Hartford Wolf Pack 4, Providence Bruins 1
BY: Micah Collins, Hartford Wolf Pack
Hartford, CT, December 28, 2019 – The Hartford Wolf Pack moved into a first-place tie with the Providence Bruins Saturday night, with a 4-1 win over the Bruins at the XL Center.
The Wolf Pack improved to 18-8-2-5 for 43 points, grabbing a share of the Atlantic Division lead and bouncing back from a 5-1 loss at Bridgeport the night before. Providence fell to 20-12-1-2.
“We weren’t happy with our performance (Friday) night,” said Wolf Pack forward Tim Gettinger, whose first-period goal turned out to be the game-winner. “And we knew we needed to go out and have a good game tonight, which is exactly what we did.”
“It was a team effort tonight,” said Boo Nieves, who dished out two assists for the Wolf Pack. “Everybody was working hard and pulling their weight, and that’s why we’ve been as good as we have been this year.”
The Wolf Pack got off to an early start, with Phil Di Giuseppe scoring his 10th goal of the season on an early power play opportunity just 2:12 into the game. Nieves and Yegor Rykov assisted on the goal.
Gettinger put Hartford up 2-0 14:58 into the opening frame, when he fired a long shot over the glove of Providence goaltender Max Lagace (26 saves). “Gettinger has been really good on the defensive side of things,” said Wolf Pack head coach Kris Knoblauch. “Add the offense he’s found. and that’s quite the hockey player you’ve got there.” Vinni Lettieri and Vincent LoVerde had the two assists on Gettinger’s goal.
The Pack continued their scoring ways in the second. Vitali Kravtsov scored his second goal of the season with 12:24 left in the period, with assists from Rykov and Nick Ebert. “Kravtsov had a good goal, as well as a few other chances tonight,” said Knoblauch of the rookie forward. “He’s a good kid and a great hockey player.”
Providence finally got on the board just eight seconds later, when Joona Koppanen scored his seventh goal of the season to end Igor Shesterkin’s (30 saves) shutout bid. Pavel Shen and Jeremy Lauzon assisted on the goal.
Matt Beleskey scored his seventh goal of the season to make the score 4-1 at 14:09 of the second, with assists from Nieves and Shawn McBride. For McBride, it was his first AHL point of the season.
The third period was scoreless, despite a 13-3 shots advantage for the Bruins, giving the Wolf Pack its 100th all-time win against Providence.
The Wolf Pack’s next action is New Year’s Eve, this Tuesday, December 31st, when they host the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at the XL Center. That game features a special holiday faceoff time of 5:00.
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 www.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.
Providence Bruins 1 at Hartford Wolf Pack 4
Saturday, December 28, 2019 – XL Center
Providence 0 1 0 – 1
Hartford 2 2 0 – 4
1st Period-1, Hartford, Di Giuseppe 10 (Nieves, Rykov), 2:12 (PP). 2, Hartford, Gettinger 7 (Lettieri, LoVerde), 14:58. Penalties-Woods Pro (tripping), 0:35; served by Kravtsov Hfd (bench minor – too many men), 6:23; Woods Pro (fighting), 15:22; Geertsen Hfd (fighting), 15:22.
2nd Period-3, Hartford, Kravtsov 2 (Rykov, Ebert), 7:36. 4, Providence, Koppanen 7 (Shen, Lauzon), 7:44. 5, Hartford, Beleskey 7 (Nieves, McBride), 14:09. Penalties-O’Regan Hfd (hooking), 0:45; Woods Pro (unsportsmanlike conduct), 11:46.
3rd Period– No Scoring. Penalties-Jones Hfd (tripping), 14:37; Frederic Pro (slashing, misconduct – unsportsmanlike conduct), 17:15; Geertsen Hfd (misconduct – unsportsmanlike conduct), 17:15.
Shots on Goal-Providence 6-12-13-31. Hartford 14-13-3-30.
Power Play Opportunities-Providence 0 / 3; Hartford 1 / 3.
Goalies-Providence, Lagace 13-5-2 (30 shots-26 saves). Hartford, Shesterkin 13-4-3 (31 shots-30 saves).
A-5,685
Referees-Dan Kelly (45), Alex Normandin (65).
Linesmen-Glen Cooke (6), Mike Baker (11).
