Scratch:

RW John Tripp (27-17-44 in 51 games) out 2 weeks after knee surgery
D Mike Wilson (6-6, 229) out 8 weeks with sprained ACL
D Patty Aufiero out indefinitely with 2nd concussion this year
C/RW Billy Tibbetts (166 PIM) suspended 3 games for biting
C Benoit Dusablon (+15) out 4 weeks with broken wrist
D Dean Arsene (+7) out 4 weeks with sprained shoulder
RW Garrett Burnett (6-3, 242, 288 PIM) suspended 2 games for a match penalty and 1 game each for his 3rd instigator penalty of the season and his 2nd verbally abuse of an official

Add:

C Chris Pittman from ECHL
D Ryan Bast on loan from Philly
LW/C Patrick Yetman from ECHL

So, we lost three of our defensemen, one of our best scorers and one of our best defensive forwards, an agitator and a league-leading enforcer. In return, we got two kids (both of whom have already been released by the team at least once this year) and a player on loan from Bobby Clarke – who we know wouldn’t give us water if we were dying of thirst.

Marty McSorley’s Falcons came out flying, hitting our smaller team (6-2, 198 on average compared to their 6-4, 205) at every chance. Former Wolf*Pack player Boyd Kane scored. Richard Scott is finally back from a separated shoulder, but still isn’t able to hit or throw punches with any authority. 83 minutes of penalties were called, but there were four fights, so most of the minor stuff went uncalled. Springfield was free to clutch, grab, and practically undress our players in front of the ref.

It was an important game against a team just three games behind us in the standings, when we are precariously holding on to the 7th place spot in the conference.

So what actually happened?

Well, the Pack won. Decisively even, a score of 5-1 to match their big brothers at MSG. They got goals from Lyashenko (2), Ulmer, Larose and Andrews, and assists from Ulmer, Laukkanen (2), Lyashenko, Ekman (3), Gernander, Kinch and Murray.

They got fights – wins even – from Pittman (twice) and Murray, and a wrestling match from Scott. Who knew that Pittman could fight?

They got blocked shots from Chebaturkin and Karpa (I KNEW he had to be good for something.)

They got solid goaltending from Holmqvist in the face of a Falcons team that was allowed to run him at will.

And most of all, they got toughness, tenacity, and grit from the little guys on the team – and I mean little in terms of size. Character even.

Little guys like Ken Gernander (5-11), Cory Larose (6-0), Nils Ekman (6-0), Matt Kinch (5-11), Dixon Ward (6-0), Patrick Yetman (5-10), Roman Lyashenko (6-0) – and none of these guys are over 200 lbs. They were targets all night, the skill guys who normally have their bigger linemates out there with them for protection or at least retaliation. And they took their hits, protecting the puck, and used their speed and mobility to continue to put that puck behind Konstantinov.

Most of these guys have gone unnoticed by the Rangers this year for reasons that elude me, unless it is something as simple as that they have gone out and bought so much skill, they don’t need any from the farm. Roman Lyashenko is 17-29-46 in 55 games and is +18. Cory Larose is 21-40-61 in 65 games and is +5. Matt Kinch is 5-18-23 in 49 games and is +17.

Interesting to discover how much skill we really do have lurking in the background, once all the noise of players like Tibbetts, Burnett, and Tripp has been muffled for a game or two. There certainly is value to having at least two out of those three on the team, but even so – deep teams are ones that can handle the rough waters of playoffs in good shape.

And we are deeper than I thought.

Perhaps there will be hockey in Hartford after April 1st after all.

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