By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack
HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack returned to hockey on Wednesday night at the Koeppel Community Sports Center on the campus of Trinity College in style. The Wolf Pack scored twice in the third period, then used a Ryder Korczak goal to knock off the Springfield Thunderbirds 3-2 in the shootout in the first of three preseason affairs.
Korczak scored the only shootout goal in the second round, tucking a backhander by goaltender Colten Ellis. Talyn Boyko, who played the final 29:59 of regulation and the entire five-minute overtime period, denied all three Thunderbird shooters to secure the win.
It was the Thunderbirds, however, who struck first on this night. Anthony Beauregard opened the scoring 2:56 into the tilt, finding a puck in front of the Wolf Pack net and firing a backhand shot top shelf over Olof Lindbom.
Lindbom, the Wolf Pack starter, made his best save of the game later in the period. Keean Washkurak sped into the Wolf Pack zone on a partial breakaway but was denied by the netminder.
The Wolf Pack outshot the Thunderbirds 16-10 in the opening stanza, but Thunderbirds starter Vadim Zherenko stood tall, keeping the home side off the scoreboard.
Lindbom would give way to Boyko 30:01 into the game, a scheduled decision by Head Coach Kris Knoblauch. Lindbom made 12 saves on 13 shots in his preseason debut.
Zherenko also finished his night in the second period. The second-year goaltender denied all 22 shots sent his way in 40 minutes of action, giving way to Ellis after the second intermission.
The third period saw the offensive dam break, as the sides combined for three goals.
The Wolf Pack scored their first goal of the preseason 2:13 into the third period. Ryan McCleary found twine, blasting home his first of the exhibition season from the point. McCleary, a training camp invite, lasered a shot from the blue line that snuck through the traffic and beat Ellis. Adam Sýkora, who dished the puck from the right-wing wall, was credited with the lone assist.
Just over a minute later, at 3:35, another Hartford blueliner would blast home a goal. This time, it was Seth Barton who beat Ellis. Korczak, the shootout hero, and Brett Berard were credited with the assists on Hartford’s lone powerplay goal of the night.
The Wolf Pack would again head to the powerplay with under six minutes to go but could not find a way to extend their lead. Moments later, the Wolf Pack would take a penalty of their own, giving the Thunderbirds a chance to tie with 3:09 remaining.
The T-Birds took advantage, as Tanner Dickinson labeled a shot by Boyko for his first of the preseason with under three minutes to play.
Overtime solved nothing despite each side generating one high-danger scoring chance.
In the shootout, Korczak scored the lone goal to propel the Wolf Pack to victory.
The preseason continues tomorrow afternoon when the Wolf Pack visit the Bridgeport Islanders in the first game of a home-and-home set. The puck drop is set for 1:00 p.m.
About OVG360: OVG360, a division of Oak View Group, is a full-service venue management and hospitality company that helps client partners reimagine the sports, live entertainment, and convention industries for the betterment of the venue, employees, artists, athletes, and surrounding communities. With a portfolio of more than 200 client partners spanning arenas, stadiums, convention centers, performing arts centers, cultural institutions, and state fairs around the globe, OVG360 provides a set of services, resources, and expertise designed to elevate every aspect of business that matters to venue operators. Service-oriented and driven by social responsibility, OVG360 helps facilities drive value through excellence and innovation in food services, booking and content development, sustainable operations, public health and public safety, and more.
ABOUT THE HARTFORD WOLF PACK: The Hartford Wolf Pack has been a premier franchise in the American Hockey League since the team’s inception in 1997. The Wolf Pack is the top player-development affiliate of the NHL’s New York Rangers and plays at the XL Center. The Wolf Pack has been home to some of the Rangers’ newest faces, including Igor Shesterkin, Filip Chytil, and Ryan Lindgren. Follow the Wolf Pack on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.
Related
Mitch Beck
Related posts
Top picks
WOLF PACK SUFFER UGLY LOSS TO P-BRUINS IN GAME 2
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack were forced to settle for a split in Providence, as the Bruins roared back to take Game 2 6-0 at the Amica Mutual Pavilion on Friday night. The series, now tied 1-1,…
WOLF PACK TAKE GAME ONE OF SEMIS IN P-TOWN
By: Shay Costa, Howlings PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack’s Anton Blidh scored 1:28 into the third period to give the team a 4-3 road win against his former team, the Providence Bruins, in Game One of the Atlantic Division semifinal in front of…
WOLF PACK GET 3-PT NIGHT FROM PITLICK IN GM 1 WIN
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – Tyler Pitlick picked up three points on Wednesday night as the Hartford Wolf Pack marched into the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence and took Game 1 of their best-of-five Atlantic Division Semifinals series. The Wolf Pack…
PREGAME: WOLF PACK HOPE TO BUILD ON WIN OVER B’S
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack and Providence Bruins meet tonight for Game 2 of their best-of-five Atlantic Division Semifinal series at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. The puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m., and coverage…
WOLF PACK SUFFER UGLY LOSS TO P-BRUINS IN GAME 2
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack were forced to settle for a split in Providence, as the Bruins roared back to take Game 2 6-0 at the Amica Mutual Pavilion on Friday night. The series, now tied 1-1,…
WOLF PACK TAKE GAME ONE OF SEMIS IN P-TOWN
By: Shay Costa, Howlings PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack’s Anton Blidh scored 1:28 into the third period to give the team a 4-3 road win against his former team, the Providence Bruins, in Game One of the Atlantic Division semifinal in front of…
WOLF PACK GET 3-PT NIGHT FROM PITLICK IN GM 1 WIN
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – Tyler Pitlick picked up three points on Wednesday night as the Hartford Wolf Pack marched into the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence and took Game 1 of their best-of-five Atlantic Division Semifinals series. The Wolf Pack…
PREGAME: WOLF PACK HOPE TO BUILD ON WIN OVER B’S
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack and Providence Bruins meet tonight for Game 2 of their best-of-five Atlantic Division Semifinal series at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. The puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m., and coverage…
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…