BY: Jason Alwang, Howlings
HARTFORD, CT: Nicolas Aube-Kubel scores the overtime winner as the Hartford Wolf Pack got another much-needed victory in front of 6,307 passionate fans in a 2-1 victory versus the Milwaukee Admirals at the XL Center Saturday night.
“It’s more about how we’re playing than who we’re playing.” Wolf Pack Head Coach Grant Potulny on the recent stretch. “We’ve got some really good goaltending lately, too.”
Aube-Kubel took the puck from the Hartford end and went blazing down coast to coast into a wrist shot from the high slot that went through the five-hole of Magnus Chrona (26 saves) to get the much-needed two points in this playoff race for the Wolf Pack.
“Not sure where it was going to end up.” Aube-Kubel on his goal. “Usually I’d aim a little bit higher, but super glad it worked out.”
Brandon Scanlin would break the scoreless tie 19 seconds into the third period. Another game of the Hartford fourth line forechecking hard and getting the puck out from along the boards to the point for the shot from Scanlin getting in through traffic past Chrona, marking Scanlin’s 7th of the season to put Hartford in front 1-0.
“It’s not as easy as people think it is to get (the puck) by all those players,” Potulny said. “Brandon didn’t waste any time with it, he just got it on his stick off his stick and (Chrona) didn’t see it.”
The Admirals were pushing in the third, the whole way outshooting Hartford 15-7 in the final period. Grigori Denisenko was able to capitalize on the extra attacker at 18:34 and break Dylan Garand’s shutout attempt after spending almost two minutes in the Hartford zone. Denisenko scored on a laser wrister from the circle to tie the game and force overtime.
Throughout the game, there were chances on both sides, but Garand was incredible in between the pipes again for Hartford, recording 33 saves, several of them sliding and glove stops in the third, which had the crowd in awe.
The Wolf Pack killed all four of the Milwaukee power plays, getting in the shooting lanes, clearing the puck down, and not allowing the Admirals to get much going.
“When we’re on our toes and we’re aggressive, I think we do a really nice job.” Potulny on the penalty kill.
Above all, the Wolf Pack needs every point they can get chasing the Springfield Thunderbirds, in which they now sit five points back for the division’s final playoff spot. The Wolf Pack will head on a five-game road trip before returning home on April 11th at the XL Center. The Wolf Pack are now 27-29-5-2 on the season.
