By BRUCE BERLET, Courant Staff Writer
Some wonder how the Wolf Pack had the best record against a Lowell team with 10 players who spent much or all of last season in the NHL, including three in the Stanley Cup finals with Calgary.
Not Lowell coach Tom Rowe.
"They stay on top of you and compete," Rowe said. "They've got a real good mix with skilled guys, speed and grit, and [coach] Ryan [McGill] has his systems in place. When I saw [former Lock Monster] Jeff Heerema playing somewhat of a defensive game last year, I said there are miracles."
Tonight, the Pack host the opener of a best-of-seven Atlantic Division semifinal.
"It's a tough team to play against because Ryan has them playing within their limitations and their roles are well defined," Rowe said. "Our guys are excited about getting the playoffs started, but they know it's going to be a battle because Hartford doesn't give up a lot of scoring chances."
Despite a 5-2-0-1 record against Lowell, the Wolf Pack need to slow arguably the AHL's best line of All-Stars Eric Staal and Chuck Kobasew and Colin Forbes, who combined for 91 goals, including 18 winners, and 125 assists and are plus-106.
"I don't think either team is going to throw any surprises at each other," McGill said. "And I also believe that because we've played each other so much, each team probably knows each other pretty good. We watched film the last few days trying to find a little something, but once the games start, the bottom line will be about execution and determination."
The Pack will try to defuse the Staal-Kobasew-Forbes line with their checking unit of captain Ken Gernander, Garth Murray and Jed Ortmeyer. The Lock Monsters also have Mike Zigomanis centering for Ryan Bayda and Chad Larose. And Matt Lombardi, the No. 3 center, played last season in Calgary. He sustained a concussion in the playoffs and didn't return until last month.
"I told the guys you're not always going to get the matchups you want, so be aware of whom you're out there against and do the job," McGill said. "You don't want people on the bench [a long time]. If we can get the matchups, great. If it doesn't work all the time, we're going to make sure everyone is aware of who's on the ice. Regardless, I think we have four lines that are put together pretty well. Every line feels it can go over the boards and do a job."
Rowe said Jason LaBarbera and former Lock Monster Steve Valiquette are the AHL's best goaltending tandem as they demonstrated by allowing the fewest goals (160).
"We're going to have to come out as hard as they do and keep things simple and direct," he said.
Neither coach would divulge his starting goaltender, but with LaBarbera battling allergies, McGill might bypass his All-Star for Valiquette, who was 5-0-0-1 with a 0.71 goals-against average, .977 save percentage and two shutouts against Lowell.
Valiquette is happy Gernander, Jozef Balej, Jamie Lundmark and Craig Weller have returned from injuries, leaving Blair Betts and suspended Martin Grenier and Trevor Gillies as the only missing parts. Grenier can return for Game 2 after being replaced by Ivan Baranka, who signed an amateur tryout deal after his junior team, Everett, was eliminated from the playoffs. Lowell added defenseman Dion Phaneuf, Calgary's No. 1 pick (ninth overall) in 2003 whose Red Deer team was ousted from the WHL playoffs.
"They're as strong as any team down the middle, and their top line is as good as it gets in this league," Valiquette said. "We have to kill any momentum they plan on getting off their power play or their rush and not allow any easy entry into our zone with any kind of speed because of how quickly they're able to transition. That's their strength, so we have to counter with strong defensive zone coverage and make smart plays at their blue line."
