HARTFORD WOLF PACK SPOIL T-BIRDS HOME OPENER
By: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings
SPRINGFIELD, MA – The Hartford Wolf Pack picked right up where they left off in the sweep of the Thunderbirds in last season’s playoffs with a 3-1 win over Springfield and spoiling their home opener.
In the first weekend of the 2023-24 season, the Wolf Pack played an exceptional opening weekend of play, defeating both the Providence Bruins as well as the Thunderbirds.
The first period featured very little five-on-five play with six power plays, three for each side.
Pack starting netminder Dylan Garant stopped Mikhail Abramov early to keep it scoreless. Jale Leschyshyn, who was around the puck all night, made a super tip, but it went off Calle Rosen’s helmet, then off Springfield’s netminder, Malcolm Subban’s shoulder, and skittered wide.
Alex Belzile’s goal was made possible by Adam Edström’s size, speed, and strength at 19:26.
He sped down the left side and deftly avoided a hip check attempt by Springfield’s Dylan Coghlan. He then sprinted into the Thunderbirds zone and found Belzile on the right wing as he snuck past Rosén and tapped in his first Wolf Pack goal. For that effort, he was named the game’s second star.
The Thunderbirds tied it early in the second period.
The Pack were caught flat-footed as Springfield’s rookie defenseman, Leo Loof, was at the left point and sent a drive to the net that Garand stopped. However, Adam Gaudette corralled the rebound and sent a backhand pass back across the crease that found Australian-native, Nathan “Stormy” Walker, who fired it in at 1:35.
The penalty parade continued nine seconds into a five-on-three as captain Jonny Brodzinski on the right point, one-timed a rocket off a pass from Mac Hollowell at 4:02.
The action continued. Brett Berard was on the right wing and tried to connect with Bobby Trivigno, but the Blues first-rounder Zachary Bolduc broke up the play.
Late in the second period, the special teams, who were active all night, saw Leschyshyn on the PK, block a left point drive by Bolduc, and then, as he turned around, he went to get the puck. As he went to fire it out of the zone, his stick broke in two, but still got it out with 1:35 remaining in the period.
For the second night in a row, the Pack was outshot by an opponent but prevented the Thunderbirds from breaking with finishing checks, putting sticks in the way, and didn’t allow them to develop a transition game.
With 1:16 left, Brodzinski continued his strong play early in the season and flipped a backhander from the left wing into an open net to seal the win at 3-1 for Hartford. It was his second goal and was awarded the game’s first star.
They nearly got a fourth as Leschyshyn tipped a Matthew Robertson shot with 39 seconds left.
The Pack opens the home portion on Friday against Wilkes Barre/Scranton.
LINES:
Othmann-Brodzinski-Berard
Leschysyn-Elson-Blidh
Edström-Belizle-Nash
Rempe-Henriksson-Trivigno
Hollowell-Mackey
Harpur-Brouillard
Robertson-Scanlin
Garand
Domingue
NOTES:
It was the 900th professional game for the Pack’s Riley Nash.
Ex-Pack’s Wyatt Kalynuk played, but Hunter Skinner was not in Springfield’s lineup.
The Thunderbirds head coach is ex-Pack Drew Bannister. Peca was named captain.
Ex-Pack Peter Holland scored for the Colorado Eagles in a 3-2 loss to the Grand Rapids Griffins. He had a goal and an assist in a 5-2 loss. It was his first pair of AHL goals in five years.
Ex-Pack Tim Gettinger scored, and Wyatt Newpower (UCONN) had a goal and assist for the Griffins.
#20 UCONN fell again to Holy Cross (AHA) 2-1 in their home opener to the Crusaders.
QU showed why they’re the defending national champs, beating AIC (Springfield, MA) (AHA) 8-0.
