BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings
HARTFORD, CT – A five-goal explosion in the second period allowed the Hartford Wolf Pack to overcome a 2-0 deficit and earn a 6-4 victory at the XL Center.
They leave for their mini-All-Star break in first-place, taking over the lead from the Hershey Bears with a 22-12-4-2 record 50 points and a winning percentage of .625. Hershey is in second place with a record of 23-13-3-3 52 points and a winning percentage of .619.
Lehigh had the early lead as Junior player turned nemesis for Pack head coach Kris Knoblauch, forward Hayden Hodgson buried a one-timer in the slot on their first shot on goal at 7:17. However, Pack netminder Keith Kinkaid had no chance on the blast.
On just the second shot of the game, the score doubled to 2-0 as Charles Gerard deflected a right-point shot from Egor Zemula at 12:11.
The season’s best offensive explosion saw five different Wolf Pack players connect in a span of 11:06, flipping the Phantoms lead into a deficit.
REACTION
“I think we had two small mistakes and breakdowns on a one-timer and a deflection. The goalie sometimes doesn’t have it. We got five goals, but we more than made up for it in the second period. We did well in spurts just sometimes things go your way,” remarked an ebullient Knoblauch, who has earned his All-Star rest after the first half of the hockey season he has experienced.
In an effective bit of forechecking, Patrick Khordorenko took the puck away from Zemula behind the net and opened up the floodgates by standing on the doorstep at 3:16. The goal was his sixth of the year.
“Things turned with a nice forecheck by Khordorenko, and that was a tough shot for (Tarmo) Rueschoff in tight for a big man, but he showed a lot of skill on it.”
The special teams went to work as Tim Gettinger corralled a rebound off a good shot from the left point by Nils Lundkvist, who received Jonny Brodzinski’s cross-ice pass from the right-wing.
TAKING THE LEAD
The Pack made it a 4-3 lead shorthanded at 12:10. Tanner Fritz led Morgan Barron, who used his 6’4 frame to get position and deflected the puck lunging out on Utah native goalie Garrett Metcalfe, who was playing in just his fourth AHL game.
“We were down 2-0, but we kept working hard, that’s why we overcame a 2-0 (deficit). We got five goals in the second period and rolled from that,” Nils Lundkvist stated.
The young Swedish defenseman elaborated.
“We felt if they were to score two goals in the first sometimes and we worked hard and got the five goals in the second. We won the game and we were the better team (tonight).” He said.
His coach was all smiles regarding his young rearguard.
LUNDKVIST
“He was outstanding for us and there were a couple of big plays he made that helped us turn things around. After Rueschoff’s goal we got a power play goal and the shot (by Lundkvist) he took on the play was key as Gettinger scored the goal.”
Then off his back foot, Lundkvist tallied his first AHL goal with a rising floating shot from his natural right side, getting a screen in front by Gettinger, found the back of the net, and had a very successful night at 14:24.
“It was good to get the first one out of the way finally I had a good screen in front from Timmy (Gettinger) the goalie didn’t see anything. I had a few chances before it finally went in, it felt good.”
Lundkvist showed an adept ability play both sides.
“It takes time, it’s a little different, to play (here) and get used to the rinks here or the NHL. It’s ten games now; I feel I can play well right now. In New York, I didn’t play that much was averaging 10-15 minutes. Here I’m getting 20-25 minutes a game. So I’m getting the confidence back, getting back hopefully (to New York) sooner rather than later.”
The only thing left in the third with his teammates urging him on, doing all they could so captain Jonny Brodzinski could break the franchise record of consecutive goals scored.
There was still magic left in his stick for one more goal and break the record set in 2006-07 by now-retired NHL player Ryan Callahan with Wolf Pack down a player in the penalty box.
“I didn’t know (at first) that he was that close. So when he scored that goal, everybody was happy for him, scoring nine games in a row is impressive. He’s a really good player,” said Lundkvist.
Knoblauch, of course, holds Brodzinski in high regard.
“The guys were cheering him on it took to the third period to score that goal. We thought he missed his chance on that play, but he was able to score one more for us shorthanded.”
Wyatt Wylie and Isaac Ratcliffe scored the last two Phantoms goal to make it closer to the final 6-4.
LINES
Barron-Gettinger-Brodzinski
Ronning-Fritz-Barron
Richards-Khordorenko-Rueschoff
Whalen-Luchuk-DiGiacinto
Bitetto-Lundkvist
Giuttari-Robertson
Reunanen-Skinner
Kinkaid
Huska
SCRATCHES
Pajuniemi (day-to-day)
Jones
Taylor
O’Leary
Lorito
Berzolla
NOTES
Ex Sound Tiger forward Matt Lorito is in from Latvia, where he played for Dynamo Riga. He becomes the 40th player to play for both teams. He was scratched to get rest and likely had to follow COVID protocols. He’ll likely begin playing after the All-Star break next Friday against the Springfield Thunderbirds.
The Wolf Pack are both his third team and third county he has played for dating back to the start of the year in Sweden with Djurgardens IF.
Pajuniemi is day-to-day. Zac Jones could be swapped for Jarred Tinordi in New York again at the beginning of the week.
