BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings
PROVIDENCE, RI – Anthony Greco’s rebound goal in overtime was the difference in a goaltender’s battle as the Hartford Wolf Pack edged out the Providence Bruins 2-1 at the Dunkin Donuts Center.
The Wolf Pack record improves to 9-3-1-0 (19 points), a .731 winning percentage good for second place just behind first-place Springfield Thunderbirds.
Providence earns a point and improves to 5-4-2-1 (13 points), keeping them in a fifth-place tie with the Charlotte Checkers and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
GAME WINNER
The winning goal came 35 seconds after Adam Huska’s (23 saves) glove save on Zachary Senyshyn. Providence netminder Kale Keyser stopped the Pack’s Morgan Barron twice, the second time on a slick backhand. However, Keyser could not control the rebound as Greco deposited it into the net for the victory.
It took until the later stages of the third period for any goal scoring as both goalies and their team defenses put on textbook performances akin to a playoff game.
The Bruins struck for the game’s first goal taking advantage of a three-on-two, odd-man rush. Senyshyn moved with speed on the left side before he slipped a forehand to Czech Republic-native Jakub Lauko. He found an open seam and winged it past Huska low to the stick-side at 13: 25.
PACK EVEN IT UP
With 2:32 left in regulation, the Pack was on a late power play. Captain Jonny Brodzinski wired a strong pass from the left-to-right wing side. Lauri Pajuniemi fired it right back, and Brodzinski registered his fourth goal of the season and tied the game guaranteeing his team a standings point.
LINES
Gettinger-Brodzinski-Greco
Barron-Ronning- Pajuniemi
Fritz—DiCiacinto-Richards
Labrie-O’ Leary- Rueschhoff
Schneider-Robertson
Jones- Libor Hájek
Reunanen-Guittari
Huska
Kinkaid
SCRATCHES
Bitetto
Whalen
Khordorenko (concussion)
Skinner
NOTES
Greg McKegg was recalled by the New York Rangers for the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets due to ex-Pack Filip Chytil’s injury.
Defenseman Zach Guittari (Warwick, RI/Loomis Chaffe) played before family and friends at the Dunkin Donuts after playing last year at his pre-high school arena in Marlborough, MA, during the 25-game pandemic shortened season.
This is the second of ten meetings between the Wolf Pack and the Bruins. The sides will meet again back in Providence in six on November 19th. After that, they will not see each other in Hartford again until New Year’s Eve.
Kinkaid is currently 6-1-1-0 on the season.
Brodzinski now leads the Pack with 14 points (10 assists) this season.
Veteran forward Tanner Fritz saw his five-game point streak evaporate after logging an assist last night. Pajuniemi has a four-game point streak.
The Bruins had won three of their last four games.
Forward Oskar Steen leads the Bruins with ten points (5 goals). He was recalled by the NHL’s Boston Bruins on Friday afternoon. Fogarty (4 goals) and Jesper Froden (7 assists) lead active players with nine points each.
The Pack returns to the XL Center this Wednesday, November 17th, when they play host to the Islanders and open a three-games-in-four-days stretch. The Pack will return to Providence next Friday night.
