By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack
HARTFORD, CT – Hartford Wolf Pack centerman Dylan Roobroeck notched his first career professional goal on Sunday afternoon at the XL Center in downtown Hartford. However, it would not be enough on this day, as five unanswered Springfield Thunderbirds goals pushed them to a 5-2 victory over the Wolf Pack.
Tanner Dickinson’s first goal of the season 11:08 into the second period gave the Thunderbirds a 3-1 lead and would stand as the game-winning tally. Dickinson took a pass from Michael Buchinger and worked to the top of the slot area. From there, he rifled a shot top shelf by Louis Domingue. Buchinger’s assist would be his first career professional point.
Shortly after an early penalty kill, Bo Groulx scored the game’s first goal. After a Thunderbirds’ scoring chance rocketed out into the neutral zone, Groulx led a two-on-one into the offensive zone with Brett Berard. Groulx sold a pass before lifting a shot above the glove of Colten Ellis to give the Wolf Pack a 1-0 lead at 8:16.
A forechecking effort from Dylan Peterson and Drew Callin knotted the game at one apiece at 11:12. Callin corralled the puck behind the net before netting a swift wraparound attempt that beat Domingue for his first of the year.
Dalibor Dvorsky broke the tie at 8:52 in the middle stanza, giving the Thunderbirds the lead for good. He fired an unsuspecting shot towards the goal that caught a Wolf Pack stick in front before beating Domingue through the five-hole for his third of the season.
Dickinson’s marker doubled Springfield’s lead just over two minutes later.
The Thunderbirds built their lead to 4-1 just nine seconds into the third period as Hugh McGing fed an open Marcus Sylvegard at the back door for his second of the season. The goal was the fastest surrendered by the Wolf Pack to start a period this season.
Hunter Skinner made it a 5-1 affair at 3:28, lifting a shot over the shoulder of Domingue after a failed clearing attempt. Peterson picked up the lone assist on the goal, his second helper of the evening. He has four points (2 g, 2 a) in two games against the Wolf Pack this season.
Roobroeck stuffed home his first career pro goal after a point try from Ben Harpur was rebounded into the slot. Roobroeck found the puck and jammed it through the five-hole of Ellis at 10:32, drawing the Pack within three. Bryce McConnell-Barker would be credited with the secondary assist, his first professional career point.
The Pack is back at the XL Center on Wednesday night when the Grand Rapids Griffins come to town! The puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m.
Full-season tickets, 20-game plans, 12-game plans, flex plans, and single-game tickets for the 2024-25 season are on sale now! Visit hartfordwolfpack.com or call 860-722-9425 for more details!
About Oak View Group (OVG): Oak View Group (OVG) is the global leader in live experience venue development, management, premium hospitality services, and 360-degree solutions for a collection of world-class owned venues, and a client roster of arenas, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions. Founded by Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff in 2015, OVG is the leading developer of major new venues, either open or under development across four continents. Visit OakViewGroup.com, and follow OVG on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.
ABOUT THE HARTFORD WOLF PACK: The Hartford Wolf Pack has been a premier franchise in the American Hockey League since its 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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