TWO MINUTES FOR THOUGHTS: NOVEMBER 7TH, 2024
Nov 7, 2024How often is a 2-1 hockey game wildly entertaining? The answer is more often than you think. Wednesday night was another great example of that, as the Wolf Pack defeated the Syracuse Crunch 2-1 in overtime at the XL Center in a wildly entertaining contest.
The win snaps a brief two-game losing streak for the Pack, who are on the road for two more games this weekend.
As the club hits the road to Rochester, let’s get down to business, shall we?
Onto the blog!
1. Grant Potulny repeatedly mentioned in postgame media availabilities during October that he wanted his team to cut down on the “freebies” they were giving up to opponents and wanted to see the puck mistakes cut down.
It’s clear that the team has taken that message to heart, as you can see the responsible game Potulny is looking for take shape. Over the last four games, the Wolf Pack has held opponents to eight goals, a total of two goals against per game. Do that throughout a season, and you’ll win a lot more games than you lose.
2. We’ve said repeatedly on the broadcast this season that it was going to take time for the Wolf Pack to mesh with a new Head Coach and a number of new faces in the lineup.
Now that we are ten games into the season, you can see the improvement in the team’s on-ice play. This looks like a more cohesive group than a month ago, and one that looks comfortable playing the style Potulny wants them to play.
It was always going to take a little time, but the Wolf Pack are really starting to gel and look like the lockdown defensive team we expected coming into the season.
3. It was great to see Alex Belzile find the back of the net for the first time this season on Wednesday night. Before suffering an upper-body injury that cost him three games, Belzile was playing some of his best hockey as a member of the Wolf Pack.
His five assists led the team at the time of his injury and are currently tied for second with Bo Groulx.
After scoring 19 goals last season, Belzile was due to light the lamp. We’ll see if the overtime game-winning goal against the Crunch jumpstarts that part of his game.
4. Dylan Garand was sensational on Wednesday night. He made 31 saves to improve his record to 4-0-1 on the season. His best save of the game came with the Wolf Pack on the power play in the second period. Gabriel Szturc had a great opportunity in front that Garand somehow got his right pad on to kick away.
He’s been locked in this season and has given the Wolf Pack a chance to win every single night he has taken to the ice. It looks like the young goaltender has taken another step in his development.
5. Groulx is closing in on a milestone mark. With his assist on Belzile’s overtime game-winning goal against the Crunch, Groulx now sits at 99 career AHL points.
He leads the Wolf Pack with nine points (4 g, 5 a) this season and has been a great addition to the group up front.
6. Regarding great additions, Casey Fitzgerald has been a terrific signing on and off the ice. In addition to being an impact veteran defenseman for the group, Fitzgerald has immediately jumped into the club’s leadership group.
After wearing an “A” for the first nine games, Fitzgerald was named the 15th captain in Wolf Pack history ahead of Wednesday night.
Potulny, Belzile, and Garand spoke to the media, and all were asked about Fitzgerald’s importance to the group. All three raved about the new captain, proving the kind of impact he has had in such a short time.
Congratulations to Casey on such a big honor.
7. One thing Potulny said that stuck out when talking about the captaincy? There were 13 players involved in the leadership meeting that Potulny held earlier this week.
While Fitzgerald might be the captain and Belzile and Anton Blidh are wearing the “A” on their chest, it is apparent that leadership goes way beyond letters with this group.
That’s a great sign for this team. There is a lot of experience and leadership in that locker room, and it will be a big asset as this group chases down a Calder Cup.
8. The XL Center is a tough place for opponents to play. Following the win over the Crunch on Wednesday, the Wolf Pack are now 5-1-0-0 at home this season.
Taking care of business at home is a sign of a good hockey team.
9. To add to that point about taking care of business at home, the Wolf Pack will open a season-long, six-game homestand after this weekend’s road games. Take care of business on that homestand by winning, say, four out of six, and the club will be in a great position entering December.
10. A couple of milestones that will hit on Friday night in Rochester: Defenseman Matthew Robertson is slated to play in his 200th career AHL game, all with the Wolf Pack. He’ll become the 26th player in franchise history to hit the 200 games played mark in a Wolf Pack uniform.
Belzile, meanwhile, will skate in his 600th career pro game on Friday. It will be game 388 in the AHL for the veteran, who has also skated in 168 ECHL games and 44 NHL contests.
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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.