CANTLON: (2/26) PACK PULL AWAY, BEAT BRUINS
BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings
HARTFORD, CT – Austin Rueschoff, Ty Ronning, and Jonny Brodzinki paced the Hartford Wolf Pack scoring the game’s last four goals to lead their team to a 5-2 win over the Providence Bruins.
The Pack (25-15-4-2) eeked into second ahead of Providence by a .609 to .605 winning percentage, The Bruins (23-14-3-3) fell to third place.
“We won the battles, did the little things, and we worked hard for the win. We got the W,” Ronning said of the win.
After a slow start, the Pack came on strong finishing their checks and forcing Providence into penalties while scoring timely goals.
KNOBLAUCH REACTS
“We did a pretty good job,” commented Pack Head Coach Kris Knoblauch. “On identifying plays in the neutral zone, we did a good job in their decision making and their execution. When we were in Springfield we didn’t have the execution. We were giving the puck away and making poor decisions. For sixty minutes we did a pretty good job and you’re never going to go through a game without any mistakes.”
A power play halfway through the period gave the Pack the cushion they were looking for as Patrick Khordorenlo’s backhand of a Ronning play made it 4-2. Anthony Greco used his speed to get the play going, as Ronning earned his eleventh of the season batting the puck out of mid-air a few minutes later at 11:37. Ronning delivered the final blow to the Bruins in the second half of the game.
“Speed, possession, and compete. I thought we checked all those boxes tonight. I knew I had to get in up in the air, but now maybe as I first wanted, but it was big goal that helped us.”
RONNING SOARING
After a slow start, Ronning’s enthusiasm for the game and good solid Saturday night crowd (5,385) was evident post-game.
After his rocky start, head coach Kris Knoblauch was encouraged by his goalie, Adam Huska.
At 2:56 of the first period, Huska turned the puck over to Jonna Koppanen after stopping Alex-Olivier Voyer. It was not the start the team was looking for. Despite all of it, Ronning remained in his rooting section.
“He is a professional hockey player and he knows how to lead the charge. He’s been phenomenal all season long for us and it’s fun to watch him play.”
FIRST PERIOD BLUES
In the first period, the Pack has been outscored 51-30. The Pack surrendered the opening goal adding to the garish -21 and for a fourth straight game.
Captain Jonny Brodzinski scored the first Pack goal with his team-best 36th point. Brodzinski used his speed to create space and sent a backhanded pass to Matt Lorito, whose low shot found the back of the net for his second Wolf Pack goal.
“We’ve had to a lot of lineup juggling lately and we separated the Greco-Brodzinski-Gettinger line who has performed so well for us. They and the team have dried up (offensively) for us. So, putting Richards, Ronning, and Rueschoff was honestly, a last-minute thing,” said Knoblauch. His hunch has paid off with critical goals scored in the last two games.
Austin Rueschoff (team-best five shots) scored off a rebound five minutes later, going upstairs for his twelfth goal of the season.
Justin Brazeau converted Jack Studnicka’s pass after Jarred Tinordi’s clearing attempt was knocked down by Cam Hughes. He found the back of the net for his seventh goal of the season at 16:32.
The Pack escaped the period even though they needed to dodge a bullet. A last-second faceoff in the right circle was won cleanly by Studnicka. He sent it back to Brady Lyle. His shot caught every Wolf Pack player by surprise, sailed past Huska, and hit the glass behind the net as the teams went into the first intermission.
SECOND PERIOD
The second period produced just one goal as defenseman Nils Lundkvist held pointless, but superb defensively in Springfield got rewarded as again used his speed to go wide around the net found him all alone at the blue line and fired his second into the net on a one-timer at 11:44 just past the midway juncture at.
Now Huska more than made up for his early mistake. First ex-Pack captain Steven Fogarty and one bid and then late in the period a pair of saves on Lyle and then Tyler Lewington from the points back-to-back with big-time saves.
He also got help from his defense in the form of Tarmo Reunanen, as a seventh defenseman making a return to the lineup blocked Edwards Tralmarks on a break-in with under five minutes to go in the period.
Then right after, Anthony Greco, on a Tanner Fritz pass, was robbed by Kyle Keyser.
LINES
Gettinger-Brodzinski-Greco
Ronning-Richards-Ruesschoff
Lorito-Fritz-Whalen
O’Leary-DiGiacinto-Khordorenko
Robertson-Lundkvist
Giuttari-Tinordi
Skinner-Bitetto
Reunanen
Kinkaid
Huska
SCRATCHES
Pajuniemi (upper-body out since February 4th)
Luchuk (lower-body out minimum three weeks)
Taylor
James Sanchez
Wall
NOTES
The team went with an 11-7 lineup format for a second night in a row dressing Tarmo Reunanen as the extra D. Jeff Taylor was dressed as the extra forward last night.
“We haven’t made up our minds yet. Heck, we might go with 12 forwards, who knows?” Knoblauch said.
With a short timeframe and in-game turnaround, he decided to go with Keith Kinkaid in the net.
Providence lost skill forward Oscar Steen with a facial injury just 6:46 into the game when the puck came off the glass quickly and caught him there. He didn’t return, forcing the Bruins to play down one forward.
