BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings
PROVIDENCE, RI – Oskar Steen returned fresh from his Boston recall and converted Steven Fogarty’s pass 36 seconds into OT for the game-winner, giving the home Providence Bruins a 2-1 win over the visiting Hartford Wolf Pack.
Ex-Bridgeport Sound Tiger Aaron Ness (two assists) got a clean zone entry on the game-winning sequence. He found ex-Pack captain, Fogarty, coming in on the left wing. Steen outwaited Adam Huska, allowing the Pack starting netminder to make the first move before finishing with his sixth of the year.
The game was played cautiously and tight-to-the-vest through the third period when Ty Ronning scored the Pack’s lone goal late from off of the left-wing side.
PACK GOAL
Hunter Skinner and Tarmu Reunanen had a nice D-to-D passing sequence along the offensive blue line. Reunanen whistled a shot wide of the net, flagged down by Tanner Fritz as it came off the backboards. Fritz sent a short backhand pass to Ronning’s stick, beating Troy Grosenick through the five-hole at 5:03.
The Pack had a golden opportunity with 1:15 remaining to win the game in regulation on a late power play but failed to cash in. First, Morgan Barron was robbed by Grosenick. Then, seconds later, Huska would send the game to OT by denying Fogarty on Providence’s final regulation-time attempt.
GROSENICK RETURNS
After being injured in the pre-season, Grosenick was solid, making 23 saves in his first complete game since coming off the IR. He started his career in nearby Worcester, MA when a team was there in the AHL. He also had a stop in Milwaukee, and at one point, was the top goalie prospect in the league in 2016-17 while playing in San Jose. Last season he played in Ontario/LA.
Huska made 30 saves and was the difference-maker in this meeting. He was exceptional in the second period when the Bruins had the better quality scoring chances and held an 11-6 shot advantage. The Pack power play sputtered all night, going 0-for-5.
ONLY BRUINS REGULATION GOAL
In a close first period, Providence could tally their only regulation goal of the night.
Ness cruised down the left-wing side and spotted Jesper Frödén in front of the net. He feathered a perfect pass through players’ legs before Frödén found the back of the net at 11:12.
LINES
Whalen – Brodzinski – Greco
Barron – Ronning – Pajuniemi
Fritz – Khordorenko – Richards
Labrie – O’Leary – Rueschoff
Schneider-Robertson
Jones-Hájek
Reunanen-Skinner
Huska
Kincaid
SCRATCHES
Bitetto
DiGiacincinto
Brassard
Guittari.
NOTES
Hajek and Wolf Pack management will decide on Monday whether he continues his conditioning assignment in Hartford or returns to the New York Rangers.
Gettinger was scratched and was listed as a maintenance day. However, he will likely be back in the lineup Saturday as he nurses the usual bumps and bruises.
The Utica Comets set an AHL record with their 12th straight win to start the season. They won 4-1 at home over the Charlotte Checkers (Florida/Seattle). The 1984-85 Rochester Americans held the previous record of eleven. They will play Uticaon Saturday night.
The league record for consecutive wins is 28 held by the now-defunct Norfolk (VA) Admirals in 2011-12 en route to the Calder Cup title. The only losses they suffered in their march to the title in that impressive run were at the hands of the CT Whale in the playoff quarterfinals which they lost in six games.
Ex-Pack Deven DiDiomete signs with Gyergyói HK (Romania-MOL) in the Erste League.
Max Sauvé, who played at Avon Old Farms (CTPREP), played at Penn State (Big 10) signs with Wheeling (ECHL).
