TWO MINUTES FOR THOUGHTS: NOVEMBER 9TH, 2023
Nov 9, 2023
The first ten-game segment of the 2022-23 season is set to come to an end this weekend for the Hartford Wolf Pack. The Pack will play their tenth game of the season on Friday night when they conclude their five-game road trip in Bridgeport against the rival Islanders.
Hockey season is in full swing, and the Pack are off to an inspiring 6-2-1-0 start. This week, we’re going to beef things up with ten points to discuss in the blog. So, let’s get to it!
1.) Losing is never fun, but it was hard to not be impressed with the process and effort by the Wolf Pack in their 5-4 overtime loss to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Friday night in Allentown. The Pack, due to recalled players, injuries, and illness, started the game with 13 forwards and five defensemen. They played more than half of the game down two players, as both Anton Blidh and Ben Harpur were forced out of action.
Four defensemen? No problem. The Pack still banked a point and had ample chances for a second.
Losing is never fun, but that was an encouraging showing of leadership and resolve. That bodes well for this team moving forward. They believe in the process, have bought in, and play hard for each other.
2.) Dylan Garand was terrific in Utica on Saturday night. He easily should have received a star for his 31 saves that helped the Wolf Pack to a 3-2 victory over the Comets. Garand made 25 saves in the final two periods, including 13 in the final 20 minutes. The one puck that did beat Garand in the final 40 minutes came off a wild, unlucky bounce that gave Ryan Schmelzer an empty net tap-in.
Garand continues to improve and is a budding star in net.
3.) It’s time we talk about Mac Hollowell as one of the top offensive defensemen in the AHL. Hollowell has the league’s longest active point streak at nine games (1 g, 9 a, 10 pts), and has the league’s longest assist streak this season at eight games (9 a).
Hollowell’s ability to run the point on the powerplay has been fun to watch, and his transition game has been key to the club’s strong offensive start. He’s getting more comfortable with his new team each night and is making an early push to represent the club at the All-Star Game in San Jose in February.
4.) Adam Edström is another player that deserves some love here. Edström scored the first game-winning goal of his AHL career on Saturday night, firing a backhander by Erik Kallgren in the 3-2 victory over the Comets. For Edström, Saturday night might have been his best showing in the AHL. He recorded two points (1 g, 1 a), was physically dominant, and looked comfortable in the offensive zone.
5.) “Opportunity”. That’s what veteran Alex Belzile said when I asked him on Friday night about the adversity faced with Jonny Brodzinski, Connor Mackey, and Louis Domingue recalled to the New York Rangers. After the game, Belzile gave me a smile and again used that word, opportunity.
Garand, Edström, and Hollowell all took advantage in Utica on Saturday night, but they were not alone. Blake Hillman scored two assists on Friday night and was quite strong in both games. Zach Berzolla, meanwhile, arrived from Cincinnati on Saturday afternoon and lit the lamp in his season debut on Saturday night.
Opportunity knocked, and a plethora of Wolf Pack players were there to answer the door.
6.) Brett Berard has quietly put together a very good start to his rookie season. Berard notched two assists in both games over the weekend, and now has eight points (2 g, 6 a) in nine games. He’s also riding a three-game point streak, where he has scored five assists.
Among rookies, Berard sits tied for sixth in points with eight, and tied for fourth in assists with six.
7.) Congratulations to forward Ryder Korczak on his first AHL goal. Korczak became the third Wolf Pack player this season to notch his first goal when he blasted a shot over the glove off Parker Gahagen in Allentown on Friday night. Brennan Othmann and Berard are the other two players to collect their first goal this season.
8.) The roster shuffle has been fast and furious since last Friday. With the dust temporarily settled, here is where things stand. Captain Jonny Brodzinski is back with the club. He was assigned following the Rangers’ 5-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night.
Defenseman Connor Mackey and goaltender Louis Domingue were also assigned on Tuesday night but were recalled on Wednesday afternoon. Dyland Garand joined the duo as a recall ahead of tomorrow night’s game at Madison Square Garden against the Minnesota Wild.
9.) Goaltender Olof Lindbom and defensemen Zach Berzolla and Matt Cairns remain with the Pack. Cairns is on a professional tryout agreement (PTO) and will wear #2 with the club. He took the warmup on Saturday night with Matthew Robertson listed as a gametime decision (illness) but did not draw into the lineup.
10.) Speaking of Robertson, it was nice to see him get rewarded with the primary assist on Edström’s game-winning goal on Saturday night. Robertson has been a steady force on the Wolf Pack blueline this season and played a strong game against the Comets. In fact, his four shots in the win were tied for the team lead with Berzolla.
It’s been a strong start for the Edmonton product in his third season in Hartford.
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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.