Grachev's Two-goal Game Paces Pack Against Sharks

Evgeny Grachev arrived in Hartford with major credentials, including Ontario Hockey League rookie of the year last season after getting 40 goals and 40 assists in 60 games with Brampton.

Grachev, 19, the Rangers’ third-round pick in 2008 from Khabarovsk, Russia, added 11 goals and 14 assists in 19 playoff games and was among the final cuts on Broadway earlier this month after playing seven exhibition games with the NHL team.

Though Grachev said the exhibition games minimized his adjustment to the AHL, the left wing had only one goal in his first eight games with the Wolf Pack.

But Grachev tripled his total Sunday as he and P.A. Parenteau each scored twice to back the 32-save performance of Miika Wiikman in a 4-3 victory over the Worcester Sharks before 2,141 at the XL Center.

“I thought our line has had two strong games, and there were a couple of lucky bounces for me,” said Grachev, who played his third game with right wing Dale Weise and Brodie Dupont, moved from wing to center. “It’s more physical (in the AHL), and guys are stronger, bigger and faster, but everything is more simple, too. There aren’t many risky plays, so I’ve just tried to play my own game.”

Wolf Pack coach Ken Gernander said there’s always a bit of an adjustment for rookies but has liked Grachev’s progress.

“He’s a first-year kid in the league so sometimes it takes a little longer to find your touch,” Gernander said. “You can’t hit the road running all the time. He’s improving steadily, and now he’s on a bit of a roll. He’s more of a shooter than a playmaker, but we’re working on his defensive skills. If a guy comes in and he’s known as an offensive player, you have to work on other things as part of your development.”

Wiikman kept the Wolf Pack (4-5-0-0) ahead in the second period, stopping every shot he faced as the Sharks (5-2-0-1) had a 17-6 shot advantage on the way to having a three-game winning streak ended. That included four saves during the Sharks’ 5-on-3 power play in the opening 1:35 as Worcester got the period’s first eight shots.

“It was a big kill by the guys, and I had a couple of good saves and got a little lucky, too,” said Wiikman, who made one stop while on his back in the crease. “But that’s part of the game, too.”

Wiikman reinjured his groin in the preseason and started the season with Charlotte of the ECHL before returning to the Wolf Pack Nov. 11 after Matt Zaba sustained a concussion.

“You have to be ready for anything and keep working because it doesn’t matter where you are,” Wiikman said. “I feel about as good as I can, though there’s always something small. But I’m just trying to get used to it now.”

Wiikman then smiled and added, “I feel like I’m in September while the other guys are almost in November.”

The Wolf Pack started the game much better than in a 5-2 victory over Lowell Saturday night, with Tyson Sexsmith (26 saves) making a good stop off Jordan Owens on a 2-on-1 with Justin Soryal at 1:53. Then with the Wolf Pack on their first power play, Sharks defenseman Joe Callahan, a Yale graduate, hit the crossbar at 3:50.

But the Sharks took a 1-0 lead on their first power play as T.J. Trevelyan chipped his own rebound of Derek Joslin’s shot over Wiikman at 6:49.

Grachev tied it at 8:28, backhanding Dupont’s rebound between Sexsmith’s legs, then Wiikman was alert to stop Dan DaSilva’s one-timer from the left circle at 10:48. Given that reprieve, Grachev put the Wolf Pack ahead to stay when he converted Ilkka Heikkinen’s shot from the left circle at 14:38.

Sexsmith denied Dane Byers alone in front with 3:57 left in the period, then the Sharks’ Danny Groulx put a shot off the post with 48 seconds to go.

The Sharks dominated the second period, but Wiikman was superb, especially during Worcester’s 5-on-3. Then he denied bang-bang bids by Andrew Desjardins at 2:05.

Grachev nearly completed his first North American hat trick at 9:45 but hit the post off a 3-on-1. Wiikman kept the Wolf Pack in front when he stopped John McCarthy breaking in alone with 1:05 left.

The Wolf Pack’s top-ranked power play finally converted on its fourth attempt as Parenteau took a pass from Byers and beat Sexsmith to the stick side at 1:45 of the third period. But the Sharks got within a goal again when DaSilva centered into the slot to Desjardins, who beat Wiikman high to the stick side at 4:04.

Parenteau scored his second goal of the game and team-leading eighth of the season at 14:09 off a centering pass from Corey Potter, who had two assists. But 2:21 later, Trevelyan scored his second of the game off Steven Zalewski’s rebound before the Wolf Pack allowed only one shot after the Sharks pulled Sexsmith with 1:13 left.

“I’m happy with the effort and the one-on-one battles,” Gernander said. “And the penalty kill has been an area we’ve been constantly improving upon, and that 5-on-3 kill was big. There were some good efforts by a lot of guys.”

SUMMARY

Worcester 1 0 2 --- 3
Hartford 2 0 2 --- 4
First Period-1, Worcester, Trevelyan 4 (Joslin), 6:49 (pp); 2, Hartford, Grachev 2 (Dupont, Weise), 8:28; 3, Hartford, Grachev 3 (Heikkinen, Sauer), 14:38. Penalties-Wilson, Wor (interference), 2:00; Henley, Hfd (delay of game), 5:28; Quirk, Wor (tripping), 12:38; DaSilva, Wor (roughing), 19:34; Parenteau, Hfd (roughing), 19:34; Soryal, Hfd (roughing), 19:34; Dandenault, Hfd (tripping), 20:00.
Second Period- No scoring. Penalty-Petrecki, Wor (slashing), 19:55.
Third Period-4, Hartford, Parenteau 7 (Byers, Potter), 1:45 (pp); 5, Worcester, Desjardins 4 (DaSilva, Groulx), 4:04. 6, Hartford, Parenteau 8 (Potter), 14:09. 7, Worcester, Trevelyan 5 (Groulx, Zalewski), 16:30. Penalty-DaSilva Wor (roughing), 14:09.
Shots on goal-Worcester 10-17-8-35. Hartford 13-8-9-30; Power Play Opportunities-Worcester 1 of 3; Hartford 1 of 4; Goalies-Worcester, Sexsmith 1-1-0 (30 shots-26 saves). Hartford, Wiikman 1-1-0 (35-32); A-2,141; Referee-Mark Lemelin; Linesmen-Brent Colby, Derek Wahl.