Wolf Pack Beat Sharks, 4-1

December 12, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Connecticut Whale News Release


HARTFORD, Conn. _ More discipline, grit and timely goaltending by Miika Wiikman led the Hartford Wolf Pack to a 4-1 victory over the Worcester Sharks Friday night before 3,721 at the XL Center.

As in a 2-0 victory over Providence two nights earlier, the Wolf Pack (12-11-1-2) limited the quality chances on Wiikman (28 saves) while getting a goal and an assist from rookie defenseman Bobby Sanguinetti and three assists from P.A. Parenteau, including one on the winner by Greg Moore.

"It's probably our best back-to-back games of the season," Moore said. "We're kind of playing more the way we've been talking about playing, putting 60 minutes together. That's what's really big right now: our consistency and effort and sticking to our systems.

"Every year we're kind of known for having a lot of young guys to start the year because we're about developing prospects. It does take time for guys to get used to the league, but everyone seems to be adjusting well now. Team confidence is huge and we've had spurts, but in these two games, we could feel in the locker room that we're a little more confident knowing we can play the way we want to play if we stick to our systems and do little things.

"Everyone feels they're on the same page now, and it feels good to see the team headed in the right direction."

After entering the game 0-2-0-1 against the Sharks, the Wolf Pack never trailed, scoring twice in less than nine minutes. Tommy Pyatt took a drop pass from Mike Ouellette and beat Taylor Dakers from 30 feet in the slot at 6:59. Then with the Wolf Pack on their first power play, Parenteau's diagonal pass through the slot to the left post found Moore, who hit the side of the net with his first shot but put in the rebound at 8:56.

The Sharks had a golden opportunity to cut into the deficit early in the second period, but the Wolf Pack allowed only one shot on a 5-on-3 Worcester power play and none on the ensuing 5-on-4. But with the Wolf Pack on their third power play, Riley Armstrong picked up a turnover in the neutral zone and scored on a breakaway at 10:12.

The Wolf Pack then got a 5-on-3 for 1:40, but they needed only 13 seconds to score as Sanguinetti one-timed Artem Anisimov's pass through Dakers' legs at 11:59.

The Sharks (14-12-0-0) pressed early in the third period and nearly got within 3-2, but Mike Moore's shot hit the post at 1:15. Then at 6:50, Wiikman sprawled to deny Derek Joslin's one-timer from 30 feet in the slot.

Dakers (27 saves) kept the Sharks alive when he stopped a partial breakaway by Parenteau as he was being hooked by Mike Moore with 3:28 left. But defenseman David Urquhart iced it on the power play, taking a pass from Parenteau and beating Dakers from the left circle with 1:37 left.

"We're starting to get in that range where we're a little more comfortable as far as chances surrendered," Wolf Pack coach Ken Gernander said. "I think we've been more aggressive and committed and not allowing teams to attack and create offense. We're working more in tandem after being a little disjointed. We'd have one or two guys going hard, and the other guys not necessarily filling in behind them. But now we're a little more cohesive coming back."

Right wing Claude Lemieux, 43, who won four Stanley Cups while playing 1,197 NHL games with five teams spanning 18 seasons, returned to the XL Center for the first time in 11 years. After starting the season in China, Lemieux signed an AHL contract with the Sharks as he attempts to get back to the NHL after a five-year sabbatical from the game. He had one shot and four penalty minutes against the Wolf Pack.



American Hockey League Stories from December 12, 2008


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