By: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings

HARTFORD, CT – Jake Leschyshyn had an assist and a late goal, and the overtime winner at 1:12 propelled the Hartford Wolf Pack to a hard-fought 2-1 win over the Toronto Marlies. The win was the Pack’s fifth straight and in their last non-conference opponent of the season.

“We’re happy to get two points out of that (game). It’s a big game for us standings-wise. Coming down the stretch, every game is huge for us,” Leschyshyn said. “Libor made a huge play for us on the goal. He got out in front, and I got the first shot off. It wasn’t a great shot. It’s kind of opened things up and I was able to put the second one past him.”

Pack head coach Kris Knoblauch was all smiles post-game. “The line he and Blidh have been on has just gotten better and better and that showed at the end of the game.”

The already python-like playoff squeeze was made even tighter as the Bridgeport Islanders won a controversial game on Tuesday morning in OT over the Springfield Thunderbirds, who were last year’s Calder Cup runner-up.

This now sets up a monumental game Friday night between Bridgeport and Hartford. Following a Wolf Pack 2000 Calder Cup championship Celebration Night, the game will be played with ten former players in the house, including the former captain and head coach Ken Gernander.

Since being sent down, Lechyshyn has found some hockey nirvana in Hartford.

“It’s the first time coming to a team (traded) in my pro career. The guys have been so helpful, created the chemistry we needed and now we have to not take a step back, and it’s good to get the ice time. I think I have had a good opportunity with more ice time here in all situations that I did combined its all the other places I played (this year),” remarked Leschyshyn.

In the third period, after some pinball-like play, where the Pack struggled to get the puck out of the zone, the Marlies’ Kyle Clifford found the puck and had an open chance on the right wing but hit the post at 1:53.

Keith Petruzzelli squared on Tim Gettinger, took away the short side as a shooting option, and stopped him at 3:42.

Toronto’s Graham Slagggert followed with an inadvertent high stick on Ty Emberson behind the net and went to the penalty box. After the refs checked to see if there was blood, and when there was none, he went for a two-minute minor. It opened the door for the Wolf Pack.

While shorthanded, the Marlies Pontus Holmberg got around Ryan Carpenter, but netminder Louie Domingue moved right across the top of the crease to stay with him and make the save at 10:46.

The Wolf Pack finally broke the scoreless duel late in the third.

After solid board work and puck possession by Tanner Fritz and Lauri Pajuniemi, Emberson sent a good low shot from the right point. Leschyshyn got to the rebound first and was stopped.

Anton Blidh got a second crack at the puck and put his 12th of the season past Petruzzelli with just 1:12 left in regulation.

“It was similar to the goal we had in Toronto. Late in the game. A last second tying goal to force overtime. It was a good all-around effort by everybody to get that goal,” remarked Leschyshyn.

The Marlies are holders of the league’s fifth-best record. They demonstrated why, showing no quit.

With Petruzelli pulled, the Marlies’ Alex Steeves had a great chance with 32 seconds left to tie it from the right-wing side, but Domingue made a 10-bell save.

“He’s one of those guys we lean on, maybe a little too much sometimes. We got rewarded with his play tonight with a win,” said Leschyshyn.

With 12.2 seconds left, they managed to tie the game. Topi Niemelä registered his first goal of the season when he picked up the rebound of Steeves’ shot and buried it to force extra time.

“It was a tough game all night for both teams to get real good chances and find open ice. There wasn’t a lot going on for much of the game at times. We stuck with it, stayed patience and it paid off for us by persevering,” commented Leschyshyn.

LINES:

Cullye-Leschyshyn-Brodzinski
Gettinger-Lockwood-Carpenter
Fritz-Pajuniemi-Blidh
Elson-Henriksson-Trivigno

Jones-Emberson
Hájek-Scanlin
Clendening-Kalynuk

Domingue
Garand

SCRATCHES:

Matt Rempe (Healthy)
Blake Hillman (Healthy)
Adam Edström #34 (Healthy)
Brett Berard (Healthy)
Adam Sýkora  #29 (Healthy)
Bryce McConnell-Barker #8 (Healthy)
Matt Robertson (Upper-body, Week-To-Week – Could be ready for the playoffs)
Patrick Khordorenko (Season-ending shoulder surgery).
C.J. Smith (Hip surgery, Done for the season)

NOTES:

The Marlies are coached by ex-Pack captain/Sound Tiger/Springfield Falcon Greg Moore. He has been at the helm for a year and a half.

Former UCONN forward Ryan Tverberg just signed his NHL ELC deal with the Maple Leafs. His Marlies ATO deal came two weeks ago. he will be forgoing his senior season at Storrs. He was a scratch for the game.

The other CT connection is G Keith Petruzzelli (Quinnipiac University). His alma mater is in the Frozen Four in Tampa Bay against Michigan Thursday night; the ETA of the game is 8:30 pm on ESPN.

The NHL parent Toronto Maple Leafs recalled forwards Nick Abbruzzese and Wayne Simmonds on emergency recall.

Off to St. John’s, Newfoundland (ECHL) are Todd Skirvington, Matt Hellickson, and Jack Badini (Old Greenwich).

Jonny, Brodzinski was the second Wolf Pack this year to win an in-season AHL award as AHL Player of the Month for March.

Cayden Primeau, son ex-Whaler Keith, was recalled again from the Laval Rocket to the parent Montreal Canadiens.

Springfield signed Garrett Sparks after being sent back to Orlando (ECHL) as St. Louis recalled Vadim Zherenko.
So too, was defenseman Matt Kessel.

Lehigh Valley gets Samuel Ersson back in goal from Philly, sitting in for Connor Hart. He was suspended from the Canadian National Team with the WJC team because of a sexual assault incident that happened years ago. The claim was settled with the Canadian WJC team and, in turn, sent Pat Nagle back to the Reading Royals (ECHL).

Peter DiLiberatore, is reassigned to Wheeling Nailers (ECHL) by the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Jon Gillies (Salisbury School) continues his shuttle between Columbus and Cleveland.

Luke Stevens (Yale University-ECACHL) is reassigned to Kansas City (ECHL) by Coachella Valley Firebirds.

CHICAGO WOLVES

The Chicago Wolves sent a press release to all agents of minor league players yesterday that they will operate as an independent team next year, jettisoning Carolina after just two years.

They aren’t any more independent teams in the AHL. The last two were the Worcester (MA) Ice Cats in their first season under the late Roy Boe in 1993-94. The 1991 New Haven Nighthawks were the other.

Worcester is no longer in the AHL. It’s now an ECHL city and long gone.

The Nighthawks were comprised of Quebec Nordiques (nee Colorado Avalanche) farm hands and free agents.

Dual affiliations are a thing of the past too. The Charlotte Checkers were being split by the Florida Panthers and Seattle Krakken last year while the new building in the California desert was being built. This was the first one since the ill-fated, two-year experiment called the Beast of New Haven in the late ’90s, which Carolina and Florida shared.

Chicago has had four affiliations in the last seven years. They have had a tough going with every NHL affiliate. Several years ago, a St. Louis organizational source said, “We’ll never go back there. We rather be in Mexico City than deal with them!”

The owner of the defending Calder Cup Champion Wolves is Donald Levin; he likes winning titles and entertaining fans. He has the money to do this. This divorce comes two years earlier than was expected. It’s been reported to be difficult to deal with  Tom Dundon of the Carolina Hurricanes since he brought the team from Peter Karmanos.

CARON BRIERE

Caron Brière, the eldest son of current Flyer GM and a former Springfield Falcon, Daniel Brière, was dismissed from his second NCAA team. Mercyhurst University (Erie, PA) (AHA) did so for his despicable actions in knocking an unoccupied wheelchair down a long flight of stairs to a bathroom area of a local Erie nightclub. The act was caught on a video surveillance camera and posted on Twitter.

Brière was dismissed before even playing a game for Arizona State University (NCAA Independent).

HARTFORD WOLF PACK

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HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack employed solid defense, good goaltending, and opportunistic scoring to defeat the Bridgeport Islanders 4-1  in a must-win game for the New York Rangers AHL affiliates. The win propelled the Wolf Pack past the Islanders by a point for the sixth and final playoff spot. Seven games remain for both teams.

The Wolf Pack hosts the Providence Bruins on Friday. The sixth-place team would likely play the Bruins, who had already made the playoffs. On Saturday, the team travels to Allentown, PA, to play the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. The game will be broadcast on the NHL Network live at 7 PM.

“I was very happy down 1-0 in a must-win game. We came out in the second with no nerves and just let’s get this done; do it right. We made a lot more easy, simple plays and forechecked better,” Pack Head Coach Kris Knoblauch said while unloosening his tie.

Unlike past third-period struggles, the Wolf Pack buckled down. At 1:02, the Pack nearly extended the lead as Brandon Scanlin put a huge drive from the point toward the net, but starting netminder Corey Schneider made a shoulder save. The rebound went to his left-wing side. With the net wide-open, Tanner Fritz fanned on his shot.

“We knew they would come back in the third with a big push (16 shots). They need points too and to score. We did all the right things and we put pressure at the right time when they had the puck,” Knoblauch commented.

The physical play picked up.

In one sequence, in the right-wing corner at 6:21 and after a super right shoulder save by the Pack’s Louis Domingue on Arnaud Durandeau. It prevented the game from becoming a 3-2 contest early in the third. However, Ryan MacKinnon was stopped on the rebound.

“Louis is one of the better goalies in this league, and that (sequence) showed it. We’re very fortunate to have him when the game is on the line. His save percentage when the game is on the line has gotta be there. I don’t know it, but it’s very favorable to him,” said Knoblauch.

After Bridgeport’s Cole Bardreau jumped at Pack Captain Jonny Brodzinski, Scanlin backed up his captain, and all five Wolf Pack – Brodzinski, Cullye, Scanlin, Lockwood, and Elson were involved.

“Guys want to win,” Knoblauch said. “They know what’s on the line.”

Ultimately, the commitment to team defense and outstanding goaltending for the Pack prevailed.

Brodzinski became the second Wolf Pack to hit the 20-goal mark with his 20th at 17:57 with an empty-netter.

In the second period, the Pack evened the score at 2:10 on a two-on-one break-in. Brodzinski was on the right wing and used Will Cullye as a decoy before firing in his 19th upstairs over Schneider. Brodzinski successfully maneuvered around a sliding Islander, trying to block the shooting lane.

The Pack took the lead on the power play to register their second goal. Jake Lechyshyn went down the left wing, took Lauri Pajuniemi’s pass, and fired it over Schneider’s right shoulder for his third tally at 9:49.

“Jake, great shot,” Knbolauch said. “He had a very strong game, very good defensive plays and face-offs and was rewarded with a goal. He had a lot of crucial face off wins in the defensive zone tonight.”

Leschyshyn knew where he wanted to go with his shot and the game’s magnitude.

“I saw a little room and put the shot there, and it went in. It was a big game. We all knew what was at stake to go with his shot.”

The Pack extended the lead to 3-1 late in the second. Scanlin was at the right point and launched a rocket off Pajuniemi’s pass. It hit the stick of Karl Henriksson past Schneider’s blocker side at 17:02.

It was Henriksson’s sixth goal.

Pajuniemi’s all-around efforts at both ends of the ice were appreciated.

“Lauri has been playing really well for us lately. I was happy with the way a lot of guys that have been playing when games have been on the line. Scanlin’s been playing very played where Robertson (out injured) left off.

Henriksson’s play brought a smile to Knoblauch’s face.

“We appreciate his play and he’s appreciated in that locker room. He’s going to continue to get better and better. Next year he has a lot of upside going in. He’s very polular in the room and guys were cheering for him,” said Knoblauch.

The play was aided by the Islanders’ Ryan MacKinnon, who fell trying to execute a crossover skating backward that allowed the play to stay in the zone.

The Pack held the Islander offense in check to just four shots on goal but faced 16 in the third when the expected push-back came. But, when it did, the Pack held firm.

The first period was played in classic playoff style with close-checking. It was the Islanders, though, who would score the first goal.

Collin Adams won the four-player rugby scrum with teammate Dennis Cholowski on the right wing boards battling Tim Gettinger and Libor Hájek. The puck came out to ex-Pack Paul Thompson (game-high six shots), who snapped his ninth of the year over Louie Domingue’s blocker side just above the right-wing face-off dot on just their sixth shot of the game.

Thompson helped create space for himself with a small crosscheck to the back of Pack’s Ryan Carpenter and skated backward into the slot.

The Pack had two quality chances of their nine shots. The first came early by Cullye at the right-wing side of the net and another by Leschyshyn.

“Guys all stepped from Lauri to Brandon to every one in the room. It was obviously a big win for us. Everybody was important and going forward, with everybody pitching in,” remarked Leschyshyn.

LINES:

Cullye-Leschyshyn-Brodzinski
Gettinger-Lockwood-Carpenter
Fritz-Pajuniemi-Blidh
Elson-Berard-Trivigno

Jones-Emberson
Hájek-Scanlin
Clendening-Kalynuk

Domingue
Garand

SCRATCHES:

Matt Robertson (upper-body, long-term)
Karl Henriksson (Healthy)
Matt Rempe (Healthy)
Blake Hillman (Healthy)
Adam Sýkora  #29 (Healthy)
Bryce McConnell-Barker (Healthy)
Patrick Khordorenko (Season-Ending, Shoulder surgery).
C.J. Smith (Hip Area Surgery, Season Over)

NOTES:

The crowd was announced at 2,007, which seemed exceptionally generous.

Goalie Carter Hart was injured in Philly. That forced the team to recall Samuel Ersson from Lehigh Valley, likely nixing him from Saturday’s game. In addition, Lehigh Valley recalled Pat Nagle from the Reading Royals (ECJL). He is a 37-year-old journeyman with success against the Pack.

The Pack added two players and deleted one.

They have added Adam Sýkora from HK Nitra (Slovakia-SLEL) and Bryce McConnell-Barker from the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL). Sýkora was the first pick last year in the second round (63rd overall) in 2023 in Montreal. He played with Slovakian WJC the previous summer in Edmonton and this year in Moncton/Halifax. He also played for the Slovakia World Championship team.

With HK Nitra this season, Sýkora registered 21 points (8 goals, 13 assists), tying him for third-best in the club’s scoring. His 13 assists tied him for second on the team.

The goal he scored in Edmonton was the highlight of last summer’s WJC tournament. But, surprisingly, he didn’t play with the Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL), who had selected him #1 overall in the CHL Import Draft but elected to go back to Slovakia instead.

McConnell-Barker was a third round (97th overall) in the 2022 draft. Both players are 18 years old and signed Amateur Try-Out (ATO) deals. Both have had their respective European and junior seasons end. Both arrived late yesterday and didn’t play. Depending on Knoblauch’s evaluation after a practice, they should either play against Providence Friday or, in Allentown, PA, against Lehigh Valley on Saturday.

McConnell-Barker is a left-handed centerman. In 68 games with the OHL’s Soo (Sault Ste. Marie) Greyhounds this season. He finished the 2022-23 OHL season with 77 points (30 goals, 47 assists). His 47 assists and 77 points led the Greyhounds; his 30 goals were second on the club. Gettinger is a program graduate, and current assistant coach Jamie Tardif coached him for two years in Sault Ste. Marie.

McConnell-Barker was the team captain of the Greyhounds and was named the OHL’s Player of the Week the first week of January after he recorded eight points (four goals and four assists) in three contests.

Because both players will be 19 next year, as per the CBA, they will be ineligible for the AHL. As a result, neither will be able to play in the AHL until their junior seasons end next year.

“We’ll see after (Thursday) practice, and we’ll make decisions then. We’re hoping to get both players some American (Hockey) League time at some point,” remarked Knoblauch.

Cristiano DiGiacinto was sent back to the Jacksonville Icemen (ECHL), where he started the season to get some game time. The addition of these two players slides DiGiacinto down the depth chart.

This season, DiGiacinto appeared in 36 games, with the Wolf Pack scoring 12 points (3 goals and 9 assists). In ten games with the Icemen earlier this season, DiGiacinto scored six points (3 goals and 3 assists).

Matt Stienburg, the son of former New Haven Nighthawk Trevor Stienburg, will sign shortly with the Colorado Eagles (AHL) coming out of Cornell University (ECACHL). However, he is likely waiting until mid-August to get more from the Avalanche, who drafted him as per the CBA.

HARTFORD WOLF PACK

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By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolfpack

ALLENTOWN, PA – The Hartford Wolf Pack secured their second multi-goal, third-period comeback in less than 24 hours on Sunday evening in thrilling fashion over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Trailing by scores of 3-1 and 4-2 in the final stanza, the Wolf Pack lit the lamp five times in the final 12:46 to stun the crowd at the PPL Center, ripping a 6-4 victory from the jaws of defeat.

Libor Hájek scored his first goal in the AHL since March 1^st, 2020, with just two minutes remaining in regulation to give the Wolf Pack a 5-4 lead they would not lose. After a scrum before the Phantoms’ net, the puck popped to Hájek in between the faceoff circles. In his fourth game with the Wolf Pack this season, Hájek stepped into a shot that found its way through the traffic and beat Pat Nagle to complete the comeback.

Hartford started the game with a relatively strong first period on the road, outshooting the Phantoms 12-8 and scoring the game’s first goal. Ty Emberson stepped into a shot from the point that Nagle initially denied, but Gustav Rydahl found the rebound and potted his fifth goal of the season at 12:42.

The Phantoms controlled the middle stanza, however, answering back and then some. Garrett Wilson evened the affair 99 seconds into the frame, converting on a defensive zone turnover by the Wolf Pack. However, the Phantom’s powerplay would put them ahead moments later, striking at 5:20. Elliot Desnoyers took a pass from Ronnie Attard in front of the Hartford net after sneaking behind the defense. Desnoyers quickly snapped home his 18^th goal of the season and second powerplay goal in as many games against the Pack.

Wilson struck again at 12:34, extending the lead to 3-1 with his seventh goal of the season. Wilson took a pass from Bobby Brink, darted by a Wolf Pack defender, and then beat Louis Domingue by the blocker for a highlight reel goal.

Trailing 3-1 heading into the third period, the Wolf Pack would not back down. Will Cuylle got the club back within a goal at 7:16 with a powerplay tally. With Zayde Wisdom in the box for holding, Ryan Carpenter won possession of the puck behind the Phantoms’ net. Carpenter sent a centering pass to Cuylle, who beat Nagle by the glove for his team-leading 16^th goal of the season.

Just 2:08 later, however, Wilson would trigger a storm of hats. The veteran forward located a loose puck to the right of the Hartford net and banked a puck off the arm of Domingue and in for the hat-trick goal.

The 4-2 lead had the assembled crowd in a frenzy, but the Wolf Pack faithful in attendance would get the last cheer.

Rydahl potted his second goal of the night at 12:50, again bringing the Pack within one. Tanner Fritz sent a pass to the front of the net that Rydahl jammed on Nagle. Nagle made the initial save, but again Rydahl pounced on a rebound and found the back of the net.

2:42 later, Rydahl would complete his first career AHL hat trick. Fritz again sent a centering pass from behind the net, this time on his backend, that Rydahl sent towards the goal. This time, no rebound was necessary as the puck cleanly beat Nagle at 15:32 to tie the game 4-4.

Hájek put Hartford ahead at 18:00, finishing off a dominant sequence in the offensive zone for the Pack. Turner Elson would cap the five-goal period with an empty net tally at 19:25, his 12^th goal of the season. Fritz, meanwhile, recorded three assists in the third-period comeback.

The Wolf Pack continue their longest road trip of the season on Wednesday night when they visit the Springfield Thunderbirds at the MassMutual Center. The puck drop is set for 7:05 pm. The Pack return to the XL Center on Sunday, March 5^th, for a matinee matchup with the Charlotte Checkers. The puck drop is set for 3:00 pm. To get tickets, visit hartfordwolfpack.com.

HARTFORD WOLFPACK

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BY: Gerry Cantlon – Howlings

SPRINGFIELD, MA – Justin Richards scored twice to help the Hartford Wolf Pack break a six-period scoreless drought and upended the Springfield Thunderbirds 3-1.

The Wolf Pack kickoff a three-in-three weekend against the current Atlantic Division-leading Springfield Thunderbirds at the MassMutual Center.

The team had to do some lineup juggling because of injuries. Lauri Pajuniemi (upper body) and Aaron Luchuk (lower body) were known. Unfortunately, they got unsuspecting losses in center Tanner Fritz and on defense Tarmo Reunanen. That forced the team to go with an 11-7 format.

After a spirited scrap by a pair of rookies, Springfield’s Griffin Luce (Salisbury School) and Cristiano DiGiacinto seemed to spark the Wolf Pack. Jonny Brodzinski had a strong bid with Tim Gettinger in front that Thunderbirds netminder Charlie Lindgren gobbled up at 7:10.

PACK SCORE

The Pack equalized the score at one right after killing off a minor penalty. Richards converted a rebound off an Anthony Greco shot from the left-wing side at 11:28.

With Richards net-front presence put him in the right spot as a last-minute forward line combination by Pack Head Coach Kris Knoblauch paid off with big dividends for Hartford.

Greco was dead center and launched a shot from just inside the blue line past an onrushing Alexei Toropchenko. Ty Ronning made an expert deflection. Richards was sandwiched between Tommy Cross and Scott Perunivich and had that deflected shot go off his shoulder and into the net for his second of the game and fifth of the season at 12:16.

Wolf Pack goalie Keith Kinkaid had a sterling 42-save performance stopping four breakaways in the game, including a near 2-0 after Nils Lundkvist blew a tire allowing Matt Peca (Quinnipiac University) to come in all alone. Peca went to his forehand, and Kinkaid made the save and held it with his glove, as Mason MacEachern was coming in looking for a rebound with 2:50 left trying to tie the game.

WRAPPING UP

Brodzinski put his 18th into the empty net for his team-leading 35th point and secured the win.

In one series, Lundkvist late made a super defensive play with a block just after Gettinger was hobbled making another.

Lundkvist had several other good plays and bodychecks in the game.

Kinkaid made two last saves with 40,4 seconds left and one on Peca with 19.9 to go.

Late in the second period, Springfield scored its lone goal.

The Wolf Pack’s Alex Whalen made a poor passing decision and put the puck in front of the net. The puck found the stick of Nathan Walker, and the speedy Australian turned around and started a quick two on one breakout counter-attack.

Will Bitten arrived at the net with Walker’s cross-ice feed hitting him on his shin pad and went in for his ninth at 15:52.

It was reviewed as a good goal as no kicking motion was detected.

Then seconds afterward, Kinkaid robbed Anas on a breakaway off a Wolf Pack neutral zone turnover by Matt Lorito.

LINES

Gettinger-Brodzinski-Greco
Ronning-Richards-Ruesschoff
Lorito-Khordorenko-Whalen
O’Leary-DiGiacinto-Taylor

Robertson-Lundkvist
Giuttari-Tinordi
Skinner-Bitetto

Kinkaid
Huska

SCRATCHES

Pajuniemi (upper body out since February 4th)
Reunanen
Fritz
James Sanchez
Wall
Luchuk (lower body)

NOTES

Jeff Taylor skated as the swingman at forward and chipped in on defense as needed. James Sanchez, who just arrived, was a scratch on his birthday.

Springfield’s Steve Santini was a scratch as he and his wife were celebrating the birth of their second child.

Ex-Wolf Pack Phil DiGiuseppe is recalled from Abbotsford to Vancouver.

Charlotte released Ex-Pack defenseman Brandon Fortunato (Quinnipiac University), who’s likely headed back to Jacksonville.

Jake Lechshysyn, the son of ex-Hartford Whaler Curtis Lechshysyn, was recalled from Henderson to Vegas.

Mark Kastelic, the son of former Whaler Ed Kastelic, was sent down to Belleville from Ottawa.

Goalie Pat Nagle (US), Adam Cracknell (Canada ), and Josh Ho-Sang (Canada) are back at their respective AHL teams Lehigh Valley, Bakersfield, and Toronto from the Olympics.

Canon Pieper (Quinnipiac) was released by Orlando (ECHL). A year and two days older, his brother Bo has been out of hockey for three seasons.

HARTFORD WOLF PACK

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HARTFORD, CT – Matt Strome and Hayden Hodgson had a goal and an assist while Pat Nagle registered 26 saves as the Lehigh Valley Phantoms shut out the Hartford Wolf Pack 4-0 on a snowy Saturday night.

The loss put the Wolf Pack back into second place, two points behind the Hershey Bears in the Atlantic Division battle. The winning percentage difference is just .10 (.618 to .608).

The first period saw the Wolf Pack face a different kind of blizzard than the one that raged most of Saturday.

“We did OK in the second and third, but we got behind 3-0. That’s hard to overcome,” remarked Wolf Pack Head Coach Kris Knoblauch.

The Phantoms built their lead on the back of  Wolf Pack turnovers.

Two years ago, Hodgson was a former Wolf Pack training camp attendee. He got a piece of Logan Day’s shot and registered his ninth goal at 7:26.

Then 36 seconds later, the Phantoms struck again.

Wyatt Wylie tallied his first goal of the season from Nick Lappin by using Nick DiGiacinto as a screen of Tyler Wall, who seemed unprepared for the Phantoms counterattack.

“In two games against them, it’s the same players who have been very tough on us,” said Knoblauch.

Then another ex-Pack, Alex Kile, did the damage on the third goal.

Hodgson forced a turnover, and Strome, the younger brother of the current Ranger and ex-Sound Tiger, Ryan Strome, dove to get his second of the season past Wall at 10:34.

Halfway through the first period and the Phantoms had already registered three big goals, “I think our play, coming off a big game, and the crowd (announced at 2,631) contributed to a slow start.”

In the second period, the Phantoms made it 4-0 when Garrett Wilson, situated dead center of the ice, took a rebound and fired his tenth of the season after Linus Sandin got around Anthony Bitetto. The goal came at 3:56.

Nagle will be heading to Los Angeles to join the US Olympic team on their way to Bejing. He was solid throughout, making critical stops aided by an excellent defensive effort as Phantoms players put themselves in the way of oncoming pucks from Wolf Pack sticks.

Nagl’se best save came sliding across the crease to deny a Ty Ronning attempt at 11:57 of the third period. He also rejected Patrick Khordorenko’s golden effort to break the shutout with thirty seconds left.

NOTES:

Knoblauch hopes by Wednesday’s game in Hershey that he’ll get back his regular lineup when the NHL is idle for a week.

“I’m not sure, we’ll have to see what happens as they play Tuesday. We obviously don’t skate till Wednesday.”

Despite the AHL All-Star Classic postponement for a second straight year in Laval, the league will be off next Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. However, they’ll return next Wednesday at 3 PM, and hopefully, the taxi squads will be gone as the CBA addendum stated.

As a 37-year-old journeyman goalie going into training camp last September after not on any AHL roster and playing on an Olympic team is quite the story.

One of the other two US goalies is Greenwich’s Strauss Mann, born in Cos Cob and played his high school hockey at Brunswick Prep and his juniors with the CT Jr. Rangers (USPHL-Premier).

LINES

Greco-Ronning-Fritz
Richards-Luchuk-Rueschoff
Khordorenko-Sanche-Elmer
Whelan-O’Leary-DiGiacinto

Bitetto-Skinner
Giuttari-Robertson
Taylor-Berzolla

Kinkaid
Wall

SCRATCHES:

Goalie, François Brassard

HARTFORD WOLF PACK

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Swamp Rabbits’ lead disintegrates in the third period

BY: Jordan Kuhns, Greenville Swamp Rabbits

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Dylan Sadowy’s second goal of the night with just under a minute and a half to play knotted the game at three apiece, and A.J. Jenks delivered the decisive blow in overtime as the Toledo Walleye overcame a 3-0 deficit and won 4-3 in the extra session over the Greenville Swamp Rabbits on Friday night at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena.

With Chad Duchesne in the box for slashing, the 4-on-3 power play picked up where the 5-on-4 power play left off late in regulation. T.J. Hensick threw a pass that bounced off of goaltender Garrett Bartus‘ pads and right to Jenks, who roofed a shot over the prone goaltender to seal the win.

Sadowy scored his first on an opportunity in front of the goal following an unlikely tally by defenseman Matt Register that got the Walleye on the comeback trail.

The Swamp Rabbits’ offensive onslaught began and ended in the second period, and got the crowd of over 10,000 on Opening Night to their feet.

While shorthanded, Michael Pelech broke up a play at the offensive blue line, turned the rush into a 2-on-0 break and fed Austen Brassard for his first of the season to start the scoring.

The party continued with Chris Izmirlian, who completed a three-way passing play with Charley Graaskamp, and defenseman J.C. Brassard, who cut in from the point and found Izmirlian on the back door for the easy tap-in past Walleye goaltender Pat Nagle.

Following a Walleye match penalty, the major power play led to an opportunity for the Swamp Rabbits to pounce, and they did. After a keep at the blue line by Trevor Owens, Johno May picked a spot short side over the blocker of Nagle to give Greenville a 3-0 lead.

The Swamp Rabbits get back to action on Saturday night in a rematch against the Walleye. Tickets are available at SwampRabbits.com.

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The post KUHNS: TOLEDO ERASES DEFICIT, OVERCOMES SWAMP RABBITS IN OVERTIME first appeared on Howlings.