CRAWFORD: PHANTOMS SQUEAK BY PACK 2-1 IN OT
Lehigh Valley Phantoms 2, Hartford Wolf Pack 1 (OT)
BY: Bob Crawford, Hartford Wolf Pack
Allentown, PA, November 30, 2019 – The Hartford Wolf Pack suffered their first overtime loss of the season Saturday night, falling 2-1 to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms at the PPL Center.
The Wolf Pack had been 4-0 previously in games that ended in OT.
Andy Welinski won it for Lehigh Valley at 2:43 of the extra period. After Wolf Pack goaltender Igor Shesterkin (25 saves) stopped a shot by T.J. Brennan from high in the slot, Nic Aube-Kubel worked the puck away from Hartford’s Lias Andersson in the right-wing corner. Cal O’Reilly then moved back towards the blue line and handed the puck to Welinski, who had just come off the bench on a player change, in the middle. He skated to the left side of the slot and wired a shot over Shesterkin’s left shoulder and high into the net.
The only goal of the first two periods came at 15:08 of the first frame, in which the Wolf Pack outshot Lehigh Valley 14-6, and it was Matt Beleskey’s fourth of the season.
Steven Fogarty won a draw from Connor Bunnaman in the circle to the right of Phantom goaltender Alex Lyon (34 saves), and Jeff Taylor’s shot from the left point hit Beleskey and deflected past Lyon on the glove side.
That lead lasted until the 7:21 mark of the third period, when Greg Carey tied the score on a Lehigh Valley power play, only four seconds after Phil DiGiuseppe was called for interference.
This goal also was a direct result of a faceoff win, as Cal O’Reilly prevailed over Nick Jones to the right of Shesterkin. The puck came to Welinski at the point, and he faked a shot before dishing to Carey at the right point. He one-timed a slap shot past the catching glove of Shesterkin.
The Wolf Pack continues a stretch of five straight road games Sunday when they visit the Hershey Bears at 5:00 PM.
The next home game for the Wolf Pack is next Saturday, December 7, when the Binghamton Devils visit the XL Center for a 7:30 game. That is “Star Wars Night”, as fans can rub shoulders with their favorite Star Wars characters, and win some awesome Star Wars prizes, and the first 2,000 fans will receive a free Wolf Pack 2020 calendar, presented by Hartford Distributors.
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 online, go to hartfordwolfpack.com.
Hartford Wolf Pack 1 at Lehigh Valley Phantoms 2 (OT)
Saturday, November 30, 2019 – PPL Center
Hartford 1 0 0 0 – 1
Lehigh Valley 0 0 1 1 – 2
1st Period-1, Hartford, Beleskey 4 (Fogarty, Taylor), 15:08. Penalties-No Penalties
2nd Period- No Scoring. Penalties-Shesterkin Hfd (tripping), 14:28; Brennan Lv (cross-checking), 17:59.
3rd Period-2, Lehigh Valley, Carey 8 (Welinski, O’Reilly), 7:21 (PP). Penalties-Di Giuseppe Hfd (interference), 7:17; Ratcliffe Lv (slashing), 9:57; Andersson Hfd (holding), 18:07.
OT Period-3, Lehigh Valley, Welinski 4 (O’Reilly), 2:43. Penalties-No Penalties
Shots on Goal-Hartford 14-11-9-1-35. Lehigh Valley 6-8-8-5-27.
Power Play Opportunities-Hartford 0 / 2; Lehigh Valley 1 / 3.
Goalies-Hartford, Shesterkin 7-3-3 (27 shots-25 saves). Lehigh Valley, Lyon 6-4-2 (35 shots-34 saves).
A-7,027
Referees-Mike Dietrich (15), Mason Riley (79).
Linesmen-Tom DellaFranco (71), Jud Ritter (34).
