Completely different goaltending tandem for the Pack this week, which could affect things.
Not so much, though there’s not as much to pin on David LeNeveu as there was on the tandem that’s now in the Coast from last week. Bridgeport just went and set the rested team on its heels for the last 40 minutes.
The first 20 were spent on the penalty kill. Well, not quite. But enough that Ryan Strome played probably three and a half minutes in the first. Enough that Pierre-Marc Bouchard probably played around the same.
They talked about it after the first, staying out of the box, though Pellerin said they wondered a bit about consistency night-to-night, what’s a call in one game that might not be in another. Either way, they were killing for way too much early.
They settled in just fine after that.
“Sometimes you get some consistency with the lines, you get that rhythm … one shift, two shifts, three shifts, four, you get guys working,” Pellerin said. They started getting pucks in, cycling, forcing turnovers.
They finished the weekend with a win.
…..
Nine games. Two wins. Both Hartford. Anyway.
John Persson played his best game since coming back, creating scoring opportunities (finishing one of them on a power play) and being in front of the net on another goal. Nice to get on the board, he said.
Enjoyed the give-and-take with Mike Cornell and an assortment of Wolf Pack players. He took some big hits from Kyle Beach — would say one or two of them were late — but delivered a few himself, including one on Ryan Bourque that drew the ire of Dylan McIlrath.
“(Cornell is) such a competitor,” Pellerin said. “He took a couple of big hits, and then he stood up for himself and contributed offensively and defensively. … I wouldn’t say he’s a small defenseman, but he’s a real solid defenseman. He plays hard, very hard.”
Somehow, out of the scrum with McIlrath, Cornell came out fighting… J.T. Miller. That worked out, particularly on a night where they talked about discipline.
“I’ve learned I don’t want to take (that edge) out of my game at all, but I’ve got to pick my spots. I’d rather take a guy like Miller off (than Beach).”
A solid 31 saves for Parker Milner.
They’re off tomorrow, so more Tuesday.