Hartford Wolf Pack 1st Quarter review: Brennan Othmann injury absence among top storylines
One quarter of the way through their American Hockey League season, the Hartford Wolf Pack sit in the middle of the pack, no pun intended. Hartford is 8-7-2-1 for 19 points (.528) through 18 games, fourth in the Atlantic Division, ninth in the Eastern Conference, and 16th in the AHL.
Similar to the New York Rangers, Hartford’s parent club in the NHL, the Wolf Pack’s season to date has been a roller coaster ride. And Grant Potulny’s first year as a professional head coach has been full of challenges, though the goal remains to make the Calder Cup Playoffs for a third consecutive season.
Let’s examine several key storylines for the Wolf Pack through the first quarter of their season.
Related: Rangers 1st quarter report card for every player, plus coach and GM
Hartford Wolf Pack 1st quarter storylines
Wolf Pack miss Brennan Othmann on power play
Brennan Othmann’s return to the lineup cannot come soon enough for Hartford and its struggling power play. Since the 21-year-old forward sustained an upper-body injury Oct. 19, Hartford has scored twice with the man advantage. Prior to Alex Belzile snapping a 0-for-38 drought on Nov. 19, Hartford’s power play was held off the score sheet in 11 straight games. The lack of production on the power play stifled Hartford’s offensive production, forcing an unsustainable reliance on 5v5 goals.
With Othmann in the lineup for three games, the Wolf Pack recorded six power-play goals (6-for-20) with two in each contest. Othmann scored one power-play goal, but is a force on the man advantage. He led Hartford with 10 power-play goals last season.
Othmann is not expected to return before the calendar flips to 2025. So, the Wolf Pack must find special teams consistency without him in the lineup. After the drought was snapped by Belzile, Hartford is 1-for-10, after defenseman Victor Mancini scored a power-play goal Wednesday. The Wolf Pack power play is 28th in the league operating at 11.6 percent (8-for-69).
And don’t underestimate how much the 2021 first-round pick is missed 5v5, too. Othmann had two goals and five points overall in three games to begin the season before his injury.
Dylan Garand takes next steps
Photo courtesy Hartford Wolf Pack
Dylan Garand had a solid first quarter to the season. The 22-year-old goalie is 5-2-2-0 with a 2.84 goals-against average and .903 save percentage. This is great news for bioth the Wolf Pack and Rangers.
His first two professional seasons featured inconsistent regular-season play, and terrific performances in the Calder Cup Playoffs. So, it’s a good sign that he’s largely cleaned things up so far this regular season, playing on a higher, more consistent level.
Garand allowed three goals or less in seven of his starts. Furthermore, Garand showed the potential to be a clear No. 1 goalie, especially since veteran Louis Domingue struggled early on (3-5-1-0, 3.74 GAA, .887 save percentage). The Rangers most definitely are keeping an eye on Garand’s progress, what with Jonathan Quick turning 39 later this season and that No. 2 spot behind Igor Shesterkin possibly up for grabs next season.
Defense corps struggling
Through 18 games, the Wolf Pack allowed four or more goals in 11 contests. Their goals against is 64, which is fifth worst in the AHL (Henderson also has 64 goals against and three teams are tied for the league worst with 65 goals against). Despite a focus on reducing goals against, defensive mistakes continue to harm their overall performance and success. And the fault is not on the goalies.
The Wolf Pack’s defense corps has struggled mightily defending in their own end and getting the puck out of their own end of the ice. It’s not dissimilar to what ails the Rangers this season. And to take it a step further, it’s not just the defensemen either. The forwards take their fair share of the blame, too.
The second period in particular is a problem. Hartford’s been outscored 23-10 in the middle 20 minutes. Then, add in the struggling penalty kill, which is the fourth worst in the league, operating at 76.8 percent.. The Wolf Pack have given up the third most power-play goals (16) in the AHL, one shy of worst. They’ve been shorthanded 69 times, ninth most in the league.
Perhaps Mancini’s recent arrival as a top-four defenseman will pay dividends. But Potulny and Co. need to find ways to clean up Hartford’s overall defensive game and figure out ways to spend more time at the other end of the rink.
More About:New York Rangers News
Read This Next
