By: Shay Costa, Howlings
PROVIDENCE, RI – Brett Berard’s game-winning breakaway goal led the Hartford Wolf Pack to a 5-2 win over the Providence Bruins at the Amica Mutual Pavillion before 7,140 last Sunday.
It was the Pack’s first win in the last five games over the Bruins, which includes a shutout in their last encounter. However, this game was a different tale, according to Pack Head Coach Steve Smith. “We skated well tonight. We played a more aggressive style of hockey…and that put [Providence] on their heels a little bit.”
The game-winner followed the Bruins successfully killing winger Vincent Arseneau’s interference penalty at 3:31 of the second period. A wide shot came off the Wolf Pack endboards that Berard recovered. The Pack’s leading goal scorer then outskated the Bruins’ defensemen and put a shot on Bussi’s five-hole at 6:02.
The Wolf Pack attacked early and were rewarded with an early lead. After the Bruins failed to clear the puck from their zone, Nick Broulliard took the puck away and found Karl Henriksson’s stick right in front of Providence netminder Brandon Bussi. Henriksson’s wrist shot 43 seconds into the contest lit the lamp on the game’s first shot. “They had our number the last time we played, so we felt it was important that we got off to a good start,” Smith explained.
The Wolf Pack maintained offensive pressure throughout the period. The Bruins did not get their first shot on Pack netminder Dylan Garand until six minutes in, and their first shot was also a goal.
Bruins d-man Ian Mitchell’s high wrist shot found its way through the traffic in front of Garand to find the top-shelf at 6:17.
In the second frame, Pack forwards Bobby Trivigno and Cameron Hillis worked with defenseman Bryan Yoon on a well-executed tic-tact-toe play to set up a one-timer that was rocketed past Bussi at 1:58. It was Yoon’s first-ever AHL goal and made it 2-1.
In the third period, Providence halved Hartford’s lead on a rush from winger Anthony Richard. The goal was assisted by defensemen Alec Regula and Dan Renouf, Richard stickhandled around both Nikolas Broulliard and Matthew Robertson, sinking the puck high behind Garand at 5:39.
After killing off a Pack power play, and trying to get an equalizer, the Bruins pulled Bussi for an extra attacker with just over two and a half minutes remaining in regulation.
It only took the Pack ten seconds to make them pay for that decision.
A clearing attempt by former Bruin Anton Blidh became Hartford’s insurance goal as it rolled on its edge into the empty net. “I didn’t really try to go for the goal,” Blidh admitted after the game. “I was trying to tip it out. I saw [Karl Henriksson] going so I tried to tip it for him, but it was nice to see it go in.” In the final minutes, with the Providence goalie still pulled, Turner Elson would also pot an empty-netter, leaving the final score 5-2 in favor of the Wolf Pack.
Blidh and Henriksson returned to the lineup after recovering from injuries. Smith attributed their impact on the game beyond their offensive contributions. “They have a strong pace through their game…They’re two really good penalty killers. [Veteran presence] is something we’ve lacked over the last two or three games… so they’ve certainly added to that.”
Hartford’s next game will be a Bruins’ rematch at the XL Center on Friday, March 8th at 7 PM. “We know that they’re going to surmount a charge. They’re going to play better, and we’re going to have to be ready for them.”
LINES:
Berard – Leschyshyn – Othmann
Sykora – Henriksson – Blidh
Trivigno – Hillis – Pitlick
Jenkins – Korczak – Elson
Scanlin – Hollowell
Robertson – Broulliard
Hillman – Yoon
Garand
Lindbom
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