PIRATED 

      VERSUS      

The third time isn’t always the charm.

In the previous two games, the Hartford Wolf Pack fell behind by two goals and rallied for wins. This time, they spotted their opponent the two goals but weren’t able to close the deal. Kyle Wanvig, who has torched Hartford for eight points (3g, 5a) in four games, likely ended any realistic chance of the Wolf Pack making the playoffs, when his breakaway goal with 24.7 seconds remaining in the second period was the difference in Portland’s 3-2 win Sunday night at the Cumberland County Civic Center.

With the Pack pressing for a goal to keep them on life support, Ilkka Heikkinen’s shot boomed off the pads of goaltender Todd Ford (28 saves, 2-0-0) and flew all the way out to the neutral zone. Once there, Wanvig beat everyone back to it and just after crossing into the offensive zone unloaded a booming shot. Pack netminder, Chad Johnson, staring his eighth consecutive match between the pipes,  just plain missed it. The goal was Wanvig’s twelfth goal of the season.

Besides the two points that came off their “Tragic Number,” the visitors were also hurt by Bridgeport recovering from their defeat the previous day in Hartford to put themselves into a fourth place tie for the Atlantic Division with the team they beat 4-2, Lowell. That knocked another two off the ticker for the Pack and the Pack will be eliminated with any combination of six points, either points they fail to get in their games, or ones that Bridgeport earns in theirs.

Whereas in Saturday’s contest, the Pack came roaring out of the locker room, on Sunday afternoon, they were lethargic right from the drop of the opening faceoff. The puck went deep into the Wolf Pack defensive zone behind the goal line. Defenseman Nigel Williams, in just his third game after missing nine with an undisclosed injury, lost the puck to Felix Schutz. The Portland centerman found Derek Whitmore all alone in the low slot and from behind the goal line fed him perfectly. Whitmore then slammed the puck past Johnson (23 saves, 19-17-2), just 22 seconds into the contest.

The Pack spotted their division rival a second goal at 11:56on the power play as a blast from Mike Weber, also found twine behind Johnson.

But as luck would have it, and the last few games would almost insist upon, the Pack found the back of the net twice in a span of just 48 seconds to tie it up.

The first goal was a freak accident. Ryan Garlock essentially just threw the puck at the net as he crossed the red line. Remember, the hockey fundamental, “no shot on goal is a bad shot.” Well in this case it certainly wasn’t as for some inexplicable reason, Ford got caught napping and the puck blew right by him and into the net. The goal was Garlock’s fifth on the year. Saturday night’s hero, Bobby Sanguinetti had the primary assist and Johnson got his second helper of the year, his first with Hartford. Johnson got his first professional point earlier this season while in New York with the Rangers.

48 ticks of the clock later, Dale Weise potted his 25th of the season as he took a pass from the right side of the crease from Kris Newbury and converted from the left side doorstep where he positioned himself. The Pack’s undisputed most improved player this season put it right behind Ford and like that the game was tied.

What made this game more of a slap in the face, was this was a very winnable game for the Rangers top farm team. Sure they buried themselves with a deficit early, but they fought back to get in it. To make matters worse, Portland spotted them their top three scorers, Mark Mancari (26-42-68 in 69 games), Tyler Ennis (23-42-65 in 69 GP) and Nathan Gerbe (11-28-39 in 44 GP), who are all in Buffalo with the parent Sabres.

Like they have all season long, the Pack put a parade of players in to the penalty box which Head Coach Ken Gernander has repeatedly discussed kills any and all momentum that a team is trying to build and keeps your most offensive weapons off the ice.

In the second period, from 9:45 tp 10:26, four consecutive calls went against the Pack. In that span of 41 seconds, the Pack put themselves down a player for 2:41 and 18 seconds of which was a five-on-three. For a team with the leagues second least effective penalty kill that is a prescription for disaster. However, the Pack penalty killers rose to the occasion and stifled the Pirates’ third best power play in the league.

The Pack further complicated their efforts when referee Ian Croft put Weise in solitary for ten minutes on a misconduct call for Abuse of Officials for saying something as he skated by the goaltender. So Weise missed the first 8:16 of the third frame in addition to the 1:44 that was left in the second. True, Weise probably should have kept quiet, but to make a call like that in a game with such deep playoff consequence was just wrong by the veteran referee.

Hartford will regroup and continue to hope for a miracle and it’ll start Wednesday night when the first place Worcester Sharks come to the XL Center.

Bob Crawford called the action and then presented this story at Hartfordwolfpack.com. For Portland’s perspective, Paul Betit has the story at PressHerald.com.

GAME SUMMARY and OFFICIAL SCORERS SHEET

x = clinched a playoff spot

y = clinched division title

LAST PLAYOFF SPOT STANDINGS:

WOLF PACK TRAGIC NUMBER IS 6 (Six) Any combination of Bridgeport or Lowell, who’s ever on top getting points and the Pack not getting them reduces that number. Pack have two games in hand on Bridgeport, none on Lowell.

Either Wilkes-Barre or Norfolk will make it and be either the three or four seed in their division. The top Atlantic team will be in and depending upon their points, be either the third of fourth seed in the East Division.

SCHEDULE:

Only one game on the schedule for either league as Manitoba  will visit Abbotsford at the Abbotsford Entertainment & Sports Centre 

SCOREBOARD:

It was a bad night for the Wolf Pack. Everything fell into place Saturday night, the opposite held true Sunday. Bridgeport beat Lowell when Greg Mauldin got the tie breaker at 8:50 of the third period. Sean Bentivoglio added an empty netter to seal the deal. Other games of interest to the Pack, Worcester, Wednesday night’s opponent, defeated Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on the road 2-1. Manchester defeated Providence in OT.

In other action, It was Toronto over Rochester in a Shootout 4-3. Albany slammed Springfield 5-1, Texas had five different players put points on the board and shut out Chicago 5-0. Chad Rau had two tallies for Houston, but it wasn’t enough as the Peoria Riverman snuck past them in a shootout. Ex-Sound Tiger Wade Dubielwicz took the loss. Ryan Stoa had a big night with two goals and an assist , but San Antonio had a goal and a helper from Alexandre Picard and Brett MacLean and scored twice in the third to come from behind and win 4-3. Alex Giroux scored again…why isn’t he in the NHL?… as Hershey beat Binghamton 3-2.

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.

* The Pack do not have a power play goal against Portland all year. They are 0-22.

* The Pack have only beaten Portland once in six tries this season.

* Prior to the start of the season, Dale Weise told Howlings that his goal for the season was 25 goals. He’s met that and will now surpass it. 

LINES:

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

Williams – Potter
Heikkinen – Sanguinetti
Nightingale – Brouillette

Johnson
Zaba

(Assistant Captains Bold and Italicized) 

SCRATCHES:

P.A. Parenteau – Recall, NY Rangers
Anders Eriksson – Recall, NY Rangers
Lee Baldwin – Healthy Scratch
Steven Valiquette – Hand Injury – Season over
Michael Sauer – Shoulder – Season over
Mike Hoffman – Shoulder – Season over
Brent Henley – Knee – Season over 

THREE STARS:

1. POR – K. Wanvig
2. POR – M. Weber
3. HFD – R. Garlock

ON ICE OFFICIALS:

Referee:
Ian Croft (87)

Linesmen:
Todd Whittemore (70)
Scott Whittemore (96)

NEXT GAME:

The Pack have a couple of days to regroup, rest and relax and prepare to make a final playoff push by taking on the Atlantic Division’s best team in the Worcester Sharks. For the Pack, they’ve owned the Sharks all year. Bob Crawford on the air at 6:30 with the pre-game and the puck at the XL Center drops at 7pm.

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 Portland Pirates 3 – Status: Final

Mar 28, 2010 – Cumberland County Civic Center

Hartford 0 2 0 – 2

Portland 2 1 0 – 3

1st Period-1, Portland, Whitmore 16 (Schutz, Wanvig), 0:22. 2, Portland, Weber 5 (Brennan, Byron), 11:56 (pp). Penalties-Potter Hfd (tripping), 11:18; Weber Por (tripping), 14:32; Gragnani Por (slashing), 19:06.

2nd Period-3, Hartford, Garlock 5 (Johnson, Sanguinetti), 4:01. 4, Hartford, Weise 25 (Potter, Newbury), 4:39. 5, Portland, Wanvig 12   19:35. Penalties-Ambuhl Hfd (tripping), 7:07; Locke Hfd (slashing), 9:45; served by Wanvig Por (bench minor – thrown stick from bench), 9:59; Dupont Hfd (hooking), 10:17; Heikkinen Hfd (boarding), 10:26; Byers Hfd (roughing), 17:41; McCormick Por (roughing), 17:41; Weise Hfd (misconduct – abuse of officials), 18:16.

3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Wanvig Por (tripping), 8:38; Heikkinen Hfd (hooking), 12:49; Couture Hfd (high-sticking), 17:01.

Shots on Goal-Hartford 7-12-11-30. Portland 8-10-8-26.

Power Play Opportunities-Hartford 0 of 3; Portland 1 of 7.

Goalies-Hartford, Johnson 19-17-2 (26 shots-23 saves). Portland, Ford 6-5-1 (30 shots-28 saves).

A-4,751

MEANWHILE BACK IN CHARLOTTE:

      VERSUS        

CHECKERS GRAB FIRST PLACE WITH WIN OVER READING

Carroll Nets League-Leading Sixth Shootout Winner In 2-1 Victory

Rookie netminder Garrett Zemlak earned his second career win and Andrew Carroll scored his league-leading sixth shootout-winning goal as the Charlotte Checkers edged the Reading Royals, 2-1, on Sunday afternoon.

With the win, the Checkers jump South Carolina for first place in the South Division. Charlotte holds first place in the American Conference for the time being while second-place Kalamazoo has yet to finish today’s game.

Zemlak now has two victories in two games against Reading and earned the game’s first star with 24 saves and several key stops in the shootout.

After a relatively uneventful first period, Reading came out in the second frame with a few good chances early. Forward Ryan Cruthers took a pass at the left side of the crease and missed a wide open net before Zemlak sprung side to side to stop a one-timer just seconds later.

With a minute to play in the second, Royals forward Daniel Steiner was handed a high-sticking penalty and the Checkers went to work on the power play. Reading’s defenders did a good job of blocking shots from the outside and Dalton turned aside two quick shots from Tyler Doig. With time winding down in the period, Rob LaLonde was sent to the box for roughing, setting the stage for a 5-on-3 power play to begin the third.

The power-play unit of Leveille, Slattengren and Doig worked the puck down low and fired several shots at Dalton before finally getting on the board at the 2:00 mark. Brock Bradford skated from the point around the net and fed a pass to Leveille on the left side wall. Leveille then let a shot go and Slattengren was there to pot the rebound for his 16th of the season.

Just 52 seconds later, however, Reading tied the game on a goal by winger Bryan Ewing. Forward Ben Gordon grabbed the puck in the corner and let go a blind spin-around backhand pass that made its way to front of the net and onto the tape of Ewing. Ewing made no mistake and deked Zemlak before backhanding the puck into the top corner.

With time winding down in the period, Zemlak showed impressive poise and positioning when he stopped a barrage of Reading shots while on the penalty kill. Royals defenseman Rob LaLonde then took a penalty with 38 seconds to play and the Checkers, after failing to capitalize in regulation, started overtime with the man advantage.

After a power play that failed to score, the Checkers went on the attack and fired shot after shot at Dalton. The rookie goalkeeper stopped everything that came his way and the game headed to a shootout.

In the shootout, Reading took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Stefano Giliati before Leveille slipped the puck between the legs of Dalton to even the score. David Marshall put the Checkers ahead by one before Ben Gordon tied it, setting the stage for a dramatic finish with only Carroll left to shoot. The rookie winger skated in and faked a shot before backhanding the game winner past Dalton.

The Checkers (40-21-7) will host Reading Sunday at 2 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

SHOOTOUT: