TWO MINUTES FOR THOUGHTS: APRIL 13TH, 2023
Apr 13, 2023
Congratulations, Wolf Pack fans! If there is one thing I have learned in my two seasons in Hartford, it is how passionate you all are about this sport and this team. I know from talking to many of you how important making the playoffs was this season. Mission Accomplished. The Wolf Pack are going back to the Calder Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2015.
Now, it’s time to enjoy the best time of the year. The weather is starting to feel like summer, and playoff hockey is knocking on the door. Next week, the Wolf Pack will face either the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Charlotte Checkers, or Springfield Thunderbirds with an eye towards the second Calder Cup in franchise history.
Onto the blog.
1.) Really was fitting to see Tanner Fritz bury the empty net goal in Providence on Saturday night that cemented Hartford’s playoff spot. The goal was Fritz’s 10th of the season and allowed him to set a new career-high with 43 points (10 g, 33 a) on the season. Fritz, a veteran of over 300 AHL games, returns to the Calder Cup Playoffs for just the second time in his career. He’s mentioned a few times this season how he’s enjoyed the first 300+ games of his career, but that he wants to compete for a Championship and make those priceless playoff memories. He’ll get a chance to do that next week after a really strong year both on the ice and as a leader.
2.) We’ve given a lot of love, and rightfully so, to Louis Domingue on our recent broadcasts. He’s been terrific as of late for Hartford. He’s not alone, however. Rookie goaltender Dylan Garand’s last two starts were big victories, on the road, against playoff teams in the Providence Bruins and the Phantoms.
On Saturday, Garand made 35 saves to help push Hartford into the playoffs, including 14 in a second period where the Wolf Pack took a lead they never lost. A week earlier, Garand made 34 saves, including 14 in the third period, to help lead the Wolf Pack to a 5-1 victory over the Phantoms.
The young goaltender has 13 victories this season and has been playing some really good hockey. The future is bright in goal with Garand in Hartford.
3.) How about the line of Karl Henriksson between Bobby Trivigno and Turner Elson this past weekend? Elson scored twice in Providence on Saturday night and added an assist for his first three-point game with the Wolf Pack. Trivigno picked up the first three-point game of his career with three assists, while Henriksson tacked on a pair of helpers. The line was a handful for the Bruins on the forecheck, they simply had no answer when this trio hopped over the boards.
Head Coach Kris Knoblauch has applauded Henriksson’s play during his rookie season in North America, and recently told local media that he’s been impressed with Henriksson’s defensive performance all season long. With four points (1 g, 3 a) over the weekend, Henriksson is starting to produce at the most important time of the year.
4.) Two of Hartford’s trade deadline additions deserve a big chunk of credit for the club’s return to the playoffs. Will Lockwood was acquired from the Vancouver Canucks on February 25th, while Anton Blidh came over from the Colorado Avalanche on March 3rd. Both have played top-nine roles in Hartford and been extremely productive.
Lockwood has settled in nicely on a line with Tim Gettinger and Ryan Carpenter and has even seen time on the powerplay for the Pack. In 15 games with the club, Lockwood has scored 12 points (5 g, 7 a). His 17 goals overall this season are a new career-high, and he’s getting more comfortable by the game.
Blidh has also been productive, scoring eleven points (7 g, 4 a) in 15 games. He fits in perfectly on a line with Fritz and Lauri Pajuniemi and has brought a physical element to Hartford’s forward group. It feels like Blidh’s style of play will mesh perfectly with the intensity of the postseason. He could be poised to be a difference maker for the club.
5.) So, just who will the Wolf Pack face in the opening round of the Calder Cup Playoffs? That’s a good question, and one we won’t be able to answer until Saturday night at the earliest. If the Wolf Pack win both of their games this weekend, they could jump as high as third place. A split of the weekend, and Hartford could finish fourth, fifth, or sixth. If the Pack drop both this weekend, they’ll be locked into the sixth seed. There are quite a few scenarios at play.
One thing to keep in mind: If Hartford plays the Phantoms or Thunderbirds in the opening round, they are guaranteed a home game. If Hartford plays Charlotte and is the lower seed, all three games will take place in Charlotte. In the unlikely event Hartford plays Charlotte and is the higher seed, all three games would take place at the XL Center.
To stay up to date with the playoff seeding chase, visit the AHL’s Playoff Primer here.
6.) Lastly, I thought it was worthwhile to mention that Tim Gettinger will be playing his first Calder Cup Playoff games next week. Gettinger was selected in the 5th round (141st overall) of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Rangers. He has played 235 career AHL games entering this weekend, all with the Wolf Pack. Earlier this season, he became the 25th player to play 200 games with the club in franchise history. He ranks 14th all-time in games played with the Wolf Pack.
It's great to see, in the year Hartford returns to the playoffs, that a player who has given everything he has to this city and team is still here to enjoy the moment.
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ABOUT THE HARTFORD WOLF PACK: The Hartford Wolf Pack has been a premier franchise in the American Hockey League since the team’s inception in 1997. The Wolf Pack are the top player-development affiliate of the NHL's New York Rangers and play at the XL Center. The Wolf Pack has been home to some of the Rangers newest faces including Igor Shesterkin, Filip Chytil, and Ryan Lindgren. Follow the Wolf Pack on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.