Bizarro Title Defense takes a Shock Turn...for the Better???

[Jedediah-Hartford]

Surprising results put champs on the cusp of passing Moncton for the Campbell Conference's second-to-last place spot!



The defending champion Hartford Mariners have recently been spotted playing a remarkably competent version of hockey.  During the last 10 games the Cup holders are sporting a 4-3-3 record including a 3-1 triumph at home versus Quebec to cap off a 7-game homestand where the boys in green managed to secure 8 out of a possible 14 points. 

24 of the 25 players on the active roster have gotten ice time during this stretch (3rd goalie Jhonas Enroth being the odd man out) with at least a point coming from every player.  Recently acquired Patrice Bergeron has found his goal-scoring touch with 6 to lead the squad during this current run, with Alex Killorn pumping in 4 of his own.  The effects of Bobby Ryan's long term absence after his injury in a close loss to Cleveland was stabilized by the timely return of Kevan Miller to the lineup.  Miller has quickly notched 3 assists and a +/- of 4 to the good in his 3 games back, each being Mariner victories.  Low pairing blueliners Dalton Prout and Eric Gryba have also performed well as the Mariners' defense continues to keep the team in games despite the odds.  Whether this is a temporary flash or not, it has been good to see the champs back in the win column.

[Jedediah-Hartford]

Nov 15, 2017 13:33:55 GMT -5 Jedediah-Hartford said:

Seventh heaven for defending champs yet again!  Mariners take advantage of Cleveland owner's Vegas jaunt to navigate their way to 7th place in the Norris Division.



Another surprise run of semi-competency has appeared in the Connecticut capital.  Hartford has managed a 6-7-2 record in their last 15 games, with 4 of them coming on the road.  The defending champs capped their latest run of form off with a shock 4-2 triumph over the perennially contending Barons in Cleveland on Thursday night.  After an opener from Drew Stafford, the boys in blue and green were dealt a 2-1 deficit at the end of one period, courtesy of Sean Couturier and the newest Baron, Antoine Roussel.  A Kevan Miller goal tied things up in the 2nd, before Vincent Trocheck and Bergeron sparked the Mariners to victory with one 3rd period goal apiece. 

The result brings the Mariners above Cornwall and out of last place (on a tiebreaker of sorts?) for the first time in...ehhh...longer than the fanbase cares to say.  Hartford now finds itself at 39 points (AKA one short of Tony Pulis' Holy Grail) with 28 remaining games to play.  However, an onslaught of injuries will continue to test this overhauled squad, with the aforementioned Miller and winger Lauri Korpikoski joining Eric Gryba and long-missed Bobby Ryan on the injured list.  This hands young John Gilmour his GHL debut as the Mariners continue their road trip in Johnstown.  The blueliner, acquired as part of the Patrice Bergeron/Ryan Getzlaf deal early this season, is eager to make his mark after impressing in practices throughout the year.