TWO MINUTES FOR THOUGHTS: MAY 15TH, 2024
May 15, 2024So, we meet again. The Hartford Wolf Pack have arrived in Hershey, and are set for a rematch with the team that ended their Calder Cup dreams last spring. The Wolf Pack and Hershey Bears will meet for the third time ever in the Calder Cup Playoffs, with a spot in the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals on the line.
This is going to be a fun playoff series.
Onto another playoff edition of the blog!
1.) For the second straight spring, it was a 3-1 series victory in the Atlantic Division Semifinals for the Wolf Pack over the Providence Bruins. This was a defensive and goaltending masterpiece from the Wolf Pack in Games 1, 3, and 4.
After giving up 20 shots in the first period of Game 3, the Wolf Pack held the Bruins to 42 shots over the final five periods of regulation time and parts of two overtimes. The Bruins managed just one goal in that span.
Against a team that finished third in the AHL in goals scored during the regular season, that’s vastly impressive.
There’s a full buy-in from this group to play a sound defensive game. They shut down one of the best offensive teams in the AHL when the series was up for grabs tied 1-1. That’s impressive.
2.) What’s also impressive is how every night, someone else is stepping up and playing the role of hero. In Game 1 against the Bruins, a 4-3 victory, it was Tyler Pitlick who led the way with three points (1 g, 2 a), while Anton Blidh scored the game-winning goal.
In Game 3, it was Riley Nash with three points (2 g, 1 a) and the overtime game-winner. In Game 4, it was Jake Leschyshyn’s turn. He scored twice and potted the game and series-winning goal.
You see it every year at every level of hockey. The teams that go on deep runs, and eventually win championships, get contributions from every part of their lineup. Right now, the Wolf Pack is getting those contributions.
3.) A lot of times during the playoffs, you’ll see a player take a step in their development and enjoy a coming-out party. Victor Mancini is that player right now for the Wolf Pack. Fresh out of the University of Nebraska-Omaha, Mancini has stepped right into a prime position on the Wolf Pack blueline and hasn’t looked remotely out of place.
Against the Bruins, Mancini recorded two assists, six shots, and a +2 +/- rating in four games. He also took a puck to the face in Game 4, got himself back into the game, and set up the overtime game-winning goal.
He’s a steady presence on the blue line and is looking like a veteran on most nights. It’s hard to not be very impressed.
4.) One area of Hartford’s game that was key in the Atlantic Division Semifinals was the team’s penalty kill. They went a perfect six-for-six in Games 3 and 4 as they put the series away. Overall, the Wolf Pack went ten-for-12 on the penalty kill against the Bruins. They were a perfect eight-for-eight in the three victories.
5.) One play that I felt got a little lost in Hartford’s Game 4 victory was Nic Petan’s dash back to breakup a potential shorthanded look for Anthony Richard in the first period.
Not only did Petan end a potential scoring chance for a lethal shooter in Richard, but he also started the play that led to the Wolf Pack’s first goal of the night.
It’s that kind of 200-foot effort that allowed the Wolf Pack to once again send the Bruins home early. I thought that play was a good look into the buy-in of this team.
6.) Petan also fired a game-high six shots in Game 4. He was buzzing around and will be a huge x-factor for the Wolf Pack in the Division Finals against the Bears. He’s had a good playoff run with the team, and that will have to continue.
7.) Blake Hillman continues to bring a steady brand of hockey to the Wolf Pack blueline on a nightly basis. In addition to setting up Nash’s overtime goal in Game 3, Hillman notched his first goal of the postseason in Game 1 against the Bruins.
Through seven games during this playoff run, Hillman has recorded three points (1 g, 2 a) and a +4 +/- rating. He continues to do his job and do it well.
8.) This is going to be quite a test for the Wolf Pack. The Bears are not only the defending Calder Cup Champions but also the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy winners after winning the regular-season championship.
This is a well-oiled machine that will not be easy to defeat.
That being said, the Wolf Pack showed well against the Bears this season despite a 1-2-0-1 record. You can argue the Wolf Pack deserved a much better fate in the series finale on March 30th, a game that could have evened things up 2-2.
Each of the four games during the regular season was in doubt in the third period. The Wolf Pack were right there all season long against this Bears team.
9.) In fact, the Wolf Pack outshot the Bears 113-102 during the season series. The teams were relatively even on the powerplay and penalty kill, while the Bears were +3 (7-4) in five-on-five goals.
Again, this was a tightly contested regular season series that I think is a precursor to a lengthy, hard-fought playoff series.
10.) Before we part ways for the series, I have to applaud Wolf Pack fans for the energy they brought to the XL Center against the Bruins. The old barn was rocking for Game 3 and Game 4. After the overtime goal in Game 4, it was without a doubt the loudest I have heard the XL Center.
Keep that same energy for the Atlantic Division Finals. The team feeds off of it, they love it. Get down to the XL Center, wear your red, and get loud. Let’s bring it again for Game 3!
# # #
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.