Sunday, January 10, 1999
MIGHTY DUCKS 6, PHILADELPHIA 4
Wren returns with a vengeance
BY DAVE HELLER
Enquirer contributor
Maybe Bob Wren should get suspended more often.
One game after being forced to sit out due to a match penalty incurred at Philadelphia Wednesday, Wren notched the second five-point game in Cincinnati Mighty Ducks history to help the Ducks to a 6-4 win over Philadelphia at the Gardens.
It was Wren's first game with more than three points this season. Last year, he had one four-point game and a Ducks franchise record five-point game.
“That's why Wren has to be smart. We're not an offensive team,” Ducks coach Moe Matha said. “A game like Friday night (a 3-1 Ducks loss), Wren in the lineup helps us win that game. Wren out of the lineup hurts us, doesn't give us as much of a chance to win the game.”
It marks the first time this season — and third time in 43 games (3-38-6-6) all-time — the Ducks have won when allowing four or more goals. It was the Ducks 10th win at home, matching last season's total.
The Ducks (14-20-0-4) hadn't scored this much since Nov. 27, when they completed back-to-back five goal games against Lowell and Kentucky. Over that 22 game span, the Ducks scored four goals only twice, with one of those times coming in an overtime win. The most goals in a game for the Ducks is seven, done twice, including Oct. 30 this season.
Wren keyed a four-goal second period, the most in one period for the Ducks this season, with a goal and two assists. He set up Cincinnati's go-ahead goal, giving the Ducks a 5-4 lead, assisting on Mike Leclerc's power play goal with 3:42 remaining in the period.
Once, Philadelphia's Steve McLaren, a tough guy who came into the contest with no points and 64 penalty minutes in 17 games, tried picking a fight with Wren, even getting in a few punches before Cincinnati's Eric Lecompte forced his way into the melee.
Wren, who received his match penalty for what he termed “squirrely” play, didn't retaliate then, or at anytime in the game, and McLaren received an extra penalty.
“I knew it was coming, but if they're going to do it, they have to know they're going to get it back just as bad,” Wren said. “I may be little, but I'm one of the dirtiest (players) around.”
Philadelphia ....... 2 2 0—4
Cincinnati ....... 1 4 1 6
First period: 1, C, Wren 15 (Leclerc, Sandwith), 12:06; 2, P, McCosh 12 (White, Klimentiev), 15:07; 3, P, Wesenberg 8 (Joseph, Lank), 15:27.
Second period:4, C, Trebil 3 (Crowley, Wren), 4:55; 5, C, Chouinard 4 (Ferguson, Nikulin), ppg, 7:59; 6, C, Wren 16 (Nikulin, Trebil), ppg, 9:59; 7, P, Montgomery 15 (Park), 11:05; 8, P, Delmore 4 (Eaton, White), ppg, 11:44; 9, C, Leclerc 11 (Reichert, Wren), ppg, 16:18.
Third period: 10, C, Crowley 2 (Reichert, Wren), 8:14. Shots on goal: Philadelphia, 16-13-8-37; Cincinnati, 8-18-5-31 Power play opportunities: Philadelphia, 1-5; Cincinnati, 3-5. Goalies: Philadelphia, Boucher (6-3-3); Cincinnati, Ram (8-11-1). Attendance: 4,390.
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