By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack
BRIDGEPORT, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack snapped their four-game losing streak in style on Wednesday night, routing the rival Bridgeport Islanders by a score of 6-1. Alex Belzile recorded his second hat-trick of the season in the win, while Bo Groulx recorded four assists.
The Wolf Pack’s power play struck for a season-high three goals, going three-for-four in the win. The unit’s second goal would be the difference at 16:11 of the middle frame. Belzile took a pass from Victor Mancini in the left-wing circle, held possession, and then elected to blast a shot toward the net.
The shot snuck through traffic and beat Marcus Hogberg to make it a 2-1 game.
Mancini’s assist was the second of three in the win for the rookie.
Belzile opened the scoring 18:15 into the game, sniping home a power play marker. A clearing attempt by the Wolf Pack came in front of the Islanders’ bench, where Bridgeport touched it with six skaters on the ice.
On the ensuing power play, Belzile rifled a shot from the right-wing circle that clipped the bar and went in for his fifth goal of the season.
During the first period, Dylan Garand was strong in the net, making eight saves. His best two saves came on point-blank chances from Tyce Thompson in the opening minutes and Marc Gatcomb in the final stretch of the period.
Alex Jefferies evened the score 6:32 into the middle frame, scoring his second power play goal of the season against the Wolf Pack. Jefferies took a feed from Chris Terry just inside the right-wing circle and snapped a shot by Garand.
The Wolf Pack’s power play counter at 16:11 would give them the lead for good and be the first of five unanswered markers.
Anton Blidh made it a 3-1 game at 19:02, burying his fifth goal of the season from the bottom of the right-wing circle. After a mad dash in the offensive zone, Groulx’s wraparound attempt came to Blidh, who smacked home the insurance marker.
The Wolf Pack’s penalty kill was tested early in the final frame, killing off two penalties in the first six minutes of the period.
The power play would kick off a stretch of three goals in 52 seconds as the club blew the game wide open.
Belzile completed his hat-trick at 8:47, scoring the club’s third power play goal of the game. Groulx’s shot from the left-wing wall was redirected in front by Belzile, fooling Hogberg to make it a 4-1 spread.
Groulx’s assist on the goal was his fourth of the night and eleventh of the season.
Less than a minute later, Matt Rempe tipped Casey Fitzgerald’s shot from the right-wing point in front, extending the score to 5-1. Rempe’s tally was his third of the year, while both Fitzgerald and Adam Sýkora earned their eighth assist of the season on the goal.
Bryce McConnell-Barker made it 6-1 seven seconds later, winning a footrace to a puck in front of Hogberg. McConnell-Barker gained possession and snapped a quick shot by Hogberg for his third goal of the season.
The win gives the Wolf Pack points in nine of their last ten (8-1-0-1) visits to Bridgeport.
The Pack is back at the XL Center on Friday, Dec. 6, when the Rockford IceHogs make their second-ever visit to the Connecticut capital. $2 drafts and $2 hot dogs will be available until the end of the first intermission.
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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