Wolf*Pack fans can get down off the ledge now – the losing streak is over after two games.

The Pack dropped two games this week, ending their 12 game streak of bringing home at least one point each game. Before Wednesday night, they were first in the league with 20 out of 24 possible points, and also led in pretty much every category except goals scored. Wednesday brought a lackluster effort against a determined Worcester (Blues) team, and was followed on Friday by a thorough embarrassment at the hands of Manchester (Kings).

In a pregame interview, McGill reported that he and the boys had a ‘talk’ today, and everything had been straightened out. Although McGill surprised everyone with a complete personality transplant over the summer, we wondered whether he would fall back on his prior methods when finally faced with something other than continual success. During warm-ups, the entire team looked lackluster (in particular goalie Phil Osaer, who had his season-long shutout streak ended on Wednesday when he gave up the game winning goal in relief of Jason LaBarbera – before getting yanked in the first after giving up 3 on Friday night.) Players were just walking through the drills, not talking to each other or apparently even paying attention to what they were doing. Things looked grim.

It was also during warm-ups that I noticed we only had three lines of forwards. Richard Scott has been suspended for a match penalty he got at Manchester on Friday night, although it hasn’t been posted anywhere yet so I don’t know how long he will be out. I wasn’t there, but someone who was reports that it started by the bench, with Richard and another player taking swipes at each other before getting the sticks up. The Monarch got his stick across Richard’s throat, then punched him in the face – which prompted Richard to use his stick like a samurai sword across his opponent’s head. It was this last move that drew the official’s attention. So Richard was in the stands tonight for part of the second period, chatting on his cell phone. Hopefully tomorrow the league will officially announce the length of his suspension.

So we were a little short on forwards. The lines ran like this: MacDonald-Larose-Wiseman; Gernander-Moore-Stals; Murray-Ulmer-Healey; Andrews as the spare forward.

Jason MacDonald has been promoted to the top line after continuing to surprise everyone by playing hockey instead of just being an agitator. Finally winning a fight this past week, he seems to have been inspired by that success and hasn’t look back since. In the last 8 games he has potted 4 goals and 2 assists, and hasn’t let up on his hitting and agitating one bit. With curly red hair, he looks quite a bit like a cocker spaniel now that he has decided to grow facial hair. During warm-ups tonight he noticed a little girl banging on the glass, trying to get his attention – so he flung himself against the glass as if checking her, then waved at her through the glass before tossing her a puck. I’m starting to understand why he has always been a fan favorite in his previous stops.

Since returning from New York in what must have been a humiliating demotion (how much do you have to suck to get sent down after just a practice?) Chad Wiseman has hardly been the same player. Wiseman had a truly awful night, unable to contribute anything useful and getting increasingly petulant as the game went on. Its almost as if someone told him he had to play mean in order to get a chance in New York… but in the process he has forgotten how to play with skill. Or maybe he really is the long lost brother of Johan Witehall, who he resembles in many ways.

Cory Larose just returned from injury last night, and managed to get hurt again during the game tonight. Several times, in fact. I think word has gotten around to these East Coast refs about Cory’s reputation as a diver, as he couldn’t buy a call tonight. And he does dive, often and without great skill. Perhaps we should take up a collection for some acting classes? But he’s been out with a hamstring injury for 5 games, and returned last night, reportedly looking for a fight. Perhaps fighting is some kind of hazing ritual on the Pack this year, as it seems everyone on the team has to go at least once. But fairly early in the game Cory went down and limped to the bench, moving down to sit with the defensemen as Kenny Gernander took his spot on the top line. Cory was back the next period, in time for a dramatic dive in an attempt to draw a high sticking call.

Dominic Moore had a good night, winning all the face-offs that I could see, and setting up Kenny for the insurance goal in the third. Dom had the puck, heading behind the goal line off the left post, sucking a defenseman with him all the way. At the last possible second he dished off a perfect pass to Kenny in the slot, who buried it with a defender draped all over him. When a Bruin got a stick up on him, Dom countered with a sharp elbow that left the Bruin clutching his face. Dom also played an important role in the one big fight of the game – see below.

Juris Stals finally took a penalty last night… we are so proud. Tonight he drew one, as a Bruin skated next to him and punched him in the head. Juris just looked over at the guy and continued skating. I don’t think Juris understands English, so the Bruin may have been saying something, but I doubt Juris had any idea what it was. Perhaps the Bruin felt slighted when Juris didn’t respond to his invite for a beer after the game.

Kenny Gernander is apparently greatly enjoying working and playing with kids again. A friend who spoke to Kenny’s wife tonight told me that, but really, the fans didn’t need inside info – our captain is smiling, scoring, and flying up and down the ice on every shift. After all the crap he’s put up with for this team in the past 6 years (especially the past three) he deserves some fun time now. I think he misses Ortmeyer just a bit though, as neither Moore nor Stals are inclined to be Kenny’s bodyguard.

Layne Ulmer is scoring! 4 goals in 13 games! Fire it up, baby! Layne showed incredible patience tonight as he picked up the puck in the slot, forcing the goalie down in the splits in an attempt to cover the entire net. Layne went to the left and waited until he had actually crossed the goal line with the puck before sending it bouncing in – somehow curving – around the left post and into the net as the goalie looked back over his shoulder in horror.

Garth Murray needed superglue tonight to keep the puck on his stick – every time it touched the blade, the puck took off in some unexpected direction. Garth also took a high stick to the face that laid open a gash above his eye. He angrily skated down to the ref, showing him the blood, but still only drew 2 minutes. If you have any idea why, please let me know.

Paul Healey is a puck hog. Bah. You can have him back.

Bobby Andrews seems to have become a penalty kill specialist for us – which is great, since it seems we will continue to live on the kill this year. Perhaps sensing the precariousness of his roster spot, Bobby blocks shots with enthusiasm and will generally sacrifice his life for the team. Or a job.

Jason LaBarbera finally had his first truly good game in a week. Hard to complain since both Pack goalies have sub 2.00 GAAs, but Jason has seemed off his game the last couple outings. Not any more, as he was stellar tonight and took the first star with his shutout.

John Jakopin apparently fought in Manchester last night. I wondered how someone so huge could so passionately avoid physical play, but I recently read that he had two concussions and trouble with a disk in his neck last year. McGill said in the paper today that John fought to get the team going last night – and those who were there tell me that John apparently got thoroughly pounded. John played an important role in the one fight that did happen tonight, though.

Oh dear, we have found the crack in Fedor Tyutin’s perfection. It’s okay, though, as its something that can easily be fixed. Turns out that Fedor can be rattled. Hopefully he’ll fixed that fast, though, as we play these Bruins again in our next two games. Fedor was gathering the puck next to the bench when a Bruin caught him looking down and hit him so hard he flew back about 5 feet before landing on his ass. When Fedor got back to his feet, he completely ignored the play and began chasing the Bruin, even though the play was now at the Pack net – meaning that Fedor had essentially put us on the kill. He followed the Bruin around the ice, slashing him, until McGill hollered at him to come back to the bench. Fedor never did seem to get his head back into the game, as he leaked the puck at the point, tripped people, and focused on players rather than the play. Rookie mistake, and hopefully he won’t make it again.

Craig Weller didn’t play much, but when he did he was throwing people around, which is exactly what he is being paid for. He also may have engaged in a little informal therapy for young Fedor by smashing a Bruin into oblivion at the end of the game as Fedor held him pinned against the glass.

Lawrence Nycholat continues to be good. His shot count is down from previous years, and that may be because he is playing more defense than he has in the past. Then again, the entire team’s shot count (and goals for) is down, because they are playing more defense. Both he and Cory seem to be becoming much more a part of this team than last year – unlike last year, I see them out after games with the other kids, and they actually talk to and pal around with their teammates on the ice. A good sign.

One of my students has a crush on Bryce Lampman, simply based on the team photos I have hanging on my bulletin board. If only she could see him play, I think she’d like him even more. Bryce is a pain to play against, as he plays dirty and mean, and never gets caught. He drives opponents nuts, and doesn’t seem to mind a bit when they run him into the glass or slash him back – and get caught doing so. He is the counterpart of Garth Murray, who can be brought to incoherent rage with accidental eye contact. Bryce’s blood may run with antifreeze, and his intelligence and perpetual calm (while still playing with great intensity) is a huge comfort in our zone.

Matt Kinch… umm…. He had a great glove save tonight. Sorry, not much else to say – which is a good thing with a defensive dman like Matty. Solid play.

Which brings me to the fight of the game, featuring today’s combatant, Jayme Filipowicz. It all started during warm-ups, when I noticed John Jakopin stretching next to #36 of the Bruins, Brendan Walsh. Not knowing about last night, I figured they were former teammates visiting, as Jakopin is certainly not a fighter. When MacDonald skated over to join the pair, though, it indicated otherwise. Within minutes of the game starting, Walsh dove after a ‘slash’ from Nycholat – skating another 10 feet first to make sure the ref saw him, then sliding halfway across the ice clutching his leg and refusing to get up. Later in the game he tried to start with Murray in front of the net, but peacemaker Ulmer stepped in to separate them – Walsh turned as if to skate away, then tried to dart around Ulmer to get at Murray (wish he had succeeded, Walsh would have been for quite a surprise.) With about a minute left in the second, Walsh made one last desperate play to get something started.

It began by the benches, with Walsh throwing himself at Jakopin, who pushed him away and pointed at him, perhaps warning him or promising him a dance later. Walsh swung around and grabbed the first person he saw, which turned out to be MacDonald – who also refused to go with him. Furious, Walsh took off and encountered Moore at center ice, taking a dramatic two-handed slash at him that sent Moore to the ice in pain. Pack players came flying in from all corners of the rink, but Jayme Filiopwicz got there first.

Now, Jayme plays a physical game, but we had no indication of any fighting skill from him. He and Brendan grappled for a bit, with Jayme landing a number of punches first, and wrestling Brendan’s helmet off. Then, as he tried to pull Brendan’s sweater over his head, Brendan managed to return the favor with a like number of blows to Jayme’s head and pulled off his helmet. They wrestled for a bit, and then Jayme threw a beautiful combination of an uppercut that snapped Walsh’s head back followed by a huge punch to the back of his head that sent Walsh to his knees. Not finished with him yet, Jayme yanked Walsh back up to his skates and began to swing some more, but the officials stepped in to protect Walsh.

When Walsh finally ventured back onto the ice, he found himself being thrown around like a sack of laundry by everyone he encountered, much to the delight of the crowd and the team.

So the Pack has recovered from the slight stumble it had this week, when they got away from their system, their team play, and their focus. It seems that McGill has found a way to get them back on track, and once again Gernander is leading the best team in the league.

Life is good.

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