BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings
HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack’s Tim Gettinger shootout goal proved to be the game-winner capping the first weekend for the New York Rangers’ top developmental affiliate playing their first three-in-three weekend.
Pack head coach Kris Knoblauch was delighted with the multiple-point effort from Jonny Brodzinski and the 28-save performance of his goaltender Keith Kinkaid. In addition, he was very impressed with the last save on Jakob Lauko in the shootout that sealed the victory.
“(If) Jonny doesn’t play well, we won’t be playing well. We’re going to lose. He was the best player all three nights. Tim and KK came up big in the shootout for us,” Knoblauch said.
“It was a good win for us this weekend to build on for the (early) part of the season, and we pushed through it,” Gettinger said. “It’s a coin flip situation. Our first periods weren’t our best. For the young guys, this was a first for them; experiencing a three-in-three, and it’s tough on most teams. Our goaltending was great tonight, and (Adam) Huska was fantastic last night. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the win last night. We got it today (for Kinkaid), who’s been excellent for us the first few games.”
The shootout win was the first shootout win for the Wolf Pack since 2020. That win came against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
THIRD PERIOD
In the third period, the Pack was clinging to a precious 3-2 lead before Providence tied it.
After Anthony Greco was stopped by the Bruins’ starting goaltender, Kale Keyser, the B’s rugged rearguard hit the crossbar at 4:45.
At 6:32, Chris Wagner would tally on the powerplay to tie the score. All three goals were scored on the special team’s play.
The Pack took the lead on Brodzinski’s AHL Player-Of-The-Week type effort and Kincaid’s sterling efforts in the net, including his stopping Oscar Steen on a clean breakaway coming out of the penalty box with twenty seconds left in the frame.
“Unfortunately, one of our guys missed an assignment and didn’t know the penalty was ending, and they get a two-on-oh, but Keith came up very big for us like he did last year when he got victories standing on his head.
“Our goaltending has been number one for us (this weekend) and allowed us to hang on. He had to make a great save with his skate blade on another one. You’re not going to do good if your goaltending isn’t good.”
SHORTIE FOR SCHNEIDER
The Wolf Pack scored a shorthanded goal to take the lead when rookie Braden Schneider sent Brodzinski away with Gettinger on a two-on-one. Brodzinski was on his backhanded side and used Gettinger as a decoy before whistling a puck past Kayer for a 3-2 lead at 10:12 of the second period.
Brodzinski had three points on the night and jelled with Gettinger, his new linemate, and evened the contest with a clean faceoff win. He got the puck to Gettinger at the top of the right-wing circle. Gettinger snapped a shot that would be his first goal of the season.
“We rely on him on our first power play (unit) and now our first line center an (even strength),” Knoblauch said.
“He is our captain, a leader in the locker room. He works hard; does the right things. He did great on the faceoff, and his shot shorthanded is one of the best I’ve ever seen. He showed he’s the captain.”
The Pack gave their opposition the lead early in the first period for a third straight night. This time, against Providence. Jack Studnicka (two points), the one-time AHL All-Star, took a quick pass from Jakub Lauko and put it past Kincaid just 1:40 into the game.
POWER PLAY GOAL
The Wolf Pack finally got some riding time in the Providence zone. Anthony Greco was on the left-wing side and chipped a backhanded pass off the left to Patrick Khordorenko.
Khordorenlo then advanced the puck to Austin Rueschoff, who scored his first of the season at 6:10 on the power play to even the contest at one.
Kinkaid made key stops as Providence mounted a shot advantage of 11-5.
There are things on tap for the practice week before the team heads Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to face the Penguins next weekend.
“We want our center and wings in a set position. We’re not shooting enough.”
Exactly seven minutes later, at 13:50, the Bruins took a 2-1 lead when Samuel Asselin was all alone at the right side of the net. He took Oskar Steen’s pass and came out and jammed it home.
The Bruins Urho Vaakainen just sent down by Boston got the play started. For Gettinger, it’s a whole new fresh start to the season.
“Coach brought it up the other day, and it’s weird. It feels like my first year. Wow, it’s really my fourth! I know what the experience of a first-year guy is. It’s going to be weird for some guys. I just try to be a leader on and off the ice for the young guys and keep things rolling.”
LINES
RICHARDS – GETTINGER – LABRIE
BRODZINSKI – KHODORENKO – GETTINGER
FRITZ – PAJUNIEMI – RONNING
O’LEARY – DIGIACINTO – RUESCHHOFF
BITETTO – JONES
SCHNEIDER – ROBERTSON
GIUTTARI – REUNANEN
KINKAID
HUSKA
NOTES
Morgan Barron was recalled to the Rangers before the game as expected with the injury to Kaappo Kakko.
Bruins have ex-Wolf Pack captain Steven Fogarty.
The Pack was .500 last year against the Bruins 6-6-0.
Nick Jerman (Quinnipiac University) was traded from the Kalamazoo Wings (ECHL) to the Ft. Wayne Komets (ECHL).
Ex-Pack, Tomas Zaborsky was let go by HC Liberec (Czech Republic-CEL) and signed with ERC Schwenniger (Germany-DEL).
Neil Robinson (Kent School) was released by the Worcester Railers (ECHL) training camp and went to Utah Grizzlies.
The newest Wolf Pack player on the roster, after agreeing to a 25-game PTO deal, is 14-year veteran Pierre-Cedric Labrie from Quebec. A veteran of 632 AHL games, Labrie has recorded 198 points (89 goals 109 assists) and 1,105 PIM’s in his career.
Labrie’s father-in-law is Montreal Canadiens great and current Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) head coach/GM, Patrick Roy, who played the last two years with Eisbaren Berlin (Germany-DEL) winning the championship last year, had 13 goals in 70 games plus won a Calder Cup in 2011-12 with Norfolk.
The Rangers won 3-1 in Montreal on Saturday night. Alexis Lafreniere grew up near Montreal and played before his family and friends. He also scored the game-winner. Greg McKegg wore jersey #14.
