CRAWFORD: PACK LEAVE LAVAL SHORT A SECOND POINT AFTER SHOOTOUT LOSS
Laval Rocket 2, Hartford Wolf Pack 1 (SO)
BY: Bob Crawford, Hartford Wolf Pack
Laval, Quebec, November 1, 2019 – Adam Huska made 27 saves, and Joey Keane scored his fifth goal of the season, for the Hartford Wolf Pack Friday night at Place Bell, but the Laval Rocket prevailed in a shootout, 2-1.
That gave the Rocket a sweep of a pair of games between the two teams in Laval, as the home side had defeated the Wolf Pack 4-1 at Place Bell on Wednesday night. The Wolf Pack, however, gained at least a standings point for the tenth time in 11 games on the season (8-1-0-2).
Antoine Waked scored the Laval goal, and Alex Belzile had the only goal of the shootout. Cayden Primeau made 27 saves for the Rocket and went 3-for-3 in the shootout.
“I think Huska gave us every opportunity to win this game,” Wolf Pack head coach Kris Knoblauch said. “In the second period, we gave up way too many scoring chances, and he was really good. In the third period, I thought our team responded very nicely. There was a lot of adversity, a lot of things to fight through, playing in front of their fans, who are very boisterous. The Rocket are a good hockey team, and they didn’t get rattled. They played strong, and I thought we should have had a better fate.”
The Rocket controlled much of the early action in the first period and broke through to open the scoring at the 12:27 mark. The Wolf Pack got a bad bounce on the play, as a clearing attempt by Vincent LoVerde hit one of the stanchions holding up the glass and deflected back deep in the zone. Matthew Peca picked up the puck and passed it into the goalmouth, and Antoine Waked knocked it underneath Huska.
Waked was playing his first AHL game of the season, up from Adirondack of the ECHL.
The Wolf Pack were outshot 14-7 in the second period but would get the only goal of the frame 49 seconds in. Mason Geertsen passed from the left point across to Keane on the right point, and his wrist shot found its way past Primeau. That increased Keane’s team-leading goal total to five on the year.
That would be it for the scoring, although the Wolf Pack had an apparent goal in the third period by Geertsen disallowed after it was ruled that he interfered with Primeau.
The Rocket had a power play late in regulation after Nick Ebert was called for tripping at 16:49, and the Wolf Pack were up a man for 1:52 of overtime, as a result of a tripping call against Dale Weise with 7.8 seconds left in regulation. Neither power play could convert, though.
Belzile’s goal, on a backhand shot, on the Rocket’s second shootout attempt would prove decisive, as Primeau stopped Vinni Lettieri, Patrick Newell, and Danny O’Regan.
The Wolf Pack finish a stretch of four straight road games Saturday night, traveling to Belleville, Ontario to take on the Senators. Faceoff is 7:00 PM, and all of the action can be heard live on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com. Video streaming is available at ahllive.com.
The Wolf Pack’s next home game is next Friday, November 8, when they host the Hershey Bears at the XL Center. Faceoff is 7:15, and once again this season, all Friday-night Wolf Pack home games feature $1 hot dogs and $2 beers through the start of the second period, presented by Nomads Adventure Quest.
Tickets for all 2019-20 Wolf Pack home games are on sale now at the Sunwave Gas & Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499. Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger start at just $10 each, and all tickets will have a $3 day-of-game increase.
To speak with a Wolf Pack representative about season or group tickets, or any of the Wolf Pack’s many ticketing options, call (860) 722-9425, or click here to request more info. To visit the Wolf Pack on line, go to hartfordwolfpack.com.
Hartford Wolf Pack 1 at Laval Rocket 2 (SO)
Friday, November 1, 2019 – Place Bell
Hartford 0 1 0 0 – 1
Laval 1 0 0 0 – 2
1st Period-1, Laval, Waked 1 (Peca), 12:27. Penalties-Geertsen Hfd (roughing), 14:27; Keane Hfd (unsportsmanlike conduct), 17:17; Belzile Lav (unsportsmanlike conduct, cross-checking), 17:17.
2nd Period-2, Hartford, Keane 5 (Geertsen, Nieves), 0:49. Penalties-Evans Lav (holding), 9:47; Fontaine Hfd (hooking), 12:17; served by Cox Lav (bench minor – delay of game (faceoff violation)), 14:28; Geertsen Hfd (fighting), 17:34; Waked Lav (fighting), 17:34; Belzile Lav (roughing), 19:07; O’Regan Hfd (double minor – high-sticking), 19:52; Vejdemo Lav (roughing), 19:52.
3rd Period– No Scoring. Penalties-Ebert Hfd (tripping), 1:56; Belzile Lav (interference), 7:44; Ebert Hfd (tripping), 16:49; Weise Lav (tripping), 19:52.
OT Period– No Scoring. Penalties-No Penalties
Shootout – Hartford 0 (Lettieri NG, Newell NG, O’Regan NG), Laval 1 (Hudon NG, Belzile G).
Shots on Goal-Hartford 9-7-8-4-0-28. Laval 8-14-6-0-1-29.
Power Play Opportunities-Hartford 0 / 6; Laval 0 / 5.
Goalies-Hartford, Huska 3-0-2 (28 shots-27 saves). Laval, Primeau 4-2-0 (28 shots-27 saves).
A-4,650
Referees-Conor O’Donnell (41), Carter Sandlak (6).
Linesmen-Nicolas Boivin (16), Benoit Martineau (87).
