WOLF PACK FALL 3-1 TO MONSTERS IN HOMESTAND FINALE
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack
HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack dropped the final game of their five-game homestand to the Cleveland Monsters on Friday night at PeoplesBank Arena by a final score of 3-1.
Guillaume Richard opened the scoring 3:05 into the game, potting a backdoor feed from James Malatesta for his sixth goal of the season. The goal came off a battle won along the boards by Roman Ahcan.
The Wolf Pack pushed from there, however, and created a number of chances to tie the game. At 13:17, that push paid off.
Trey Fix-Wolansky attempted a wraparound after roaring down the right-wing side. The puck rolled off Fix-Wolansky’s stick and came into the slot, where Brendan Brisson located it. Brisson pushed a backhander toward the net that beat Zach Sawchenko through the five-hole to tie the game 1-1.
The goal was Brisson’s 16th of the season. Fix-Wolansky’s primary assist was his team-leading 42nd point (23 g, 18 a) of the campaign.
13:34 into the second period, Fix-Wolansky barreled down the right-wing side and cut to the net, looking to beat Sawchenko with a backhand bid. Fix-Wolansky was run into by a Monsters’ defender and collided with Sawchenko.
The Cleveland netminder was slow to get up and left the game, unable to return. Ivan Fedotov took over from there, finishing the night in net.
Fix-Wolansky was assessed a five-minute major that the Wolf Pack successfully killed off.
Richard restored the lead for the Monsters at 19:30 of the second period, however, firing a shot into traffic from the left-wing wall. The goal was the rookie defender’s second of the night.
The Wolf Pack pushed late in the third period but were unable to find the equalizer. Jack Williams cemented the victory for the visitors with an empty net tally at 19:52.
The Wolf Pack open a five-game road trip tomorrow night when they visit the Providence Bruins at the Amica Mutual Pavilion. The puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m., with ‘Wolf Pack Pregame’ set to begin at 6:50 p.m. on AHLTV on FloHockey and Mixlr.
The Pack is back at the newly renovated PeoplesBank Arena on Saturday, Mar. 28, when the Charlotte Checkers come to town. The puck drop is set for 6:00 p.m., with ‘Wolf Pack Pregame’ set to begin at 5:45 p.m. on AHLTV on FloHockey and Mixlr. Tickets are available here.
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 are the top player-development affiliate of the NHL’s New York Rangers and play at PeoplesBank Arena. The Wolf Pack has been home to some of the Rangers newest faces including Igor Shesterkin, Will Cuylle, and Matt Rempe. Follow the Wolf Pack on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Flickr, and TikTok.
