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10/24/98 Hartford Wolf Pack vs. Albany River Rats The Wolf Pack came to the game ready to break their all time winning streak of 5 games before a crowd of 6,576. The Pack’s competitor Saturday night, was the Albany River Rats, a team that last year reached the semi-finals before being swept by the 1997-1998 Caldur Cup Champion Philadelphia Phantoms. The River Rats have not had an as successful start as the Wolf Pack (but to put things in perspective they are still second place in the Empire Division.) Albany entered the game with a record of 3 and 2, and currently on a 2 game losing streak The Pack started the first period playing very lazy on defense, (Resting on their laurels?) Kay Whitmore who has been thus far the number one goalie in the AHL with a save percentage of 0.967 played a poor period, giving out way to many rebounds. Albany took advantage of Whitmore’s mistakes, notching two goals within 43 seconds of each other. Semark scored the first at 5:05 his 3rd of the season assisted by Kinnear, and Daniels. The second came at 5:48 by Williams his 2nd of the season assisted by Bicek. Tensions were high, elbows were flying, and penalties were called to the Pack’s advantage. Hartford ranking 5th in the AHL on the power play, had numerous opportunities tonight. Marc Savard converted during the 2nd "Farmington Savings Bank" power play of the 1st period at 18:11 assisted by Armstrong and Geoff Smith.
At 4:53 of the second period Derek Armstrong scored the equalizer 1:30 seconds into a Hartford power-play, assisted by Vorobiev, and Savard (Armstrong’s 5th of the season.) Kay Whitmore played much smarter between the pipes during the second making some critical stops. 14:29 into the 2nd period there was some confusion when Armstrong took out an Albany player at the blue line, while Savard continued to net and flicked the puck in while Albany goaltender Richard Shulmistra stepped out of the crease to argue with the refs. The red light flashed, the music started, but the goal was disallowed on the grounds that the interference penalty was called before the goal. A brawl insued and the tone of the game was changed. Savard claims he never heard the whistle "I didn’t hear it, and I’m not going to let up on it, I’m going to let up on it I’m going to put it in the net because I’m not sure what’s going on. I saw the goalie standing there so I figured something had happened but I put it in the net to make sure about it."
The game that seems to be all offense was upped an anti when John Madden of the River Rats scored short handed, to give Albany a 3-2 lead over the Pack. Scott Daniels scored next, to put the Rats up by 2. Throughout the game the Pack has had countless opportunities and what must have been a dozen power plays. Hartford’s power play has really come together, with a third power-play goal scored by Captain Ken Gernander during a scramble in front of the River Rat’s goal bringing the Pack within 1. Gernander’s goal at 14:22 was his 3rd of the season, assisted by Dube, and Errey. With the Pack still down one a glimmer of hope arised as a penalty was called with 2:43 left in the third. Time was running out, with a minute left the Wolf Pack pulled Whitmore for an extra attacker, but play was stopped after Shulmistra covered up the puck. Hartford called a time out to organize themselves and too try for an equalizer. Albany ticked off about 45 seconds before calling time out themselves. Hartford got a few good looks at the net, but time ran out, the 5 and 0 winning streak was over, now stained with a loss. (It was bound to happen.)
Three Stars of the Game 1 Scott Daniels 2 Alexander Semark 3 Ken Sutton Picked by David H. of the Hartford Courant Wolf Pack Scratches: Ryan Risadore, Benjamin Carpentier, Alexi Vasiliev, Bill Berg Send your questions or comments to Zac Champ |
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