CANTLON” (SAT) BELLEVILLE WINS IN SHOOTOUT OVER HARTFORD…AGAIN

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings

HARTFORD, CT – The Belleville Senators overcame a two-goal deficit and scored twice in the shootout to come away with a 4-3 win over the Hartford Wolf Pack on Saturday as part of an XL Center hockey doubleheader.

Drake Batherson and Jordan Szwarz were the sole scorers in the shootout as the Pack, once again, failed to register even one goal after the overtime period, where they were out-shot 3-1. Both teams looked tired in the extra frame having expended so much energy in the third period.

Belleville capitalized on a late power play.

Morgan Klimchuk, who had strong night for the Senators, was able to dish the puck to Vitali Abramov in the slot off a sharp angle. Abramov just wheeled and fired on Pack netminder, Adam Huska, beating him along the ice far side to tie the game at three at 17:22

The Wolf Pack power play was perfect on the evening, but made their first major mistake of the season while with the man-advantage and it cost them dearly on their third opportunity.

A breakdown allowed Belleville to cash in on a two-on-one breakout while shorthanded.

Joey Keane was the player back on the two-on-one. He let Huska take on the shooter, Jordan Szwarz. Team captain, Steven Fogarty, raced back in an effort to even things up for the home team, but Szwarz launched a perfect shot that went over Huska’s glove hand at 4:23. The goal cut the Pack lead to 3-2.

“We make a really poor decision (with the puck),” remarked head coach Kris Knoblauch. “We’re on the power play with a two-goal lead, and we didn’t deserve to be in the lead, but for our power play tonight.”

The Wolf Pack power play, one of the few weak links in the early part of this season, struck for the second time early in the second period and just 12 seconds into the man-advantage.

Fogarty won the face- for the Pack getting it over to Joey Keane. He spotted Vinni Lettieri in his favorite spot on the ice and he hit a one-timer that rocketed past goaltender, Marcus Hogberg. The goal was Lettieri’s fourth of the season.

“We’ve been working on it day-in and day-out. The coaches are working tirelessly with us on it. We haven’t been so successful lately, and hopefully we started a new trend tonight” Lettieri stated.

Keane later extended his point scoring streak to four games while Fogarty’s secondary assist upped his point scoring streak to three games, all of which have been multiple point games.

Just after Ty Ronning was stopped on a quality scoring chance, the Pack made it a two-goal lead at 16:49.

Ville Meskanen fed Sean Day who whistled one off the post. The puck laid in the crease with rookie Lewis Zerter-Gossage there battling and was able to whack it into the net for his first goal of the season.

The Senators put a strong push on before the end of the period, but Huska shut the door on Szwarz with 18 seconds to go.

The Senators was no time testing Huska early with a breakaway attempt at 1:30. Klimchuk went to the backhand after coming off the left wing, but Huska was there to end the threat.

The Pack finally broke through on the power play after rising a streak of 0-21 over a span of six games. It was also the game’s first goal on a Teddy Bear Toss promotion for Toys For Tots.

The Pack got a shot from the left wing side by Danny O’Regan with Tim Gettinger in front. Gettinger then outworked two Belleville players and his stick found the loose puck, and put it in the net for his third of the season at 6:32. Fogarty kept his point scoring streak alive with the secondary assist to keep his point scoring streak going.

Belleville, like the Wolf Pack, are a refurbished team with quick strike offensive capability.

Jack Dougherty sent a perfect head-man pass to Vitali Abramov setting up a breakaway off the left wing side. His shot was stopped but the loose puck was put in by Josh Norris, who paid the price when he was drilled into the net at same moment by Mason Geertsen at 11:45.

LINES:

Nieves-Fogarty-DiGiuseppe
O’Regan-Lettieri-Fontaine
Gettinger-Jones-Newell
Ronning-Meskanen-Zerter-Gossage

LoVerde-Raddysh
Day-Ebert
Geersten-Keane

Huska
Shesterkin

SCRATCHES:

Matt Beleskey (upper body)
Jeff Taylor
Ryan Dmowski

NOTES:

The Wolf Pack lost Gabriel Fontaine to an injury in the second period. He will be out at least a week, more likely two, with what is described as an, “upper body injury.” It looked like an arm or shoulder issue.

Ryan Dmowski will take his place in the lineup tomorrow in Providence.

Igor Shesterkin will start in goal tomorrow in Providence at 3 pm against the Bruins

Prior to the game, Shesterkin was presented an etched glass award by the AHL’s VP of Communications, Jason Chaimovitch, after having been named the “CCM/AHL Goalie of the Month for October.”