By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack
WILKES-BARRE, PA – The Hartford Wolf Pack were shut out for the third time this season on Saturday evening, dropping a 5-0 decision to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
The Wolf Pack began the game controlling possession, outshooting the Penguins 8-1. However, an offensive zone penalty put the Penguins on the power play, turning the momentum toward the home side.
Chaos ensued in the Wolf Pack’s zone shortly after the power play. A shot bounced off Talyn Boyko’s glove and came to Sebastian Aho, who fired a second shot on goal. Boyko denied the rebound, but the puck pinballed behind the net to Rutger McGroarty.
McGroarty collected possession and wrapped around his fourth goal of the season at 13:44.
Chad Ruhwedel had the best Wolf Pack chance of the period, splitting a pair of defenders and generating a breakaway. His backhand bid beat Filip Larsson but dinged the iron to keep the Pens up 1-0 after 20 minutes.
The Wolf Pack got into penalty trouble early in the second period, taking a pair of minors at 1:20 and 4:47. The penalty at 4:47, a hooking call assessed to Blade Jenkins, would help the Penguins extend their lead.
Vasily Ponomarev threaded a pass to the backdoor for McGroarty, who beat Boyko by the blocker for his second goal of the game at 5:11.
The goal marked McGroarty’s first career multi-goal game in the AHL.
Despite a largely back-and-forth period in which each side had their chances, the Penguins could extend the lead to 3-0 at 18:25.
Filip Král won puck possession behind the Wolf Pack goal, keeping the pressure on. Král connected with Ponomarev to the left of the net, who quickly fired a shot that beat Boyko.
The goal was Ponomarev’s fourth against the Wolf Pack this season and his sixth overall.
Emil Bemström put the result to rest with two goals in the third period. Just 36 seconds in, Bemström took a pass from Mac Hollowell in the right-wing circle and ripped his eleventh goal of the season by Boyko.
Then, at 10:54, Bemström potted his 12th goal of the season to make it a 5-0 affair.
The Wolf Pack continue their four-game road trip tomorrow afternoon when they visit the Bridgeport Islanders. The puck drop is set for 3:00 p.m.
The Pack is back at the XL Center on Saturday, Jan. 11, when the Lehigh Valley Phantoms come to town! Join us as we celebrate a special milestone: 50 years of professional hockey in Hartford!
The puck drop is set for 7:00 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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