WOLF PACK STYMIED BY DIPIETRO & BABY B’S
By: Jason Alwang – Howlings
HARTFORD, CT: The Hartford Wolf Pack deployed 41 shots on Providence Bruins netminder Michael DiPietro on Wednesday night, but it wasn’t enough as they suffered a soul crushing defeat, 3-2,before 3,372 at the PeoplesBank Arena.
Matthew Poitras scored the game-winner at 18:11 of the third period after the Bruins sustained offensive pressure and got multiple shots through, eventually burying the go-ahead goal to give them the 3-2 lead. The goal is Poitras’ 11th of the season, with Ty Gallagher and Jake Schmaltz recording the assists on the goal.
“You can win a lot of ways and lose a lot of ways.” Wolf Pack Head Coach Grant Potulny on tonight’s game. “It was arguably one of the best games we played all year.”
The Wolf Pack played as good a game as they played all season, but couldn’t find a way to hang on for the win, blowing a 2-0 lead.
“We got goalied, that’s the bottom line.” Potulny said.
Trey Fix-Wolansky buried a wrister through DiPietro, receiving a cross-ice feed from Adam Sykora and skating into the shot in the circle for his 19th of the season at 2:38 of the first period to give the Wolf Pack the 1-0 lead. Scott Morrow recorded the secondary assist on the goal.
“He’s just getting rewarded offensively and it’s nice to see.” Potulny on Sykora.
Derrick Pouliot scored on the power play off a slap shot from the point, going top shelf past DiPietro for his 2ndgoal of the season at 6:36 of the second period to give the Wolf Pack a 2-0 lead. Sykora and Dylan Roobroeck recorded the assists on the power play goal. The goal came after Fabian Lysell was sent to the box for four minutes for high-sticking Sykora, ultimately leading to Hartford doubling the lead.
“I’m more confident in my game, and it’s bringing me some points.” Sykora on his play of late.
Frederic Brunet scored to cut the Hartford lead to 2-1 on a shot that got through Dylan Garand (22 saves) after he was down on the crease for an extended period, and play continued. The goal is Brunet’s 11th of the season at 12:32 of the second period. Victor Soderstrom and Lysell recorded the assists.
Riley Tufte scored on the power play for the Bruins to tie the game at two a side for his 23rd goal of the season on the power play. A shot from the middle slot on a rebound got past Garand for the tying goal. Matej Blumel and Christian Wolanin recorded the assists on the power play goal. Scott Morrow, who was just sent back down from the parent New York Rangers on Tuesday, took a tripping penalty, which led to the Providence goal.
“Third period came, and we lost it.” Sykora said. “We have to bear down in the moment and just be better.”
The Wolf Pack falls to 20-27-4-2 on the season and will host the Bridgeport Islanders in the ‘Battle of CT’ on Friday night.
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