Falcons Hold Wolf Pack at Bay
Nov 23, 2013Mike McKenna made 15 saves to backstop the Springfield Falcons to a 4-0 victory over the Wolf Pack Saturday night at the MassMutual Center in Springfield.
It was the second straight shutout-against for the Wolf Pack, and the fourth time the Pack has been shut out in the last five games.
Andrew Joudrey had a goal and an assist for Springfield, and Ilari Melart, Frederic St. Denis and Patrick McNeill also scored. Blake Parlett and Ryan Craig had two assists apiece. Jason Missiaen made 19 saves for the Wolf Pack.
“It’s always frustrating when you don’t get any goals up on the board,” Wolf Pack captain Aaron Johnson said. “That’s what we’re lacking right now, being able to bury those first and second chances. We’ll do what we always do, go back, work hard, figure out what we’re doing wrong and come back positive next week.”
The first period was scoreless, with the Wolf Pack outshooting the Falcons 5-4, but the Falcons would break through with three second-period goals.
Springfield broke the scoreless tie only 1:07 into the second, on Melart’s first North-American pro goal. Melart, a Finnish import, came out of the penalty box to create a three-on-one break for the Falcons, and Melart got a shot past Missiaen from off of left wing. Missiaen got a piece of Melart’s shot to the catching-glove side, but could not keep it out of the net.
A goal in a four-on-four situation made it a 2-0 Springfield lead at 5:16, as St. Denis, a defenseman, joined the offensive rush and ended up finishing the play. Joudrey was knocked down at the left-wing side of the slot, but managed to pass the puck to St. Denis, who cut across the goalmouth at found the back of the net with a low backhander.
The Springfield power play then clicked at 11:25 to make it 3-0. Parlett, a former Connecticut Whale defenseman, passed to Craig behind the net, and Craig worked a perfect pass in front to Joudrey, who quickly banged it in.
The Wolf Pack’s third-period comeback hopes were hampered when Hartford ended up two men short as the result of several fights that broke out at the 14-minute mark. The Wolf Pack killed two full minutes of two-man disadvantage, but later took two more minor penalties and ended up playing the entire last six minutes shorthanded.
The Falcons finally took advantage with 1:11 remaining, as McNeill scored on a second five-on-three, putting a shot off the goalpost to Missiaen’s right and into the net.
The Wolf Pack’s next game is on home ice at the XL Center this Wednesday, November 27, a 7:00 date with the Portland Pirates. That game features a “Movember” tribute to the importance of men’s health awareness. The first 1,000 fans into the game on November 27, which faces off at 7:00 PM, will receive a free Movember “mustache” t-shirt. The shirt depicts Sonar, the Wolf Pack’s beloved mascot, proudly showing off his Movember “’stache”. Also, the proceeds from that night’s “Chuck-a-Puck” promotion will be donated to Gaylord Hospital of Wallingford, CT, for its men’s health efforts.
Tickets for all Wolf Pack 2013-14 home games are on sale now at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499. Wolf Pack tickets start as low as $12 for youth 12 years old or younger. To speak with a representative about season or group tickets, call (855) 762-6451.
Hartford Wolf Pack 0 at Springfield Falcons 4
Saturday, November 23, 2013 - MassMutual Center
Hartford 0 0 0 - 0
Springfield 0 3 1 - 4
1st Period- No Scoring. Penalties-Kantor Hfd (fighting), 2:52; served by Machacek Spr (bench minor - too many men), 2:52; Smith Spr (fighting), 2:52; Kristo Hfd (hooking), 3:50; Hughes Hfd (delay of game), 5:43; Kantor Hfd (fighting), 11:40; Sedlak Spr (fighting), 11:40; Melart Spr (interference), 18:57.
2nd Period-1, Springfield, Melart 1 (Goloubef), 1:07. 2, Springfield, St. Denis 4 (Joudrey, Craig), 5:16. 3, Springfield, Joudrey 2 (Craig, Parlett), 11:25 (PP). Penalties-Bickel Hfd (delay of game), 3:45; Marchessault Spr (tripping), 4:10; Johnson Hfd (slashing), 11:08; McIlrath Hfd (tripping), 13:42.
3rd Period-4, Springfield, McNeill 1 (Marchessault, Parlett), 18:49 (PP). Penalties-Kristo Hfd (hooking), 6:56; Asham Hfd (fighting, misconduct - unsportsmanlike conduct), 14:00; Kantor Hfd (fighting, game misconduct - secondary altercation, game misconduct - third major), 14:00; McIlrath Hfd (fighting, game misconduct - aggressor, game misconduct - aggressor), 14:00; Yogan Hfd (slashing, fighting, game misconduct - aggressor), 14:00; Bass Spr (fighting, misconduct - unsportsmanlike conduct), 14:00; Goloubef Spr (fighting, game misconduct - secondary altercation), 14:00; Miller Spr (fighting, game misconduct - secondary altercation), 14:00; Bickel Hfd (unsportsmanlike conduct), 17:15; Allen Hfd (closing hand on puck), 18:06.
Shots on Goal-Hartford 5-5-5-15. Springfield 4-8-11-23.
Power Play Opportunities-Hartford 0 / 3; Springfield 2 / 10.
Goalies-Hartford, Missiaen 2-5-1 (23 shots-19 saves). Springfield, McKenna 5-2-0 (15 shots-15 saves).
A-4,001
Referees-Jarrod Ragusin (54), Jean-Philippe Sylvain (16).
Linesmen-Brent Colby (7), Luke Galvin (2).