THOMAS: (2/5) PACK POUND PHANTOMS 6-4 

BY: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack

HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack found themselves trailing 2-0 after the first period on Saturday night at the XL Center in Hartford against the visiting Lehigh Valley Phantoms. In the second period, the Wolf Pack exploded for five goals, completely flipping the script in a 6-4 victory over the Phantoms. The loss snapped a three-game losing streak for the Wolf Pack against the Phantoms.

Nils Lundkvist took a pass from Jonny Brodzinski at the far point in the offensive zone before gliding into the high slot area. Lundkvist fired a heavy, hard wrist shot into traffic that cleanly beat Garrett Metcalf for his first career AHL goal 14:24 into the middle frame. Hartford’s fifth goal in the period stood as the eventual winner.

In the opening period, the Wolf Pack fell behind by multiple goals for the second straight meeting with the Phantoms. Hayden Hodgson opened the scoring with his team-leading 12^th goal of the season just 7:37 into the game. Garrett Wilson set Hodgson up in the slot, and he pounded a one-timer by Keith Kinkaid for his second goal in as many games against the Wolf Pack.

PHANTOMS LEAD

The Phantoms extended the lead at 12:11, as Charlie Gerard scored his third goal of the campaign. Gerard found a loose puck in the slot area after blocking Egor Zamula’s point shot. Gerard fired the puck into traffic, where it found its way into the back of the net.

Hartford responded in a big way in the middle frame, scoring a season-high five goals in the period. Austin Rueschhoff opened the scoring for Hartford 3:18 into the period with his eleventh goal of the season, converting on a feed from Patrick Khodorenko. The Wolf Pack tied the game just over three minutes later, striking on the powerplay. Metcalf denied Lundkvist’s shot, but the rebound bounced right to Tim Gettinger, who fired the puck into the empty net at 6:33 for his ninth goal of the season.

The Wolf Pack took their first lead at 8:57, as Mike O’Leary joined the scoring party. O’Leary was cruising through the slot when he redirected a point shot from Matthew Robertson that beat Metcalf for his fourth goal of the season. However, the party was far from finished, as the Wolf Pack penalty kill was still yet to be heard from.

They got their moment at 12:10, extending the lead to 4-2 with a shorthanded tally compliments of Morgan Barron. Barron tipped a centering pass from Tanner Fritz through the five-hole of Metcalf for his second shorthanded tally of the campaign.

Lundkvist capped off the period with his first AHL goal at 14:24, punctuating a sequence of five goals in 11:06.

PHANTOMS MAKE IT CLOSER

The Phantoms cut the lead to 5-3 15:09 into the third period, creating some intrigue late. Wyatte Wylie’s blast from the point beat Kinkaid for his third goal of the season. Moments later, at 15:38, the Phantoms went to the powerplay as Zach Giuttari was called for high-sticking.

However, it was Hartford’s penalty kill, not the Phantom powerplay, that scored. Metcalf bobbled a puck behind his goal that Brodzinski found. The captain stole the puck then stuffed home his team-leading 16^th goal of the season to cement the victory. Brodzinski’s tally gives him a nine-game scoring streak, setting a new franchise record.

Isaac Ratcliffe scored at the 19:34 mark of the third period, but the Phantoms’ fate had already been decided.

The Wolf Pack continues a four-game homestand on Friday night when they host the Springfield Thunderbirds. Join us for $2 beers and $1 hot dogs, courtesy of our friends at Nomads Entertainment! The puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. The Pack is also home next Saturday night when they host the Rochester Americans on ‘Olympics Night’ at the XL Center. Puck drop is also set for 7:00 p.m.

Tickets for both games are still available at hartfordwolfpack.com.

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