WOLF PACK GET SHUTOUT BY ISLANDERS WEDNESDAY 4-0
WOLF PACK GET SHUTOUT BY ISLANDERS WEDNESDAY 4-0
HARTFORD, CT: The Bridgeport Islanders shut out the Hartford Wolf Pack in the final game of the calendar year at the PeoplesBank Arena, 4-0, before 5,687.
Henrik Tikkanen posted 31 saves in the Isles’ victory, his first shutout of the season.
Alex Jefferies recorded the game winner when he took the puck in between the dots and fired a wrister that beat Spencer Martin (25 saves), giving the Islanders a 1-0 lead at 11:00 of the second period. The goal was Jefferies’ 7th of the season, with Sean Day and Jesse Pulkkinen recording the goal’s assists.
“I didn’t like our execution to start the game.” Wolf Pack Head Coach Grant Potulny said, assessing his team’s performance. “We had some looks, I didn’t think we were allowed to get to our game tonight because our execution off the rush wasn’t there.”
Liam Foudy blew by the Hartford defense and went forehand backhand, beating Martin through the five-hole for his fifth of the season at 11:18. The goal doubled the Islanders’ lead to 2-0. Joey Larsson and Daylan Kuefler recorded assists on the marker.
The third tally came when Adam Beckman got a hold of the puck in the high slot and wristed one that deflected off Martin and past him, making it 3-0 lead on his 9th of the season at 2:20 of the third period. Day and Cam Thiesing recorded the assists.
Chris Terry tacked on an empty net goal at 15:28 for his seventh of the season for what would be the final score, 4-0. The goal went unassisted.
The Wolf Pack ended up winning the shots on goal battle 32-29, but a lack of second-chance opportunities made it difficult for the Wolf Pack to get sustained offensive pressure throughout the game.
“I have really little concern about our urgency,” Potulny said.
Justin Dowling returned from injury in today’s game, which is a boost for the Wolf Pack, who will play all divisional opponents in the next ten games.
“I think January is moving month, and we’ve got to make sure that we’re prepared and we get points any time we can,” Potulny said on the upcoming stretch.
The Wolf Pack are now 10-14-4-1 on the season and will host the Providence Bruins in their first game in 2026 on Friday night.
