Rangers star will be sidelined for at least a month due to an upper-body injury. The prominent prospect for the New York Rangers is expected to be out for 4-6 weeks after sustaining the injury over a week
The 21-year-old forward, who participated in six preseason games with the Rangers and was one of the last players cut during training camp, has recorded five points (two goals, three assists) in three games with the Wolf Pack this season. Last year, as a rookie, he netted 21 goals, ranking second on the team.
Even with Othmann out, Brett Berard and Benoit-Olivier Groulx are driving the Wolf Pack’s offense, both sharing the team lead with eight points. They each contributed two points in a 4-3 overtime victory over Lehigh Valley on Friday. Berard is leading Hartford and is tied for fifth in the AHL with five goals, while Groulx has tallied four goals and four assists.
Hartford earned two points this weekend by beating Lehigh Valley but experienced their first home loss of the season on Sunday, falling 5-2 to Springfield.
Assigned to Hartford before last weekend and recalled by the Rangers on Monday, Rempe played two games with the Wolf Pack. The tough forward was positioned as a center on the second line, flanked by Adam Erne on the left and Jaroslav Chmelar on the right. Hartford coach Grant Potulny used Rempe in various roles, including on the power play and penalty kill. The 22-year-old logged over 16 minutes of ice time in Friday’s win and played extensively on Sunday.
Rempe, who did not register any points and was minus-3 in two games, concentrated on the fundamental aspects of the game. He won a significant number of face-offs and created good opportunities on the power play by positioning himself in front of the opposing goalie to obstruct their view and deflect pucks. He also focused on being in the right spots for rebounds, especially with his line, where they leveraged his strength to pressure the crease. On the penalty kill, he effectively clogged passing lanes, keeping his game straightforward.
The Rangers aimed for Rempe to get more playing time and stay sharp before heading back to New York, where he has only played two games this season.
Defensive struggles persist
Another key takeaway from the weekend’s games is the ongoing issue with defensive breakdowns. The Wolf Pack have given up four or more goals in five of their six games. There was some improvement in Friday’s win, where they allowed three goals, but the struggles resurfaced on Sunday, matching a season high by conceding five goals. While Hartford has a record of 3-2-0-1, their defensive challenges could pose long-term problems for the team.
Potulny rightly noted that this trend is not sustainable. Improvement in defensive play is crucial, especially with a tougher schedule ahead. This week’s games will be a key test for how the team adjusts defensively.
The defensive pairings have remained relatively unchanged, but adjustments may be needed soon to turn things around. The defensive core has the experience, and Potulny will need to find the right chemistry among the pairings, which could be bolstered by the addition of veteran Chad Ruhwedel. Additionally, goaltenders Louis Domingue (1-2-1, 4.19 goals-against average, .873 save percentage) and Dylan Garand (2-0, 3.45 GAA, .889 save percentage) have faced challenges, lacking support. Both goalies need to improve as well to help the team succeed.
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