By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack
UTICA, NY – The Hartford Wolf Pack used a third-period goal and a strong performance from netminder Dylan Garand on Saturday night to extend their point streak to three games as they knocked off the Utica Comets 3-2. Garand made 31 saves in the victory, including 25 in the final 40 minutes.
Adam Edström jumped on a rebound 3:40 into the third period, sending a backhand shot by Erik Kallgren to give the Wolf Pack a lead they would not lose on this night. Matthew Robertson fired a shot from the point that Kallgren denied, but Edström found the loose change and buried his third goal of the season. The goal was the first game-winning marker of Edström’s AHL career.
The Comets opened the scoring 16:31 into the contest, as T.J. Friedmann buried the first goal of his AHL career. The Wolf Pack turned the puck over in their zone, with Timur Ibragimov being the recipient. Ibragimov slid a pass over to Friedmann in the left-wing circle, where he quickly collected the puck and fired it by a diving Garand to break the ice.
Moments later, however, the Wolf Pack would respond. Xavier Parent was whistled for slashing at 18:49, and the Pack needed just eleven seconds to make them pay. Mac Hollowell blasted a one-timer from the left-wing circle blazed by Kallgren for his first goal as a member of the Wolf Pack. The goal was scored at 19:00, giving Hollowell a league-leading nine-game point streak (1 g, 9 a, 10 pts).
Hartford gained their first lead of the hockey game 13:51 into the middle stanza, as Zach Berzolla notched his first goal of the season in his debut. Berzolla activated down the right-wing side and fired a puck from the short side towards Kallgren. The puck slipped by the Comets goaltender, giving Berzolla his third career AHL goal.
The lead only lasted 1:14, however, as an unfortunate bounce gifted the Comets the tying goal. Joe Gambardella flung a dump-in from the neutral zone that struck the stanchion and bounced into the slot. With Garand out to play the puck, Ryan Schmelzer had a wide-open goal to deposit his second of the season at 15:05.
Edström’s goal would give Hartford the lead for good, but the final stanza wasn’t without drama. The Comets were awarded back-to-back powerplays at 7:42 and 9:44 when Jake Leschyshyn and Blake Hillman were whistled for tripping and high-sticking, respectively.
The Pack killed both penalties, with Garand making 13 saves in the final stanza to preserve the victory. The Wolf Pack penalty kill would end the night five-for-five overall.
The Wolf Pack’s season-long five-game road trip concludes Friday night when they visit the Bridgeport Islanders. The puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m., with ‘Wolf Pack Pregame’ starting live at 6:45 p.m. on AHLTV and Mixlr.
About OVG360:
OVG360, a division of Oak View Group, is a full-service venue management and hospitality company that helps client partners reimagine the sports, live entertainment, and convention industries for the betterment of the venue, employees, artists, athletes, and surrounding communities. With a portfolio of more than 200 client partners spanning arenas, stadiums, convention centers, performing arts centers, cultural institutions, and state fairs around the globe, OVG360 provides a set of services, resources, and expertise designed to elevate every aspect of business that matters to venue operators. Service-oriented and driven by social responsibility, OVG360 helps facilities drive value through excellence and innovation in food services, booking and content development, sustainable operations, public health and safety, and more.
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 is the top player-development affiliate of the NHL’s New York Rangers and plays 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
Mitch Beck
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…