One step forward and three steps back is an appropriate line for the Hartford Wolf Pack. They won a few games, including a 5-1 statement over the Providence Bruins on Jan. 10 but lost a few bad ones over the weekend to remain in last place in the Atlantic Division.
Every time this team looks like it’s turning a corner and figuring out how to play well, they fall apart in the next game. The offense stands out in this regard since it scored 14 goals in three games before falling flat and scoring only one goal in the 5-1 loss on Jan. 11 to the Bridgeport Islanders. Presumably, the offense, which averages only 2.67 goals per game, isn’t improving but there are signs from recent play suggesting otherwise.
Why Hartford’s Offense is Improving
“We’re executing more plays in the neutral zone, and the rush offense is much better,” head coach Grant Potulny noted after the 5-1 Saturday night win. The Wolf Pack run a detailed offense where they move the puck into high-danger areas and look for effective shots. In the latest games, they’ve started executing the system that Potulny has implemented.
The success starts in the top six, and in the first two months, their success hinged on Gabe Perreault’s play. He was called up to the New York Rangers, and the pressure has shifted to Brennan Othmann and Brett Berard to carry the offense. Othmann was also called up lately but both prospects stumbled out of the gate and have found their footing lately, making all the difference.
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Then there’s Justin Dowling, who is the center, who makes everything work. Every AHL team needs a center who does it all and helps mentor the prospects, not just at the same position but in how to play a pro game. Dowling has done that all season and makes the players around him better. “He’s a good player. He’s a calming factor on our bench, he can really skate, and you see his skill,” Potulny added after the win over the Bruins.
For a team that didn’t get the bounces earlier in the season and wasn’t finding the back of the net, they are getting better puck luck. But in hockey, great teams create their own good luck, and the Wolf Pack are generating better chances. They’ve connected on their passes and are executing plays in the offensive zone. 13 goals in three games is no accident, and it’s a reflection of the ability to consistently generate offense.
Where The Offense Still Struggles
Potulny has mentioned multiple times throughout the season that it’s not about X’s and O’s, and it’s about the players executing. The problem for the Wolf Pack is that they have players who have underacheived throughout the season. The case in point for that is Dylan Roobroeck, who scored 20 goals last season but only has seven goals halfway through this season. Roobroeck was a pleasant surprise last season but with raised expectations and an increased role, he’s struggled.
Moreover, Roobroeck hasn’t played well with his linemates, struggling to find chemistry throughout the season. When that happens to a center, the offense falls apart. Jaroslav Chmelar is the best option as the duo forms a power forward connection. Ironically, Potulny split up the two for the past two games.
The other layer to the Wolf Pack offensive woes is the defensive unit. They don’t have the playmakers at the blue line to open things up and put pucks on the net. Scott Morrow was supposed to be that player, and he’s not, with only one goal and four assists in 14 games. Brandon Scanlin has added a spark since his return from injury but isn’t a consistent threat.
Potulny loves to go from high to low in the offensive zone, where the puck moves to the point to generate offense from there. The problem is that the Wolf Pack lack the players who can play that way.
Ultimately, The Progress Isn’t Enough
The Wolf Pack are making strides. They were a mess to start the season, and are playing better hockey. The problem is that the other teams are improving at a better pace. The Springfield Thunderbirds, who beat them 7-4 on Jan. 9, were in last place for most of the season but are now closing in on the five spot in the division while the Bridgeport Islanders keep finding ways to win games.
This is a team that is climbing the stairs while their opponents are flying up the escalator. It’s left them sitting in last place in the division and wondering if they’ll turn the season around. They show flashes, as they did over the weekend, yet it’s not enough.
