CRAWFORD: PACK COME UP SHORT AGAINST LEAGUE’S BEST – SUFFER 1ST SHUTOUT
BY: Bob Crawford, Hartford Wolf Pack
Charlotte, NC, December 13, 2018 – The Hartford Wolf Pack suffered its first shutout-against of the season Thursday night at Bojangles’ Coliseum, as two Charlotte Checker goaltenders combined for 23 saves to defeat the Wolf Pack 1-0, in the first of back-to-back games between the two teams in Charlotte.
Alex Nedeljkovic played the first two periods in the Charlotte net, stopping 17 shots, and Callum Booth took over for the third, denying six Wolf Pack tries. Alexandar Georgiev made 25 saves in his fourth straight start in the Hartford net.
The Wolf Pack were outshot 13-6 in the first period but had a 17-13 edge in shots the rest of the way, including 6-3 in the third frame.
“We liked our third (period),” Wolf Pack head coach Keith McCambridge said. “We thought we were able to play a heavier game, with some more contact, get in their way and slow Charlotte down. I thought in the second period, and blocks of the first, we played more to their strengths, which, obviously, you can’t allow.”
The only goal of the game came at the 4:05 mark of the second period, with Checker defenseman Dennis Robertson scoring his third goal in 19 games on the year. Robertson took a pass from Aleksi Saarela and fired a perfect shot from below the left faceoff dot into the top corner on Georgiev’s catching-glove side.
“We had a couple of back-door plays that we weren’t able to finish on,” McCambridge said. “I like the fact we’re getting the chances, but those ones at crucial moments of games, those are ones we have to make sure we’re executing.”
The Wolf Pack drew five power plays in the game, to Charlotte’s two, but the Wolf Pack were unable to generate many scoring chances on the man advantage.
“Our entries into the zone, we struggled to get nice, clean entries,” McCambridge said, “and whenever we did have to give up possession, we didn’t have numbers to be able to get it back. I thought when we finally had our setup and looked to find what we were trying to do on our power play when there were shot lanes, you have to give credit to their penalty kill. They did a really good job getting in shot lanes.”
The Wolf Pack and Checkers rematch this Saturday night, December 15 at Bojangles’ Coliseum, with faceoff at 6:00 PM. All of the action can be heard live on News Radio 1410 WPOP, and online at newsradio1410.com and iHeartRadio. Video streaming is available at theahl.com/AHLTV.
The next home game for the Wolf Pack is this Wednesday, December 19, when they host the Providence Bruins at 7:00 PM. That is another chance to take advantage of the Wolf Pack’s “Click It or Ticket Family Value Pack”, which includes two tickets, two hot dogs and two sodas, all for just $40.
Tickets for all 2018-19 Wolf Pack home games are on sale now at the Agera Energy Ticket Office at the XL Center, online at hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499. Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger start at just $13 each, and all tickets will have a $3 day-of-game increase.
Season ticket information for the Wolf Pack’s 2018-19 AHL season can be found online at hartfordwolfpack.com. To speak with a representative about all of the Wolf Pack’s many attractive ticketing options, call (855) 762-6451, or click here to request more info.
Hartford Wolf Pack 0 at Charlotte Checkers 1
Thursday, December 13, 2018 – Bojangles’ Coliseum
Hartford 0 0 0 – 0
Charlotte 0 1 0 – 1
1st Period- No Scoring. Penalties-Gauthier Cha (boarding), 15:00; Cajkovsky Cha (hooking), 19:31.
2nd Period-1, Charlotte, Robertson 3 (Saarela, Gauthier), 4:05. Penalties-Bigras Hfd (holding), 5:29; Cajkovsky Cha (hooking), 13:33.
3rd Period- No Scoring. Penalties-Maenalanen Cha (slashing), 8:12; Cajkovsky Cha (high-sticking), 13:04; Holland Hfd (delay of game – faceoff violation), 19:47.
Shots on Goal-Hartford 6-11-6-23. Charlotte 13-10-3-26.
Power Play Opportunities-Hartford 0 / 5; Charlotte 0 / 2.
Goalies-Hartford, Georgiev 2-5-0 (26 shots-25 saves). Charlotte, Nedeljkovic 13-4-1 (17 shots-17 saves); Booth 3-1-0 (6 shots-6 saves).
A-4,771
Referees-Corey Syvret (42), Dan Kelly (55).
Linesmen-James Tobias (61), Ken Radolinski (13).
