TWO MINUTES FOR THOUGHTS: NOVEMBER 2ND, 2021

Nov 2, 2021

Believe it or not, we are already through the first month of the 2021-22 AHL season. October has given way to November, and we are starting to see trends develop around the league. It’s still too early to make sweeping statements, but we are getting closer to figuring out which teams are primed to enjoy a strong campaign. If you are a fan of the Hartford Wolf Pack, you must be feeling pretty darn good today. This team is 5-2-1-0 and is showing real signs of progress every weekend.

In this week’s edition of “Two Minutes for Thoughts”, I look back at a 2-1-0-0 weekend for the Pack, look ahead to another busy three-in-three stretch, discuss Sunday’s offensive breakout and much more!

Another Successful Three-In-Three

Give the Wolf Pack credit, they have handled an unfriendly start to the season quite well. The club wrapped up their second three-in-three weekend of the season on Sunday and will embark on their third this Friday night. Yes, that’s three three-in-three weekends in the season’s first four weekends. It’s not an easy road to travel, but it hasn’t negatively impacted this Wolf Pack team.

Hartford went 2-1-0-0 in each of the first two three-in-three stretches and competed well in all six games.

This time around, the Wolf Pack took a 3-2 shootout decision from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Friday, then dropped five goals on the Bridgeport Islanders Sunday in a 5-1 victory. The middle game was the lone blemish, as the Pack dropped a 3-2 tilt to the Charlotte Checkers.

Friday night was another impressive performance from Keith Kinkaid, who scooped up his third win of the season in the shootout. Morgan Barron deflected a Zac Jones shot home on the powerplay in the third period, while Tim Gettinger won it in the shootout. I thought this might have been Hartford’s most complete game of the season, but it almost came off the rails in the final minute.

I give the Pack a lot of credit for not dipping after Sam Poulin placed a perfect shot over the arm of Kinkaid to force overtime at 19:19. Hartford controlled the extra frame, then won it in the shootout. A less resilient team would have stumbled there. That’s a good sign.

Sunday was impressive too because the offense finally had the breakout game they’ve been looking for. Veteran forward P.C. Labrie said on Saturday night that it was just a matter of time until the dam would break, and it did just about 18 hours later. The Wolf Pack stuck with the process, didn’t get discouraged when their chances weren’t going in, and got rewarded on Sunday with five goal and two huge points. They knew they were getting the chances. They finally got the goals.

Each weekend you can see this team improving. Through eight games, the good arrows are plentiful, and the club is finding a way to win in tight games. That will bode quite well for them moving forward. If the offense starts sinking their chances consistently? Look out.

The Road Ahead

This will be another fun weekend. The Pack is back at the XL Center on Friday night for round 3 of the ‘Battle of Connecticut’ against the Bridgeport Islanders, while Saturday night sees the Penguins back in town. On Sunday, the Pack will again make the short trek to Bridgeport to battle the Islanders.

Hartford is 3-1-0-0 at home this season, and this weekend they will be looking to further cement the XL Center as a tough place to play. If I were a hockey fan in the Hartford area, I’d be here this weekend. This team is good, and they’ll host a heated rival on Friday and play a Penguins team on Saturday night that is equally as hot. This is a chance for the Pack to cement themselves as one of the top teams in the Atlantic Division, and all three games promise to be highly competitive.

I’ll say it again; this team is good. Get on the believer’s bandwagon now. Hartford deserves a strong hockey team, and this city has it. This team and this fanbase are going to love each other. It’s okay to believe again.

This N’ That

Sad news to wake up to on Sunday morning, as a New England legend had passed away. Jerry Remy was more than a Red Sox broadcaster; he was someone that sports fans in this part of the country let into their homes most nights from April through September. He and Don Orsillo were huge influences on me as a kid and were another reason why I pursued broadcasting. Jerry also personified toughness, battling cancer seven times since his initial diagnosis. I wish the best to his family and friends during this difficult time. Jerry will be missed, especially on those summer nights.

Lastly, have a question you want answered? Shoot me a Tweet over at @Alex_Thomas14 and I’ll do my best to include some in next week’s edition!

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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.