Hockeybird.com: Pack Move On

For the first two periods, this looked to be another long, drawn-out, multiple overtime game. Both teams were putting up decent shots, but the goalies were even better. There were a couple of minor penalties for each team in both periods, but nobody wanted to risk anything more than that. Luckily continuous end-to-end rushes and half a dozen dazzling saves from Jason LaBarbera kept me from dozing off.

And then came the third period. Four goals, two of them within 37 seconds, and all by the Pack. First was Giroux from Gernander and Dusablon (originally attributed to Kenny) at 1:05. Then was Pushor from Wiseman and Balej at 6:15, quickly followed by Wiseman from Tyutin at 6:52. The Pirates pulled their goalie when they went on the power play at 14:05, but were unable to generate anything with the 6 on 4. When coincidental minors at 17:51 reduced the teams to four aside, the Pirates pulled Ouellet again. A turnover left Cory Larose with the puck, and he scrambled to get ahead of everyone else into the Pirates zone, before passing it to Kenny Gernander on the other wing so he could pocked the empty net goal rather than taking the shot himself. Very classy move from Cory.

He ended the night a team-leading +3, and although he didn’t get a star of the game, Cory definitely deserved one for his hard work and team play all series, and most especially tonight. He had the tough assignment of distracting and containing Portland’s Alexander Semin, and he did so with great success. Semin lead his team in penalty minutes, mostly for reacting to and trying to escape Cory’s harassment.

After losing the first game of the series, the Pack pulled together and never looked back, winning the series 4 games to 1. Up next is the division finals against the Worcester IceCats, an opponent to be definitely respected, if not feared. One of only two teams (and the only one still in the playoffs) that the Pack had a losing record against this year (1-2-5), Worcester has also had an extra four days of rest. And that will be a factor, if you check out the schedule below:

Game One: HOME Friday 4/30
Game Two: AWAY Saturday 5/1
Game Three: AWAY Sunday 5/2
Game Four: HOME Wednesday 5/5
*Game Five: HOME Friday 5/7
*Game Six: HOME Saturday 5/8
*Game Seven: AWAY Thursday 5/13

Three games in three nights, starting two days from now? This is when we all give thanks for having a young, hungry team with a deep in-house roster behind them. The Pack has always struggled in Worcester’s arena, so it is absolutely necessary that they win in 6 games or less. In my opinion, if they can get past Worcester, it’s a smooth ride from there, Marc-Andre Fleury be damned.

And here’s my bad news: I can’t make it to most of these games. I will probably make it to game one, but late. Games two and three I will be able to listen to on the radio, but not attend in person. Games four and five may as well be happening on the other side of the world, as the play I am directing opens next week, and they have this bizarre expectation that I actually attend the performances and final rehearsals. Game seven on the road, I just don’t do. So, if there are any dedicated readers who attend these games, please post to the Wolf*Pack section of the boards with any of your observations and comments. I, and all the other Pack fans who can’t make it to the game, would be most appreciative.

I don't get the scheduling. What kind of conflicts are there that they can't do the traditional 2-2-1-1-1?

Posted by: Alex on April 29, 2004 07:45 AM

circus is in worcester from 5/5 to 5/9 and in hartford from 5/1 to 5/16

Posted by: heather on April 29, 2004 10:24 AM

sorry, circus is in hartford from 5/12 to 5/16

Posted by: heather on April 29, 2004 10:28 AM

why don't they just wait until the first "real" round is over for all of the teams? then maybe at least there wouldn't be 3 games in three days

Posted by: Frank on April 29, 2004 10:51 PM

everyone else already done with the first round - we started late because we had to wait for portland to win it's play in. most teams are already on their 5th game or so while we just had our first of the second round.

Posted by: heather on May 1, 2004 06:57 PM