The Hartford Wolf Pack’s October has been all about the road, so Friday night at the PeoplesBank Arena felt like a quick reset before the team heads into an eight-game trip that will carry them all the way to mid-November without another home date.
That made the weekend split even more interesting. Hartford got the kind of win that can make a building buzz on Friday, then swallowed a frustrating loss on Saturday to finish the week 1-1.
The week also brought a change in net. On Tuesday afternoon, the Wolf Pack loaned goaltender Gabriel Carriere to the ECHL’s Worcester Railers.
Carriere joins Cooper Moore and Anthony Kehrer there, giving Worcester three players under Wolf Pack contract on its roster. The move opened the door for veteran James Reimer, who signed a professional tryout agreement with Hartford on October 15, to make his Wolf Pack debut over the weekend.
He got the start Friday against the Providence Bruins.
Reimer’s appearance came with a couple of notable notes attached. He had faced Hartford just once in his career before that game, when his Toronto Marlies beat the Wolf Pack 3-2 in overtime on March 7, 2010. Kris Newbury and Donald Brashear scored Hartford’s goals that night.
The AHL also pointed out that Reimer, at 38 years and 222 days, became the oldest goalie to play an AHL game since Manny Legace, who was 39 years and 70 days old for the Springfield Falcons on 4/14/12.
There was another milestone in Friday’s game, too. Defenseman Matthew Robertson played his 256th game as a member of the Wolf Pack, moving into sole possession of 10th place on the franchise’s all-time games played list. He passed a tie with forward Dane Byers and defenseman Brandon Scanlin.
If Robertson gets into three more games for Hartford, he’ll move ahead of defenseman Bryce Lampman into ninth.
The Wolf Pack also got a roster addition before Friday’s game, when the New York Rangers assigned forward Justin Dowling after signing Luke Glendening to a one-year contract. Dowling did not play Friday, but he is expected to give Hartford’s offense a lift going forward.
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Chris Kreiders change of scenery has not produced the early bounce Montreal was hoping for. After signing a one-year deal with the Canadiens in September, the former Rangers winger has managed just one goal and three assists in 11 games, a modest return for a player who spent years as a dependable offensive piece in New York and also helped the Ducks during their playoff push before moving on.
The surface numbers only tell part of the story, and the deeper ones have been even less encouraging. Kreiders possession impact has lagged behind most of his teammates, with a 49.6 percent Corsi for and an expected-goals profile that sits among the teams worst regulars, which is the kind of backdrop that makes Anaheims decision to move on from him look a little more revealing now. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Suddenly Have A Goalie Problem They Didn't Need
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The timing leaves New York in an awkward spot as it looks ahead to its next game. If Reimer is not ready by Sunday, the club may have to recall Spencer Martin while also keeping an eye on Joonas Korpisalo, who has yet to make his debut while working back from a lower-body injury. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Crease Debate Just Got More Interesting After Fowlers Statement
With Igor Shesterkin sidelined, the Rangers moved quickly to shore up their goaltending depth by signing James Reimer to a one-year deal. It was a pragmatic response to a fragile situation, and it came after Reimer had been working on a PTO with Hartford before earning the chance to join New York. For a team that cannot afford uncertainty in net, the timing mattered as much as the name.
Reimers path to the contract only adds to the intrigue around how the Rangers will manage their crease in the short term, especially with Jacob Fowler drawing attention in Montreal after a 33-save performance in an outdoor game against Winnipeg. The broader goaltending market has already been shaken by other moves around the league, including New Jerseys acquisition of Connor Hellebuyck, and it leaves New York trying to stabilize its own situation while the rest of the division keeps making noise. [Read more 🡒]