The Hartford Wolf Pack, the AHL affiliate of the Rangers, are well into the Atlantic Division Semifinals of the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs, where they are currently tied with the Providence Bruins at one win apiece with Game 3 set for Wednesday night.
And yet, two players who have played integral roles for Hartford all season long have not been able to participate in this run.
Forward Adam Edstrom and goalie Louis Domingue have been serving as black aces for the Blueshirts in the NHL postseason, which continued Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden with Game 2 of the second-round series against the Hurricanes.
Both players naturally wish they can be with their Hartford teammates, but they also understand why they are needed at the varsity level.
While the 23-year-old Edstrom is thinking of his future, the 32-year-old Domingue is more so feeling the emotions of the moment.
“It’s hard because it’s a group effort to get there,” the veteran netminder told The Post Monday after practice in Tarrytown. “We had a tough stretch there and we found a way to gel together and found ways to win games at the end and position ourselves for the playoffs. To see the guys do well in the first round, regroup again — all that adversity is fun to do together.
“It’s tough not to be there, but right now the organization has a goal to win the Cup. We all get behind that and work toward that goal.”
Domingue, in the second of a two-year, $1.55 million deal with the Rangers organization, appeared in 28 games for the Wolf Pack this season and one for the Blueshirts.
He compiled a 16-8-4 record in Hartford and made 25 saves in a 4-1 win over the Wild on Nov. 9 for the Rangers, who were down both their goalies — Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick — for a brief moment.
As the third-string goalie, Domingue has participated in practice and stayed out on the ice late with the extra skaters.
Edstrom, on the other hand, is very much thinking long-term for himself and his standing with the Rangers.
After making his NHL debut against the Ducks on Dec. 15, when he also scored his first NHL goal, Edstrom got hurt when he was sent back down to Hartford and missed 12 games with an upper-body injury.
The Rangers called the 6-foot-7 forward back up in February and Edstrom got a run of 10 games, but head coach Peter Laviolette opted to keep the 6-foot-8 ½ Matt Rempe.
“It’s good to be here and see how everything is,” said Edstrom, who scored 11 goals and dished five assists in 40 AHL games this season. “How stuff is done up here in the Stanley Cup playoffs. As we’ve talked about, the practices are high paced, so I feel like that’s good for development. Of course, you always want to play, but this is the spot I’m in now.
“Just practicing hard. Of course, I’m ready if anything were to happen and I’m going in the lineup. I’m 100 percent ready and ready to fire. Other than that, I’m just trying to take in this whole experience and get closer with all the guys in this group.”
Both Domingue and Edstrom said they’ve been watching the Wolf Pack’s games from afar, while also remaining active in their team group chat to show their support and feel part of the run.
As Laviolette always says, every team needs a lot of bodies in the playoffs and Domingue and Edstrom are doing their part.
“The group chat is a great way to [stay in touch],” Domingue said with a smile. “Still throwing jokes out there and, you know, when they need a little boost, you give a little boost. Just trying to chime in here and there.”
