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December 6, 2009 Author: Bob Crawford

Let’s not gild the lilly, this weekend had to be one of the worst, if not the worst, three-game stretches in Wolf Pack history.

If Friday night’s 7-1 shellacking in Manchester wasn’t bad enough, and it was bad, then things got even uglier Sunday in Hershey, when the Pack were smoked 9-2 by the Bears.

Perhaps most distressing was the team’s penchant for giving up goals in bunches, even in the relatively well-played 4-1 defeat in Wilkes-Barre that was sandwiched between the two blowouts. The Penguins scored three of their four goals in a span of 3:24 in the second period in that contest, otherwise that’s a very winnable game for the Wolf Pack.

Friday night the Monarchs scored five in the first period in 11:08, and had six of their seven in a span of 17:31, when you factor in the one they scored at 1:01 of the second. Then on Sunday, after falling behind 3-0 in the first, the Pack saw the defending Calder Cup champs (who, even without Alex Giroux are a great offensive team, make no mistake about it) explode for six second-period scores, the most the Wolf Pack have ever given up in a single period. Yikes!

Allow me, though, to put on my rose-colored glasses for a moment, and use this occasion to reflect on the fact that I think this gruesome stretch really serves to highlight how amazingly consistent the Wolf Pack have been during their recent history, even more than it does how god-awful they were in most of the last three games.

Consider, for example, that prior to Saturday’s loss extending a Pack winless streak to four games (0-2-1-1), the franchise hadn’t gone that long without a win in more than four years, since November of 2005. And we’re not even talking regulation losses, just not having a win in four straight. That’s amazing to me. And the last time the Wolf Pack were without a win in five consecutive games was over five years ago, November of 2004, when the NHL lockout was fairly new and the Pack were fresh off a franchise-best string of nine straight wins to start the season.

Five full years without a winless streak of so much as five games. Not too many teams can say that.

I know I’ve been spoiled by being able to watch the Pack exhibit so much success over the years, and let me tell you, it was hard to watch, never mind call, those two games Friday and Sunday.

It’s one thing to lose, but it’s very un-Wolf Pack-like to be non-competitive in a game. I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times I remember that happening over the team’s time in Hartford, and I’m sure it will be back to the drawing board for the whole crew this week. They have a full week of practice before a chance to right the ship with five straight home games, and if the mood on the bus back from Hershey as I type this is any indication, it’s going to be a week full of soul-searching and re-evaluation.

i think were starting to turn things around a bit. we one a game. and on sunday we played real solid in the 2nd and 3rd pd. if that goal was allowed that's the game winner. go pack

Posted by: chris

- Dec 14 2009 7:26AM

Another wild one against the Albany River Rats. The Rats looking for a little payback for all the dominance we've had over them. But honestly, listening to the great broadcast, I got the impression that the Pack took control of at least the 2nd and 3rd Periods of the game. I thought we really had the game with Corey Potter's goal (that was disallowed on a very questionable call). If they put that goal on AHL Live's highlights, I imagine it will give the officials some food for thought. I think we have seen signs of improvement in Byers, Dupont, and seen a boost to the roster in Gilroy and Carrol. Something else to keep in mind as I look at the standings, other than Manchester, every team in the division looks to be struggling just a game or two above or below .500 and only a few points seperate 7th place from 2nd place. While the six game winless streak hurt us, other teams in the division haven't really taken advantage of our woes as much as they could have. Looks like the Atlantic Division will continue to be tight and every game from here on in will become a playoff game really.

Posted by: David McLeod

- Dec 13 2009 5:49PM

Saturday night's broadcast was fantastic! I think the Pack have begun to turn the corner. Valiquette had a great night and lots of hard work all around from Brodie Dupont, Dane Byers, Dale Weise, Bobby Sanguinetti, Devin DiDiomete, and Matt Gilroy. Hoffman looks seems like a great fit in his line with some very physical linemates-- a Checking line? Good efforts. More work needed, but all-in-all, a jolt of much needed life and morale boost.

Posted by: David McLeod

- Dec 12 2009 8:51PM

6 losses in a row and failed to get a point in the last 4. i got to tell you im not to happy about that. there's still a lot of hockey left in the season and we can with out a dought pick up the pace and start winning. but i'd rather start doing that tonight instead of latter on in the season. 6 losses in a row is plenty if you ask me.

Posted by: chris

- Dec 12 2009 9:57AM

Doug, my understanding is that Soryal sustained facial fractures when he fought Jesse Boulerice in Wilkes-Barre Saturday night. I think how long he will be out will depend on whether he needs surgery, and I haven't gotten the word yet on whether that is the case or not.

Posted by: Bob Crawford

- Dec 11 2009 1:47PM

lets get back on track tonight go pack

Posted by: chris

- Dec 11 2009 8:43AM

You had mentioned that Justin Soryal sustained a facial injury. Are you able to share details - how long he will be sidelined

Posted by: doug drake

- Dec 10 2009 10:12AM

The Wolfpack have always done well to rebound in pressure situations and I've never seen the Pack ever "roll over and give up" before. We've seen them down, but they are far from out. The Pack has well-established records and dominance against many division rivals and even a few non-division rivals. One burp in the stream isn't going to deter this team from plowing on towards the playoffs. If anything, our long term prospects look pretty darn good when you consider possibly getting Heikkenen back with Sanguinetti, Locke with Parenteau, DiDomete, Nigel Williams, Jared Nightingale, and Garlock firing on refreshed batteries. Let's add Jordan Owens to that mix as well and not overlook Crowder either! We have the tools, and if you add Valiquette in any role, once he's in game shape, our playoff prospects just jumped considerably! We had the problem of having so many quality goaltenders and almost too many veterans remember?? In this case two "wrongs" will make things pretty right don't you think? So we took a dip... it happens. Given the tools at the team's disposal, it will only be a matter of time before rise up. Heck, we shutout Providence 7-0 after that 6-0 dip handed us by Hershey... imagine how charged up the Pack must be coming into a home stretch after this last dip. 5 upcoming home games would be a golden opportunity to start a new hot streak.

Posted by: David McLeod

- Dec 9 2009 6:23PM

home for 5 games in a row. i want to rebound and get a win lets go wolf pack. and besides we do have some talented players so if we play hard and play the right way i think we will have a good chance of rebounding at home.

Posted by: chris

- Dec 9 2009 1:02PM

Doug, I don't sense anything like that. All that I've seen indicates that the players and the coaching staff are still on the same page, in terms of being embarrassed by the results this past weekend and being determined to turn it in a different direction. And thanks for staying with it in those games. They couldn't have been much fun to listen to!

Posted by: Bob Crawford

- Dec 9 2009 12:56PM

Rachel, well said, I think that is a reasoned analysis. Hopefully a little home cooking will be a tonic.

Posted by: Bob Crawford

- Dec 9 2009 12:53PM

Hi Bob, Despite what was happening to the Pack I stayed tuned for every second. Do you sense that there are off-ice issues that are affecting the team - more specifically was their play a message to Coach Gernander that they aren't willing to play hard for him anymore?

Posted by: doug drake

- Dec 9 2009 12:42PM

I think it is way too early to panic. This slide, while it seems like the worst thing in Pack history, shouldn't be a big deal considering the team's history and potential. I think a lot of the team's woes just happened to be a combination of roster shuffles, injuries, and tough match-ups all coming at once in a case of bad timing. I think having time off to practice and get a fresh look at the roster as it stands will make a big difference-- as will getting a string of home games under the belt. In hockey, there's no place like home!

Posted by: Rachel

- Dec 8 2009 9:57PM

Chris, the team just got back to practice today, so it's hard to assess the level of determination. Hopefully they know that how they respond to this adversity is a big test, and that much will be revealed about their individual and collective character in the next few games.

Posted by: Bob Crawford

- Dec 8 2009 11:09AM

Khris, to me the weakest part of the weekend was the Pack's moving the puck. They seemed to have a lot of trouble getting it out of the defensive zone, and through the neutral zone, cleanly. That led to a bunch of turnovers and the team being back on its heels for most of Friday's and Sunday's games.

Posted by: Bob Crawford

- Dec 8 2009 11:06AM

Rhonda, thank you very much for the kind words. I really appreciate your listening, and sorry I couldn't bring you better news from the road this weekend. As of right now there are no plans to revive the weekly radio show, but please feel free to bug your favorite gathering spot about taking a look at doing it. Thanks again for your interest!

Posted by: Bob Crawford

- Dec 8 2009 11:04AM

how determined do the players look to get a win. i know if i lost 5 games in a row i would be very determined

Posted by: chris

- Dec 8 2009 7:26AM

From your point of view, what was the weakest part of play for the Pack?

Posted by: Khris

- Dec 7 2009 7:54PM

Just curious if there will ever be anymore of the weekly interviews with the players, like you used to do. It was a lot of fun at Little Mark's Big BBQ and great there for me since it was close by. I did get to a few of the ones in Hartford as well. Just wondering if Coach's or Black Bear would ever offer to do something like that again. Might get more people interested in going to games too. Just wondering!! Love listening to your broadcasts of away games! GREAT JOB!!

Posted by: Rhonda Strycharz

- Dec 7 2009 7:02PM

At the Hershey game Sunday, combined with a prior 6-0 loss, no way Hartford advancing to Calder Cup. Even with Pierre missing, Bears missing Giroux too. Hartford couldn't even win "gooning" it up at the end. Hartford's PP goal was the first PP goal that Hershey has allowed at home all season! How can you compete and Hershey has had Jay Beagle, Michael Neuvirth, Andrew Gordon, Boyd Kane, Keith Aucoin, Matthew Perrieault,Alexander Giroux, all up, or currently up with the Capitals. Corey Locke would be a 3rd liner (at best) on the Bears

Posted by: Joe

- Dec 7 2009 1:30PM

tought week for the pack.were not compleetly out of any thing yet with the division being so tight and all but we need to start winning.

Posted by: chris

- Dec 7 2009 7:44AM

Monday August 30, 2010

A Lost Weekend

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