HARTFORD WOLF PACK TIE GAME LATE, BUT CAN’T HOLD OFF ISLANDERS PUSH IN 5-2 DEFEAT IN BRIDGEPORT
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack
BRIDGEPORT, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack got a late goal from Lauri Pajuniemi to tie their game against the Bridgeport Islanders 2-2 on Sunday afternoon, but the Islanders would soon respond for three goals of their own to sink the Wolf Pack 5-2.
Less than a minute after Pajuniemi tied the contest 2-2, Ruslan Iskhakov gained the offensive zone with possession for the Islanders and fed an unmarked Paul Thompson with a cross-ice pass. Thompson stepped into a one-timer that beat a sliding Dylan Garand to reinstate the Islanders’ lead, one they would not lose.
For the fourth time in four games, the Wolf Pack surrendered the contest’s first goal. After a scoreless opening period, the Wolf Pack found themselves on the powerplay to start the middle frame. Despite ample chances, a bobbled puck at the offensive blueline ended up on the stick of Kyle MacLean. MacLean darted down the ice and beat Garand for his first goal of the season. It was Hartford’s first shorthanded goal allowed this year.
The Wolf Pack responded just over ten minutes later, tying the contest at 10:35. Cory Schneider denied Andy Welinski’s shot, but the rebound popped into the slot area. Jonny Brodzinski got a piece of the puck, steering it to Will Cuylle, who blasted home his second of the season.
Hartford quickly took a penalty, however, and the Islanders made them pay. Less than a minute after Cuylle scored, at 14:18, the Isles took a 2-1 lead. Samuel Bolduc let a shot go from the point that Andy Andreoff tipped. The veteran’s second goal of the season was Bridgeport’s third powerplay tally of the year.
Pajuniemi scored his second of the campaign 13:41 into the final period, launching a missile from the circle. Gustav Rydahl won a faceoff, which Pajuniemi stepped up and sniped without hesitation. Again, however, the tie would not last. This time, the Islanders took only 48 seconds to regain the lead. Thompson potted his first goal of the season at 14:29 to make it a 3-2 game, effectively ending the back-and-forth contest.
At 16:16, Hudson Fasching scored his third goal of the season on a two-on-none with Otto Koivula. Fasching’s shot went in and out of the glove of Garand but then hit a sliding defender and ricocheted into the goal to make it 4-2. Cole Bardreau would sink an empty netter in the waning moments to cement the 5-2 decision.
The Pack will take the ice at the XL Center again next Friday night when they host the Hershey Bears. $2 beers and $1 hot dogs for every Friday night home game returns for the 2022-23 season! To get tickets, visit hartfordwolfpack.com.
