Prospect Info: Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)/Maine Mariners (ECHL) Thread: Part XII

[Osminator]

Pack really terrible tonight... had like 3 mins of 5 on 3 PP and a little more 5 on 4 PP... absolutely blanked. Get scored on SH by the Phantoms, 2-0. Crap period. Not feeling it tonight...

 

[Osminator]

HIT THE F,.... G NET.... 3994 shots-- wide. HIT THE NET!

 

[RangersFan1994]

Pack down 1-0 early, goal by former Pack player Bigras. Huska is in net tonight.

Even happens at the AHL with former

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

still 2-0 Railers in the 3rd

 

[UAGoalieGuy]

2-1 the Pack is down with 10 minutes left. Group from Gettinger and Nieves.

 

[UAGoalieGuy]

Now the Pack is down 3-1.

 

[UAGoalieGuy]

Game over. Pack lose 4-2. Second Pack goal was Letteri from O'Regan and Keane.

 

[Ola]

What's the word on Andersson?

Pts in one of his last nine games I think.

It’s a bit of a drought, but at the same time he is in a position where he will score some but not a ton of pts. He plays in Kreider’s role on the PP so little is up to him on how the PP will function. Either pucks will hit him or they won’t. He centers the ‘top’ line 5 on 5 with Belesky and Fog. They are playing against the top line of the other team every night, and doing a so-so job at it.

The big difference for Lias production from his first stint is that he isn’t being the set-up man on the PP. Not getting many PP pts.

 

[egelband]

Kravtsov, Shesterkin, and Rykov should be forced to live together - and sleep in triple bunk beds...

 

[Matt Rentfree]

Kravtsov, Shesterkin, and Rykov should be forced to live together - and sleep in triple bunk beds...

Are they in the Navy?

 

[Deleted member 23124]

Pts in one of his last nine games I think.

It’s a bit of a drought, but at the same time he is in a position where he will score some but not a ton of pts. He plays in Kreider’s role on the PP so little is up to him on how the PP will function. Either pucks will hit him or they won’t. He centers the ‘top’ line 5 on 5 with Belesky and Fog. They are playing against the top line of the other team every night, and doing a so-so job at it.

The big difference for Lias production from his first stint is that he isn’t being the set-up man on the PP. Not getting many PP pts.

How is is overall play...I don't get a good feel from the "so-so" comment.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

Mariners split in Worcester losing 3-2;Kile/Tolkinen G

 

[Kovalev27]

@Kovalev27 you mentioned Shesterkin dangling opponents. Can you elaborate? Is he really aggressive with the puck? Sounds like he’s a ‘plus’ puck-handler.
Gracias in advance!

he’s a really good puck handler and mover. He did kind of fake a guy at the circles few games ago then a perfect outlet pass. It’s been happening more and more as he’s gained confidence

 

[Harbour Dog]

Lias is no farther from his floor now than when we drafted him.

Sooner rather than later, we should take a very hard look at either trading him or shifting him to wing. Every month of status quo is a drop in his value and his potential improvement.

 

[Ola]

Lias is no farther from his floor now than when we drafted him.

Sooner rather than later, we should take a very hard look at either trading him or shifting him to wing. Every month of status quo is a drop in his value and his potential improvement.

You must be able to develop a kid if you are going to keep him.

On the so-so comment, everyone won’t agree with this but when I see Lias in the AHL I see a kid who is miles ahead of his teammates when it comes to seeing the play progress, understanding the game, passing the puck.

But like I said right away after he was demoted, it won’t pay off much in the current environment he is in. Lias first stint in the AHL, he was put on the half boards on the PP and ran the play. 14 pts in 24 games wasn’t bad for an 18 y/o. Now he is groomed for the Kreider role, but HFDs PP resolves around moving the puck around looking mainly for Vinny Ls slapper that is aimed at the cross bar plus/minus 5 inches. He don’t get to touch the puck much in that role.

I think the key always is that you must be able to put a kid in a role that suits him and in which he will get to play to his strengths. I think HFD is border line for Lias right now.

But in the end, there are never any guarantees, but I don’t think you can be too patient with kids. Heck, look at Strome. He is a different player now compared to what he was when he came over from EDM. Playing with Panarin have been so huge for him.

I think Lias certainly have had his looks when paired with Lemieux. There is a lot of talk about character. I think it mostly matters when you struggle. 99/100 will exhibit great character when they are playing great. Lias got a lot of character, so let’s rely on that and sees where it takes him.

 

[Emptyvoid]

Any news on when VK will be in the lineup?

 

[Ola]

Any news on when VK will be in the lineup?

They play Tuesday/Wednesday I think, so maybe then.

 

[HFsNumber1Heel]

Lias is no farther from his floor now than when we drafted him.

Sooner rather than later, we should take a very hard look at either trading him or shifting him to wing. Every month of status quo is a drop in his value and his potential improvement.

He should be a winger and concentrate on his strengths which is board work and going to then net. Drury-lite. Plus he's a good passer.

Remember last November that assist he had vs. Philly on Boo's goal. He won the board battle and knocked the Philly DMan on his butt (think it was Provorov) using his strength and getting the puck to Boo. That's his game and where he will succeed as a middle-six winger.

 

[wafflepadsave]

I posted this in the roster building thread but certainly appropriate here as well

 

[JimmyG89]

Heading back to NYC and my flight is delayed for two and a half hours. Will be killing time watching the Saturday night Hartford game. Will share after the game is over my thoughts.

Side note at the beginning of the broadcast, the announcer said that Shesterkin is the best goalie he's ever seen in the AHL. Take that for what it is, but as we all know, dude is legit and others are recognizing it.

 

[JimmyG89]

1st period: Teddy bear toss night and Chris Bigras scores early in the game. Shot from the point, with some traffic in front, of the right post. Huska looked like he never saw the shot. The toss took so long, they let the players skate around to loosen up again,

Hartford got a full 2 minute, 5-3 and did nothing with it. Some really good chances from Rykov and Lettieri, and Berube robbed them on the 5 on 3.

Another PP and another 5 on 3 for Hartford for 41 seconds. Drew a trip entering the zone. Lettieri has a hard time shooting to the short side, hits the goalie on the cross ice one timers. On the 5 on 4, the Phantoms score short handed. Rykov caught flat-footed on the exit from the zone and Lehigh makes the pass in front. No chance for Huska. Aube-Kubel scored on a pass from Rubtsov. 0-4 on the PP in the 1st period.

Berube made a nice save on Andersson. It was a hard shot, but Berube got across on a pass from right to left. Andersson is making plays with the puck on his stick. A vast improvement from a few weeks ago. They were going to get another PP, but took a penalty on the delayed penalty with a fight and a minor assigned. Stupid idea to fight when going on the PP, no matter what happened.

End of the period, Ebert takes a slash and LeHigh almost scored at the buzzer on a scramble from a missed shot rebound off the boards. Hartford is going to be down a man to start the 2nd.

Hartford down 2-0 at the end of 1.

 

[JimmyG89]

2nd period: Uneventful PP for LeHigh. Bunch of failed entries and breakups by Nieves and company on the PK. Again, Andersson making plays while having the puck, shielding it from a defender. The team is ripping slap shot one timers, all are missing the net. Keane with a nice block on a 4 on 2 against.

Andersson goes down behind the play. Went back to watch it and the Phantoms player slashed him in the back of the knee. Probably got a dead leg there for a bit. Ref talked to the player, but no penalty.

PP for the Phantoms, Beleskey takes out Bigras on a hold and hauls him down, looked like a tackle. 2 on 1 short handed and Berube just got enough to rob Fogerty on a 5 hole shot. Another penalty on the PP with 10 seconds left. Short 5 on 3. Killed both, but Fogarty got another chance on a redirect on a lead pass in front by Nieves, went wide. Fogarty is very noticable on the ice. Outworking most players out there.

Andersson was fine and returned later in the period.

Hartford really turned up their play late in the 2nd. Missed a golden chance on a 4 on 2 in close and Nieves missed a tap in on a hard pass. Rykov looks a little slow, probably conditioning still. The skill is there though.

Still down 2-0 after 2.

 

[egelband]

2nd period: Uneventful PP for LeHigh. Bunch of failed entries and breakups by Nieves and company on the PK. Again, Andersson making plays while having the puck, shielding it from a defender. The team is ripping slap shot one timers, all are missing the net. Keane with a nice block on a 4 on 2 against.

Andersson goes down behind the play. Went back to watch it and the Phantoms player slashed him in the back of the knee. Probably got a dead leg there for a bit. Ref talked to the player, but no penalty.

PP for the Phantoms, Beleskey takes out Bigras on a hold and hauls him down, looked like a tackle. 2 on 1 short handed and Berube just got enough to rob Fogerty on a 5 hole shot. Another penalty on the PP with 10 seconds left. Short 5 on 3. Killed both, but Fogarty got another chance on a redirect on a lead pass in front by Nieves, went wide. Fogarty is very noticable on the ice. Outworking most players out there.

Andersson was fine and returned later in the period.

Hartford really turned up their play late in the 2nd. Missed a golden chance on a 4 on 2 in close and Nieves missed a tap in on a hard pass. Rykov looks a little slow, probably conditioning still. The skill is there though.

Still down 2-0 after 2.

Thank you for these notes. Your work is much appreciated.

 

[JimmyG89]

3rd period:

Huska absolutely robs LeHigh on a 2 on 1. Makes the first save, scrambles and makes a save off the rebound. Shortly after, 6th best forward in the draft, Ryan Gropp gets his first of the season. Nice breakout from the Wolfpack and Gettinger springs him for a breakaway and roofs a backhander over Berube. The lead is cut in half. Nieves got the 2nd assist.

Andersson is more engaged after that play in the 2nd sent him down. More physical, moving his feet.

Huska is making big saves all period, 2 on 1s, scrambles in front. Holding the Phantoms at 2.

Rykov stopped Rubtsov on a rush. Good gap and stick against another very good prospect.

Gettinger with a block shot to spring himself for a breakaway and makes a move to his backhand, hits the post and back into the goalie. Unfortunate for that to not bounce into the net.

Phantoms push hard just past the mid point and cash in on a one timer from the top of the left circle. Huska made a few saves before that, but they got stuck in their own zone. Poor neutral zone play lead to a 2 on 1 after Keane went for a puck and missed. 3-1 Phantoms.

Not much for the Pack since the Gropp goal. A nice power move by DiGuiseppe to get a backhand shot, and a follow up on the rebound. Penalty called. Have to think Hartford pulls Huska here and goes 6 on 4 at some point, but they score before they can. Lettieri scored on a beautiful cross seam pass from O'Regan. 3-2 game. 2nd assist to Keane.

Huska pulled and Lehigh got the empty netter. No shots or attempts while Huska was pulled. 4-2 is the final.

Liked Andersson after the injury. He was engaged and showed more physicality after getting slashed in the knee.

Rykov looked gassed at times. Probably part of the issue of coming in after being inactive forever. Keane had his moments. The AHL is perfect for him this season. Huska was okay, held them in it and made some nice saves, but the 1st goal was a little suspect.

 

[JimmyG89]

Thank you for these notes. Your work is much appreciated.

Thanks! Finally boarded my flight and hoping to catch some sleep heading back in to NYC. Only took 3 hours extra, so it was worth it to watch the pack play.

Cannot wait for Kravtsov to get back into games