BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA – The playoff flame was about extinguished as the precipitous fall of the Hartford Wolf Pack continues with a 4-1 loss to the Toronto Marlies.
A tired, worn-out, emotionally drained, and fragile roster surrendered two shorthanded goals, and a power play goal as the team slipped into seventh place now behind the Bridgeport Islanders.
The lone bright spot for the Pack was an Anthony Greco power play goal, his 20th goal of the season.
The Wolf Pack now have had at least one twenty-goal scorer in their 25 seasons. In addition, Nick Merkley garnered his 100th career assist.
The first period saw Tim Gettinger get the first shot, and then Bobby Trivigno had a backhander as the team had an early 8-0 shot advantage. Toronto scored first as Zac Jones made a defensive zone turnover to Brett Seney, who curled back into the right-wing circle and zipped a shot/pass that went off Joseph Blandisi’s leg and into the net at 4:37, giving the Marlies a 1-0 lead.
Greco scored for the Pack before Pack netminder Keith Kincaid stopped ex-Sound Tiger Josh Ho-Sang and Curt Douglas from the right-wing on a wraparound attempt.
Carl Dahlstrom was denied with 2:55 left. Roberson followed with a scoring chance off a messed-up zone exit by Matt Lorito. Kinkaid stopped the Roberson shot with his right pad.
A Ho-Sang double minor carried over into the second period, leading to a shorthanded chance. Robertson went on a clean breakaway, went successfully to the stick side, and beat Kincaid at 1:20.
A late five-on-three for the Marlies led to a score. Ho-Sang first broke his stick on an initial shot attempt, but Robertson found Steeves on the back door for a sharp angle shot that became his 22nd goal and a 3-1 Toronto lead.
The Marlies played a great period at home in the third period, shutting the Pack down and closing it out with an empty netter for the 4-1 final.
LINES
Letunov-Merkley-Trivigno
Lorito-Ronning-Richarda
Khordorenkp-Gettinger-Greco
Whalen-O’Leary-DiGiacinto
Robertson-Giutarri
Scanlin-Skinner
Taylor-Jones
Kinkaid
Huska
