Wolf Pack defeats Monarchs in OT

Published on January 22, 2010 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Connecticut Whale News Release


Hartford, CT - Hartford Wolf Pack captain Dane Byers had been getting his chances but hadn't got on the scoring sheet since Dec. 30.

But Byers was in his sweet spot at 2:20 of overtime Friday night, deflecting Paul Crowder's shot from the left circle between Jonathan Bernier's legs for a second power-play goal and a 3-2 victory over the Atlantic Division-leading Manchester Monarchs before 4,967 at the XL Center.

"It has been a couple of weeks (between goals), but I had been getting chances, so if you do, hopefully something is going to go in for you," said Byers, who had several good bids denied in regulation. "It was a great pass by Crowder. I just wanted to make my stick available, and offensive players like Crowder and (Corey) Locke will see that stick out there and make that play nine times out of 10.

"It was a good game for the boys. Manchester is a good team that's obviously going to have its spurts, so you just have to counter that. Obviously we were down a few skilled guys, so that means there are opportunities for other guys to step up."

The Wolf Pack started the game without second-leading scorer P.A. Parenteau, who was injured in a 4-1 loss at Manchester Sunday, and defenseman Corey Potter, who missed his fourth straight game due to injury. And right wing Dale Weise, the team's third-leading scorer, was hurt at 7:10 of the second period and did not return.

But Byers' first goal in nine games enabled the Wolf Pack (23-16-1-4) to improve to 3-0 at home against Manchester, which is 3-0 against the Wolf Pack in New Hampshire. The Wolf Pack moved into sole possession of fourth place, two points ahead of idle Portland and Bridgeport, which beat Albany 2-1 in overtime. The Monarchs (26-13-2-4) are two points ahead of Lowell, which beat Providence, 4-1.

"We had a pretty good game for the most part," Wolf Pack coach Ken Gernander said. "They had opportunities during the course of the game, but I thought our guys stuck with it and did a good job to get the two points at the end.

"We got off to a poor start (Saturday night), put ourselves behind the 8-all down 3-0 right away. Having a good start was one of the talking points before the game tonight, and I thought we did."

And carried it to the end.

"Being in front is kind of Dane's forte, especially on special teams," Gernander said. "Crowder made a good look, and Dane made a good redirect. It was good stuff."

The Wolf Pack came out of the six-day All-Star break with more jump than the Monarchs, but the visitors nearly took an early lead when Corey Elkins hit the post at 2:15.

The game's first power play for the Wolf Pack proved productive for both teams. First, the Monarchs took a 1-0 lead at 10:36 when Gabe Gauthier backhanded home a rebound off a 2-on-1 with former Rangers property Marc-Andre Cliché. But 1:07 later, All-Star defenseman Bobby Sanguinetti passed behind the net to Evgeny Grachev, who found Brodie Dupont in the right circle for a one-timer that beat a partially screened Bernier, the starting goalie for the Canadian team in the All-Star Game.

After Bernier (33 saves) denied two good bids by Byers, the Wolf Pack took their first lead as All-Star center Corey Locke outfought Joe Piskula for the puck behind the net and centered to a wide-open Nigel Williams breaking the down slot for a quick finish at 14:53.

The Wolf Pack nearly added to their lead early in the second period, but Bernier made a sprawling save with his stick on Jordan Owens' wraparound bid at 3:05, then stopped Weise off a deft feed from Locke.

After Weise left the game, Brodie Dupont hit the crossbar with 6:55 left in the period. Less than a minute later, Bernier got his blocker on Owens' backhander from in front.

Johnson (27 saves) kept the Wolf Pack ahead when he denied John Zeiler breaking in alone off the right wing with 2:09 left, then Bernier came out to stop Michael Sauer breaking off the right point with 66 seconds to go.

After a cautious start to the third period, the Monarchs tied it at 9:36 when Elkins deflected in a shot from the high slot by Alec Martinez past a screened Johnson.

Johnson got the Wolf Pack to overtime when he made sprawling saves on Bud Holloway and Piskula in the final 22 seconds.

"It got a little scrambly, but Chad has been terrific and given us a chance to win almost every night," Byers said of Johnson, who has been on the Wolf Pack-Rangers shuttle since early December.

"Johnson played a real good game," Gernander said. "I say all the time that it's good to have good goaltending, but you don't want to have to rely on it."

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