-4. Oliver Labelle had two goals for Reading, Sean Berkstresser had two for Johnstown. Kalamazoo scored in all three periods and knocked off Elmira 4-1. Trenton doubled up Wheeling 6-3 at WestBanco Arena. Idaho was lead by a five point night from Mark Derlago (2g, 3a) and got a two goal night from Tyler Spurgeon as the Steelheads put a whooping on Bakersfield 7-3. Ontario needed a shootout to get by Las Vegas 4-3 and Stockton got goals from seven different Thunder  players as they knocked off Victoria 7-3.

NOTES:

* Michelle Leveille is currently on a four-game point streak (2g, 7a)

* Andrew Carroll leads the team with 24 goals and ranks tied for first among all ECHL players with three shootout-winning goals

* T.J. Reynolds leads the ECHL with 239 penalty minutes and leads the Checkers with a +18 rating

* Julien Brouillette and Derek Couture are up with Hartford (AHL), Kenny Roche is with Providence (AHL), Ethan Graham is with Texas (AHL) while Matt Ford and Randy Rowe are with Lake Erie (AHL)

LINES:

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

Berube– Reynolds
Dowzak – Schaeffer
Ward – Crane

Munce
LaGrand

(Assistant Captains Bold and Italicized)

SCRATCHES:

Tyler Doig – Lower Body Injury – Day-to-Day
Kenny Roche – Recall in Providence
Julien Brouillette – Recall in Hartford
Trevor Glass – Lower Body – Mid-March
Chris Snavely – Upper Body – 2-3 weeks
Codey Burki – Undisclosed – Season over
Chris Chappell – Shoulder Surgery – Season over

THREE STARS:

1. TOL – C. Robertson
2. CHR – M. Leveille
3. TOL – A. Aliu

ON ICE OFFICIALS:

Referee:
Keith Kaval (20)

Linesmen:
Cilint Evans (32)
Ray King (39)

NEXT GAME:

By the end of Saturday night’s game with Toledo, tempers were running hot on both sides of the benches. Expect a barnburner with the Walleye Sunday afternoon.  The Checkers then get on the bus for a ride home to Charlotte where they have three extremely important games against last place Gwinnett. The Checkers really need to win all three. Jason Shaya will be on the air at 4pm.

For live in-game coverage from your cell phone or computer, we’ll have the action for you at www.twitter.com/howlingstoday.

You can always 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:

Charlotte Checkers 5 At Toledo Walleye 6 (OT) – Status: Final OT

Mar 6, 2010 – Lucas County Arena

Charlotte 0 4 1 0 – 5

Toledo 0 2 3 1 – 6

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Slattengren Chr (roughing), 7:27; Rankin Tol (interference on the goalkeeper), 7:43; Taylor Chr (tripping), 7:56; Danis-Pepin Tol (boarding), 11:07; Stefanishion Chr (holding), 13:04; Peralta Tol (interference on the goalkeeper), 13:52; Smith Tol (cross-checking), 15:49; Reynolds Chr (hooking), 18:34; Peralta Tol (interference), 19:39.

2nd Period-1, Toledo, Aliu 1 (Robertson, Piche), 1:47. 2, Toledo, Hedden 15 (Keefe, MacMillan), 2:31. 3, Charlotte, Reynolds 5 (Leveille, Taylor), 8:50. 4, Charlotte, Crane 5 (Leveille, Slattengren), 12:41. 5, Charlotte, Schepke 21 (Schaeffer, Leveille), 16:31. 6, Charlotte, Carroll 24 (Leveille, Slattengren), 19:31. Penalties-DiDiomete Chr (fighting – major), 6:19; Danis-Pepin Tol (fighting – major), 6:19; MacMillan Tol (hooking), 6:53; Marshall Chr (holding the stick), 8:05; Carroll Chr (roughing, roughing), 20:00; Robertson Tol (roughing, roughing), 20:00.

3rd Period-7, Toledo, Tanguay 22 (Smith, Sawyer), 6:57 (pp). 8, Toledo, Keefe 1 (MacMillan, Hedden), 7:17. 9, Toledo, Aliu 2 (Danis-Pepin, Smith), 16:57 (pp). 10, Charlotte, Leveille 16 (Stefanishion, Slattengren), 19:19. Penalties-Schepke Chr (hooking), 5:23; Chabot Chr (fighting – major), 13:46; Piche Tol (fighting – major), 13:46; DiDiomete Chr (unsportsmanlike conduct, unsportsmanlike conduct), 15:29.

OT Period-11, Toledo, Robertson 14 (Aliu), 4:54. Penalties-No Penalties

Shots on Goal-Charlotte 8-9-9-2-28. Toledo 16-12-17-6-51.

Power Play Opportunities-Charlotte 0 of 6; Toledo 2 of 7.

Goalies-Charlotte, Munce 16-13-2-1 (51 shots-45 saves). Toledo, Pearce 12-13-1-0 (28 shots-23 saves).

A-8,000