Howlings

UNDERMANNED, BUT MANNED UP!

The Hartford Wolf Pack (12-7-0-1) entered Bridgeport without 9 of their regular players, 7 lost to injury (Montoya, Holt, Liffiton, Sauer, Bourret, Lessard, Fritz) and 2 (Moore & Baranka) currently in New York with the Rangers, but they were anything but short on heart as the team rode an energetic and involved Nigel Dawes' 2 goals and 2 assists and the goal and 2 assists added by Thomas Pock to beat the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (6-9-1-0) 5-3 before 6,565 at the Arena at Harbor Yard Friday night.

The outstanding performances by Dawes and Pock were a key factor in the story of this game. However much like the Providence game from Wednesday night, once again a referee decided that he wanted to be a factor in the game. Ryan Fraser, son of longtime NHL referee Kerry Fraser, called 24 infractions in all, (12 against each team) but at one point in the second period gave the home Sound Tigers 5 consecutive power play opportunities. The Tigers were thankful for the opportunity firing 18 shots on Miika Wiikman (2-0 3.53 GAA .887%) and scoring just once on Ben Walter's 5th of the season. Wiikman got the start and was backed up by Matt Zaba since both of the Wolf Pack's starting pair of Montoya (back) and Holt (knee) were out with injuries.

The parade of players to the penalty box began early in this one as just :39 seconds in to the contest Sean Bentivoglio was called for high sticking and just :46 seconds later Jeremy Colliton was called for a holding penalty giving the Pack a 1:14 second 5 on 3 advantage and the Pack did not disappoint the many Pack fans in attendance on the evening. The Pack pressed their attack down low on Joey MacDonald (3-7-0 2.81 GAA .909 %). Nigel Dawes would fire the puck at MacDonald 3 times during this power play opportunity. On his first shot MacDonald made a great save sliding across the crease to rob Dawes from in close. The second opportunity came moments later when Dawes had MacDonald out of position but fired the puck high over the net. However on the third time, it is the charm you know, following a great move by Pierre Alexandre Parenteau moving in on MacDonald from the left corner, got him to bite on his shot deke and launched the pill over to Dawes who creeped in on the other side . Parenteau found him and Dawes buried his shot giving the visitors a 1-0 lead.

After Wiikman stopped a couple of odd man rush break-ins and Fraser practiced his whistle blowing at every chance he got, at 10:30 while Matthew Spiller sat in the penalty box for roughing, Dawes found Anisimov alone who saw Hutchinson alone at the point. He fired a pass that Hutchinson one-timed on goal and the rising wrister beat MacDonald high to the glove side for a 2-0 lead.

Moments later Pascal Morency decided to try and take on defensemen Jake Taylor and he did and won the fight/wrestling match.

The Pack totally dominated the territorial game and dictated tempo in first period and out shot the Sound Tigers 9-6 and led after 1 period of play 2-0.

The second period action came right from the face-off as :39 seconds in with the Tigers applying pressure down low. A puck manages to squirt through Wiikman's legs and heads for the goal line. Just inches before it gets there Thomas Pock gets his stick on the puck and pushes it under Wiikman stopping a sure goal and the play.

Three minutes later left-wing Steve Regier breaks in alone on Wiikman after Ryan Constant fumbled the puck at the Tigers blue line. Wiikman came up big, as he would a number of other times in this game and stopped Regier cold. In fact it took just twenty seconds later as it was Andrew Hutchinson's turn to give the puck away at the blue line. He gave it to the wrong player, NHL left wing on the last of his 3 game rehab assignment from the Islanders, Shawn Bates. Bates skated in on Wiikman and beat him glove side top shelf from the right post to bring he score to 2-1.

At 7:45, just 3 and a half minutes later, Thomas Pock got his first goal of the season. Hugh Jessiman gave the puck to Nigel Dawes who fed Pock in the high slot. Pock blasted a rising wrister that beat MacDonald high and once again the Pack led by two goals.

Jessiman got involved in the play moments later when after roughing his opposing number 27 Darryl Bootland they fought and Jessiman was slammed to the ice. 1 minute 25 seconds into the power play, the Tigers would get their only power play score of the afternoon as Ben Walter found himself all alone in front of Wiikman as coverage was blown down low. A pass by Comeau moved quickly to Regier who found Walter and Wiikman had no chance and the Tigers were as close as they would get and trailed 3-2.

After two consecutive penalties to the Pack, the last creating a 3 second 5 on 3. The Pack won the ensuing face-off to killed the 5 on 3 but after some play in the defensive zone managed to clear the puck down to the right of MacDonald. MacDonald took a very lazy and casual approach to getting the puck and Brodie Dupont raced down and blocked MacDonald's attempt to clear the puck to defenseman Jamie Fraser, picked up the puck and backhanded a wrap around shot on the left doorstep that slipped past MacDonald for a shorthanded goal and a 4-2 lead.

The Sound Tigers had 5 straight power plays in the period and were ignited by that as they fired 19 shots on Wiikman, 3 more than any other period this season. At the end of 2 it was 4-2 with the Tigers out shooting the Pack 25-16.

The third period started off much like the rest of the game with penalty after penalty being called 3 out 4 this time going against the Tigers. At 8:47 while on the power play, Hutchinson was on the right point and fed Pock at the other. Pock looked and found Dawes creeping in from the right face off circle and he blasted his second of the game past a badly beaten MacDonald for a 5-2 lead.

The Wolf Pack hadn't even had the goal announced yet when 19 seconds later with Wiikman screened Andrew MacDonald intercepted and deflected a clearing pass past the Pack netminder for his first career goal, unassisted making the score 5-3.

MacDonald made a couple of outstanding saves the first on Dane Byers and the second on on Korpikoski. 14 seconds after that stop Matthew Spiller took a cheap shot on Byers which caused a fight. That isn't something in particular that's noteworthy except that after the linesmen got between them Spiller refused to stop punching and hit the linesmen a couple of times. He was given a 10 minute Game misconduct for persisting a fight, a suspension should be forthcoming.

The Pack stifled the Tiger attack the rest of the way but were out shot 31-29 but more importantly the Pack held on for the win 5-3.

Three Stars of the Game:

1) Dawes - HFD

2) Pock - HFD

3) Walter - BPT

Here's the game report and a complete game summaryas well as reports with the incomparable Bruce Berlet at The Hartford Courant and for the Bridgeport point of view read Michael Fornabaio in the Connecticut Post. Bob Crawford has his summary at HartfordWolfpack.com.

News and Noteworthy:

*** The Bridgeport penalty kill which entered the game 2nd in the league gave up 3 PP goals on 8 chances.

*** Bridgeport lost for the 5th time in their last 6 games.

*** MacDonald has lost 7 of his last 8 starts after starting the season 2-0.

*** Chris Holt's knee sprain will keep him out of action 4-6 weeks.

*** Marty Straka tweaked his hamstring in the game against Florida last night and it is safe to assume that Greg Moore will be held there a bit longer as insurance given also that Sean Avery has a tweaked wrist. Ryan Callahan is expected to make his return to action on Sunday.

Lines
Anisimov - Jessiman - Dawes - Pock - Taylor - Wiikman (starters)
Parenteau - Oullette - Dupont - Hutchinson - Waddell
Byers - Korpikoski - Murphy - Potter - Constant
Lee - Graham

Scratches:
Baranka & Moore (In NY)
Montoya (Back - Day to Day)
Holt (Knee 4-6 weeks)
Liffiton (Concussion - Indefinitely)
Sauer (Concussion - Indefinitely)
Bourret (Concussion - Indefinitely)
Fritz (Shoulder - 2 months minimum)
Lessard (Knee - Possibly done for the year)
Pyatt (High Ankle Sprain - Day to Day)

The Hartford Wolf Pack take on The Lowell Devils Tonight at 7pm in The "Wind Chill Factored" Hartford Civic Center.

Lowell is currently in last place in the Atlantic Division with a 6-10-1-0 record in 17 games played. They are currently on a 2-7-1 streak in their last 10 games. In the net for the Devils is Zach Parise's brother, Jordan Parise who in 6 games this season has a 2-4-0 record with a 2.68 GAA and a .917%. The Devils are a HEAVILY NHL experienced squad (Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre, Grant Marshall, Richard Matvivhuk, Ian Moran, Erik Rasmussen, as well as a couple others with limited, but actual NHL experience) but for some reason cannot seem to find a way to put the biscuit in the basket. They have only one player in the top100 in scoring, Petr Vrana who in 17 games has 3 goals and 9 assists, conversely, the Wolf Pack have 4 (Greg Moore, Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau, Andrew Hutchinson & Brodie Dupont).

You can catch all of the action on ESPN 1410 AM starting with the Pre-Game at 6:30 or you can watch the game for $6 on B2livetv.com.

Check back at Howlings for a complete recap of the game and any news concerning the Wolf Pack...

(Nigel Dawes, Thomas Pock and Ryan Fraser pictures courtesy of viewimages.com, Steve Regier closing in on Mikka Wiikman courtesy of Christian Abraham & The Connecticut Post and puck photos courtesy of TheAHL.com)

ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST...

You know that old saying about "you spoke too soon...?" well, by only announcing Chris Holt being injured Howlings spoke too soon. Apparently the concussion bug has struck the Wolf Pack again as Michael Sauer seems to have eaten from the same fruit tree that fellow Pack stars Dave Liffiton and Alex Bourret have as he now is out after demonstrating some symptoms. By the way, taking the analogy just one step further, as you may recall Dane Byers missed a game after taking a rough hit but apparently he just bit into the fruit but didn't swallow.

Because of this the Wolf Pack have signed Checker D-Man Matt Waddell to a PTO to fill his spot.

Here is the official announcement:

HARTFORD, November 23, 2007: Hartford Wolf Pack general manager Jim Schoenfeld announced two roster moves today. The parent New York Rangers have reassigned goaltender Matt Zaba to the Wolf Pack from the Charlotte Checkers of the ECHL, and the Wolf Pack have signed Checker defenseman Matt Waddell to a Professional Tryout agreement (PTO).

Zaba, a rookie out of Colorado College, has played in four games with the Checkers, compiling a 3-1-0 record with a 3.52 goals-against average and an 89.1% save percentage. Last season, in 33 WCHA contests with Colorado College, the Yorkton, Saskatchewan native posted a 15-13-4 record, with a 2.39 GAA, a 91.7% save percentage and three shutouts.

The 24-year-old Zaba, who stands 6-1 and weighs 185 pounds, signed with the Rangers as a free agent August 20, 2007. In 110 career games at Colorado College, he compiled a record of 55-42-10, a 2.42 GAA, 91.3% save percentage and 10 shutouts.

Waddell is a 6-1, 205-pound first-year pro out of Ohio State University. In 11 ECHL games with Charlotte, the Vernon, B.C. native has registered one assist and 15 minutes in penalties. In CCHA action last season with the Buckeyes, Waddell totaled five goals and 12 assists for 17 points, along with 48 penalty minutes, in 37 games. In 157 career contests over four seasons at OSU, Waddell notched 17 goals and 42 assists for 59 points, and spent 236 minutes in the penalty box

(Matt Waddell and Matt Zaba photos both courtesy of gocheckers.com)

THE WOLF PACK, A LITERAL "WHO'S WHO OF PLAYERS"...EVEN AMONGST THEMSELVES

The rash of injuries to the Wolf Pack players continues as you can now add back-up Goaltender Chris Holt to the list of the walking wounded and out indefinitely after suffering a knee injury after being run into by Providence's Chris Collins Wednesday night in the Pack's 3-2 loss. Holt joins a growing list of Pack starters including #1 goalie Al Montoya (back...day-to-day), Top D-Man Dave Liffiton (Concussion...indefinite), Scoring Forward Alex Bourret (Concussion...indefinite), Enforcer Francis Lessard (Knee...indefinite, contemplating season ending knee surgery), fellow enforcer Mitch Fritz (shoulder...indefinite more likely at least another couple of months) and rookie Center, Tom Pyatt (high ankle sprain...day-to-day). Holt's injury has necessitated the call-up of Charlotte Goalie, Matt Zaba who while in Charlotte has compiled a 3-1-0-0 3.52 GAA and .891%

Tonight the Wolf Pack visit Bridgeport to do battle with the Sound Tigers. The Sound Tigers, the AHL affiliate of the NY Islanders, are led in goal by Mike Morrison, a former 7th round draft pick of the Edmonton Oilers who's played for 3 teams and in 29 NHL games has compiled a 11-4-3 career record. In the AHL, Morrison's career record is 17-23-7. This season he's 3-3-0 with a 2.51 GAA and a .919 % good for 14th overall. Up front, the Tigers are led by Jeff Tambellini and his 6G, 12 A for 18 points in 15 games and Steve Regier who in 15 games has put up 7G and 6A for 13 points. The Sound Tigers are currently at the bottom of the Eastern Division standing at 6-8-1-0 and are 3-6-1-0 in their last 10.

The Pack sit in 3rd in the Atlantic just two points behind 1st place Providence (who also have 4 games in hand) and just 1 point behind second place Springfield. The main storyline for Ken Gernander's squad is who's going to play. As mentioned above the team is short 9 players, 7 injured and 2 in NY (Ivan Baranka and Greg Moore). Of those still here the team is led by Nigel Dawes, just back from a stay in New York, and on the ice will need a big contribution from Pierre Alexandre Parenteau who has been on an offensive tear of late with 8G and 8A in 16 games this season and rookie forward Brodie Dupont, who after a slow start adjusting to this level, has been coming on of late posting 4G and 9A for 13 points over 19 games this season. On the back line Andrew Hutchinson has been lighting it up with 4G and 9A for 13 points in 14 games. Who will be in net is anyone's guess as Montoya (5-4-1 2.54 GAA and .901%) is questionable at best with his injured back and if he can't go, both back-ups are ECHL call-ups.

This one should be a battle from the initial drop of the puck which tonight is at 7:30pm. You can catch Bob Crawford's pre-game show and then the call of the game starting at 7 on ESPN 1410 AM or for a mere $6 watch it live on B2livetv.com.

In other hockey news involving the Pack, Bruce Berlet has a VERY touching piece on Jonathan and Jordan Sigalet of the Providence Bruins that you really should read at The Hartford Courant. There is also a great piece in Men's Vogue on Brendan Shanahan that if you read the magazine includes pictures of former Pack players, Brandon Dubinski, Ryan Callahan, Dan Girardi and okay, it was only for a couple of play-off games a couple of years ago, but Marc Staal as well.

Also, Al Montoya and Lauri Korpikoski are Bob Crawford's guests on a really good show if you have time to check it out called, "Wolf Pack Confidential." The show airs on Tuesday from 7 to 8 p.m and can only be heard on ESPN 1410AM. If you want to catch the show in person and ask questions, it's free and all you need to do is be at M&M Restaurant in the Hartford Hilton and enjoy the program.

John Dellapina reports in The Blueshirts Blog that ex-Pack Goalie, Steven Valiquette will get the start tonight against the struggling Florida Panthers. Ivan Baranka and Greg Moore will not get their second professional games tonight as Marty Straka returns to take his position opposite Jaromir Jagr with Dubinsky centering. Michael Rozsival returns tonight as well and will partner with rookie Marc Staal. Marek Malik still remains out of the line up with a rib injury.

Ex-Pack star, Ryan Callahan is ready to return to action from his knee injury and will most likely do so Sunday afternoon against Dallas in the friendly confines of MSG. By some chance that he is not ready to go on Sunday, he will unquestionably be on the ice in MSG for Thursday night's action against the visiting NY Islanders who've beaten the Rangers all 3 times they've played them this season.

It is safe to assume that both Baranka and Moore will return to Hartford, and not a moment to soon, possibly even tomorrow as the Wolf Pack are at home against Lowell and absolutely by next Friday's road game against Worcester barring of course anyone else in New York getting injured.

Stay close to Howlings for all the latest information on YOUR HartFORD-WOOOOLF PAAAAACK...(How's that for an ode to the Civic Center Announcer?)

(Chris Holt photo courtesy of gocheckers.com, medical bag photo courtesy of readykor.com)

NEW PENALTY SUGGESTION..."REFEREE INTERFERENCE"

All sports should be about the players and the competition between them. Apparently AHL referee Shaun Davis doesn't feel that way. Davis called 8 penalties in the first period (4 to each team), was apparently winded in the second when he only able to call two (both to Providence) and then regained his wind to whistle 11 more penalties in the 3rd (to be fair 2 of the calls were multiple calls to the same players) including a call to negate an obvious Wolf Pack power play goal. Later he must have been admiring the scenery or perhaps had an after-game appointment he needed to rush out to get to when he allowed Wolf Pack Goalie, Chris Holt (5-3-0 2.48 GAA .903%) to get run by Providence Bruin Left Wing Chris Collins. The hit on Holt's knees left him unable to continue and in obvious pain. Other than that he had a quiet night. By the way, there was a game played between two teams contending for first place in the Atlantic Division which the Providence Bruins (12-2-1-0) won 3-2 in front of 2,931 over the Wolf Pack (11-7-0-1). The loss dropped the Wolf Pack to third place 1 point behind the Springfield Falcons (10-5-1-3) and 2 behind Providence who also have 4 games in hand on both squads.

For the Wolf Pack coming in were two major story-lines; the health of number one goalie, Al Montoya, (5-4-1 2.54 GAA, .091%) who's back injury has flared up again and the affect of Nigel Dawes return to the team from the NY Rangers. Montoya was unable to go and that necessitated the call-up of Miika Wiikman, (with ECHL Charlotte 1-1-0-2, 2.36 GAA .922%) who arrived at the arena during warm-ups and came to the bench midway through the first period. The second story, Nigel Dawes, wasn't a story at all as apart from a first shift steal and missed shot, was virtually invisible the entire game.

The first period was almost entirely played by the special teams and there was no flow to the game with Davis' constant whistle interruptions on mostly marginal calls while bigger penalties were left uncalled the affect of which leads to tempers flaring which would boil over in the third period.

The Bruins got on the board first when at 17:26 when defensemen Matt Lashoff fed fellow Bruin T.J. Trevelyan with a nice pass that led to a break-in. Trevelyan then beat rookie Michael Sauer and got off a shot the rebound of which landed right in the lap of recently returned from Boston, Center David Krejci who beat Holt giving the Bruins the lead 1-0. When the period came to a close the Baby Bruins had out shot the Pack 10-6.

It didn't take the Bruins long into the second period to get on the board again as Brett Skinner found Matt Hendricks, who would later be named the games' first star, who went around Pack forward, Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau, and fire a shot on goal. Holt made the initial stop but the rebound to the left post found Byron Bitz who was all alone and had no problem putting it home giving the visitors their 2-0 advantage.

At 6:40 Hugh Jessiman's shot hit iron and with the Pack having a 27 second 5 on 3 advantage at 9:30 they were only able to get off a flubbed shot by Dawes and another in a scramble that missed the net entirely. At 10:30 while still on the man-advantage, Andrew Hutchinson bobbled a pass at the left point which was then taken in one-on-one on Holt who made a huge leg save on Martins Karsums keeping the game within reach.

At 14:50 Mike Ouellette found Brodie Dupont, who's game has improved immensely over the last several weeks, who fired a shot which rebounded to Parenteau, who has also been finding his way onto the score sheet a lot lately, who fired the shot past Providence goalie, rookie Mike Brown (3-0-0-0 2.29 GAA .900%) who had no chance on it.

The period ended with the score 2-1 and the Bruins with a 23-19 advantage in shots on goal.

David was the entire story of the third period. With hard and cheap shots all over the ice going unchecked, at 1:03 Dupont lost his composure and severely boarded Adam McQuaid with a hit from behind that drove McQuaid face first into the glass. McQuaid took several minutes before fortunately he was able to get to his feet and be helped from the ice. The hit by Dupont is sure to draw some sort of a suspension. Immediately after the hit Pascal Pelletier charged into Dupont and the two had a lengthy fight that moved all over the ice and lasted what seemed to be an unusually long time. Pelletier was issued 2 minutes for instigating, 5 for fighting and a 10 minute misconduct for the instigation. Dupont was given a 5 minute major for the boarding of McQuaid as well as a 5 minute fighting major and then a 10 minute game misconduct for the boarding incident. This was a very brutal hit from behind that was reminiscent of the one that may well have ended the career of rising Bruin star Patrice Bergeron. The league cannot tolerate this type of hit no matter what team the player represents.

28 seconds after things settled down, Holt gave up what would be the game deciding goal on what might have been the softest goal of the season. An outlet pass by Jonathan Sigalet was sent to Hendricks who then turned and fed Jeff Hoggan who took Hutchinson wide of the left circle fired a soft shot on goal from the bad angle and was initially stopped by Holt between the pads but somehow the puck squirted out from between his legs and rolled into the net giving the Bruins a commanding 3-1 lead.

Holt made a couple of strong saves on Trevelyan on the doorstep when he was 1 on 1 keeping the Pack within a reasonable deficit. 6 minutes later, Jessiman would get another shot at Brown only this one found steel instead of netting.

The play that changed the entire complexion of the game and ruined the Pack's chance at redemption came at 8:27. While on a power play for a Sigalet tripping call, Thomas Pock lateraled a pass to Andrew Hutchinson on the right point. Hutchison unloaded a missile on Brown that Dane Byers screened him on and it found the back of the net. BUT WAIT, according to Davis, Byers had interfered with brown, who replays would show was way out of his crease and didn't get interfered with at all. What would have left the Pack with momentum and trailing by a single goal, left them down two and negated the power play and totally shifted the momentum back to the visiting squad.

What made matters far worse would come at 12:35 when Collins came down right wing and turned in around Pack D-Man Jake Taylor and crashed into Holt knee on knee. Replays showed Holt's knee buckle inward which is a VERY bad sign and could be serious. Despite a crazed reaction by the Pack bench, Davis not only did nothing but ended up rewarding Providence with a power play when Jake Taylor jumped in to defend his fallen goalie with an Unsportsmanlike Conduct penalty in addition to the matching roughing penalties to he and Collins. This injury required a goalie switch to the very cold, Wiikman who fortunately only had to make one save the rest of the way.

With Wiikman pulled for an extra attacker, at 19:33 with what should have been the game tying goal, a pass from the circling Jessiman to Hutchinson on the right point ripped through the mass of bodies in front of Brown and found Parenteau who put it home for the 3-2 score. With 8 seconds left in the contest a deflection by Pock went off the post and the Wolf Pack had lost for the 5th consecutive time at home (including last years' play-offs) and broke their winning streak of 4 in a row and 6 of 7.

The Pack finished the game out shot 32-28 but it was a matter of "referee interference" that was clearly the story in the Civic Center Wednesday night.

The three Stars of the game were:

1) Hendricks
2) Parenteau
3) Brown

The Wolf Pack lines were:
Korpikoski - Murphy (who had an exceptionally strong game) - Byers with Potter & Constant
Dupont - Parenteau - Anisimov with Sauer & Hutchinson
Dawes - Jessiman - Ouellette with Pock and Taylor
Lee - Graham

Scratches, all from injuries:
Montoya - Back
Liffiton - Concussion
Bourret - Concussion
Fritz -Shoulder Surgery
Lessard - Knee (A rumor was floating that his knee injury will require season ending surgery...that has NOT been confirmed as of yet)
Pyatt - High Ankle Sprain

Congratulations to Ivan Baranka who in his first game in the NHL received his first NHL point on what turned out to be the game winning goal against Tampa Bay. Greg Moore did not get on the scorer's sheet but had a strong showing.

Funny Line of the season has to go to CRN reporter, Gerry Cantalon who remarked that it was so cold in the building that "the Civic Center is the only arena in the league that has a wind chill factor..."

Find Bruce Berlet's recap at The Hartford Courant. From the Providence point of view you'll find Mike Trocchi's "game report" (what game he was watching is anyone's guess) for the Providence Jounal. Bob Crawford has the game report. Stats from the boxscore and the official scorer's sheet.

The Wolf Pack's next game comes Friday night as they visit Bridgeport to take on the Sound Tigers. A preview will be posted later...

PERSONAL NOTE:

I have a great deal to be thankful for. I have a wonderful family, good friends and you for supporting this site with your time reading this and for your outstanding comments and observations.

From me and my family to you and yours, may you have much to give thanks for this the official start of the holiday season.

Here's a bit of sick, but funny humor for your Thanksgiving holiday...

(Thomas Pock & Shaun Davis, Brodie Dupont & Pascal Pelletier photos courtesy of Chris Rutsch and HartfordWolfPack.com, Sesame Street photo courtesy of xanga.com, Blind Farmer photo courtesy of bigoo.ws, Trial photo courtesy of faculty.winthrop.edu

WIIKMAN TO THE WHESCUE?

In a move that leads one to think that perhaps Al Monotya's back is ailing still or perhaps with all the cold and flus that seem to be going around maybe he or Chris Holt might be under the weather, comes this release from the Wolf Pack:

HARTFORD, November 21, 2007: Hartford Wolf Pack general manager Jim Schoenfeld announced today that the Wolf Pack have recalled goaltender Miika Wiikman from their ECHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers.

Wiikman played two games with the Wolf Pack this season before being loaned to Charlotte November 1st, compiling a 1-0-0 record with five goals-against on 39 shots (4.32 goals-against average, 87.2% save percentage). In four ECHL games with the Checkers, the Finnish import was 1-1-0 with a 2.36 GAA and a 92.2% save percentage.

The Wolf Pack are in action at the Hartford Civic Center tonight against the Providence Bruins, with whom they are tied for first place in the Atlantic Division. Faceoff is 7:00. The Pack also play at home this Saturday night, November 24th, hosting the Lowell Devils at 7:00.

(Miika Wiikman photo courtesy of viewimages.com)

RANGER WARS III - A NEW BEGINNING

It's official according to John Dellapina in his Blueshirts Blog BOTH Center Greg Moore and D-Man Ivan Baranka will make their NHL debuts tonight against the high flying, goal-scoring Tampa Bay Lightning.

There are other changes afoot as Trumbull's Chris Drury will play on the wing in the effort to get both his and Jaromir Jagr's scoring going as both have been in a recent slump. That most likely means that Greg Moore will center a line with Petr Prucha on one side and most likely Marcel Hossa on the other. Most felt that Baranka would play in place of Jason Strudwick, but instead he will be teamed up with him as it is actually Michael Rozsival who will sit as a result of a sore knee.

These changes are not likely to last long as Martin Straka is likely back Friday night and Ryan Callahan is likely for Sunday.

More on this later...

(Ivan Baranka photo Courtesy of viewimages.com and Greg Moore photo courtesy of HartfordWolfpack.com)

GETTING A BIT "DEFENSIVE" ARE WE?

Thomas Pock has a new entry in his blog for his friends and family in Austria.

It's a fascinating look at what is going on within his game and what the team is going through recently. Tommy addresses the demands that the team has faced recently playing 7 games in 10 days and winning 6 of them and the mental demands that such a schedule imposes on a player.

Tommy briefly addresses the rash of injuries that have decimated the team. Curiously though is that he mentions something that needs a little further investigation, at least via the translation he mentions someone having a bruised kidney. Perhaps the translation is wrong. More on this later...

Tommy also speaks about all of the call-ups from all over that were needed to fill out the roster and how that really separates the wheat from the chaff.

The next part of the entry really reflects on the direction that the Rangers/Wolf Pack coaching staff sees as his shortcoming to returning as an NHL player. That focus needs to be on his "Defensive" play. Remember that Tommy was raised and came to the US as a Forward. He only started to play Defense midway through his college career so he's still learning the position and as previously mentioned in an earlier post, he doesn't have the benefit in Hartford from having a veteran D-Man to lean on to help him through that like he had in Paul Mara and especially Jason Strudwick in New York.

According to Tommy, over these 7 in 10, he dished out "some very hard checks..." and took some as well. but that his coaching staff still wants him to focus more on the D-Side of the game.

...my present direction is on a consistent, hard defense. With my defense coach, (ed. note, he's referring to J.J. Daigneault) I work intensively at a hard defensive game. I believe that here is where my improvement potential lies and through it, also my chances to climb back into the NHL.

He further expounds on this that he's been told that

...each goal and/or assist is a plus, it is not demanded however of me...

All of the other Wolf Pack news focuses in on the somewhat controversial return of winger Nigel Dawes from the Rangers to come to Hartford to work on his defensive game as well. As you might imagine being sent down after being the second leading scorer with the parent club has left Nigel as not exactly the happiest player in the locker-room right now. For a full story including Bruce Berlet's exclusive interview with Nigel, check it out at The Hartford Courant.

You can watch Tommy, the aforementioned Nigel Dawes and the rest of their Wolf Pack teammates tonight as they take on the Uber-Hot (reading all this German must have had an affect) and 1st place, Providence Bruins for a meager $6 fee on B2livetv.com or you can listen free on ESPN 1410 AM. Pre-game starts at 6:30 and the puck drops at 7:05.

Speaking of the Providence Bruins, our best wishes and hoped for the future to Jordan Sigalet, who as Bruce Berlet reports "has multiple sclerosis and was hospitalized after he collapsed in the third period Friday against Worcester."

A complete wrap up on all of the action will follow the game here at Howlings.

(Thomas Pock photo courtesy of NewYorkRangers.com)

MR. DAWES GOES TO HARTFORD

Nigel Dawes reported to the Wolf Pack practice facility at approximately 1pm this afternoon. He stopped to talk with Bruce Berlet of the Hartford Courant who will have a full report on the conversation as well as Head Coach, Ken Gernander's comments in tomorrow's edition of The Courant.

Sam Weinman's has more details on the reasons for the demotion of Nigel Dawes. Rangers Head Coach Tom Renney had this to say:

“It was more geared toward Nigel understanding the consistency and standard that we have to play at here, especially for a young fella like that who has terrific offensive attributes. He has to be involved at (the defensive) part of the game. Having said that, there’s a level of consistency and standard he has to meet off the puck and it happens to a lot of young players. Some guys are up four or five times before they nail it. But I think Nigel Dawes is an NHL player.”

Sam also reports that Marty Straka and Ryan Callahan have been cleared for contact and unless something unusual happens, Greg Moore's stay should be a short one. He will skate with Chris Drury and Petr Prucha tomorrow night in Florida.

Read the piece in its entirety at Rangers Report.

Dawes will be in the line-up and ready to help the team in their battle tomorrow with the first place Providence Bruins. The Bruins will be without goalie Tuukka Rask who was recalled to Boston just one day after returning Baby Bruins' line-up for their 3-2 loss to the Springfield Falcons Sunday afternoon. The P-Bruins are led up front by Left Wing Pascal Pelletier and his 6G and 12A in 14 games and Center, Vladimir Sobotka and his 7G and 7A also in 14 games.

The Wolf Pack have a home record of 20-11-5-1 against Providence and an all time record of 37-29-8-2.

Game Time is 7:05. You'll be able to listen to Bob Crawford's pre-game and then to the game itself at ESPN 1410 AM or you can watch the broadcast for $6 at B2Livetv.com.

Howlings will have a report after the game.

(Nigel Dawes photo courtesy of ViewImages.com)

CH-CH-CH-CHANGES...

According to Sam Weinman in his Rangers Report blog there have been a number of moves today that have been made by The New York Rangers that affect YOUR Hartford Wolf Pack. If you've got your scorecard out, move wing Nigel Dawes back to Hartford while erasing Wing Greg Moore from your Hartford roster and adding him to the New York line-up. Also, surprisingly defenseman Ivan Baranka has also been called up from Hartford to cover for utility guy Jason Strudwick, who was not on the ice today took a shot off the leg and was visibly limping. Baranka's game status will depend fully on whether or not Strudwick can play.

The Baranka move is especially puzzling considering that his play has been extremely erratic, but given the injury to David Liffiton and the inability to bring up Andrew Hutchinson, or Thomas Pock, who hasn't exactly been stellar either and the risk of losing them on a reentry waiver move would likely cost the Rangers cap move as they would almost certainly be claimed. It can only be assumed that Baranka is being called up as a temporary move that bringing in another more sound NHL person isn't worthwhile since whatever seems to be ailing Jason Strudwick must not be serious. It could also be a move designed much like Greg Moore's was some weeks ago to see how he looks in practice before he gets returned to Hartford.

Here's the official release:

New York, November 20, 2007 -- New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that forward Greg Moore and defenseman Ivan Baranka have been recalled from the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL) and forward Nigel Dawes has been reassigned to Hartford.
Moore, 23, has skated in 18 games with Hartford (AHL) this season, registering 10 goals and eight assists for 18 points, along with 15 penalty minutes and a plus-14 rating. Moore leads the Wolf Pack in goals (10), points (18), and plus/minus (plus-14) and his eight assists are tied for first on the team. His 10 goals and plus-14 rating are also tied for second in the AHL, while his 18 points are tied for ninth in the league. The 6-1, 210 pound forward was recalled twice earlier this season, on November 5th and November 12th, and did not dress in two games with the Rangers.

Baranka, 22, has appeared in 17 games with Hartford (AHL) this season, collecting two goals and five assists for seven points, along with 16 penalty minutes and a plus-six rating. In his third season with the Wolf Pack, the 6-3, 205 pound defenseman has recorded 10 goals and 41 assists for 51 points, along with 153 penalty minutes in 130 contests. The Ilava, Slovakia native was originally the Rangers second round choice, 50th overall, in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

Dawes, 22, has skated in 16 games with the Rangers this season following his recall from Hartford (AHL) on October 17, registering four goals and one assist for five points. The 5-9, 190 pound forward has appeared in 24 games for New York over the last two seasons, recording five goals and one assist for six points. Prior to his recall, Dawes had recorded one goal and four assists for five points in three games. His four assists and five points led the Wolf Pack at the time.

From today’s practice, Michal Rozsival (rest) and Jason Strudwick (thigh contusion) (emphasis added by Howlings) did not skate. Ryan Callahan and Martin Straka have both been cleared for contact and returned to full practice. The Blueshirts return to action tomorrow, November 21, when they will face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the St. Pete Times Forum (7:30 PM).

(Greg Moore, Nigel Dawes and Ivan Baranka photos courtesy of HartfordWolfPack.com, and Jason Strudwick photo courtesy of NewYorkRangers.com)

EX-PACK D-MAN LAMPMAN WILL FIND OUT THAT "IT'S NOT HEAVEN...IT'S IOWA"

As Bruce Berlet told you in his Hartford Courant column and as Howlings hinted at, former Wolf Pack defenseman Bryce Lampman has been traded again, becoming the first acquisition by the Dallas Stars new management team. The official press release follows:

The Dallas Stars, parent club of the AHL's Iowa Stars, have acquired defenseman Bryce Lampman from the Tampa Bay Lightning, parent club of the AHL's Norfolk Admirals, in exchange for defenseman Mario Scalzo.

Lampman will report to Iowa, while Scalzo has been assigned to Norfolk.

Scalzo, 23, played in 15 games with Iowa this season, registering nine points (1g, 8a) and a plus-1 rating. The third-year pro has nine goals and 58 assists for 67 points in 162 career AHL games.

Lampman, 25, was originally selected by the New York Rangers in the fourth round of the 2001 Entry Draft and has skated in 10 career NHL games with the Rangers over the last three seasons.

Lampman skated in 16 games for Norfolk this season, registering three goals and three assists for six points. In 274 career AHL contests, Lampman has 22 goals and 60 assists for 82 points.

(Bryce Lampman photo courtesy of NYDailyNews.com)