By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack
HARTFORD, CT – Dylan Garand made a season-high 43 saves for the Hartford Wolf Pack tonight but could not come away with the victory. Michael DiPietro made 21 saves for the Bruins, keeping the Wolf Pack off the board as the Bruins claimed a 1-0 win at the XL Center.
Garand was the story of the opening period, making 21 saves to keep the Bruins off the board. The 21 shots allowed were the most allowed by the Wolf Pack in a single period this season.
The Wolf Pack’s penalty kill also stepped up in a big way, killing off 4:10 of consecutive power play time for the Bruins. Victor Mancini was whistled for interference at 13:26, then ten seconds later, Connor Mackey was assessed a double-minor for high-sticking.
The Bruins fired six shots on goal on the power play but were held off the board as Garand was strong, and numerous Wolf Pack penalty killers made key shot blocks.
The Bruins outshot the Wolf Pack 16-5 in the middle stanza, breaking the ice on their 29th shot of the hockey game. Garand denied Billy Sweezey’s point shot, but the rebound was batted into the goal by Tyler Pitlick at 5:42 to put the Bruins ahead 1-0.
The goal was Pitlick’s seventh of the season and his third in four games against the Wolf Pack. It also marked his second game-winning goal against Hartford in as many games.
The Wolf Pack pressed in the third period but could not solve DiPietro despite outshooting the Bruins 11-7. Adam Sýkora had the best chance of the frame but was stoned on a backhand bid midway through the final stanza.
The Wolf Pack and Bruins wrap up their home-and-home set tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. at the Amicia Mutual Pavilion in Providence. Coverage starts at 6:50 p.m. with ‘Wolf Pack Pregame’ on AHLTV on FloHockey and Mixlr.
The Pack is back at the XL Center next Saturday, Dec. 28, when the Bruins return to town. The first 1,500 fans in attendance will receive a 2025 Wolf Pack calendar courtesy of HDI!
The puck drop is set for 6:00 p.m.
Tickets are available at hartfordwolfpack.com.
About Oak View Group (OVG): Oak View Group (OVG) is the global leader in live experience venue development, management, premium hospitality services, and 360-degree solutions for a collection of world-class owned venues, and a client roster of arenas, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions. Founded by Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff in 2015, OVG is the leading developer of major new venues, either open or under development across four continents. Visit OakViewGroup.com, and follow OVG on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.
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.
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