BY: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack
HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack surrendered a season-high eight goals on Saturday night, dropping an 8-5 decision at the hands of the Syracuse Crunch at the XL Center in Hartford. The loss drops the Wolf Pack to 2-10-0-0 in their last twelve games.
Sean Day, who played 62 games with the Wolf Pack earlier in his career, exacted revenge 11:50 into the second period. Otto Somppi backhanded the puck back to the offensive blue while the Crunch cycled in the Hartford zone. Day stepped into a shot that found its way through traffic, hit the goal post, and beat Keith Kinkaid for his seventh goal of the season. The goal, which made it 6-4 at the time, stood as the eventual winner.
The Crunch opened the scoring just 1:50 into the hockey game, as Alex Barré-Boulet pounced on a rebound and tucked home his 14th goal of the season. Charles Hudon’s initial shot was stopped by Kinkaid, but the veteran goaltender couldn’t corral the rebound.
The Wolf Pack punched right back, however, and tied the game at 4:47. Zac Jones fed a pass down to Patrick Khodorenko, who handled it on his backhand before quickly transitioning to his forehand and snapping his eighth goal of the season by Amir Miftakhov.
Hartford took their first lead of the hockey game less than five minutes later, this time getting a fortunate bounce. Ty Ronning was looking to send a pass to Anthony Greco, but instead caught the skates of a Syracuse defenseman. The puck bounced off Declan Carlile and into the net for Ronning’s 16th goal of the campaign.
The Crunch took their timeout immediately following the goal and proceeded to take over the hockey game. Simon Ryfors took a centering pass from Gabriel Fortier in front of the crease and stuffed it by Kinkaid for his eighth goal of the season at 10:28 of the first period. Syracuse then needed just over three minutes to retake the lead, as Carlile avenged the bad bounce. Carlile stepped into a shot in the near faceoff circle and blasted it by Kinkaid for his first professional goal in just his second game. The goal, at 13:56, gave the Crunch a lead they would not lose.
Cole Koepke gave the Crunch some insurance with his 19th of the season just 92 seconds into the middle frame. Koepke took a backdoor pass from Barré-Boulet and fired from the far faceoff circle by Kinkaid to make it a 4-2 game.
The Wolf Pack wouldn’t go quietly, however, and got it to 4-3 at 7:36. Bobby Trivigno collected the first point of his professional career when he sent a pass from the near wall to Hunter Skinner in the slot. Skinner cleanly beat Miftakhov for his fourth goal of the season. The good feeling lasted just 30 seconds, however, as the Crunch extended the lead back to two on Ryfors’ second of the night. The Swedish forward collected a pass in the faceoff circle and snapped the puck off the post and by Kinkaid for his third tally of the weekend.
The seesaw continued as Ronning scored his second of the night at 10:51, but Day’s goal 59 seconds later proved to be the difference.
Hartford showed a sign of life 3:29 into the final stanza, as Nick Merkley took a perfect backhand pass from Trivigno and beat Miftakhov to make it 6-5. The Wolf Pack pressed and even got a powerplay with a chance to tie the affair.
Special teams continued to plague the Wolf Pack, however, as Anthony Richard ended all the suspense with a shorthanded marker at 10:51. For good measure, Richard tacked on an empty-net goal at 17:13 to cement the season series sweep for Syracuse.
The Wolf Pack open a seven-game road trip on Monday night when they visit the Providence Bruins. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. You can listen to the call on Mixlr and watch alongside on AHLTV, with pregame starting at 6:50 p.m.
ABOUT SPECTRA: Spectra is an industry leader in hosting and entertainment, partnering with clients to create memorable experiences for millions of visitors every year. Spectra’s unmatched blend of integrated services delivers incremental value for clients through several primary areas of expertise: Venue Management, Food Services & Hospitality, and Partnerships. Learn more at SpectraExperiences.com. Follow Spectra on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
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 the XL Center. The Wolf Pack has been home to some of the Rangers’ newest faces including Igor Shesterkin, Filip Chytil, and Ryan Lindgren. Follow the Wolf Pack on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.
Related
Related posts
Top picks
WOLF PACK SEND BRUINS PACKING WITH OT WIN
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack are headed to the Atlantic Division Finals for the second straight season. A wild bounce saw a puck clip Jake Leschyshyn and beat Brandon Bussi 9:41 into overtime of Game 4 at…
PRE-GAME: WOLF PACK CAN CLOSE OUT BRUINS TONIGHT
PRE-GAME REPORT: WOLF PACK LOOK TO CLOSE OUT SERIES AGAINST BRUINS AT XL CENTER By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack welcome the Providence Bruins to town tonight for Game 4 of their Atlantic Division Semifinals series. Thanks to…
WOLF PACK SUFFER UGLY LOSS TO P-BRUINS IN GAME 2
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack were forced to settle for a split in Providence, as the Bruins roared back to take Game 2 6-0 at the Amica Mutual Pavilion on Friday night. The series, now tied 1-1,…
WOLF PACK TAKE GAME ONE OF SEMIS IN P-TOWN
By: Shay Costa, Howlings PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack’s Anton Blidh scored 1:28 into the third period to give the team a 4-3 road win against his former team, the Providence Bruins, in Game One of the Atlantic Division semifinal in front of…
WOLF PACK SEND BRUINS PACKING WITH OT WIN
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack are headed to the Atlantic Division Finals for the second straight season. A wild bounce saw a puck clip Jake Leschyshyn and beat Brandon Bussi 9:41 into overtime of Game 4 at…
WOLF PACK SUFFER UGLY LOSS TO P-BRUINS IN GAME 2
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack were forced to settle for a split in Providence, as the Bruins roared back to take Game 2 6-0 at the Amica Mutual Pavilion on Friday night. The series, now tied 1-1,…
WOLF PACK TAKE GAME ONE OF SEMIS IN P-TOWN
By: Shay Costa, Howlings PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack’s Anton Blidh scored 1:28 into the third period to give the team a 4-3 road win against his former team, the Providence Bruins, in Game One of the Atlantic Division semifinal in front of…
WOLF PACK GET 3-PT NIGHT FROM PITLICK IN GM 1 WIN
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – Tyler Pitlick picked up three points on Wednesday night as the Hartford Wolf Pack marched into the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence and took Game 1 of their best-of-five Atlantic Division Semifinals series. The Wolf Pack…
ORLANDO ENDS SWAMP RABBITS SEASON
Swamp Rabbits show life late, but Orlando pulls away to win the series BY: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC– Jaydon Dureau’s two-goal night spearheaded a 5-1 Orlando Solar Bears win over the Greenville Swamp Rabbits on Tuesday to win the South Division Semifinals…
SWAMP RABBITS ANSWER BACK IN GAME 2
Eberle nets game-winner; three multi-point performers shine in win BY: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC—Tanner Eberle broke a deadlock in a wild third period to headline the Greenville Swamp Rabbits’ Game 2 win over the Orlando Solar Bears by a 4-2 score on Monday…
SWAMP RABBITS DROP GAME 1 in OT
Spencer Kersten ends a 72-minute game to steal Game 1 from Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – Spencer Kersten ended a marathon goalie duel to give the Orlando Solar Bears a lead in the South Division Semifinals, 1-0, over the Greenville…
SWAMP RABBITS SCHEDULE FOR SOUTH DIVISION SEMIFINALS
Swamp Rabbits and Solar Bears begin a best-of-seven series this Sunday in Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, announced the full schedule for the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs…
Stay connected with ours socials