The Wolf Pack visit their in-state rivals in nearby Bridgeport tonight off the back of a 3-2 shootout loss to the Albany Devils on Friday night.  Friday’s contest was one of firsts, as both salary cap victim Wade Redden and Euro free agent hopeful Matts Zuccarello each tallied the first AHL goals of their career.  Zuccarello added a goal in the shootout on a sweet backhand move, but his marker was matched by that of Devils prospect Mattias Tedenby.  The goalies ruled the day until the sixth round of the skills competition, when Stephen Gionta beat Hartford netminder Chad Johnson (29 saves) with a quick snapshot from in close.

And so the Pack enter tonight’s match-up with a 1-1-0-1 record, good for a tie for third in the Atlantic Division.  The Sound Tigers are off to a 1-2-0-0 start, which leaves them in the Atlantic Division basement with the Manchester Monarchs.  But hey, it’s only three games into the season, so we’re talking about a single point difference between the squads.

Game time is 7:00pm EST.  Back with more then…

Pre-Game

• Looks like the injury epidemic isn’t confined to New York. Dale Weise will miss tonight’s game with an undisclosed injury which could keep him out “a couple of weeks.” Brandon Wong will take Weise’s place in the line-up tonight.
• Your goaltending match-up for the evening: Bridgeport’s Mikko Koskinen (1-1-1-0, 2.90GAA, .903 SV%) faces Hartford’s Chad Johnson (1-1-0-1, 2.62GAA, .901 SV%).
• Scratches: Weise (undisclosed); Jared Nightingale (foot infection); Devin DiDiomete (hip surgery); Lee Baldwin (healthy).

First Period

3:44 – Wolf Pack get the game’s first power play as Dustin Kohn goes off for roughing up Jeremy Williams near the benches.

5:54 – Pack power play off to a slow start.  Decent possession in the second half with the Evgeny Grachev – Tim Kennedy – Zuccarello line on the ice, but they fail to get a shot on goal.  Jyri Niemi’s one-time blast from the right point, the best chance, goes high and wide as time runs down.

8:46 – Pushing and shoving at the benches.  Dane Byers, as he was limping off the ice after blocking a shot, gets tied up with Robin Figren.  Tomas Marcinko steps in, and Byers gets the short straw, drawing a double minor to Marcinko’s single minor for roughing.

9:06 – Kris Newbury gets whistled for boarding and drops the gloves with ex-Ranger draft pick Dylan Reese. More of a wrestling match than a fight.  End result: Pack go two men short for 1:40.  A year later, coach Gernander’s preaching about discipline still appears to be falling on deaf ears.

10:20 – Kennedy doing a fantastic job as the lone forward on the 5-on-3 kill.

11:06 – All penalties killed.

13:31 – Isles prospect Travis Hamonic bizarrely opts to drop the gloves with tough guy Justin Soryal.  Linesmen, perhaps realizing the massive mismatch, jump in almost immediately.

15:06 – Bridgeport get tagged for having too many men on the ice. Pack back on the power play.

16:46 – Ryan McDonagh’s the recipient of a brutal giveaway at the top of the circles, but his point-blank slapshot goes wide.

16:06 – Penalty over, teams back at full strength.

17:50 – Zuccarello get double teamed at the benches as he was going for a change. Pushing and shoving ensues, he pushes right back.  Things break up and play goes on.

19:32 – Bridgeport pouring on the pressure; get a number of chances.  Johnson having trouble holding on his rebounds. In the chaos, Chris McKelvie gets caught for a hook.

19:51 – Byers gets a step on David Ullstrom shorthanded and Ullstrom is forced to take an interference call.  Four-on-four for 1:41 to start the second period.

End of first – Lots of penalties, not a lot of scoring chances.  The Sound Tigers got the best chances, a pair of flurries around the net in the final two minutes of the period on back-to-back shifts, but Johnson held them at bay.  Shots for the period were 10-7 in Bridgeport’s favor.

Second Period

0:35 – Rhett Rakhshani and Redden bowl into Johnson and Rakshani gets the goaltender interference call.  Four-on-three hockey coming up.

1:28 – Jeremy Williams takes a feed from Redden at the top of the left circle and blasts a one-timer through Koskinen, short side.  1-0 Wolf Pack. Redden and Kennedy get the assists.  That’s Kennedy’s first point since his demotion.

5:00 – It’s like watching a totally different game from the first period.  Lots of scoring chances, with the majority going to the Wolf Pack, including two great chances for former Islander prospect Niemi.

9:49 – McKelvie’s giveaway turns into a point-blank scoring chance for the Sound Tigers, but after Johnson makes the save, Marcinko gets whistled for a slash, sending Hartford back on the power play.

10:14 – Grachev, from behind the net, sets up Kennedy in the slot, but Koskinen makes the stop.  Then Matt Martin decks Kennedy from behind after the whistle, but no call is made.

11:49 – Bridgeport gets a flurry of chances as the penalty expires.

15:43 – McDonagh’s a lot more involved offensively than he has in the first three games.  Looks to be settling in a bit.  Of course, no sooner than I start typing that, he gets beat down the right boards.

18:50 – Grachev looks a split-second slow in everything he does.  He’s holding on to the puck too long before shots and passes and paying for it with giveaways again and again.

19:28 – Newbury goes for tripping with 32 seconds remaining in the period.  Bridgeport will start the final period with 1:28 of power play time.

End of Second – Fewer penalties, a lot more quality scoring chances.  Might as well have been two different teams on the ice compared to the first period.  Faster pace, more hitting, more scoring chances.  Shots in the period flip-flop from the first, with the Pack getting 10 to Bridgeport’s 7.

Third Period

1:28 – Newbury out of the box.  Hartford improves to 4-for-4 on the PK tonight.

5:17 – Another good scoring chance for McDonagh, but Koskinen stops his wrist shot from the top of the left circle.

6:?? – Another giveaway by Grachev in his own zone, but the defense plays it well and prevents a scoring chance.

7:17 – McDonagh gets stripped of the puck high in the Pack zone by Anton Klementiev; Johnson makes the first save but Rakhshani puts the rebound over his shoulder. We’re tied at 1.

14:43 – The puck is in the Bridgeport net, but it got there from behind when the goal was pushed forward and it slid in underneath.  Teams trading chances, but still knotted at 1.

15:02 – Maybe I should criticize Grachev more often.  The big Russian carries it up the right side boards, through two Bridgeport players, and feeds Zuccarello in the high slot.  Zuccarello wrists a bullet past Koskinen’s glove for his second goal in as many games. 2-1 Wolf Pack. Grachev with the lone assist.

15:50 – First line buzzing in the Bridgeport zone, but Byers gets whistled for a trip.  Last night it was Dupont with a late penalty, tonight it’s Byers. Both vets who should know better.  Time out Sound Tigers.

16:32 – Johnson makes tough stops on a pair of Sound Tigers chances look easy.

17:50 – Penalty expires, Byers out of the box.

19:15 – Bridgeport net is empty.  Valentenko and McDonagh out together on D.

End of third – The Wolf Pack hold on earn their second win of the season by a 2-1 score.  There were a few scrambly moments towards the end, but Bridgeport had trouble getting the puck through to the net.  Johnson earns first star honors, though I’m not sure he really had enough work to earn it (not that 21 saves is anything to sneeze at).  The Pack had the edge in shots in the third period, 10-5, for a 27-22 advantage in the game.

Highlights from the game are available from the Sound Tigers web site.

Scoring
2. HFD Williams, (2) (Redden, Kennedy), 1:28 (PP)
3. BRI Rakhshani, (1) (Klementyev, Wotton), 7:17
3. HFD Zuccarello, (2) (Grachev), 15:02

Lines
Dane Byers – Kris Newbury – Jeremy Williams
Evgeny Grachev – Tim Kennedy – Matts Zuccarello
Brodie Dupont – Brandon Wong – Kelsey Tessier
Justin Soryal – Ryan Garlock – Chris McKelvie

Wade Redden – Jyri Niemi
Pavel Valentenko – Nigel Williams
Ryan McDonagh – Tomas Kundratek

Johnson / Talbot

Three Stars

1. Johnson
2. Rakhshani
3. Zuccarello

Photo: NY Post

Two years ago today the world lost a promising young hockey player and a vibrant and caring human being.

Alexei Cherepanov’s former team, Avangard Omsk, arrived in Ufa this morning for tomorrow’s contest against perennial powerhouse Salavat Yulaev, with whom they’re currently tied in the KHL standings.  Rather than proceed to the rink to prepare, the entire team traveled to a local church, where they lit candles and took a moment to remember their fallen teammate. 

Jaromir Jagr, one of a handful of players who remains with the squad who was on the bench on that fateful day, and who had developed a close relationship with his young protégé, was the last to leave…

Rest in Peace, Alexei.

***

For those who wish to take a moment to remember Cherepanov, here are some of the stories that were posted here on the day he died and in the days, weeks and months that followed:

The Siberian Express 1989-2008 – A translation of Cherepanov’s first and last post in a blog he had started writing for Komsomolskaya Pravda, which was posted on the morning of his death.

A Reporter’s View of Events – A translation of a Sovietsky Sport reporter’s account from the arena on the night of October 13, 2008.

Tears… – A translation of Championat.ru’s account of Cherepanov’s funeral service.

Reaction, Remembrance and Response – A round-up of the events that transpired in the week following his death, and reaction from those who knew him.

Avangard Omsk Earn a Solemn Victory – Avangard returns to the ice a little over a week after Cherepanov’s death and his number “7″ is raised to the rafters of Omsk Arena.

A Candid Conversation About Life and Death with Jaromir Jagr – A translation of Jaromir Jagr’s first in-depth interview following his teammate Cherepanov’s death.

Monument to Cherepanov unveiled in Omsk – A life-size bronze monument is unveiled to mark the final resting place of a the city’s fallen son.

Remembering Alexei Cherepanov one year after his death – A look at a mother’s fight for justice, and the good works that have come out of her tragic loss.

I’ll be trying something a little different when it comes to covering the Wolf Pack this season.  This blog has always been a labor of love, and to be honest, last season’s squad was pretty hard to warm up to.  The off-season introduction of Howard Baldwin, the constant force-feeding of the Hartford Whalers, and the impending mid-season spectacle of changing the team’s name on the fly only makes it more difficult to contemplate spending hours of my life after each game writing about it.  But since there are a couple of prospects I’m quite fond of in Hartford this season, I’m feeling compelled to keep watching.  So instead of spending my post-game time writing, I’m going to endeavor to live blog the games I’m able to watch.  We’ll see how it goes.  It may end up being an utter failure, or it could turn out to be something people find useful.  As always, thoughts and comments welcome and appreciated.

Puck drops at 3pm.  I’ll be back with updates then.

Pre-Game: Goaltender Chad Johnson will make his second straight start, and defenseman Jyri Niemi will spend his second straight game in the press box. Jared Nightingale will join him, meaning Lee Baldwin makes his season debut.

Wolf Pack Starters: Byers, Newbury, Weise, Valentenko, N. Williams, Johnson

First Period

2:25 – Jeremy Williams gets called for a lazy hook behind the play, Worcester goes on the games first power play.

2:39 – Alternate captain Kris Newbury breaks in alone shorthanded, but Sharks goaltender Alex Staylock poke-checks him successfully. Newbury tosses the rebound back towards the crease, but there was no one following up the play.

3:27 – Worcester takes the early lead as Benn Ferrieo puts home Nick Schaus‘ rebound. 1-0 Sharks.

4:22 – Newbury just misses the far post on a backhand wrap-around, but mouths off to referee Chris Brown after getting drilled into the boards and goes to the box for unsportsmanlike conduct. Worcester back on the power play.

5:25 – Johnson gets his leg kicked out from under him in the crease, no call.

6:22 – Penalty killed.

8:10 – Lucky break for the Wolf Pack as Garet Hunt shanks his shot on a 2-on-1.

9:01 - Johnson with a good stop on Mashinter, who stole the puck off Matt Zuccarello, skated in on the left side and wristed a shot from the left circle. Pushing and shoving ensues, with Mashinter the only player headed to the box. Wolf Pack get their first power play.

11:01 – Wolf Pack fail to create any scoring chances, power play over.

11:27 – Rocket Richard Trophy-winner Jonathan Cheecho gets his second goal in two games, deflecting Ferrio’s shot from the right point past Johnson. Sharks up 2-0.

13:39 – Brodie Dupont heads to the box for tripping.  Sharks back on the power play.

15:08 – Things go from bad to worse: Newbury gets whistled for high sticking.  Worcester to the 2-man advantage for 32 seconds.

15:34 - And that didn’t take long.  Johnson loses track of a rebound sitting in the crease and T.J. Trevelyan puts it in with 6 seconds remaining in the 2-man advantage. 3-0 Sharks.

19:28: Kelsey Tessier steals the puck in the high slot, but fires his shot high.

End of First – The period comes to a merciful end. Sharks outshoot the Wolf Pack 11-3.  Bad effort all around.  Expect the team will get an earful from coach Gernander between the periods.

Second Period

:28 – J. Williams with a brutal whiff and ensuing giveaway, but Pavel Valentenko comes to the rescue and bowls over the Shark in the neutral zone.

2:10 – Dane Byers gets a good deflection off a Newbury shot, but Staylock comes up with the save.  Pack off to a better start so far.

3:27 – I spoke to soon.  Wolf Pack have spent the past two minutes largely pinned in their own zone.

6:22 – Valentenko blocks yet another shot, but Baldwin promptly clears the puck over the glass and heads to the box.  Power play Sharks.

6:44 – Johnson comes up with a glove save off a point shot through traffic.

7:49 – Pile-up in front, but Johnson is able to see the puck and makes the stops. Defense doing a little better on coverage this period.

9:00 – Turnabout is fair play.  Schauss puts the puck over the glass, Wolf Pack go to their second power play.

9:23 – Not impressed with J. Williams so far. Now he takes a boarding call to cancel out the Wolf Pack power play.

10:34 – Zuccarello buzzing 4-0n-4, creates a couple chances for Evgeny Grachev in the crease, but the Sharks defense prevents him from getting any shots through to the goal.

11:23 – All penalties over.  Score still 3-0 Sharks.

14:55 – Tomas Kundratek tries to put the puck out through the middle, but Lucia pick it off and Johnson is forced to come up with a big stop.

16:29 – Tessier’s long shot goes up and over Staylock and Grachev gets his first of the season by being Johnny-on-the-spot and tapping it over the goal line. 3-1 Sharks. Assists to Tessier and Byers.

19:46 – J. Williams with a beautiful setup for Grachev at the left hashmarks, but Staylock gets across and picks it off with his glove. Huge save for Staylock.

End of Second Period – Definitely an improved effort.  Gernander switched up the lines midway through the period and it seemed to give the team a bit of a jolt.  If they can continue to build on the strong finish to the period and stay out of the box, there could be hope yet.  Shots in the period 11-9 in the Wolf Pack’s favor.

Third Period

:43 – Byers with a nice set-up to Tessier, who shot wide looking for a Grachev deflection that never happened.

2:41 – Byers wins the puck on the right wing boards and sets up Tessier again, and this time he taps it through Staylock’s five hole from the top of the crease for his first goal as a pro.  3-2 Sharks.  Byers gets the lone assist.

4:32 – Staylock stones Zuccarello from point blank.

5:24 – Ryan McDonagh gets dinged for holding while chasing down Cheechoo on a partial breakaway. Sharks to the power play.

6:47 – Worcester gets their 3rd power play goal of the game.  Marcou shovels the puck past Johnson on a 2-on-1 down low with Cheecoo after Grachev and Garlock get caught in the Sharks zone looking for offense shorthanded. 4-2 Sharks.

8:34 – Johnson fumbles a dump in and nearly gives it up to Trevelyan.

12:09 – The fourth Sharks goal appears to have taken some of the wind out of the Wolf Pack’s sails.  Not much happening on either side at the moment.  Lots of back and forth but no significant scoring chances to be had.

12:30 – For a guy who hasn’t played center in two years, Grachev’s been pretty good on faceoffs.

13:26 – Newbury throws the puck on net from the sharp angle, but Staylock had the post covered.

14:57 – Nick Petrecki heads to the box for cross-checking.  Wolf Pack head to their third power play.

15:52 – Dale Weise gets a couple whacks at a loose rebound, but Staylock keeps his pad against the post.  Sean Sullivan took exception and tried to rough Weise up after the whistle.  Bad decision on Sullivan’s part, as Weise absolutely wrecked him when the gloves came off.

17:38 – Pack have kept the Sharks pinned in their zone, even after the penalty expired.  Byers, Zuccarello and Williams generated a few chances, but nothing Staylock couldn’t stop.

18:25 – Time out Hartford. Johnson to the bench.

19:29 – Pack applying good pressure, but shots coming primarily from the outside.

19:43 – Dupont gets a few tries at a rebound of Grachev’s flip shot, but Staylock finds it and covers up.  Petrecki takes exception, gloves drop, but Dupont gets pushed back over Staylock and goes down. Petrecki gets a few good shots in on the way.

19:55 – Tessier gets his second of the game with a deflection on Wade Redden’s point shot.  Sharks lead 4-3 with 4.4 seconds to go in regulation.  Second goal of the game for Tessier, who also added an assist.

19:59 – With just over a second on the clock Valentenko takes a huge windup from the neutral zone, but misses the puck and goes down in a heap as the buzzer sounds.  A bit of comic relief in a game that offered little to smile about. Game over, Sharks win 4-3.

Post Game

Decent effort in the final 30 minutes, and particularly in the third when the Pack outshot Worcester 19-4, but the no-show first period was too much for the boys to overcome.  Penalties were a problem — Hartford’s penalty kill gave up three goals on seven attempts.  As much as the team changed in the off-season, slow starts and too many penalties are bug-a-boos that appear to have carried over from last year.  On the bright side, rookie Tessier looks like a player, finishing with two goals and an assist, which gives him four points over his first two pro games.  He looked particularly good when put on a line with Byers, who finished the game with a pair of assists himself, and looks to be picking right back up where he left off last season.

So with opening weekend in the books, the Pack are off to a 1-1-0-0 start.  They’ll get the week to work out some kinks before hitting the road for their first three-games-in-three-nights stint which starts in Albany on Friday, continues in Bridgeport on Saturday and wraps up in Providence on Sunday.

Scoring

1. WOR Ferriero, (1) (Schaus, Trevelyan), 3:27 (PP)
1. WOR Cheechoo, (2) (Braun, Ferriero), 11:27
1. WOR Ferriero, (2) (Cheechoo, Sullivan), 15:34 (PP)
2. HFD Grachev, (1) (Tessier, Byers), 16:29
3. HFD Tessier, (1) (Byers), 2:54
3. WOR Marcou, (1) (Cheechoo, Mashinter), 6:47 (PP)
3. HFD Tessier, (2) (Redden, Newbury), 19:55

Lines

Dane Byers – Kris Newbury – Dale Weise
Brodie Dupont – Evgeny Grachev – Matt Zuccarello
Jeremy Williams – Brandon Wong  – Justin Soryal
Chris McKelvie – Ryan Garlock – Kelsey Tessier

Wade Redden – Tomas Kundratek
Pavel Valentenko – Nigel Williams
Ryan McDonagh – Lee Baldwin

Chad Johnson / Cam Talbot

Three Stars

1. Benn Ferriero
2. Jonathan Cheechoo
3. Kelsey Tessier