By BRUCE BERLET, Courant Staff Writer
Jarkko Immonen has spent most of the season on a yo-yo.
The Finnish center was the Wolf Pack's leading scorer last season and was among the Rangers' final cuts at training camp in the fall.
He has since been called up by the Rangers twice. And after being sent back down Friday, he's out to prove that he should be an NHL regular.
Immonen improved his resume Sunday, scoring the first two goals and assisting on Ryan Callahan's second goal in a 5-0 victory over the Springfield Falcons before 4,852 at the Civic Center.
Al Montoya was seldom tested in recording his fourth shutout and the Pack (38-23-3) tied a franchise record for fewest shots allowed in a game (14).
The Pack outshot the Falcons 16-3 in the first period to take a 3-0 lead. Immonen's first goal and Callahan's second enabled the Pack to tie a team record for short-handed goals in a game.
Immonen struggled at the start of the season. He didn't score and was minus-12 in the Pack's first 15 games.
"It was so hard at the start of the season, and I don't know why," he said. "Sometimes it's hard. Sometimes it's easy."
After scoring six goals in six games, Immonen got his first extended callup and played between Brendan Shanahan and Matt Cullen as the Rangers won five straight. But Rangers coach Tom Renney questioned the speed of Immonen, who then got less ice time and was scratched four games before being reassigned.
Immonen's NHL prospects took another dive when the Rangers claimed Jason Krog off waivers Jan. 12. After getting three goals and five assists in three games after returning from a knee injury, Immonen got a second recall Feb. 27. But he was reassigned Friday after rookie Brandon Dubinsky got his first call to the NHL.
"It was a great time in New York and good to see a game that's faster and more under control," said Immonen, who had one goal and five assists while averaging 10:22 in 14 games with the Rangers. "It's not easy to get to play up there, so I just tried to do my best. Now I'm just focusing on games here and trying to play as well as I can. Scoring a couple goals helps your confidence."
Assistant coach J.J. Daigneault said Immonen is more confident with the puck and must maintain a good attitude.
"Jarkko is a big piece of the puzzle here," Daigneault said. "I don't think the last few weeks were easy for him after being in New York. There's disappointment when you're sent down, but you have to prove you're the best player in the league.
"It's important for guys to respond well any time there's a callup or they get sent back. Eyes are on them when they're up with the big team, but I think there's even more eyes on them when they're down here. Jarkko has reacted well, and it shows a lot of professionalism."
Callahan's two goals gave him 35, tying the franchise rookie record set last season by Nigel Dawes, who had the Pack's other goal after he and defenseman Dave Liffiton rejoined the team two hours before the game. They were held out of the lineup Saturday for precautionary reasons after Jaromir Jagr and Paul Mara were injured in the Rangers' loss in Pittsburgh. But Jagr and Mara played Sunday against Carolina, so Dawes and Liffiton returned to Hartford. Liffiton was plus-3, along with Immonen, Callahan and Dale Purinton.
