By: Jason Alwang, Howlings
HARTFORD, CT: The Hartford Wolf Pack and their three straight wins and five-game home winning streak both ended in a 4-2 loss as Matthew Peca potted two goals and Colten Ellis made 31 saves for Springfield Thunderbirds at the XL Center on Saturday night.
Turnovers were a big issue for the Pack throughout the game. “You can’t turn pucks over in professional hockey,” Wolf Pack Head Coach Grant Potulny said. “We didn’t get enough going.”
At 17:51 of the second period, Peca buried his second goal of the game off a one-timer that proved to be the game-winner. Leo Loof fed the son of New York Rangers Assistant Coach Michael Peca and earned his second assist of the contest. Wolf Pack netminder Dylan Garand (19 saves) made a valiant diving effort on the shot, but to no avail, and gave the T-Birds a 3-1 lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
The scoring in the contest began when Peca tallied at 8:51 of the opening period. Excellent puck control and movement by the Pack’s I-91 Rivals caused Hartford’s defense to scramble. With Pack D running around, Samuel Johanssen dished the puck down low to the net front, and Peca one-timed it past Garand over his shoulder for the 1-0 T-Bird lead.
The final sixty seconds in the first period were busy, with two goals scored.
Ever-popular Pack forward Matt Rempe registered his second goal of the season off an Adam Sykora pass he’d received from Connor Mackey. Sykora put a shot on the net with traffic in front of Ellis, but Rempe deflected it into the twine to knot the game at one.
It only took thirteen seconds later for the Birds to answer back.
Marcus Sylvegard received the puck after some quick passes leading to shot from the left side that was wide-open and went top shelf past Garand to sent the two teams to the first intermission with the Thunderbirds leading 2-1.
“That was a dagger. You work hard to tie it.” Potulny said about the defensive breakdown after Rempe managed to tie the game. “Over back check on it. Their three goals, you can’t give teams those kind of looks.”
In the third period, Brett Berard scored his seventh of the season after Cassey Fitzgerald and Ben Harpur traded passes at the point. Fitzgerald turned to Berard, who was waiting to one-time it through traffic and beat Ellis to bring the score to 3-2.
Despite Berard’s tally bringing the Pack within a goal, it was not enough, as the Thunderbirds added an empty netter with thirty seconds left in regulation on an unassisted goal for Matt Luff.
“I wish we would learn a little bit quicker,” Potulny said. “(We) have to learn from those major breakdowns (because) guys are going to score when you give them those looks.”
The Wolf Pack will look to bounce back when they welcome the Bridgeport Islanders on Sunday evening in a matinee matchup. The Wolf Pack’s season record is 8-6-1-1.
