CRAWFORD: PACK DROP ANOTHER TO CHECKERS

Charlotte Checkers 4, Hartford Wolf Pack 3 (OT)

BY: Bob Crawford, Hartford Wolf Pack

Charlotte, NC, February 8, 2020 – Janne Kuokkanen’s goal at 1:27 of overtime gave the Charlotte Checkers a 4-3 win over the Hartford Wolf Pack Saturday night at Bojangles’ Coliseum, in the second of back-to-back games between the two teams in Charlotte.

The Wolf Pack, who fell 6-0 to the Checkers on Friday night, gained a standings point for the first time in 14 all-time visits to Charlotte (0-13-1-0), helped by a goal and an assist from Patrick Newell and 29 saves by Tom McCollum.  Chase Priskie had a goal and an assist for the Checkers.

The game-winning goal came after the Wolf Pack’s Vinni Lettieri had the puck stripped away from behind by Chase Priskie in the Hartford zone.  Priskie sent a pass to Kuokkanen at the right side of the slot, and he ripped a shot past the stick-side arm of McCollum.

After a scoreless first period, in which the Wolf Pack outshot Charlotte 11-7, Hartford defenseman Yegor Rykov opened the scoring at 2:26 of the second frame.  Danny O’Regan handed the puck to Newell in the right-wing circle, and he fed a pass to Rykov at the left side of the slot, and he snapped a shot past Checker goaltender Anton Forsberg (26 saves) on the short side.

Morgan Geekie equalized at 7:59 after Roland McKeown broke up a Wolf Pack clearing attempt at the right point.  He found Geekie alone in front of the Hartford goal, and he put a shot past McCollum on the stick side.

The Wolf Pack regained the lead only 17 seconds later, at 8:16, on Newell’s third goal in three games.  Matt Beleskey bumped a Darren Raddysh pass down the right side, and Newell got by Checker defenseman Gustav Forsling and jammed the puck underneath Forsberg’s pads.

That lead lasted until the 17:35 mark when Priskie lifted Charlotte back into a tie.  Terry Broadhurst carried into the Wolf Pack zone and played the puck to Priskie on the right-wing side.  His hard shot beat McCollum to the long side.

The Checkers then went ahead for the first time in the game 3:47 into the third.  After Derek Sheppard poked the puck away from the Wolf Pack’s Ty Ronning, Terry Broadhurst pushed it to Steven Lorentz at the left side of the slot, and he fired a shot past McCollum high on the stick side.

The Wolf Pack responded at 8:53, with Joey Keane’s eighth goal of the season.  After a shot by Nick Jones went wide, Ryan Gropp worked the puck out of the right-wing corner to Keane at the point, and his long wrist shot found its way through a crowd and past Forsberg.

The Wolf Pack’s next action is on home ice this Wednesday night, February 12, a 7:00 game vs. the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.  That is another chance to take advantage of the Wolf Pack’s “Click It or Ticket Hat Trick Pack”.  The Hat Trick Pack includes two tickets, two sodas, and one large popcorn, all for just $40.

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 (860) 722-9425.  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 3 at Charlotte Checkers 4 (OT)
Saturday, February 8, 2020 – Bojangles’ Coliseum

Hartford  0 2 1 0 – 3
Charlotte 0 2 1 1 – 4

1st Period- No Scoring.  Penalties-Fogarty Hfd (hooking), 19:36.

2nd Period-1, Hartford, Rykov 2 (Newell, O’Regan), 2:26 (PP). 2, Charlotte, Geekie 17 (McKeown), 7:59. 3, Hartford, Newell 6 (Beleskey, Raddysh), 8:16. 4, Charlotte, Priskie 6 (Broadhurst, Smallman), 17:35. Penalties-Geertsen Hfd (fighting), 1:26; McCormick Cha (slashing, fighting), 1:26; LoVerde Hfd (hooking), 9:52; Hajek Hfd (roughing), 12:06; Bishop Cha (roughing, roughing, game misconduct – abuse of officials), 12:06; Beleskey Hfd (interference), 13:28; Geertsen Hfd (interference), 17:54.

3rd Period-5, Charlotte, Lorentz 16 (Broadhurst, Sheppard), 3:47. 6, Hartford, Keane 8 (Gropp, Gettinger), 8:53. Penalties-Hajek Hfd (hooking), 14:31.

OT Period-7, Charlotte, Kuokkanen 11 (Priskie, Luostarinen), 1:27. Penalties-No Penalties

Shots on Goal-Hartford 12-8-8-1-29. Charlotte 7-11-12-3-33.
Power Play Opportunities-Hartford 1 / 2; Charlotte 0 / 5.
Goalies-Hartford, McCollum 0-2-2 (33 shots-29 saves). Charlotte, Forsberg 13-8-2 (29 shots-26 saves).
A-7,930
Referees-Dan Kelly (45), Jonathon Sitarski (23).
Linesmen-Julien Fournier (56), Ben Shiley (21).