“THE SHOW” MUST GO ON…

In what is certainly no surprise to regular Howlings readers, Bobby Sanguinetti has been recalled by the New York Rangers and will make his NHL debut Friday night in Tampa Bay. Sanguinetti, is currently number five in the AHL in  scoring and tops amongst defenseman with six goals and sixteen assists for twenty-two points in twenty-one games. The New Jersey native has been spectacular all season long and clearly is ready for the next step in his development as an NHL pro.

For the Pack this means that the team will need their offensively minded d-men, Illka Heikkinen, Corey Potter and Dave Urquhart to step up their respective games and provide some additional offensive push or all the gains that the Pack have made in their play will go for naught. Also, on the defensive side Michael Sauer, veteran Mathieu Dandenault and Nigel Williams will have to put more grit into their game to keep some of the leagues high scorers away from Chad Johnson.

This move also raises the stakes for some of the forwards who are on the cusp of call ups. That’s meaning Dane Byers, Dale Weise and Evgeny Grachev who will have to pick up more offensive slack.

The Pack next face Portland (Friday) and Providence (Saturday) both at the XL Center and then travel to Bridgeport (Sunday) finishing their four games in five nights and three in three.

Here’s the official release:

New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that defenseman Bobby Sanguinetti has been recalled from the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Sanguinetti, 21, has registered six goals and 16 assists for 22 points, along with 10 penalty minutes in 21 games with Hartford this season.  Following a two assist performance last night at Lowell, Sanguinetti leads all AHL defensemen in scoring and ranks fourth in the league overall with 22 points.  He has registered six multi-point efforts on the season, including an AHL career-high four-point performance on October 31 against Providence (two goals and two assists).  Last season, Sanguinetti led Wolf Pack defensemen in points (42) and assists (36), and set a Hartford single-season rookie record for assists by a blueliner.  He also led all Wolf Pack skaters with five points (one goal and four assists) in six AHL playoff contests.

The Trenton, New Jersey native was originally the Rangers first round selection, 21st overall, in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

The Blueshirts return to action tomorrow, November 27, when they will face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning at St. Pete Times Forum (7:30 p.m.), in the first game of a back-to-back road set.  Prior to the game, the team’s morning skate is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. at St. Pete Times Forum.  The game will be televised live on MSG Plus and can be heard on 970 The Apple.  New York posted a 4-0-0 record against Tampa Bay last season, beginning with a pair of 2-1 victories at the Bridgestone NHL Premiere in Prague, Czech Republic.  Three of their four meetings were decided by one goal, including a 3-2 shootout victory at Tampa Bay on November 26, 2008.  The Rangers power play posted a 24.0% (6-25) success rate in the season series.

Meanwhile in Charlotte, Derek Wilkinson has had a busy Thanksgiving day trading rookie forward Jason Lawrence to the Gwinnett Gladiators for future considerations and activated ECHL All Star forward Randy Rowe, which will make a strong offensive team that the Checkers are just that much better, and crowded up the Checker net with Ryan Munce being activated as well.

Here’s the official release form Charlotte:

LAWRENCE TRADED; MUNCE, ROWE ACTIVATED 

Rookie Winger Sent To Gwinnett For Future Considerations

Charlotte Checkers general manager and head coach Derek Wilkinson announced today that rookie forward Jason Lawrence has been traded to the Gwinnett Gladiators for future considerations. In addition, former ECHL All-Star forward Randy Rowe and goaltender Ryan Munce have been activated off injured reserve.

Lawrence, a rookie out of Saugus, Mass. skated in seven games with the Checkers, scoring one goal and adding one assist. Prior to becoming a professional, the 22-year-old winger played four seasons at Boston University.

Rowe, 29, has not played yet this season since being injured in training camp with Lake Erie of the American Hockey League. The left-winger from Burford, Ontario has 172 goals and 211 assists in 418 career ECHL games. He also spent parts of four seasons in the AHL.

Rowe’s best year statistically came in 2007-08 when he led the Chiefs in scoring with 24 goals and 44 assists in 58 games. He also held the team’s best plus-minus rating (+21). He was team captain and took home Player of the Month and Plus Performer of the Month honors in March, 2008.

In 2004 Rowe was selected to the ECHL All-Star Game and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.

Munce skated in the Checkers’ first game of the season and left the game with a separated shoulder. The 24-year-old netminder from Mississauga, Ontario spent last season with the now-defunct Mississippi Sea Wolves. In 2008-09, he posted a 24-24-5 record with a 3.21 goals-against average and .915 save percentage. He led the ECHL in games played (54), minutes (3,219), shots against (2,024), saves (1,852) and shootout wins (6).

In 175 career ECHL games, Munce has compiled a 84-67-15 record with a 2.96 GAA and .915 save percentage. He has also appeared in 13 games in the AHL with the Norfolk Admirals and Syracuse Crunch.

The Checkers (9-3-2-0) will travel to Gwinnett tonight and Saturday before returning home to host the Gladiators on Sunday, Nov. 29 at Time Warner Cable Arena. Game time is 2 p.m. and ticket information can be obtained by calling 704-342-4-ICE or visiting www.gocheckers.com.