By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack
HARTFORD, CT – Andy Welinski lit the lamp for the first time as a member of the Hartford Wolf Pack on Saturday night, beating rookie goaltender Mack Guzda 47 seconds into overtime to push the Wolf Pack to a dramatic 3-2 victory over the Charlotte Checkers at the XL Center.
C.J. Smith fended off a Checkers defender along the far boards in the offensive zone at the start of three-on-three overtime, giving himself enough time to thread a pass to Welinski. Welinski took the puck in the far faceoff circle and darted toward Guzda, quickly releasing a shot at the bottom of the process that beat the netminder on his glove side for the overtime dagger.
For the second night in a row, the Wolf Pack would open the scoring. This time, a powerplay goal got the party started as Jonny Brodzinski scored his second of the season 10:23 into the game. Welinski handled the puck at the offensive blueline while Hartford’s top powerplay unit went to work. The veteran defenseman connected on a pass to Brodzinski in the far circle, who took it to the dot and snapped a shot that beat Guzda for the icebreaker.
Despite many chances at both ends in the second period, the Wolf Pack and Checkers could not find twine. Guzda was forced to make 14 saves against the Wolf Pack to keep it a 1-0 spread, while Dylan Garand made four stops to keep his club in the lead. The Checkers managed a season-low four shots on the goal in the period but had several chances that just missed the net in the frame.
The Checkers were given a golden opportunity to tie the game early in the third, as Hartford took two minor penalties that forced them to play three-on-five for a full two minutes. The Wolf Pack got the kill, but the Checkers still managed to tie the game shortly after the penalties expired.
John Ludvig fired a shot from an angle that Garand denied, but the rebound hit the leg of Grigori Denisenko and bounced into the goal at 8:57 to make it a 1-1 game.
Less than seven minutes later, the Wolf Pack would regain their lead. Blake Hillman stepped into a shot at the blueline that Lauri Pajuniemi got a stick on, deflecting the puck by Guzda at 15:22 to make it a 2-1 game.
Once again, in the final moments, the Checkers would get a five-on-three opportunity for 55 seconds. Once again, Hartford would get the kill but surrender a goal shortly after. With Ben Harpur in the penalty box and the extra attacker on, the Checkers struck at 19:03 to tie the game. Logan Hutsko found a rebound in front of the Hartford net and deposited his third goal of the season to force overtime.
In overtime, the Wolf Pack wasted no time in getting revenge for their season-opening loss, as Welinski beat Guzda in the opening minute to push Hartford to their second victory in as many nights.
The Wolf Pack hit the road next Friday, November 4th, when they visit the Springfield Thunderbirds. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m., with pregame coverage starting at 6:50 p.m. on AHLTV and Mixlr. The Pack will return to the XL Center on Wednesday, November 9th, for a rematch with the T-Birds. The puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. To get tickets, visit hartfordwolfpack.com.
Related
Related posts
Top picks
WOLF PACK PREGAME: ATLANTIC SEMIS VS. BRUINS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack and Providence Bruins open their second Calder Cup Playoff series in as many years against each other tonight at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. The puck drop is set for 7:05…
WOLF PACK COMPLETE PAIR OF TRANSACTIONS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack Bryce McConnell-Barker Reassigned by Rangers, Maxim Barbashev Released from ATO HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the club has reassigned forward Bryce McConnell-Barker to the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack from…
ROAD WARRIORS LOST TO RABBITS; SWAMP RABBTS IMPRESSIVE IN DEFEAT
SOLAR BEARS TAKE SERIES LEAD WITH OVERTIME WIN Orlando puts Greenville on the brink despite Colton Young’s 3-point night, Bobby Russell’s pair of goals By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits ORLANDO, Fla. – Despite a high-scoring affair, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits fell to the Orlando…
WOLF PACK TO PLAY BRUINS IN ATLANTIC SEMIS
WOLF PACK TO FACE PROVIDENCE BRUINS IN ATLANTIC DIVISION SEMIFINALS Foes Faceoff For Second Straight Postseason HARTFORD, CT—For the second straight postseason, The Hartford Wolf Pack and Providence Bruins will face off in the Atlantic Division Semifinals. This series will follow a 2-2-1 setup, with the…
WOLF PACK PREGAME: ATLANTIC SEMIS VS. BRUINS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack and Providence Bruins open their second Calder Cup Playoff series in as many years against each other tonight at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. The puck drop is set for 7:05…
WOLF PACK COMPLETE PAIR OF TRANSACTIONS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack Bryce McConnell-Barker Reassigned by Rangers, Maxim Barbashev Released from ATO HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the club has reassigned forward Bryce McConnell-Barker to the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack from…
WOLF PACK TO PLAY BRUINS IN ATLANTIC SEMIS
WOLF PACK TO FACE PROVIDENCE BRUINS IN ATLANTIC DIVISION SEMIFINALS Foes Faceoff For Second Straight Postseason HARTFORD, CT—For the second straight postseason, The Hartford Wolf Pack and Providence Bruins will face off in the Atlantic Division Semifinals. This series will follow a 2-2-1 setup, with the…
GARAND AND WOLF PACK ELIMINATE CHECKERS IN 3
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack CHARLOTTE, NC – Dylan Garand made a playoff career-high 39 saves on Sunday afternoon to help the Hartford Wolf Pack complete their First Round series victory over the Charlotte Checkers. The Wolf Pack used a five-on-five, powerplay, and shorthanded…
ORLANDO ENDS SWAMP RABBITS SEASON
Swamp Rabbits show life late, but Orlando pulls away to win the series BY: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC– Jaydon Dureau’s two-goal night spearheaded a 5-1 Orlando Solar Bears win over the Greenville Swamp Rabbits on Tuesday to win the South Division Semifinals…
SWAMP RABBITS ANSWER BACK IN GAME 2
Eberle nets game-winner; three multi-point performers shine in win BY: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC—Tanner Eberle broke a deadlock in a wild third period to headline the Greenville Swamp Rabbits’ Game 2 win over the Orlando Solar Bears by a 4-2 score on Monday…
SWAMP RABBITS DROP GAME 1 in OT
Spencer Kersten ends a 72-minute game to steal Game 1 from Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – Spencer Kersten ended a marathon goalie duel to give the Orlando Solar Bears a lead in the South Division Semifinals, 1-0, over the Greenville…
SWAMP RABBITS SCHEDULE FOR SOUTH DIVISION SEMIFINALS
Swamp Rabbits and Solar Bears begin a best-of-seven series this Sunday in Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, announced the full schedule for the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs…
Stay connected with ours socials