BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings
HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack (15-4-2-5) extended their winning streak to four games with a strong defensive effort, timely goal-scoring, and another strong performance in net from Igor Shesterkin all adding up to a 3-1 win over the Binghamton Devils before an announced crowd of 1,285, the second-lowest in franchise history by just ten fans.
With the win, the Pack jumped back into first place in the Atlantic Division with 37 points, two ahead of the idle Providence Bruins.
The game-winning goal came late in the third period after Tim Gettinger snared a long rebound, waited a few seconds for an open lane, and snapped home a 35-foot wrist shot over the glove hand of the Devils’ goalie, Gilles Senn at 14:58. The goal was Gettinger’s fifth of the season.
“We got it down low and had a good forecheck going. (We) got it up to E (Nick Ebert). He got a good shot on net and it just popped out to me in the slot there, and I just fired it, and it went in.” Gettinger said.
Gettinger has been slowed recently with a slight groin injury but was back to his flying around self.
“Coming back from a little injury, I felt good playing with Boo (Nieves) and Patrick (Newell). It’s been going very well. We’re learning about each other out there. For me personally, they’re good players and are going to find me in spots and were able to do that tonight.”
The Devils (7-14-4-0) didn’t go quietly. They ruined Shesterkin’s shutout bid at 17:49 with Kelly Summer coming off the right point and wiring his first of the season over his left shoulder. After that, the Pack’s resilience kicked in.
Nick Jones restored a two-goal lead with an empty-netter after stripping the puck from Devils defenseman, Dakota Mermis, with 38.3 seconds left in the game, icing it for Hartford.
The game wasn’t exactly a barn-burner, racetrack-style hockey game.
“The chances were not a lot in quantity for either team,” remarked Pack head coach Kris Knoblauch. “On both of ours (five-on-five goals), we made them count.”
The Pack’s overall effort though was very pleasing for Knoblauch.
“We got off to a good start and played in the offensive zone. We didn’t capitalize on some of them and passed-up a few good shots. In each game (of the current winning streak), we have found different ways to win, and tonight was one of those games.”
The Wolf Pack scored the game’s first goal early in the second period.
Defenseman Vince LoVerde was operating on the point on his natural right side. He put a low shot on net that was double deflected. The first was from Gettinger and then Nieves, who was credited with just his second of the season at 4:55.
“We were in hard on the forecheck there,” Gettinger said. “Patrick (Newell) was working hard along the boards and got it up top. I just tried to get to the front of the net, and Vince just got the shot on net. I was able to get the top and it went right to Boo’s stick. It was a big goal for us in the second.”
It was, in fact, the only goal of the period and for the game, until Gettinger scored late in the third period.
Shesterkin gave his usual solid play using an economy of movement on every save of the nine he faced.
“He made the saves, but his work with the puck was very important tonight. In the second period, he makes the save and he isn’t looking for a whistle, he’s looking to make a play, so we don’t have a defensive zone draw. He also was moving the puck out of the zone on several other plays. He’s a very smart hockey player,” Knoblauch said of his goalie, who picked up his 10th win of the season.
The first period was a tight-checking affair with just 13 shots between the two teams.
The Packs’ two best chances came on their only powerplay. Nick Ebert had a shot off the left point, and Joey Keane came in off the right point.
Binghamton’s best chance came on an open Chris Conner in front. His backhander was stopped cold by Shesterkin.
LINES:
Andersson-Fogarty-Beleskey
Nieves-Gettinger-Newell
O’Regan-Lettieri–DiGiuseppe
Jones-Dmowsk-Zerter-Gossage
Raddysh-LoVerde
Keane-Geersten
Rykov-Ebert
SCRATCHES:
Jeff Taylor (healthy)
Ville Meskannen (see below)
Gabriel Fontaine (season-ending – shoulder surgery).
NOTES:
Nieves was unavailable for a post-game interview due to his undergoing postgame medical.
Steven Fogarty suffered a hand injury of some sort, dropping his glove after blocking a shot and headed immediately to the locker room.
For a team on a four-game winning streak, and sitting fourth overall in the AHL, the Wolf Pack has moved several players over the last 36 hours.
As expected, center Shawn McBride was reassigned to Norfolk (ECHL), while the other two were a surprise with the first, a complete shock.
Hard-working veteran, Ville Meskanen, who was coming off a strong game against Binghamton last weekend, was placed on unconditional waivers for the purpose of releasing him from his contract. He is likely headed back to Finland to play in the Finnish Elite League or somewhere in Europe. He worked hard when he was a healthy scratch early in the season, and played fourth-line minutes optimizing his limited ice time. He has seen regular ice shifts recently and was effective, but had just two points, both assists, in the last ten games and four overall in his 20 games. The lanky winger had a strong freshmen campaign with 12 goals in 70 games.
“I’ve been pleased with him all year. He really played well for us. A hard worker, a good teammate. I can’t say enough good things about him. I really enjoyed coaching him,” Knoblauch said. “It was sad to hear that he was leaving. He felt the chances for him here in Hartford weren’t the best for him. He is likely to pursue options in Europe.”
Out goes Meskanen and back comes Ryan Gropp from Maine where he tallied seven points in ten games. He initially refused to report and sat at home for three weeks before joining the Mariners.
Gropp walked through the XL Center doors at 6:20 pm with his sticks and equipment bag in tow.
The prep for Team USA’s big game with Canada on Saturday is in full swing all throughout the building. They had an intra-squad scrimmage earlier this afternoon.
Canada is practicing over in Cromwell. That practice is not open to the public according to several reliable hockey sources.
Congrats to ex-Wolf Pack players Derek Armstrong, and goalie Robb Stauber for being named honorary captains for 2020 AHL All-Star Classic in Ontario, CA in January.
The loquacious Armstrong was one of the founding pillars of the Wolf Pack franchise and the only 100 point scorer in the franchise history. He was the Jack Butterfield Playoff MVP during the Wolf Pack’s Calder Cup championship season in 2000.
Stauber started his AHL career with the New Haven Nighthawks and ended it with the Wolf Pack.
Wolf Pack fan jersey of the night: #14 Johan Witehall and #23 Tomas Kloucek.
