By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack
SYRACUSE, NY – On Friday night, the Hartford Wolf Pack and Syracuse Crunch battled in a back-and-forth affair at the Upstate Medical University Arena. Crunch captain Gabriel Dumont broke a 3-3 tie at 13:23 of the third period, then added an insurance marker at 18:34 to propel the home side to a 5-3 victory.
After each team struck in the first 6:52 of the third period, Dumont put the Crunch ahead for good with his first goal of the night at 13:23. Jack Thompson wandered down the right-wing wall and fired a puck towards Wolf Pack starter Dylan Garand. The puck bounced off a Wolf Pack stick in front and came to Dumont in the left-wing circle. Dumont rotated to the top of the circle and fired a shot that beat Garand to put the Crunch ahead for good.
The Crunch drew first blood 9:32 into the game, as rookie forward Max Groshev netted his ninth goal of the season. Groshev walked into the left-wing circle and ripped a shot over the shoulder of Garand to give the Crunch a 1-0 lead. The goal tied Groshev with Texas’ Logan Stankoven for the league lead in goals amongst rookies.
Hartford thought they had the answer moments later as Anton Blidh jammed home a rebound. While the play was called a goal on the ice, it was reviewed and eventually waved off. However, the Wolf Pack were not deterred as they went to the powerplay at 13:03 of the first period.
Riley Nash won the face-off back to Matthew Robertson, who quickly slid the puck to Jonny Brodzinski in the left-wing circle. Brodzinski uncorked a one-timer that blistered by Brandon Halverson for his team-leading ninth goal of the season just two seconds into the powerplay at 13:05 of the game.
2:32 later, Blidh would get his goal for real this time. Matt Rempe carried the puck into the offensive zone, eventually finding Blake Hillman in the left-wing circle. Hillman fired a shot that Halverson denied, but the rebound hit the right leg of Blidh and found the back of the net at 17:37.
Daniel Walcott evened the tilt at 10:25, scoring the only goal of the middle stanza. Philippe Myers kept the puck in at the right-wing point and fired a shot toward the goal. Walcott tipped the puck right in front of Garand, forcing a change of direction that beat the goaltender to send the game to the final frame tied 2-2.
Walcott struck again just 3:21 into the final period, tapping home a feed from Dumont to the right of Garand. The goal was Walcott’s seventh of the season, while the assist was Dumont’s second of the night.
The Wolf Pack power play would even the contest for the second time, again with Brodzinski converting. Devante Stephens was whistled for high-sticking at 6:30, and 22 seconds later, the puck was in the back of the net.
Brennan Othmann fired a cross-ice pass for Brodzinski, who fired another one-timer from the left-wing circle by the glove of Halverson. The goal was Brodzinski’s tenth of the season, putting him in a tie for second in the league in goals.
Dumont would break the tie at 13:23; however, giving the Crunch a lead they would not lose. Dumont potted his second of the night and his fourth point at 18:34, ending the proceedings. Walcott won a puck battle behind the net and sent a centering pass to Dumont, who made no mistake on the chance.
The Wolf Pack take on the Crunch in the second half of their home-and-home series tomorrow night at the XL Center! Tickets are available at hartfordwolfpack.com, and the puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m.
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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.
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