By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack
HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack broke the ice on Sunday afternoon against the rival Springfield Thunderbirds but surrendered three unanswered goals to fall 3-1. The loss was the club’s fourth straight at home.
Neither side was able to strike in the opening period despite splitting 16 total shots. Both Colten Ellis and Dylan Garand made eight saves.
Dalibor Dvorsky had the best chance of the frame as he ripped a shot off the goalpost in the final few minutes.
Ryder Korczak opened the scoring 3:37 into the second period, burying a backdoor pass from Anton Blidh. Nathan Sucese drove the play into the offensive zone before finding Blidh on the right-wing side. Blidh then connected with Korczak, who lifted the puck over a sliding Ellis to make it a 1-0 game.
The goal was Korczak’s third of the season.
The Thunderbirds countered 2:43 later, as Simon Robertsson lifted a rebound over Garand’s left pad for his second goal of the season. Corey Schueneman fired a shot from the right-wing circle that Garand could deny, but Robertsson won space in front of the net and lifted the equalizer into the goal.
Robertsson struck again at 19:08, giving the Thunderbirds their first lead of the game. Robertsson intercepted the puck in the offensive zone, then muscled his way through a Wolf Pack defenseman into the slot. The former third-round pick of the Blues then chipped a shot toward the net that snuck through Garand to make it a 2-1 game.
The goal gave Robertsson his first career multi-goal showing in the AHL.
The Wolf Pack peppered Ellis in the third period, firing 19 shots on the netminder. Ellis was perfect, however, stopping every Wolf Pack attempt.
Jaroslav Chmelař had the club’s best chance, as he rang a rebound attempt off the post with just minutes remaining in the game.
Hugh McGing iced it for the Thunderbirds at 18:02, hitting the empty net for his second goal of the season.
The Wolf Pack hit the road for three games, starting Wednesday night when they visit the Utica Comets at 7:00 p.m.
The Pack is back at the XL Center on Friday, Jan. 24, when the Laval Rocket make their second and final visit to the XL Center this season. Join us for $2 drafts and $2 hot dogs until the end of the first intermission!
The puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m.
Tickets are available at hartfordwolfpack.com.
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 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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