First Quarter Prospects Report 2018-19: Hartford WolfPack/New York Rangers (Part 1 - Goalies & Defense)
HARTFORD, CT -- The Hartford WolfPack (11-9-3) have won their last four games following a December 1st win over Atlantic Division leading Charlotte, and are creeping up the divisional standings - sitting in fifth place and on the bubble of playoff contention through the first two months of the season.
Reflecting back, the WolfPack have had their ups and downs. After a 5-1-1 start to begin the season, Hartford won just two games in the 12-game span following (2-8-2) prior to their most recent four-game win streak in the first week of December.
Often times the young talented group has struggled in games, while other contests have them surging and getting the job done. The lack of consistency is expected, with young prospects drafted by the Rangers looking to impress general manager Chris Drury and head coach David Quinn in New York. Lias Andersson and Steven Fogarty were rewarded with call ups while Vinni Lettieri was returned to Hartford, where he hopes to continue his success from last season.
Special Teams
Power Play
21-for-105 = 20.0% (11th in AHL) Four shorthanded goals against
Penalty Kill
85-for-105 = 81.0% (18th in AHL) Three shorthanded goals for
Goaltending
Marek MazanecFirst Quarter Stats: 11GP, 4-5-2, 3.19 GAA, .889 SV%, 0 SO
Marek Mazanec, performing as expected and the steadfast starting goalie, keeps the team in the contest most nights. He has earned a call up a few times in New York when Hartford, with the Rangers wanting to give Alexandar Georgiev the chance to play in a few games at the AHL level.
Dustin TokarskiFirst Quarter Stats: 10GP, 5-3-1, 3.38 GAA, .897 SV%, 0 SO
Dustin Tokarski had a strong start, and then had a hiccup game in late October against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms’ team he played for last season. Since then, the veteran has struggled keeping pucks out of the net. This is not the end all. Tokarski has a strong history of bouncing back. And he did, winning his last four starts before earning a recall to the Rangers on Sunday.
Defenseman
Chris BigrasFirst Quarter Stats: 23GP, 1G-10A, +7, 20 PIM
The experienced defenseman is off to a strong start in Hartford. Coming from a solid training camp, Chris Bigras has been one of the better players on the roster. He’s second on the blue line in points with eight. In addition, he has a role on both the power play and penalty kill.
John GilmourFirst Quarter Stats: 23GP, 6G-9A, -5, 6 PIM
John Gilmour had a slow start to this year, but produced well as of late. Gilmour had multiple multi-point games and led the way to victory in a recent contest against Bridgeport. His speed sets him apart from the rest of the defense. If Gilmour has truly found his game, watch out Atlantic Division.
Brandon CrawleyFirst Quarter Stats: 17GP, 2G-6A, -7, 29 PIM
The rugged prospect enters his second season with Hartford. Despite limited playing time, you can see the “Crawley effect” on the ice. He is not afraid to drop the gloves or protect teammates when needed. Crawley is one of the lone players on Hartford’s roster that is considered gritty. There is nothing wrong with having a few tough guys on the roster. So far, he has been accomplishing his role.
Rob O’GaraFirst Quarter Stats: 22GP, 2G-2A, +2, 28 PIM
O’Gara positions himself well and makes plays sometimes, but struggles against opponents other times. More is expected of the defenseman, who is playing his fourth season in the AHL, but maybe his contribution extends beyond the ice and behind the scenes, as he wears the “A” for the Pack.
Vince PedrieFirst Quarter Stats: 5GP, 0G-1A, -2, 4 PIM
Vince Pedrie is normally the odd man out for most game days. He has played in just five games to date. This is due to the abundance of players fighting for spots in the crowded organization. He was assigned to Maine (ECHL) for a week late in November, but has since returned.
Ryan LindgrenFirst Quarter Stats: 20GP, 0G-2A, +1, 22 PIM
Ryan Lindgren is a talented young prospect that has a high ceiling for development. In his first season in the pros, the defenseman was able to break up plays and clog the passing lanes in the defensive zone. He has noticeable speed and can join in rushes. Despite not showing much in points, he continues to progress. On the physical side, he has shown more of it lately and is not afraid to block shots or hit.
Libor HajekFirst Quarter Stats: 23GP, 0G-3A, -2, 18 PIM
Libor Hajek is another talented prospect in Hartford. He is similar to Ryan Lindgren as they both have offensive potential. The defenseman plays a quiet game that is equally efficient. Hajek is still adjusting to the pro game. Once he does, he could become a dominant player in the AHL.
