Second-period Rochester Goals Sink Pack, 3-1
Jan 21, 2017By Chris Kohler
Second-period goals by Daniel Muzito-Bagenda and Justin Bailey wiped out a 1-0 Wolf Pack lead Saturday night at the XL Center, in a 3-1 Rochester Americans victory.
Tim Kennedy added an empty-net goal for Rochester, and Linus Ullmark made 25 saves in the Americans’ net. Marek Hrivik scored the only Wolf Pack goal, and Brandon Halverson stopped 26 shots.
Hartford took the game’s first lead at the 11:03 mark of the first, after Nicklas Jensen fired a pass across the ice to Hrivik, who swiftly deposited the puck on the far side of Ullmark.
In the latter stages of the period, winger Justin Fontaine was penalized twice to give Rochester their first man advantages of the night. Halverson and the Wolf Pack defense remained strong and kept the score 1-0 in their favor.
Rochester controlled the action in the second period, outshooting the Wolf Pack 16-6, and the Americans broke through at 9:13. Muzito-Bagenda scored on a second-effort wraparound to tie the game.
At 18:36, Rochester got the eventual game-winner from Bailey, who took a pass from Cole Schneider and broke down the right side, before firing a shot in off of Halverson’s catching glove.
Ullmark made a fine save on Ryan Graves late in the third, and Wolf Pack head coach Ken Gernander pulled Halverson for an extra attacker with just under two minutes remaining.
Kennedy foiled the strategy when he worked the puck away from Hrivik in front of the vacated cage and put it in with 1:02 remaining.
“Our goalie gave us a chance to win tonight, and we have to get more than one goal, especially playing at home,” Hrivik said.
Gernander added, “We didn’t do the same things in the second and third period that made us successful in the first.”
The Wolf Pack finish a three-game weekend Sunday at Providence, taking on the Bruins in a 5:05 PM game. All of the action can be heard live on News Radio 1410 WPOP, and on-line at www.newsradio1410.com and iHeartRadio. Video streaming is available at www.ahllive.com.
The Wolf Pack’s next home game is this Wednesday, January 25, with the Hershey Bears visiting the XL Center for a 7:00 faceoff. That is another “Click It or Ticket Family Value Pack” game. The Family Value Pack includes two tickets, two sodas and two hot dogs, all for just $40.
Tickets for all Wolf Pack 2016-17 home games are on sale now at the Agera Energy Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499.
Season ticket information for the Wolf Pack’s 2016-17 AHL season can be found on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com. To speak with a representative about all of the Wolf Pack’s many attractive ticketing options, call (855) 762-6451.
Rochester Americans 3 at Hartford Wolf Pack 1
Saturday, January 21, 2017 - XL Center
Rochester 0 2 1 - 3
Hartford 1 0 0 - 1
1st Period-1, Hartford, Hrivik 9 (Jensen, Fontaine), 11:03. Penalties-Schneider Rch (double minor - high-sticking), 0:46; Fontaine Hfd (holding), 14:11; Fontaine Hfd (high-sticking), 16:26.
2nd Period-2, Rochester, Muzito-Bagenda 6 (Dupuy, Karabacek), 9:13. 3, Rochester, Bailey 17 (Schneider, Austin), 18:36. Penalties-Gilmour Hfd (hooking), 1:53; Nieves Hfd (high-sticking), 14:28.
3rd Period-4, Rochester, Kennedy 2 18:58 (EN). Penalties-No Penalties
Shots on Goal-Rochester 6-16-7-29. Hartford 14-6-6-26.
Power Play Opportunities-Rochester 0 / 4; Hartford 0 / 2.
Goalies-Rochester, Ullmark 16-13-1 (26 shots-25 saves). Hartford, Halverson 4-8-0 (28 shots-26 saves).
A-4,980
Referees-David Banfield (77), Michael Mullen (7).
Linesmen-Ryan Daisy (81), Nick Briganti (58).