The Calgary Wranglers can allow themselves a little sigh of relief after tying up their series against Coachella Valley last night, nearly 24 hours after going down 6-3 in Game 1.
Connor ZariA power play goal late in the first half got the Wranglers on the board first and was the reward for a much stronger effort by the regular season champs.
“I thought we were more organized,” Zari told reporters after Calgary won 3-2. “Game 1 definitely wasn’t our game. It was more their game, and we were playing with it. We were all over it.”
“We competed a little more aggressively and that’s what this time of year requires, a little bit more sacrifice.”
Hartford Wolf Pack coach Chris Thom He didn’t come satisfied with Game 1 despite a solid effort in the second half. After Hershey was outscored 17-3 at halftime, the Wolf Pack settled into the game and continued to play for most of the final 40 minutes of regulation.
“Overall I didn’t like our game,” said Knoblauch. “There’s a lot I haven’t seen. I didn’t think we managed the puck very well. We didn’t make the passes.”
The rookie goalkeeper Dylan Garand Continue to impress, however. He blocked several key scoring opportunities from the Bears in the opening period and held a one-goal lead until Hershey eventually tied the game with 2:09 in the standings. However, Knoblauch said that the standard shown by the Wolf Pack in winning streaks against Springfield and Providence was missing in Game 1.
“Previously we showed more confidence in moving the puck, passing the ball. We just didn’t execute as well as we did. We’ll have to put it behind us and come back to Game 2.”
Carl Taylor He allowed himself an hour to enjoy last night’s win over Texas.
Game two comes tonight, and it’s a quick turnaround after Milwaukee won Game 1 2-1.
“They are two good teams that stick together,” the Admiral’s coach told reporters after the game. “That’s the challenge here. We’re going to enjoy this for about an hour here and then get ready for the challenge of getting a desperate Texans here trying to get the split they wanted at the start of the series.”
The Calder Cup playoffs have already subjected the Admirals to a series of tests and pressure over just six games. They had to go through a series against Manitoba after trailing two games to one in their Central Division semi-final game. Three of those five games against the Moose ended up with a single goal (Game four was a one-goal game until Milwaukee’s goalless goal in the last minute). More pressure came last night with another game coming to the last minute before Milwaukee could pull away the win.
“It’s what it is this time of year,” Taylor said, “and that’s why there’s good growth, and why management and NHL teams want their teams to play at this time. They’re tough moments.”
“How do you handle this situation… when you are asked to perform?”
Losing Game 1 last night was Texas’ first setback on the road in nearly two months, since a 5-4 overtime defeat in San Jose. But the coach Neil Graham Fixed note sounded last night.
“You lose Game 1, and you have to dust yourself off and regroup very quickly in Game 2,” Graham said after the game via the team. “It’s a quick turnaround. It’s our first test of adversity here in terms of losing the game. It’s important for us to go forward.
“We will respond. I have great confidence in our group, I have great confidence in our leadership, and [today] New Day. “
– Patrick Williams