CRAWFORD: (SAT) PACK SHUTOUT IN CHOCOLATE TOWN

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 3, Hartford Wolf Pack 0

BY: Bob Crawford, Hartford Wolf Pack

Wilkes-Barre, PA, January 11, 2020 – The Hartford Wolf Pack were shut out for the first time on the season Saturday night at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza, in a 3-0 loss to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins that ended a season-high six-game Hartford win streak.

Casey DeSmith made 25 saves in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton net for his third whitewash of the season, and Kevin Roy scored the only goal the Penguins would need with 1:48 left in the second period.  The last two Wilkes-Barre/Scranton goals were empty-netters, by David Warsofsky and Anthony Angello.

Tom McCollum made his first appearance in the Wolf Pack net and stopped 24 of the 25 shots he faced.

Roy’s late-second-period winner came after Danny O’Regan attempted to pass the puck from deep in his own zone to Mason Geertsen.  The feed went off of Geertsen’s stick to Roy at the right side of the slot, and he slid to his right before snapping a shot that got by the stick side of McCollum.

The Wolf Pack had a 12-9 shots advantage in the third period, after being outshot by a combined margin of 18-13 in the first 40 minutes, but could never solve DeSmith.  McCollum was pulled for an extra attacker with 1:33 left, but Warsofsky hit the vacated net at 18:57 after Yegor Rykov made a cross-ice pass out of his own zone and Warsofsky intercepted near the center-line.

The Wolf Pack lifted McCollum a second time, with 40 seconds left, and again the Penguins foiled the strategy.  A Mason Geertsen shot from high in the slot was blocked, and Angello picked up the carom.  He moved through center ice on the left side and snapped the puck into the net from just outside the Wolf Pack blue line.

The Wolf Pack’s next action is this Wednesday night, January 15, when they continue a stretch of four straight road games with a 7:00 contest in Utica against the Comets.  The next home game for the Wolf Pack is Friday, January 24 vs. the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, with faceoff at 7:15.  That is “Pucks and Paws Night” at the XL Center, and 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 online, go to hartfordwolfpack.com.

Hartford Wolf Pack 0 at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 3
Saturday, January 11, 2020 – Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

Hartford                         0 0 0 – 0
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 0 1 2 – 3

1st Period- No Scoring.  Penalties-Lettieri Hfd (tripping), 1:31.

2nd Period-1, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Roy 5 (Miletic, Berger), 18:12. Penalties-Abt Wbs (hooking), 14:10.

3rd Period-2, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Warsofsky 4   18:57 (EN). 3, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Angello 15   19:47 (EN). Penalties-Lettieri Hfd (tripping), 4:44.

Shots on Goal-Hartford 8-5-12-25. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 9-9-9-27.
Power Play Opportunities-Hartford 0 / 1; Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 0 / 2.
Goalies-Hartford, McCollum 0-1-0 (25 shots-24 saves). Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, DeSmith 11-10-2 (25 shots-25 saves).
A-7,353
Referees-Conor O’Donnell (41), Ted Anstett (77).
Linesmen-J.P. Waleski (14), Luke Murray (92).